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From the March 2005 Balanced Modulator

SUPER BOWL XXXIX IN JACKSONVILLE

Ten area Amateur Radio operators assisted coordinators from the National Football League (NFL) and Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) at Super Bowl XXXIX to organize frequency (channel) usage by media outlets and others with transmitters in the stadium area. 

Estimates indicate that 8,000 transmitters were in use during Super Bowl week.  If radio frequency (RF) devices, such as transmitters and wireless microphones, are not coordinated; signals are jammed and communications are disrupted. 

Media Day was very busy for the frequency coordination crew.  Busloads of photographers, radio and television personnel arrived and were very anxious to get into the stadium to produce reports and features for their viewers back home. 

As they passed through RF check-in, their transmitting gear was tested for proper operation and tagged.  Time was limited with some busses arriving only minutes before the first team appeared inside the stadium.

When interference was reported, portable radio direction finding (RDF) units were used to track down the source which usually turned out to be an uncoordinated transmitter or a coordinated unit that had shifted frequency.

The crew assembled on game day, February 6th, around 9AM to check in and tag RF devices.  They also watched the gates to the stadium for untagged devices or those with expired tags from Media Day or a previous Super Bowl. 

Crew members  were stationed throughout the stadium and on the field during the game to be able to react quickly if an interference problem arose.

The game went smoothly.  Only a few interference conflicts arose which were remedied quickly.

Participating were NFL Frequency Organization Group Manager Jay Gerber, N3AW;  NFL Frequency Coordinator Karl Voss; Jacksonville Jaguar Frequency Coordinators Clayton Roney, KI4FWZ and Jim Bedore; Tampa Bay Frequency Coordinator Ralph Beaver and computer consultant Dan Collins.

Among others participating were Frank Ingle, KG4CQK; Dan Weisenberger, KW4T; Billy Williams, N4UF; Wayne Chandler, N4KWC;  Rick Oreair, WB4BSP; Rick Oreair III; Billy Gentilman, KD4KHN; Michael O'Rourke, W5MSO; Miller Norton, W4EMN.