Radiovana

Jun 30, 2025

Radiovana

RAYMOND, ME. — Radio Engineers Unite For Learning at ‘Radiovana’ | Radio & Television Business Report  By: Adam Jacobson

Surrounded by pines and just north of bucolic Sebago Lake lies a major broadcast tower manufacturing company that’s a subsidiary of Sinclair Inc. Here, Dielectric has carved itself a significant portion of the antenna structure business. Achieving growth has come with various partnerships, and these partner companies came together to share their relationships and product highlights for Radio at a two-day “Radiovana” event that saw the industry’s top engineers participate in the learning and networking sojourn in Maine’s lakes region.

Thursday morning saw representatives from SCMS, known for a variety of products ranging from marker lights to microphones, and its SoleSource Wireless division, which focuses on wireless broadband and in-building wireless solutions. In 2024, SCMS became the sole distributor for FM products for Dielectric, handling its antennas, transmission lines and RF systems. And at Radiovana, it shared the message that it also offers custom furniture to Radio, as seen with Lotus Communications’ Seattle studios. SCMS also noted that since 2017 it has served as the exclusive sales representative to GeoBroadcast Services for MaxxCasting.

Following the SCMS presentation, and ahead of a tour of Dielectric’s nearby manufacturing facility, GatesAir VP of Product Line Management Ted Lantz offered a wide-ranging presentation that touched on such topics as tube replacement and its GX low power transmitters and exciters. Lantz’s focus areas are on TV, Radio and Intraplex.

The morning sessions followed a Wednesday that saw attendees hear the latest on remote control broadcasting technologies from Burk Technology; RingMaster Antenna; American Tower and Vertical Bridge; and the test results for a 10-channel combiner and antenna with Manifold Video in the main lodge where the 50 or so participants gathered for the meeting sessions. After the presentations, boating and kayak preceded a  lobster bake.

Thursday’s presentations concluded with Ring360 Antenna, ahead of a visit to Dielectric for HFSS Pattern Studies on AI & Drone; FM Water Column Load and OptiLoad; a 13-station manifold in an RF lab; and the RFHAWKEYE product. The Ring360 received much attention, with master FM antennas a big topic of interest for those in attendance. Top mounting the omnidirectional ring antennas was a key task in its development, while keeping it economical was also a big need. Development of the ring antenna didn’t come without complications, but the helical nature of the antenna yielded the ultimate path for bringing the product to market. The patent-pending designed brought audible “wows” from attendees, as a nest-like structure took shape. Costs permeated much of the conversation, with tariffs leading to above MSRP pricing for one vendor but did not lead the buyer to refrain from moving forward with the purchase.

And, as expected, the engineers on hand had plenty of tech-heavy questions answered by the pros, from GUIs to ‘XD’ all part of the discussions that wrapped on June 4 with the Dielectric tour.

Dielectric President Keith Pelletier, who in April celebrated three years in the role as President of the broadcast tower company acquired by Sinclair Inc. in 2013, played host for Radiovana.