REVISED SYLLABUS FOR DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION

FOR PROMOTION FROM SEA TO AE

PAPER – I

BROADCAST ENGINEERING

Pattern of the question Paper:

Out of nine questions Six questions are to be answered inclusive of question No. 1 which is compulsory.
(Question No. 1 carries 20 marks and others carry 16 marks each)

1. Analog Electronics

a) Vaccum tubes: Characteristics of power triodes and tetrodes, klystrons and TWT.
b) Semi-conductor devices: Characteristics of general purpose diode and transistors, PIN
diode, Tunnel diode, Photo diode Varactordiode, Thyristors, FET, MOSFET, integrated
circuits, solid state microwave devices, circulators, isolators & wave guides.
c) DC Power supply : rectifier, voltage regulators, thyristor, control of voltage & switched
mode power supply. Thyristor controlled HT Rectififiers, Smoothing Circuits, Line Filters.
d) Amplifiers : Single stage transistor amplifier in CE, CB, CC configuration; Grounded Grid
Configuration, transistor biasing; transistors & stability; AF and RF small signal, large
signal multistage, and operational amplifiers and application, negative feed back in
amplifiers, Push Pull Amplifiers.
e) Network theory : AC circuit analysis; series and parallel tuned circuits; power and
impedance relations in the networks; network theory and application; two terminal and
four terminal networks; attenuators, filters & equalisers. Active filters-low pass, high pass
& band pass.
f) Oscillators : Basic requirements for sustaining oscillations; AF low distortion and RF
oscillators; frequency stability and crystal oscillators; Phase locked oscillator, monostable
and bistable multivibrators; blocking oscillators; schemitt trigger; wave shaping; time base
generators, synthesisers, mixer, phase comparator.
g) Modulation and demodulation : Fundamentals of AM/FM & Digital modulation, PDM, PSM
and power distribution in sidebands; frequency deviation & Bessel Zeros; various type of
detector circuits; phase discriminators & phase locked loops; capture & lock range in PLL
circuits.

2. Fibre Optic System

Optical Spectrum, Optical wave guide, Losses in optical fibres, Dispersion, Types of Optical
Fibres, Optical Sources; LED, LASER and Comparison of LED & LASER.

3. Fundamentals of Digital Technology & Computer

Number systems; fundamental of Boolean algebra; basic logic gates; combinational and
sequential logic circuits; registers; counters; semi-conductor memories; RAM, ROM, PROM,
EPROM, various logic families; multiplexer, demultiplexer, encoders & decoders, analogue to
digital and digital to analogue convertors. positive triggered and negative triggered latches,
Microprocessor & Micro Controller.

Syllabus SEA-AE 1 Revised - 2000

Bit rate, Baud rate, Bit error rate, sampling, quantization (uniform & non-uniform), Encoder,
Decoder Low pass filter, Audio/Video Compression Techniques, error correction codes, channel
coding, Digital modulation techniques, ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network)

Basic concepts/principles relating to Computer hardware, common application software

packages and internet application, etc.

4. Electronic Measurements

Measurement of current, voltage, power, impedance, frequency and associated test and
measuring instruments; cathode ray oscilloscope – its working and applications, spectrum
analyser, log units – dB, dBm, dBu, dBr, dB(v/m).

5. Radio wave propagation :

Radio frequency spectrum allocation for Sound & TV broadcasting in AIR & DD; mechanism of
propagation of Radio waves; ground, sky and space wave propagations; ionosphere & its role in
long distance communication, Fresnel Zone.

6. Satellite Broadcasting

Orbital concept, various types of orbit of satellite, Geo-stationary orbit, Look angle, range of the
satellite, concept of satellite communication, RF bands, concept & block diagram of transponder
of the satellite. uplink/down link chain, link Budget, eclipse, Analog cum digital SCPC, Satellite
Transmitter & receiver, SNG, Digital video broadcasting through satellite, IRD, DSNG.

