A.F. Associates and Thales Broadcast & Multimedia aid WGCU's transition to digital

A.F. Associates and Thales Broadcast & Multimedia recently assisted WGCU - a university owned and operated public television and radio station in Florida - with its transition to digital broadcasting.

AFA, an Ascent Media Group company, provided integration services while Thales handled the transmission aspects of the transition. Because of the way WGCU's funding is allocated, the station's transition to a digital infrastructure had to happen in phases. A temporary control room that could later be repurposed for permanent use was first established.

AFA designed and implemented the temporary digital equipment room and master control room in vacant areas available for the upgrade. The new space used innovative products, design and engineering to overcome the issues raised by using smaller existing spaces.

Thales supplied WGCU with two transmitters. In 2000, Thales supplied a NTSC two-tube, 60kW Thales IOX that operated in common amplification into a magic-tee RF combiner. Then in 2003, Thales provided a second model for DTV, a 4kW Ultimate solid state, liquid-cooled transmitter that operates into a mask filter.