Scanning for "reality"
 

I'm following a thread over in the film/TV production sound NG,
news:rec.arts.movies.produciton.sound dealing with equipment
selection and configuration for some new "reality" TV show. The
fact that these range from insipid to contemptible aside, I was
amused to note one of the equipment recommendations...

Apparently the directors/producers are using portable scanners
which are programmed to the wireless mic frequencies of the
"talent", (and with the "talent"s names programmed for display)
so that the producer/director can scan all the conversations to
find something "juicy" to send the camera crew to shoot. OTOH
perhaps it is only art imitating life where people listen to police,
fire, and other public agencies to find out what's going on. :-)

In some places (notably NYC) many audio production pros
carry computer-based wideband radios to plot local spectrum
situations in order to select reliable wireless mic frequencies.
And they are desparing at the imminent loss of the analog
TV channels (where they freuqently use narrow slices of
unused local channels for wireless mics and other wireless
functions.)

Scanning for "reality"
 

On Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:05:46 EST, "Richard Crowley"
wrote:

In some places (notably NYC) many audio production pros
carry computer-based wideband radios to plot local spectrum
situations in order to select reliable wireless mic frequencies.
And they are desparing at the imminent loss of the analog
TV channels (where they freuqently use narrow slices of
unused local channels for wireless mics and other wireless
functions.)

They are not alone - the entire broadcast industry is concerned about
it. We (both BC people and hams) often lose sight of the real meaning
of "secondary allocation".
--

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

e-mail: k2asp [at] arrl [dot] net