News Archive

• Trouble with Wireless Microphones? Please report any wireless microphone trouble you are having to our TEC audiovisual engineers. See press release below.
  
  Shure Raises Concern Over FCC ‘White Spaces’ Decision
  Company Applauds Industry Support and Commits to Work With Customers to Protect Wireless Microphone Transmissions
  NILES, IL, November 4, 2008 — The Federal Communications Commission today voted to allow technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Dell, and Motorola to produce “white spaces” devices that will use the same radio frequency (RF) spectrum now being used by wireless microphone systems. Final text of the rules is not yet available, but the order is purported to greatly reduce the amount of clear spectrum available for use by professional audio and communications equipment.
  The Commission adopted certain important elements of Shure’s recent wireless microphone interference protection plan. However, Shure is concerned that, despite technical evidence to the contrary, the Commission’s action opens the door to a new breed of wireless gadgetry that relies on unproven technology as a safeguard against interference to wireless microphones. Shure is also concerned that the Commission did not reserve an appropriate number of channels for flawless operation of wireless microphone equipment and did not address several important issues necessary to ensure a robust geolocation-based database for protection of large scale events, as the Company had proposed.
  “While not unexpected, today’s FCC decision will greatly complicate the lives of wireless microphone users across the United States and negatively affect tens of millions of Americans listening to live and broadcast events,” said Mark Brunner, Shure’s Senior Director, Global Public and Industry Relations. “In over four years of activity, including numerous written comments, technical submissions to and meetings with the FCC, Shure has highlighted that wireless microphones, monitor systems, and intercoms are essential production tools in modern music, theater, broadcast, sports, corporate, hotel, convention, education, and house of worship environments. Often supported by their representatives in Congress, these communities have voiced their concerns throughout this proceeding.
  It is worth noting that in just the past week, over 50 members of Congress including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D, NY) and voices as significant and diverse as Pastor Rick Warren, Dolly Parton, Guns N Roses, the Grand Ole Opry, the Shubert Theater Organization, Harrah’s Entertainment, the American Federation of Musicians, the Country Music Association, The Recording Academy, the NFL, NASCAR, the NBA and other major sports leagues – among many others -- called on the FCC to protect their ability to communicate with their numerous and diverse audiences through wireless microphones. Unfortunately, even a chorus this strong could not alter the vote.”
  
  “While we have several options regarding our next steps, Shure’s first obligation is to its customers,” said Sandy LaMantia, Shure President and CEO. “In anticipation of this ruling, Shure has been working diligently on technologies and technical support programs that will enable wireless microphone operators to be successful in a more complicated interference environment. Shure has been the leader on the “white spaces” issue and we will continue to lead in the wireless microphone area going forward.
  Although the outcome is not ideal, we are thankful for the outpouring of support for our initiatives from thousands of individuals in the arts and the audio production community. Additionally, we are grateful for the backing of many members of Congress, particularly Congressmen Bobby Rush (D) and Mark Kirk (R) of Illinois, who have taken a strong leadership stance on the protection of incumbent operations. Without these voices, the importance of wireless microphones and related audio equipment may have been completely overlooked in this proceeding.”
  
• TEC President Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
  Members receive awards at NSCA Membership Breakfast
  CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, June 18, 2008 — NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson presented awards to winners of the Educator of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Volunteer of the Year this morning at the Annual Meeting of the Membership and Industry Forum.

  Craig Thompson, president of Thompson Electronics Company, received NSCA’s Per Haugen Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of dedication, leadership and service to NSCA, including the NSCA Past President and Board of Directors and Education Foundation Board of Directors.

  AE Systems President Randy Vaughan received the 2007 NSCA Educator of the Year award. He was also lauded for his service and dedication to the NSCA Board of Directors from 1997 – 2008. Brian Cline, principal of Cline & Associates, Inc., was tapped for the 2007 Volunteer of the Year award. Cline has contributed many hours of service to the NSCA and the NSCA Consultants’ Council, serving as the council’s chairman from 2005-2007.“

  “All three men exemplify the vision and spirit of NSCA to a tee,” said NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson. “Their service and dedication to our association is outstanding and much appreciated. These awards are a small way for us to recognize their generosity and success.”

  About NSCA
  NSCA is the leading not-for-profit association representing the commercial electronic systems industry. With more than 2,500 member companies worldwide, the National Systems Contractors Association is a powerful advocate of all who work within the low-voltage industry, including systems contractors/integrators, product manufacturers, consultants, sales representatives, architects, specifying engineers and other allied professionals. NSCA is dedicated to serving contractor members and all channel stakeholders through education, advocacy, outreach and member services. NSCA University offers a variety of courses on topics such as project management, business, sales, design and technical knowledge. Courses are delivered through a variety of methods including conferences, regional trainings, online learning and webinars. NSCA works in conjunction with a variety of industry partners to provide relevant and meaningful education and certification programs. It also provides leading industry research and market intelligence, insurance solutions, the industry’s most comprehensive manual of practice, Essentials of Systems Integration™ and other business tools. For more information, visit www.nsca.org.