Syllabus SEA-AE 2 Revised - 2000

 PAPER – II (A)

RADIO ENGINEERING

Pattern of the Question Paper :

Question I is compulsory (Covers Transmitter & Studio) (20 Marks).
Part I – Sound Transmitter & Aerial Systems contains 5 Questions (16 Marks each)
Part II – Sound Studio System contains 5 Questions (16 Marks each)
Candidate has to answer 5 questions from Part I & II selecting atleast 2 questions from each part.

Part 1) Sound Transmitter & Aerial Systems

1. Studio-transmitter Programme Linkage

Working principle and characteristics of Non-exchange Telephone/FM/Analog and digital

Microwave links.

2. Signal processing for input to the transmitter

Working principle and characteristics of equalisers. Importance of use of limiters and audio
processors for AM and FM transmitters. Working principle, characteristics, detailed block
diagram and line up procedure of AM/FM limiter.

3. Amplitude Modulated broadcast transmitters.

Amplitude Modulation Principles and Systems. RF and AF stages and their alignments Additional
features in New Generation AM Transmitters, grounded grid amplifier. Principles and working of
class ‘D’ operation and D.C.C. for improving efficiency of AM transmitters. Principles of PWM,
PSM and DSB. Combining and Diplexing of transmitters. Dummy Load, Cooling arrangements in
high power transmitter, Control systems in old and new generation transmitters. AC and DC
power supply systems for AM transmitters. Solid state PAs.

4. Transmitting aerials and feeders for AM broadcast transmitters.

Design consideration and characteristics of various types of transmitting aerials and feeders used
with MW and SW broadcast transmitters; impedance matching of feeders with aerials; ATU.
Diplexing and throw in problems, Directional antenna, beam changing.

Basic principles, fundamentals of transmission line, characteristic impedance, Types of losses in

transmission lines, standing wave ratio, reflection coefficient, quarter and half wave length lines;
Reactance properties of transmission lines, Impedance variation on mismatched transmission
line. Smith Chart and its use.

5. Frequency modulated VHF broadcast transmitters aerials.

Principles of Frequency Modulation. Noise consideration in FM. Pre-emphasis and De-emphasis

in FM transmitter. Block Diagram of FM Transmitter, New generation solid state transmitter.
Block diagram, characteristics and working of different sections of the FM transmitter. Control
Circuits, Characteristics of Pole/ Panel type Antenna and Feeder line used with the FM
Transmitter. Combiner, 3dB coupler, Directional Coupler, Power dividers and matching of
antenna. Use of Diplexer, Dehydrator. Remote operation of FM transmitter (Telemetry)

6. Power distribution and earthing arrangements at the transmitting stations :

Salient features of the sub-station and power supply distribution. Power, audio and RF earthing
consideration. Safety Devices.

Syllabus SEA-AE 3 Revised - 2000

7. Performance measurement on transmitters and aerials.

Standard measurement required to be carried out for checking the performance of AM and FM
radio broadcast transmitters and the condition of the aerial and feeder lines – their definitions,
tolerance limits including frequency deviation/spurious harmonics and test benches.

Part 2) Sound Studio Systems

1. Nature of Sound

Characteristics of the human ear; frequency and amplitude range; reverberation of sound in
enclosures;

2. Microphones

Working principle; characteristics and application of various type of microphones in radio

broadcasting. Cordless microphones, Stereo Microphones. Phantom Power Supply.

3. Loudspeakers

Types and characteristics of loudspeakers for quality monitoring and listening of sound, Near
Field Loudspeakers.

4. Recording/reproduction of sound

Principles of magnetic tape recording, Multi-track Recording, Stereo Recording, Console Tape
Recorder, R-DAT, CD Player, CD Writer, Principles of Hard disc based Audio Recording, editing
& playback. Concepts of Digital Audio compression. Turn Tables; their salient features,
operational & maintenance practices. Use of standard tapes for aligning magnetic recording
equipment. Use of standard CD for Audio measurements. Storage of recording media and
archival practices.

5. Sound Studios

Salient features of a typical sound studio set-up in AIR and the technical facilities provided
therein, audio schematic and signal levels in the studio chain of equipment; working principles
and characteristics of various type of amplifiers and audio mixers including multi function stereo
console. Audio Routine switcher, Active dubbing console, Phone in Equipment, Control of
Reverberation Time and noise in studio. Types of Acoustic Treatment and Artificial Reverberation
Time Generator.

