The US National Football League (NFL) has awarded Anritsu Co. a $500,000 contract to supply it with 36 MS2721B Spectrum Master™ handheld spectrum analyzers. The NFL’s Game Day Frequency Coordinators (GDC) will use the MS2721B spectrum analyzers to research, troubleshoot and analyze the RF spectrum at the league’s 32 stadiums before, during and after games.
The MS2721B units for the NFL are configured with interference analysis and channel scanner options to ensure that the GDCs efficiently coordinate the approximately 400 or more frequencies used at each stadium during a regular season NFL game. RF is used by team coaches to communicate with players on the field, all broadcast TV and radio entities, medical teams, team security and public safety.
“Wireless communications usage has increased greatly since the league first implemented GDCs at Super Bowl XXX,” said Jay Gerber, manager of the NFL Frequency Organization Group. “We also had to consider the ever-shrinking RF spectrum as a result of Digital TV and re-allocation of frequencies. Recognizing these factors, we wanted to provide our GDCs with the instruments they need to do the job effectively. The Anritsu MS2721B analyzer has proven to be a great tool to ensure they locate and resolve any RF conflict.”
Among the determining factors cited in the selection were the MS2721B’s large bright display, 1 Hz resolution and memory that allows up to 1,000 preset measurements to be stored. Anritsu also agreed to provide training to all of the NFL’s GDCs and assist in customizing the frequency standards required by the NFL in coordinating Game Day activities.