Communications Technology: Archive

If you didnt have any fun at Cable-Tec Expo, you probably had to work at it. Once again, the various festivities showed that the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers really knows how to throw a party.

Sponsored this year by Antec, CommScope, General Instrument, Philips Broadband Networks and Scientific-Atlanta, Expo Evening proved once again to be a cultural extravaganza representing everything the cable TV industry stands for.

Beer flowed, cans shook and skillets stayed hot all night at Walt Disney Worlds Pleasure Island party spot for Mouseketeers of a more advanced chronology.

Entertainment included a variety of dancers, but the show really stopped when SCTE President John Clark brandished a large knife on stage and cut an even larger cake celebrating the Societys 30th year of cable industry achievement. The SCTE birthday fest was really topped off by Pleasure Islands simulated New Years Eve celebration, during which more than a few of cables finest got kissed, a moment that was truly best punctuated with fireworks.

It may not matter whether you win or lose, but dont tell that to any of the contestants in this years Cable Games. Held concurrently with Expo Evening at the BET Soundstage Club on Pleasure Island, the Ninth Annual Cable-Tec Games featured some of the toughest competition yet as contestants raced against time and their peers to take home the gold.

"The competition gets harder and harder every year," said Woody Cash, overall winner at the 1997 Games. First introduced by the Rocky Mountain Chapter in 1989, the Cable-Tec Games each year draw dozens of cable TV technicians and engineers to test their industry knowledge and skill against their peers.

This years Games were sponsored by Gilbert Engineering, JCA Technology Group, National Cable Television Institute, Riser-Bond Instruments, Thomas & Betts, Trilithic, and Wavetek Wandel Golterman and included all of the usual events, including "Meter Reading," "MTDR," "Cable Splicing," and "Cable Jeopardy."

Hosted by Alex Trebek impersonators Steve Allen and Diana Riley of JCA Technology Group, "Cable Jeopardy" once again put contestants cable knowledge to the test. Provided by the NCTI, the questions covered the cable gamut, from regulatory issues to signal level testing to proper connector fitting. The competition included seven teams, including an SCTE board member crew comprised of Don Shackelford of Time Warner, Wes Burton of MediaOne, Jim Kuhns of Terayon and Steve Johnson of Bresnan. When it was all said and done, Bill Dennis of TCI took home the honors of "Cable Jeopardy" champion.

The competition also included "Cable Splicing," an event created by Gilbert Engineering, which requires competitors to prepare both ends of a 0.500 cable and connectorize one end with a 0.500 pin connector. Points are awarded for quality and workmanship. This year, the gold went to Dennis Majors of Multimedia Cable in Edmond, Okla., who also was overall winner at the Games and received an all-expenses paid trip to next years Expo in Las Vegas.

When the dust settled after this years Games, the winners took home more than prizes, personal satisfaction and peer respect. Over the years, the Games have evolved into a career advancement tool of sorts. Woody Cash, the overall winner at this years Northern California Cable-Tec Games, can attest to this.

"Its a hell of a lot of fun," said Cash, "and thats the main thing. But it does give you a lot of notoriety as well. It puts you in peoples minds. Everyone knows who you are around this small industry, and people start to recognize you: Oh, youre the cable guy!"

When Cash first won at the national Cable-Tec Games in 1997, he was an advanced technician. Today, Cash is a plant manager, which he attributes in part to his success in the Games. "You definitely gain the respect of your peers and employer," said Cash.

This years reigning champion, Doug Nolan, also shares Cashs enthusiasm for the Games. "In our local communities, you get a certain sense that it really means something to some people," said Nolan, adding that his success in the games played into a job interview he had.

"If you do well at the Cable Games," said Nolan, "it shows that you have a well-rounded understanding of cable and youre someone thats into cable and how it worksyoure into it for a career."

Since being crowned overall winner in 1998, Nolan has been promoted twice and is now a project manager at TCI in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Next year, the Games will be headed up by Jim Fronk of Multimedia Cablevision in Great Bend, Kan., as the new chairman of the SCTE Cable-Tec Games Subcommittee. Fronk will fill the very large shoes of Steve Christopher, current chairman.

On Expos second day, SCTE Charter members met for cocktails and dinner arranged by Anna Riker and hosted by SCTE President John Clark and his fiancée, Cynthia. Members attending were Bill Karnes, Charles Tepfer, Wayne McKinney, Rex Porter, Austin (Shorty) Coryell, Jake Landrum, Nick Olson, Allen Williams, Ron Cotten and Bob Becker.

