Professional Wireless Systems RF software developer Jason Eskew never enjoyed doing frequency coordination for concert, corporate, sports, or broadcast event installs. Using traditional DOS based software tools written by various wireless equipment manufacturers, he found the process complicated and time-consuming. Years of dealing with this problem inspired Eskew to develop the PWS Intermodulation Analysis System (IAS). After extensive real-world testing in venues ranging from rock concerts to the Super Bowl, this unique program for quickly resolving frequency coordination issues is now available to the industry.
PWS general manager Carl Cordes reports that the recently completed IAS 4.4 system enables RF technicians to save valuable setup time by combining a database of wireless performance equipment from any manufacturer. In addition to custom frequency spacing parameters for each wireless system model, IAS includes comprehensive group and channel assignments for any given piece of equipment. The IAS program also eliminates the need to carry frequency reference charts for individual wireless system models.
Using previous software tools, large coordination’s involving 30+ frequencies often took hours to assemble and were difficult to modify on site. IAS provides extremely fast calculating speed, support for multiple zones, the ability to add descriptive labels and categories, and a large selection of pre-built models. Coordinations can be completed in as little as 10 minutes, and easily modified in the field.
In developing the Intermodulation Analysis System, Eskew has accomplished a number of coordinations (over large convention centers) which included 300 to 400 frequencies, a virtually impossible task without IAS. “The ability to define different zones of a building or venue enables us to make the most efficient use of RF spectrum per coordination,” he states.
Eskew was inspired to develop the program in 1997 after spending hours to construct a large coordination using old software. Arriving on-site he learned he’d been provided with inaccurate information and had to re-do the entire coordination. After experimenting with early versions of the program for several years he began sharing the system with his Professional Wireless System associates. Positive feedback was instantaneous. One coworker who had been spending hours per coordination reported being able to do the same job in 15 minutes.
How IAS Works:
To initiate a coordination engineers previously relied on costly & unwieldy reference books to determine active Analog and Digital TV stations in a local area. IAS integrates an FCC Data Search which remains available on local hard drives even while off line. Data can be queried using Latitude and Longitude. The program also integrates a list of 42,000+ US Zip Codes with Lat/Long data. Users simply enter a ZIP code to find the Lat/Long for a given area, select stations to import and bring them directly into the program.
To acquire a hard copy frequency list in the past, a computer needed to be connected directly to a printer, highly impractical on a show-site. The IAS tool outputs frequency coordination reports in several formats as .html pages. By saving these reports to a USB memory stick, any local computer printer can be used to print hard copy reports.
IAS also features a graph displaying selected TV stations, frequencies, candidate “freqs” available for selection and IMD products designed to ease the coordination task. The graph simplifies the process of finding ‘holes’ in the spectrum where additional systems might be added. IAS is also useful when explaining why clients can’t add more wireless in a given area because of RF congestion.
“The Intermodulation Analysis System is a tool capable of saving a qualified tech hours of labor,” Eskew concludes. “It’s not a substitute for experience, and it won’t turn an intern into a guru. “But it can help a pro immeasurably.”
System Requirements:
• Microsoft Windows 2000 or higher
• Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0
• Internet connection for license activation and occasional FCC data download. (Internet connection NOT required to use the program)
• 30 meg available Hard Drive Space
Features:
• Written by a professional frequency coordinator. Specific design features for Television, Special Events, Industrial Meetings etc.
• Ability to download and search FCC data and import Analog and Digital TV stations for a given area
• Outputs professional coordination reports as HTML documents
• Models wireless systems from any manufacturer with specific details for individual wireless units or frequency range
• Channel assignments (such as group and channel information) eliminate the need to carry frequency charts for various models of wireless systems
• Integrates a list of 42,000+ US ZIP Codes with Lat/Long Data
• Large selection of pre-built models from AudioTechnica, Comtek. Lectrosonics Sennheiser, Shure, Telex/E,Vega, etc.
• Context sensitive help included
• Zone support for coordinations over large venues such as convention centers
• Unlimited number of frequencies supported in each coordination. Limited solely by compatible frequencies, not storage or software computational ability
• Graphical view of Frequencies, TV stations and IMD products allows users to make educated decisions regarding best use of the available spectrum
• Blazingly fast computation speed
• Field proven, not a version 1.0 application
Distribution:
Freely downloadable from the internet as a 15 day, fully functional trial. Please visit: www.professionalwireless.com/IAS for pricing information