New radio transmission system generates interest, pilot project

    BY MARCO LEAVITT
    THE BUSINESS REVIEW

    Richard Bamberger was in a rut.

    His bronze plaques proclaiming the age of historic houses to inquisitive pedestrians could be found all over town, but the founder of Erie Landmark Co. felt there had to be a better, more modern way of communicating.
    “The problem with plaques is there’s no room to say anything on them. People don’t stand and read them like that,” Bamberger said.

    So he teamed up with a local radio engineer to found a company, Landmark Audio Technologies, LLC that takes advantage of the Federal Communications Commission rules allowing the use of vacant radio frequencies.

    Bamberger’s partner, Donald Person, who is the co-owner of local recording studio Gentle Wind, designed a portable FM transmitter that can be tuned in by any commercial FM receiver.

    That’s a key advantage, according to Bamberger, since consumers will be using technology and it would be very inexpensive to replace a receiver.

    “It essentially creates a mini-radio station,” said Bamberger. Landmark offers a range of product lines that incorporate the same transmitter technology but with some modifications, including a mobile unit for tour guides. The technology can also be used in a fixed location, much like the bronze plaques that Bamberger originally offered.

    The pair would also like to market the devices to movie theaters as a way to offer assistance to the hearing impaired. Current technology often uses an infrared transmission system that can be easily interrupted by people walking around and blocking the signal, Bamberger said.

    The technology is also offered as a way for National Park Service and other entities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    The company is currently implementing its first pilot project, which will be used by the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center. The system will broadcast on 99.1 FM and offer information about exhibits that can be heard from about a quarter of a mile from the center’s downtown Albany location.

    A sample system has also been provided to the officials in New York City to test out in Central Park. The company is also in negotiations with the state Canal Corp. to broadcast information to boaters who must slowly make their way through the canal system’s locks.

    “Basically this is the same technology that is used in a full sized transmitter,” Person said. Almost every market has available channels, with the exception of Los Angeles, according to Person. Even New York City has 12, he said.

    Users, who are legally responsible for not causing interference with existing stations, are able to tune their own units to an available channel.