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SAVE THE DATE:
RCA’s 2018 Technical Symposium and Awards Banquet
New York City, Saturday November 17th (note day change!)
Start planning now to attend our 2018 Technical Symposium and Annual Awards Banquet in New York City!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Awards Banquet’s Keynote Speaker is Dr. Ted Rappaport. Dr. Rappaport has over 100 U.S. or international patents issued or pending and has authored, co-authored, and co-edited over 200 papers and 20 books in the wireless field, including the classic Wireless Communications: Principles & Practice (translated into seven languages), Principles of Communication Systems Simulation with Wireless Applications, and Smart Antennas for Wireless Communications: IS-95 and Third Generation CDMA Applications. Dr. Rappaport is the David Lee/Ernst Weber Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and is a professor of computer science at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He is a pioneer in RF propagation, wireless systems simulation, and 5G networks. His research has influenced international standards bodies for three decades.
VENUE
We are excited to announce that the 2018 RCA Technology Symposium and Awards Banquet will be at the Westin New York Times Square. This beautiful, 4 star property right in the heart of Times Square, is offering RCA a fantastic room rate and beautiful facilities for the Technical Symposium as well as the Banquet.
Room Registration for 2018 Awards Banquet
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RCA will return to Pittsburgh in 2020 to help celebrate KDKA’s 100th anniversary
KDKA will be celebrating their being the first commercial broadcast station in the U.S. They broadcast the presidential election results of the Harding-Cox election on Nov. 2, 1920,
Another tour of the KDKA facilities, which was so successful in 2017, is being planned, as well as several other historic activities. Don’t miss this event!
In the meantime, you may be interested in several historical links about KDKA:
3 minute YouTube clip on KDKA history
Detailed excerpt from a broadcasting book, plus bios on key KDKA persons
Audio clip on the Harding-Cox broadcast on Nov. 2, 1920
A short early history of wireless including KDKA
Introducing the Radio Club of America
Founded in 1909, the Radio Club of America is the oldest, most prestigious group of wireless communications professionals in the world, with members across the globe. Its members are dedicated to the wireless art and science for the betterment of society. The Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all contributions made to RCA are tax exempt.
Creating the Future
The future of wireless belongs to our youth, many of whom are unaware of the importance of the wireless industry, or of the wonderful career opportunities it presents. We have two major programs:
- Youth Activities, focused on middle and high school students
- Annually, one or two of the best of our youth present at our Annual Technical Symposium. We have had presentations from our youth on fractal antennas, pole climbing robots, high altitude ballooning, and other innovations
- Scholarship program, focused on college/university students. We support approximately a dozen universities whose students are studying engineering, broadcast, communications, and similar majors
We believe that our focus on youth ensures the future of the wireless industry, and sets the Radio Club of America apart from most of the other professional wireless organizations. Join with us in creating the future!
Ensuring the Present
The Radio Club of America is also focused on helping wireless professionals of all ages to advance their careers. We accomplish this in several ways:
- Our Annual Technical Symposium features some of the best minds in wireless, presenting innovative and unique solutions in wireless. Where else will you find the likes of Professor Frank Drake of SETI fame, or such “Wireless Wow” presentations on ‘Invisibility Cloaks,’ spectrum arbitrage, virtual sensors, using RF to disable IEDs, or 3D printed antennas?
- At our Annual Meeting you will get a chance to meet keynote speakers like Bob Heil (chief engineer for Heil Sound and in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Walter Cronkite (anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years), Marty Cooper (inventor of the handheld cell phone), Dr. Ted Rappaport (NYU university Professor and wireless professional who has published many textbooks on wireless), David Sumner (past CEO of the American Radio Relay League), and network with industry pioneers like Andy Seybold (well known and published wireless pundit), and Ray Trott P.E. (founder of Trott Communications Group and member of the Wireless Hall of Fame)
- At our breakfasts at industry trade shows, and other events, you will get a chance to hear from industry notables such as Dave Weisz (Motorola) and Brian Fontes (CEO of National Emergency Number Assoc.)
- We are planning a new series of RCA educational programs that will provide opportunities for wireless training. STAY TUNED!
- Our partner organization the ETA has numerous additional opportunities for wireless training
Included among our many members are those working in the various segments of the wireless industry, including: Antennas, Broadband, Broadcast, Cellular, Ham Radio, Infrastructure, Manufacturers, Military Communications, Parts Vendors, Public Safety / Land Mobile Radio, and Satellite. RCA members have been in the forefront of the wireless industry, and you can learn more about some of RCA’s Wireless Pioneers here.