6. Outside – broadcast

Salient features of the technical arrangements for coverage of outdoor events in the open and
auditorium; working principle and characteristics of equipment in the OB Van. Portable OB
recorders and mixers. PA system.

7. Reception of radio signals

Principles of AM and FM radio reception; characteristics of the domestic & communication

receivers.

8. Proformance measurements on sound equipment

Standard measurements required to be made on amplifiers, Mixers, Consoles, CD player,

magnetic tape recorders & radio receivers – their definitions, tolerance limits and test benches.

9. Programme Networking
Analog/Digital Captive Earth Station and RN Terminal and their performance measurements.

Syllabus SEA-AE 4 Revised - 2000

 PAPER – II (B)

TELEVISION ENGINEERING

Pattern of the Question Paper :

Question I is compulsory (Covers Transmitter & Studio) (20 Marks).
Part I – Television Transmitter, Aerial & Satellite Communication Systems contains 5 Questions
(16 Marks each)
Part II – Television Studio Systems contains 5 Questions (16 Marks each)
Candidate has to answer 5 questions from Part I & II selecting atleast 2 questions from each part.

Part 1) Television Transmitters, Aerials & Satellite Communication

Systems
1. Studio – transmitter programme link :

Working principle and characteristics of portable and fixed Studio Transmitter microwave links.

2. Signal processing for input to the transmitter

Working principles and characteristics of hum suppressors, stabilising amplifier and the video
precorrectors.

3. Type of Modulation in TV transmitters

Types of modulation for the vision and sound RF carriers both in Analogue and Digital
transmitters.

4. The High/Medium power VHF TV transmitters

Circuit considerations for the exciter stage of the vision and sound transmitters and for
stabilization of carrier frequency; modulation of intermediate frequency; vestigial sideband
shaping; power amplification of modulated vision and sound carrier; control, protective,
monitoring and rectifier circuits and the arrangement for cooling of thermonic tubes in the
transmitters; Solid State TV Transmitters including exciter, control and power amplifier stages;
diplexing of the vision and the sound transmitter output power; Dummy load; characteristics of the
high gain VHF/UHF antennae; arrangement for coupling the output power to the antennae; the
characteristics of the low loss RF feeder cable; power and the audio/video earthing
considerations.

5. The low and very low power VHF/UHF TV transmitters

The salient features of the LP/VLP TV transmitter equipment; characteristics of the transmitting
aerials used with such transmitters.

6. Satellite Communication

Various types of uplink systems (permanent Earth Station, TRACT Vans, SNG, DSNG);
Simulcast transmission. Calculation of Look Angles and Link Budget. Analogue/Digital, TVRO
terminal equipment (including PDA, Feed & LNBC, etc.).

7. Performance measurements

Standard measurements required to be carried out for checking the performance of TV

transmitters, microwave links and the TVRO terminal equipment, transmitting aerials, CNR
measurement of Uplink/Downlink Chain.

Syllabus SEA-AE 5 Revised - 2000

Part 2) Television Studio Systems

1. TV Studio

a) Salient features of a typical TV studio; video and audio schematic.

b) The station synch pulse generator; block schematic of colour TV camera chain; working
principles and characteristics of photo conductive plumbicon and the saticon tubes; TV
camera optics; view finder; camera control; processing and encoding of video signal.
Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) Cameras, Digital Cameras, Merits of CCD cameras over
tube type Camera.
c) The working principles of a vertical interval switcher; the switch matrix and the crosspoint;
principle of mixing of video signals; vision mixer configurations; pattern generation;
chroma keying and digital video effects; principle of genlocking and digital storage for
timing remote signals into a system.
d) Characteristics of lamps and fittings used for lighting in TV studios; the colour
temperature of the light; light-level requirements, construction and working of light
temperature meter and light level meters, Cold lights.
e) Working principles of CCD telecine and the associated continuous motion film projector;
sound on film and its reproduction; the frame store.
f) Characteristics of various types of microphones used for pickup of TV sound and typical
sound mixing desk required for TV applications.
g) Principles of timing a colour studio system for ensuring synchronism of vision sources at
a mixing point.

