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A "NORMAL" YEAR
IN MY EXPERIENCE (from a memo to my boss) Date: 2/18/80 Memo To: Paul Schnitzler From: Liston Abbott Subject: Review of Work Projects/Assignments I worked on over the past year or so
1. I presented a paper, “Transmission of Multiple Television Programs via a Single Satellite Channel,” at the Pacific Telecommunications Conference in Hawaii, January 9, 1979. 2. I designed and constructed a simulator for Return Beam Vidicon signals to be used for testing a communications system for RCA Americom. Since I had done the initial laboratory investigation of the system, I also continued to be a consultant on the system specifications and testing. I also traveled to Scientific Atlanta in Georgia to assist in the assessment and ultimate correction of a particular operating system problem. 3. I conducted tests and demonstrations of a Vidiplex system (2-for-1 baseband video multiplexing) for Americom and RCA Laboratories applications. Several potential Americom customers were present to observe the demonstrations. 4. I designed, constructed, and tested approximately twelve Alternate Line Delay units which are used to eliminate visible crosstalk between two television programs carried in the same satellite channel. These units were sold to RCA Alascom at a price of $3,000 each which represented a substantial profit to RCA Laboratories. 5. I attended several meetings with ITT personnel in regard to their Gray Scale Sync system. Then I conducted subsequent evaluations of the equipment here at the Laboratories. This work was significantly important to Americom, and I provided them with advice and recommendations about the potential use in their system. 6. I supported Americom in their considerations for video networking, i.e., system administration and evaluation. I conducted tests on various kinds of equipment which could be used in this application. These included video presence detectors, audio continuity sensors, and automatic video analyzers. 7. I authored a paper, “Transmission of Four Simultaneous Television Programs via a Single Satellite Channel,” that was published in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) Journal in the February 1979, Volume 88, issue. 8. I evaluated a Digital Audio for Television (DATE) system for use by RCA Americom in a proposed Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) application. This involved an extensive system setup, including a satellite transponder simulator, and many tests and measurements. I wrote a detailed 100-page report describing the evaluation process, results, and my recommendations. 9. I set up a three-part demonstration to let RCA Americom show a system for transmitting 2 videos, 5 audios, and teletext data via a single satellite channel to their AFRTS customer and other potential customers. I made initial trips to Houston, TX, South Mountain, Los Angeles, and San Jose, CA, and Piscataway, NJ to discuss various aspects of the proposed demonstrations. Then I served as a spokesperson and demonstrator at the various sites. I worked 12 to 16 hours a day for the last month of the project, and the overall results were excellent. 10. I consulted for and carried out tests for Americom in support of the project to upgrade the performance of a satellite earth station in Panama. I made valuable recommendations to Americom and the overall effort was successful. I subsequently analyzed another general problem involving the use of Time Base Correctors and videotape recorders, and recommended a corrective procedure to fix this other problem. 11. I evaluated various video scrambling systems in support of Americom’s needs. This included an extensive test of a Comtech system in our laboratory. I traveled to several Americom facilities to observe and evaluate other potential scrambling systems, and made subsequent recommendations to Americom about my opinions and their potential utilization of the various systems. 12. I conducted laboratory experiments on terrestial and satellite interference problems. I designed a test setup with a dual carrier modulating system using IC voltage controlled oscillators. These were used in a series of tests to determine the points of just-perceptible-picture-interference as a function of carrier-to-interference ratios and frequency offsets. These efforts were useful in assessing the potential problems of terrestial microwave interference into urban earth stations, and the effect of closer in-orbit satellite spacing. 13. I evaluated several earth station video receivers at Americom’s request to determine their comparative ratings and suitability for various applications. This work involved a considerable amount of vendor contacts to arrange loans of equipment and to discuss various related matters. 14. I conducted an analysis and laboratory experimentation of a buried subcarrier system for satellite applications. I reported on a number of setups and evaluations of the performance of current BSC equipment. I created and tested some advanced flexible BSC circuitry and I am currently using it in various experiments. The importance of this work is in the potential application in transmission systems for increased video capacity. 15. I participated in the investigation and development of a 2-for-1 terrestial microwave video transmission system. My involvement included the establishment of the initial system parameters and procedures for the laboratory test program, the specification of the radio equipment to be purchased, travel to and discussions with the vendor, laboratory experimentation on AGC amplifiers and IF filters, frequency deviation settings, and various other matters. Many video performance measurements and evaluations were made by me, or under my directions, or according to my recommendations. I am currently the major consultant to the RCA Americom personnel involved in the implementation of the microwave system between New York City and the Vernon Valley, NJ earth station. 16. I did many other consultations on various video transmission systems to RCA Laboratories, RCA Americom, RCA Alascom, and occasionally to outside organizations when approved by Laboratories management. These consultations generally occur on a frequent basis, numbering about 100 over the past year. 17. I received a US patent in December 1978, and another one in December 1979. Two more applications are currently pending in the US patent office.
Liston Abbott
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