Wow what a difference a year makes! Last year's NAB conference attendance was noticeably less than the previous year in 2008, but if you saw 2010's exhibition just a few weeks ago in Las Vegas, you would never know the economy was still trying to pull itself out of the doldrums. Booths were bustling with innovation and foot traffic from all around the globe. It's times like these when you witness such an explosion of creativity and fresh communications solutions that you silently applaud companies - big and small, international and domestic - for their belief and investment in the future.

Yet companies would not have anything to market, sell or boast about without enthusiastic clients like Mr. Garcia, who have a clear vision of where they want their station or group of stations to be in the next 1-5 years. So we applaud all the engineers, GMs and PDs who are exploring and embracing cutting edge technology to maximize programming efficiency.

Sometimes the marketplace itself is the inspiration to change and change for the better. It's no secret that phone companies are dismantling ISDN lines left and right, and, due to low profit margins, execs are counting the days down until the technology is obsolete. That is why the time is now - not next year or the year after - to seriously contemplate what IP can do for you and just how flexible and easy it is.

At CCS/Musicam USA and our sister company Prodys, we understand that the transition to IP is different for every station, depending on needs - and broadband capabilities, which vary from country to country. That's why we were the first to unveil the RoadWarrior portable codec that combines ISDN and IP. As client needs and the marketplace evolved, so did we. And we're happy to report the feedback from the new RoadWarrior XL was fantastic at NAB.

The lightweight RoadWarrior XL is portable and can broadcast your remote in IP with 3G network access via a USB modem or ISDN. For those transitioning to IP - the ISDN failover is a unique safety net. Plus it has four line inputs, which go very quickly when you consider show hosts and guests or multiple reporters on a scene. It can also be shared between two stations - yes, two stations broadcasting different content simultaneously through one unit. We love to hear how station groups are sharing (amicably!) resources for their AM and FM stations. Here's the rundown of RoadWarrior XL highlights:

Configurable and scalable system to optimize link for low delay, jitter, and utilization Built-in four channel mixer 4 Mic/Line inputs & 1 line input and 4 headphone outputs IP, 3G/3.5G (optional), PSTN and ISDN communications ISDN failover option Compressor/limiter for Program Channel Configuration presets for various users FEC (Forward Error Correction) and 'Error Concealment' to eliminate the impact of packet losses CCS NAT Transversal Streaming Protocol permits router firewall pass-through with zero configuration Optional battery with charge and status indications User profiles for different talent operation Meets all initial standards for IP compatibility of the EBU group: SIP/SAP/SDP/RTP

Ikusnet gives YOU - the radio and television station engineers, PDs, GMs and News Directors - the flexibility to broadcast live video when, where and how you want it. And who doesn't like calling the shots? Plus for television stations spending bundles on ENG trucks (OB Vans), you can finally start deleting this hefty expense from your budget. You also won't need to fret over satellite availability - all you need wired or wireless connectivity. Plus the quality of audio and video is unparalleled. Ikusnet's encoder/decoder process monitors the link quality for best data rate and adjusts accordingly automatically. If you prefer working via the sat connection, Ikusnet works with both the Internet and satellite. Primary features include:

MUSICAM HAPPENINGS...WE PUT THE 'IP' IN 'VIP ACCESS'!!

The first live remote of "The Political Chick" on CBS' Chat About It online radio network was broadcast March 22nd using the RoadWarrior. The one-hour program aired from an MBA classroom at Villanova University in Pennsylvania with audio pumping back via IP (MPEG II algorithm) to the studios in New York City. If you want to sample the program audio, check it out at http://chataboutit.com/political-chick-live-from-villanova-episode-29/ . As the month of March came to a close, the RoadWarrior XL and morning hosts on Fresh 102.7 FM in New York City headed to Aruba for a couple days of broadcasting by the Caribbean Sea. Guests of the Marriott Resort drifted in and out of the remote area to chat up all things fabulous about Aruba between Bloody Marys and breakfast. Our IP and ISDN products were also piping details of every birdie and eagle swung by golf greats during the 2010 Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA. If you are already a Suprima or RoadWarrior client, don't forget to download the latest software upgrade version 6.2.5 and the release notes. Visit www.musicamusa.com and click on "Support," then click onto either "Suprima Support" and "Suprima Software Upgrades" or "RoadWarrior Support" and "RoadWarrior Software Upgrades." Check out all the latest features such as Forward Error Correction V4 and Error Concealment for MPEG compression algorithms. Do you have any Primas at your station(s)? If so, you can upgrade to IP with our Suprima with minimal cost and maximum ease (has ISDN backup too). Call us at 732-739-5600 and we will walk you through every step of the process. It's simple and extremely cost-effective.

TAKE THE IP PLUNGE, OR ADD TO YOUR ARSENAL Whether you are at the exploration stage of IP or distributing content to a network of affiliates from a remote site, CCS/Musicam USA will customize an IP solution tailored to your specific needs and provide you with a complimentary IP education, A to Z! Call 1-732-739-5600, visit www.musicamusa.com or email info@musicamusa.com.