Introduction  |  Details  |  Specifications  |   Manuals  |  White Papers

Second Generation System For IFB Cueing
Using The Economical, Reliable PRO

MSI revolutionized IFB cueing with the PROceiver and first generation PRO Channel Generator. Now the PCG-II delivers a quantum improvement in PRO channel performance.

The PCG-II is designed to operate as a complete system with the MSI PRO-II second generation PRO channel receiver. In addition to the money saving benefits and reliability of the PRO, the PCG-II provides a significantly greater signal-to-noise ratio than any other PRO channel technology, increased coverage, multipath reduction and two new features: selective calling and main channel pushdown.

ENG users are already praising the enhanced features of the PCG-II for it's headache-free, reliable, high-quality performance. And on-air personnel--your most critical IFB users--applaud the improved sound. In fact, with the new main channel pushdown feature, on-air talent prefer the MSI PRO channel system over cellular phones.

Full Range Of Second Generation Features

• Engineered specifically for PRO channel operation.
• Crystal-controlled subcarrier and CTCSS frequency for stability and reliability.
• High efficiency audio processing and communications-style preemphasis improves signal-to-noise ratio.
• Superior intelligibility and increased coverage.
• Compatible with all TV stereo generators and aural exciters monaural as well as stereo.
• Can be used with any transmitter and diplexer/filterplexer, even if not stereo-compatible.
• Compatible with all brands and generations of PRO receivers.
• Built-in selective calling and main channel pushdown.
• DC control lines not required for selective calling.
• Full remote control capability.
• Built-in modulation meter.

Selective Calling
With the new PCG-II it is possible, for the first time, to send cues (interrupts) to one ENG crew while other active crews continue to receive a full frequency response, low distortion main channel program feed (the foldback part of IFB).

The time tested, robust, two-way industry standard CTCSS (Continuous Tone Controlled Squelch System) provides for up to 16 unique addresses. The PRO-II receiver can be assigned to any of 16 channels or to "all-listen," so as many receivers as needed can be at any single address.

The hardware interface for this unique selective calling can be set up in two ways. Where the PCG-II is located in the same facility as the news operation, local control is the most practical. For this set-up, all of the encoding oscillators and filters are employed in the PCG-II. A four line binary code (one of 16) is provided to the noise immune opto-isolators to be encoded. Another opto-isolator activates addressing; the push-to-talk function.

If the transmitter is remote controlled at a distant site, providing real-time control signals can be inconvenient and expensive. In this case, the CTCSS tones can be mixed with the interrupt cue anywhere in the system--typically, in the intercom. Single channel CTCSS encoders are available (for under $35 each) from MSI or two-way radio equipment vendors. Since the CTCSS tones employed are between 71 and 142 Hz, any program channel can be used to carry the cue/interrupt feed from the studio to the transmitter site. For studio operation, a set of filters splits the voice signal and routes it through audio processing, while the CTCSS tones bypass the processing and are summed with the after-processing voice channel.

Main Channel Pushdown
Main channel pushdown, unique in the PCG-II, is not only preferred by on-air personnel but makes the MSI PRO system easy to listen to for long periods without ear fatigue while insuring that cues won't be missed.

The pushdown feature uses the CTCSS selective call function. If a receiver is not addressed, it can be set so that the main channel program is fed to its IFB output. In the absence of any cue/interrupt, the user hears a low distortion, low noise, full audio bandwidth main channel program. This is much easier on the ears than a program signal which has been processed and filtered to produce telephone quality--and far superior to cellular phone quality, which can be even more fatiguing over long periods of time.

When a cue/interrupt is sent, the level of the main channel feed is automatically reduced (pushed-down) a preset amount and the cue is heard at full level. Since the cue information is processed and filtered to produce telephone quality, it presents a strong, attention-grabbing audible contrast to the full range program audio being overridden and cues are unlikely to be missed.

Aggressive Audio Processing
A weak link in many PRO channel systems is the audio processing, which can make the difference between effective, cost-saving IFB and a system that no one wants to use. Audio processing in the PCG-II is as vital as the non-intercarrier detection incorporated into the MSI PROceiver-II.

The audio processing incorporated into the PCG-II is aggressive and bandwidth limited. It's a two-band processor designed to maximize speech intelligibility in a limited bandwidth channel. Audio bandwidth is limited: 300 Hz-3 kHz. The speech compressor operates with a 40:1 ratio, while preemphasis is a steady 6 dB per octave rise, starting at the lowest frequency, 300 Hz.

The PCG-II's processing is vastly different than that employed in standard broadcast-quality transmission. The result is a significant improvement in intelligibility and coverage over the PRO channel technologies.

Across-The-Board Compatibility
Transmitters
The PCG-II is a stand alone unit that works with any TV transmitter, stereo or monaural, whether stereo-capable or not. The bandwidth of the diplexer/filterplexer does not affect the use of the PRO channel generator. Compensation for restricted RF bandwidth is also available in the generator.

Even if your aural exciter does not include a wideband input, chances are MSI has the modification information for it. A quick call to us will put that information at your fingertips.

Stereo Generators
Most TV stereo generators include an input connector for an external SAP and/or PRO generator. The MSI Television Stereo Generator (TSG) includes both, as well as front panel metering for their injection levels.

The output of the PCG-II generator is compatible with all PRO and SAP inputs on stereo generators. If your stereo generator has no external input available, the PCG-II generator may be connected by using the wideband composite loop-thru circuit.

Other PRO Receivers
Using the PCG-II with any make of PRO receiver will significantly improve overall system intelligibility and coverage. Actual field measurements have shown more than 10 dB improvement in the apparent signal-to-noise ratio over other PRO channel generators, regardless of receiver brand. The improved SNR results in expanded coverage for the PRO system.

The PCG-II is designed to work as a system with the second generation PRO-II receiver. When the two are used together, the PRO system benefits from non-intercarrier detection and reduction of chroma interference through the PRO-II's SAW filter. In addition, the unique Selective Call and Main Channel Pushdown features are only available when the two are used together.

Full Range Of Features
Crystal-Controlled Subcarrier Generator
The subcarrier frequency of the PCG-II is tightly controlled for the stability and purity that only a quartz crystal can impart. In practical terms, this translates into long-term system reliability and a cueing/IFB system that can be counted on to perform in critical situations.

Built-In Modulation Monitor
A peak-reading subcarrier deviation meter is built into the PCG-II PRO Channel Generator. This measures the deviation of the 102.3 kHz carrier by PRO channel modulation. Independent tests have shown this design to be more accurate than an external modulation monitor, providing an additional cost savings for the user.