GatesAir has introduced GatesAir Care, a new managed services program designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled RF resources and services in the global broadcast industry.
The GatesAir Care program, available immediately, offers service level agreements (SLAs) through three support plans: Elite, Signature, and Standard. These plans aim to address the growing gap in engineering skills as experienced RF engineers retire.
Tiered Support Plans
Each tier includes a set number of services, with higher tiers offering more comprehensive support. The Standard tier includes extended warranties, discounted spare parts, and preventative maintenance visits to ensure transmitters and RF systems remain in optimal condition. The Signature and Elite tiers offer additional services such as installation and commissioning, 24/7 remote maintenance and monitoring, and live onsite technical support for major broadcast events.
Challenges in RF Engineering Expertise
Raymond Miklius, Vice President of Technology at GatesAir, highlighted the challenge of finding skilled RF engineers as veteran engineers retire. “Most young engineers today have strong IT skills but limited RF expertise. GatesAir Care was developed to address these concerns and ensure proper maintenance of RF systems,” said Miklius.
Scalability and Crisis Management
GatesAir Care can scale to meet the needs of broadcasters of different sizes, including those in smaller markets with fewer engineering resources. The program also offers options for crisis team deployment and disaster recovery services for emergencies such as severe weather.
Focus on Operational Efficiency
Mark Goins, Vice President of Global Sales at GatesAir, emphasized that the GatesAir Care program aligns with the industry’s focus on operational efficiency. “The RF engineering landscape has changed rapidly in the past 12-18 months. GatesAir Care provides broadcasters with experienced support staff, ensuring consistent and responsive service tailored to each customer’s needs,” said Goins.
About GatesAir
GatesAir, founded in 1922 and headquartered in Mason, Ohio, provides comprehensive solutions for over-the-air radio and television broadcasting. The company specializes in leveraging wireless spectrum to optimize performance for multichannel, mission-critical services. GatesAir’s product range includes transmitters, STL codecs, multiplexers, and digital audio transport systems, among other broadcasting solutions.
News source: https://www.gatesair.com/media-center/news/gatesair-care-program-addresses-rf-engineering-gaps-in-broadcast-industry