Toward the end of the evening, Karnes asked each to speak about his early involvement in cable TV. No one seemed to have made long-range plans to stay in cable. They came into cable from such varied backgrounds as microwave, radio, television or publishing.

Amusingly, several Charter members claimed to have traveled to Roswell, N.M., and rebuilt that cable system. (Three different members seem to have kept this system in a constant rebuild mode.) A unanimous vote was taken to invite past SCTE presidents and board chairpersons to future Charter member dinners. Charter Committee Chairman Karnes presented a plaque to Tepfer in appreciation of his successful efforts to launch the Society in 1969.

One of the many Cable-Tec Expo traditions is the annual ham radio operators reception. This years party was sponsored by Scientific-Atlanta and the National Cable Television Institute as well as SCTE.

Annually at Expo, CTs Senior Technical Editor Ron Hranac of High Speed Access Corp. joins forces with Time Warner Cables Steve Johnson and others to rally engineering enthusiasm for the ham community; annually they use terms that outsiders might not readily understand.

"The reception features a chance for industry hams to get together for eyeball-to-eyeball QSOs, swap stories about rare DX, and enjoy a few snacks and beverages." explained Hranac. "As usual, the annual door prize drawing was as much fun as a hamfest."

In keeping with a growing tradition, there was a Cable-Tec Expo closing night reception for SCTE-List members led by List master and CT columnist David Devereaux-Weber.

This year, the party attracted a record number of attendees, said Weber. "People stop by to get acquainted or re-acquainted and get a chance to meet face-to-face with the people whose names they know from discussions on the List. This gives us a chance to get the news behind the messages and share information about computers, e-mail programs and ways to use these resources more efficiently," Weber said.

Virtual treats were provided by Matrix Test Equipment. Drawing winners took home goodies from HSA, CT and more.

Just as the National Cable Television Association has its own Pioneers Club, engineers have formed their own "secret society" for engineering pioneers. If you dont know what a 704 is, you may still be wondering what they all were doing behind that door.

Engineers and technicians with a minimum of 20 years experience in cable technology were exclusively invited to face fun-filled interviews conducted by Dr. Strangeleak (a.k.a. Ted Hartson) and CT Editor-in-Chief Rex Porter.

Thirty-seven new members were allowed to step forward, plead for admission into the Loyal Order and kiss not the traditional pink flamingo but the "stand-in" Tasmanian Devil. Membership now officially numbers 107. Inductees who admitted to having ever trashed a 704 meter were required to kneel before the 704 meter, kiss its backside and plead forgiveness before being pinned. Membership is now sufficient so that future induction will be limited and will require multiple written sponsorship.

On Friday morning after the show floor closed, engineers and sales people found they had enough energy to meet for the Eighth Annual Expo Golf Tourney. A record turnout played the Osprey Ridge and Eagle Pines courses at Walt Disney World. At the conclusion of the event, players were treated to a luncheon, and every contestant was awarded a prize by Tony Finger and Hugh McCarley, this years hosts. And the winners were? Why, every one of the 260 golfers who participated! - CT

Supreme Cable Athletes:
The 1999 Cable-Tec Games Winner's Circle

The following were winners at this years Annual Cable-Tec Games held at Expo Evening.

Overall Winners

Gold Medallion: Dennis Majors, Multimedia Cable, Edmond, Okla.
Silver Medallion: Marshall Kurschner, Harron Communications, Caseville, Mich.
Bronze Medallion: Woody Cash, TCI, San Jose, Calif.

Cable Splicing

Gold Medallion: Dennis Majors, Multimedia Cable, Edmond, Okla.
Silver Medallion: Bill Dennis, TCI, Brighton, Colo.
Bronze Medallion: Woody Cash, TCI, San Jose, Calif.

Cable Jeopardy

Gold Medallion: Bill Dennis, TCI, Brighton, Colo.
Silver Medallion: Dennis Majors, Multimedia Cable, Edmond, Okla.
Bronze Medallion: Kenny Murray, TCI Cablevision, Scotts Valley, Calif.

MTDR

Gold Medallion: Keith Holland, MediaOne, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Silver Medallion: Bill Dennis, TCI, Denver, Colo.
Bronze Medallion: Dennis Majors, Multimedia Cable, Edmond, Okla.

Meter Reading

Gold Medallion: Richard Keys, Multimedia Cablevision, Edmond, Okla.
Silver Medallion: Woody Cash, TCI, San Jose, Calif.
Bronze Medallion: Marshall Kurschner, Harron Communications, Caseville, Mich.