2. Video Tape Recording

Principles of magnetic tape recording of television signal, helical video tape recording formats;
block schematic of a typical helical VTR; functional details of the tape transport, control system,
servo system, video and audio signal processing circuits in helical VTR; timing errors in helical
VTRs; working principles of digital time base corrector; electronic editing of video recordings;
characteristics of video tapes and cassettes and their handling.

Betacam S.P., Digital VCRs. Various storage devices for video, concepts of video digital
compression, Non linear editing systems. Paint Box for video graphics. Digital video library
system.

3. TV Receiver

Block schematic of a colour TV receiver; working principles, sections of the modern colour TV
receiver.

4. Outside broadcasts

Working principles and characteristics of TV OB Van and the microwave link equipment;
arrangement for TV coverage of outdoor events.

Performance measurements

Standard test and measurements required to be performed on video; impairment of video signals
– their definitions, tolerance limits methods of testing and the test benches.

Syllabus SEA-AE 6 Revised - 2000

 PAPER – III

GENERAL SUBJECTS

Pattern of the question Paper:

Out of nine questions Six questions are to be answered inclusive of question No. 1 which is compulsory.
(Question No. 1 carries 20 marks and others carry 16 marks each)

1. Safety precautions including First aid, etc. and Fire fighting.

a) General information on safety, electricity rules, fire fighting equipment and first-
aid equipment etc.
b) Various safety precautions as detailed in section (1) of AIR Manual of Safety
precautions.
c) Safety precautions against electrical hazards as detailed in Section (2) of the
Manual referred to above.
d) Non-electrical hazards.
e) Fire hazards.
f) First-aid, artificial respiration etc.
g) Reporting procedure for accidents and thefts.

2. Store purchase rules,

Stores, indents and purchases, receipt and issue, management of the stores, transit
insurance, surplus, defective and unserviceable stores-disposal thereof, inventory control
of transmitting tubes and other spares.

3. Principles of Power Supply systems, Air-conditioning and ventilation and Diesel

Generators :

a) Power Supply Distribution System(HT/LT Panel) Power factor and power factor
correction, Types of HT/LT cables; Power supply systems operation and
maintenance thereof. OCB, MOCB, ACB & VCB, Power Supply Safety devices,
Over current, Earth fault, Series/Shunt trip coils, IDMT relay, Single phase
preventer, etc.
b) Internal combustion engines, principles, operation and maintenance thereof.
Alternators, types of excitation. Governor and parallel operation of diesel
generators.
c) Various type AC plants, principles, operation and maintenance. Psychometric
Charts. Airflow & tonnage calculation.
d) Batteries, AC to DC conversion equipment, principles, operation and
maintenance thereof, invertors, convertors & UPS, CVT, SMPS, AVR Isolation
Transformers.

4. Installation/Projects

a) Site selection of AIR/DD projects.

b) Transmitter Installation.

Syllabus SEA-AE 7 Revised - 2000

 c) Studio installation.
d) AC Plants and Diesel Generator.
e) Use of measuring instruments like, Theodolite, Field Strength meter, Vector
impedance bridge (VIM), Operating Impedance Bridge (OIB), Site Master, Side
band Analyser, Spectrum Analyser, Audio Analyser, Sound level meters.
f) Monitoring of project and installation activities.
g) Extensive measurements, Joint Inspection, handing over of project.
h) Earthing/shielding and earth resistance measurements.
i) Maintenance of Accounts, Stores, Purchase and disposal.
j) Various installation registers.
k) Field Strength and Reception Survey
l) Completion Report.

5. Station Management

a) Leadership and Supervision : Nature of Leadership, Leadership Style.

b) Communication : Communication Process, Barriers of Communication,
Semantics of communication, Body Language, Listening.
c) Inter-personal Relations.
d) Conduct Rules, Discipline Rules and Fundamental Rules.
e) Budget Management

f) Security concepts.

Syllabus SEA-AE 8 Revised - 2000