AntennaFest is Back!
Join SBE Chapter 37, Washington DC for AntennaFest 2026, a full day event celebrating antenna systems, combining, and all things RF.
AntennaFest 2025 covered many aspects of shared transmission site technology. Building on the feedback from attendees and presenters last year, we heard there was much more to learn and people eager to continue doing so.
AntennaFest 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6th from 9 am to 6 pm at WETA Headquarters in Shirlington, VA. Representatives from several companies will discuss varying topics including combining, troubleshooting, and monitoring antenna and transmission systems, and addressing variables and constraints unique to every project.
Several expert presenters have been lined up to educate and demonstrate solutions to common issues, including:
- Jeff Welton, Regional Sales Manager for Nautel, will give us a quick education on RF basics including transmitter power output (TPO), effective radiated power (ERP), line and filter loss, antenna gain, power handling capabilities, and considerations to be made when broadcasting in HD before diving into site grounding best practices.
- David Gates, President and CEO of Cesium Communications, will take us through the equipment and techniques used to generate and interpret antenna and line sweeps, and give us some basic troubleshooting steps to help us determine if a system is functioning as intended.
- Cory Edwards, Sales Manager for Dielectric, will highlight unique, forward-looking antenna & combiners optimized to future proof designs and help support aging infrastructure in the broadcast industry. Leading consultants in the industry will discuss recent projects and share details from planning to the installed results.
- Brian Kaplon, Director of Commercial Sales at South-Tek Systems, will contemplate the benefits and drawbacks pressurization with nitrogen vs dry air, as well as touch on pressurization monitoring and tips for successful, consistent results.
- Nicholas Paulin, Vice President, RF Engineering at Electronics Research, Inc. will discuss antenna pattern design as it pertains to both single frequency as well as combined antennas.
- Steve Wilde, President at SWE Services, LLC & American Amplifier Technologies, LLC / Shively Labs and Kathrein-Scala, will demonstrate real-time fault monitoring & protective systems utilizing AAT's EmPower VNA system as well as interlock best practices.
- Dan Glavin, Senior Manager, Broadcast Business Development at American Tower Corporation, will speak on master antenna design considerations. Topics include design criteria, antenna, line, combiners, monitoring, tower mounting, and measurement examples. He will also discuss the master antenna standards ATC has adopted and the operational and financial benefits of being part of a master antenna installation.
- Alex Perchevitch, President of Jampro Antennas, Inc. will discuss the implications and effects of broadband vs full band antenna systems.
We'll cap the day off with a discussion on AM multiplexing, moderated by Gary Cavell, Senior Director of the Cavell Mertz Spectrum Division of Capitol Airspace Group. Gary's guest panelists, including Tom King (Kintronic Labs), Kurt Gorman (Phasetek), and Ben Dawson (Hatfield & Dawson) will speak about past and current projects, best practices, pitfalls to avoid and considerations when co-locating multiple AM broadcasters.
Afterwards, come socialize with your colleagues at Astro Beer Hall, just across the street from WETA Headquarters. Enjoy a drink and fabulous conversation courtesy of our sponsors, including American Amplifier Technologies, American Tower Corporation, Cesium Communications, Dielectric, Electronics Research Inc, GatesAir, Jampro Antennas, Nautel, SCMS, South-Tek Systems, and SBE Chapter 37. Discuss your upcoming projects, existing issues, or just relax and enjoy yourself in the company of others in the industry.
Please note that this is a free event, and will be in-person only, as our presenters have graciously agreed to travel and come together to make this event a success. Participation will be limited to a maximum of 90 attendees, so please Register Here before seats fill up.
Special thanks again to South-Tek Systems, SCMS, Nautel, Jampro Antennas, GatesAir, Electronics Research Inc, Dielectric, Cesium Communications, American Tower Corporation, and American Amplifier Technologies for generously sponsoring this event in conjunction with SBE Chapter 37, providing lunch at no charge to all attendees, and contributing to the cocktail reception afterwards. Also thanks to WETA for the use of their facilities to host the event. Free parking is available in the WETA garage.
SBE Chapter 37 would also like to thank Vertical Technology Services and Sublight Engineering PLLC for their generous sponsorship of the technical costs to keep the chapter running for 2026.
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         South-Tek Systems
WETA TV & FM - Register Here
Who: Gary Cavell, Brian Kaplon, Jeff Welton, Nick Paulin, David Gates, Cory Edwards, Dan Glavin, Steve Wilde, and Alex Perchevitch
What: AntennaFest 2026
When: October 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Address:
3939 Campbell Avenue
Arlington,
VA
22206
United States
Sponsors: American Amplifier Technologies
, American Tower Corporation
, Cesium Communications
, Dielectric
, Electronics Research Inc
, GatesAir
, Jampro Antenna
, Nautel
, SCMS
, and South-Tek Systems
Free parking is available in the WETA garage. Simply park in any space not marked "Reserved."
There are numerous places to dine within walking distance of WETA. Check out The Village at Shirlington for more info.
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