Honoring the Past
The over 100-year history of the Radio Club is the history of wireless communication. The Club keeps alive the memory and lessons of past inventors and innovators, honoring those that contributed so much to the advancement of the wireless art. Included among our previous members were such notables as Major Howard Armstrong (inventor of FM and the superhetrodyne receiver), Dr. Harold Beverage (IRE Medal of Honor Winner, co-inventor of the wave [Beverage] antenna, and VP of Research at RCA), Fred Link (land mobile radio pioneer, founder of Link Radio Corporation, member Wireless Hall of Fame), Jack Poppele (founder of Television Broadcasters Assoc., started the WOR NY radio station, director for Voice of America), and dozens of others. Share the legacy that they left us, and help create new legacies for the future!
RCA at the Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum
Carole Perry’s annual Youth Forum is one of the most well attended events at the Dayton amateur radio festival. Carole features a number of school-aged youth who have become interested in STEM (science, engineering, technology, and math) through their experiences with amateur radio. This was the 31st Youth Forum hosted by Carole Perry and RCA!
You Tube Video of Thomas N1SPY at Carole Perry’s RCA Youth Forum
Wyatt AI6V Wins RCA and QCWA “Young Ham Lends a Hand” Award for 2018
The pictures below show some of the fun that took place at Dayton and the Youth Forum.
Carole Perry with the 8 Youth Forum presenters
Thank you to our IWCE 2018 Breakfast Sponsors!
If you would like to become an RCA sponsor at the APCO 2018 event in Las Vegas, contact us.
NEW!! MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
We are adding a new feature to the RCA Website: a short feature on a current member, what they are doing, and what their wireless interests are. The member that is featured will be changed regularly.
If you are interested in being spotlighted, please send a brief summary of your wireless interests, a brief bio, your contact information, and a picture to info@radioclubofamerica.org. We cannot guarantee that every member will be spotlighted, but we will attempt to spotlight as many as we can.
Introducing RCA Member Chief Harlin McEwen
Harlin R. McEwen, Chief of Police (Ret) Chief McEwen brings more than 60 years of experience both as an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as a career law enforcement officer and administrator. He served as a Chief of Police for more than 20 years, last serving as Chief in the City of Ithaca, NY. He also served as Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and Director of the Bureau for Municipal Police.
Chief McEwen then served as a Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, DC. He provided oversight for new FBI Criminal Justice Information Services such as the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) 2000 Project, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), and the Law Enforcement Online (LEO) system. He also traveled extensively both in the U.S. and internationally speaking at police conferences. He served as Chair of the Communications & Technology Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) for more than 36 years until 2015.
For many years he represented the IACP on numerous committees including the DHS SAFECOM Executive Committee, the Governing Board of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC). Chief McEwen also served as the Communications Advisor to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Major County Sheriffs’ Association. He is a Life Member and Fellow in the Radio Club of America and previously served on the RCA Board of Directors. He is a Life Member and Honorary President of the IACP, Life Member of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) and Life Member of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO). He served as the first Chair of the Public Safety Advisory Committee of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) from 2012 until 2017 when he retired. He has written many articles and is the recipient of many awards including the FBI Medal of Meritorious Achievement, the NPSTC Richard DeMello Award, and many others.
- How long have you been in the wireless industry?
- I have had a deep interest in wireless 2-way radio communications for more than 67 years.
- My first involvement came as I obtained a police/fire monitor to follow local police and fire radio transmissions in about 1951. That eventually led me to become a police/fire dispatcher and then a police officer which was the beginning of my long law enforcement career.
- I have been engaged in the development of 2-way radio communications, with a focus on public safety communications, from the narrowband analog days to conversion to digital to now LTE broadband communications.
- What are your specific interests or wireless areas of expertise? Public safety (Police, Fire, EMS) radio communications
- When did you join RCA? I became a member of RCA in 1999. I am a former member of the RCA Board of Directors, an RCA Fellow and Life Member.
- What caused you to join RCA? Fred Link encouraged me to become a member.
- Where do you live and work? I live and work in Ithaca, NY.
- Is there a specific benefit you hope to attain with RCA membership? I am at the end of my career but hope that sharing my interest in public safety radio communications and my membership in RCA will encourage others to become members of RCA.
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RCA You Tube Channel:
RCA Technical Symposiums:
Annual Banquet
The Annual Technical Symposium and Banquet is our opportunity to catch up on the latest wireless innovations, network with the movers and shakers in our industry, and honor our industry’s finest contributors. It is held every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, at alternating locations across the U.S. to ensure that all members get a chance to attend. In 2018 we will be meeting in New York City again at the Westin Hotel.
RCA Archives
Maintaining the history and the development of wireless communications.
RCA History
The history of our Club is one with which every member should be familiar.