• June 2008 - HHRs added to TEC Vehicle Fleet - "Cool and Useful"
  ”Cool” is saving money. Saving money is very “Useful.” Instead of passing high fuel cost on to their customers, Thompson Electronics Company (TEC) is hoping the cost-cutting idea to move toward smaller versions of utility service vehicles could save customers money and keep prices steady.
  
  “Three years ago 75% of our fleet was large to medium size utility vans, getting OK gas mileage. The effectiveness in gas cost savings of the new fuel-economy vehicles will be a huge benefit” said Todd England, TEC operations manager. England indicated they started scaling down vehicles in 2006 with their Fire Alarm Inspectors vehicles when they purchased three new Scions that touted 30 miles to the gallon. This year by adding four new Chevrolet HHR’s TEC has almost half of the fleet touting “Cool Can Be Useful. Useful Can Be Cool.” (1)
  (1) Chevrolet HHR slogan
  
  

• March 2008 - TEC Demonstrates Courtroom Digital Recording to Nigerians
  Marvin Mathews, a Thompson Electronics Company (TEC) project manager, recently met with the chief and associate judges from Nigeria to tour the Peoria County Courthouse and demonstrate how digital recording technology is being used in the courtroom.
  
  TEC, which has provided digital recording technology to several Illinois county courts, installed the system at the Peoria County Courthouse in 2006. The technology is used in tandem with video arraignment and all regular court proceedings.
  
  TEC audio experts are working with a worldwide solutions consultant retained by the Nigerian courts to provide them with digital audio recording software and systems.
  
  Matthews said the Nigerian judges were interested in seeing first-hand how the recording software is being used, along with pros and cons of transition from conventional reporting to digital. While touring the courtroom of Peoria Judge Joe R. Vespa, the Nigerian guests asked Vespa’s opinion of the technology and how he utilized it. They also observed a video arraignment with Peoria Chief Judge Stuart Borden presiding. Video arraignment allows two-way video and audio communication from the courthouse to the Peoria County jail.
  
  The Nigerian judges are currently testing FTR 3.3 digital recording software purchased from TEC. They have expressed interest in rolling out the technology to additional courts in their country.

• February 2008 – TEC Partners on Mass Notification System
  As part of a GE Strategic Partnership, Thompson Electronics Company (TEC) fire team experts are working with GE Security to develop products that will meet future regulatory requirements for Mass Notification Systems.TEC is currently installing an EST3 Fireworks emergency evacuation system in three buildings at the Bradley University campus in Peoria, IL. Additional buildings may be added to create a comprehensive crisis notification system for the entire campus. The project is also a beta site for GE Security to test Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) paging over fiber optics. The system includes unified mass notification and event management. In an emergency, EST3 has integrated audio that can broadcast multiple audio instructions, view live CCTV and disarm access egress or lock down buildings for full control of crisis situations.

• November 2007 - Galesburg School District Chooses TEC for Security UpgradesThompson Electronics Company (TEC) recently assisted Galesburg Community Unit School District #205 in addressing security and surveillance concerns.
  
  The initial phase of the project included a campus-wide blanketing of Galesburg High School with both indoor and outdoor camera surveillance. This digital surveillance recording system offers administrators monitoring access via Internet browsing tools. Lombard Middle School also received a similar surveillance system during the initial phase that provides both indoor and outdoor monitoring.
  
  In phase two of the project, the district added secured access to strategic entrances throughout the high school campus. Both hardware- and software-driven technologies provide increased security during and after the school’s daily operating hours. The software used for access control provides administrators with detailed usage for all security cardholders and an activity log for all entrances integrated into the system.
  
  For additional security, the district chose TEC to design and install a secured Visitor Entry system for the majority of its facilities. The systems installed at the main school entrances use a surveillance camera in conjunction with a two-way intercom for office staff to greet and screen visitors entering the facility.
  
  TEC has consulted and integrated security for numerous other Central Illinois schools and continues to work with administrators to address security issues as their needs evolve.

• May 2007 - TEC Designs " Outside of the Box” Solution
  At Oncology Hematology Associates of Central Illinois (OHACI) healthcare professionals care for patients with cancer and blood diseases. For optimal care and state-of-the-art cancer treatments, physicians must have the proper medicine on hand. Medicine without consistent storage temperatures can be compromised . A major OHACI dilemma was how they could ensure temperatures remained constant and be informed if the temperatures varied.
  
  Thompson Electronics Company (TEC) was contacted to devise a custom solution for the unique storage problem. The final design allows each refrigeration unit advanced monitoring capabilities with features such as: built-in power failure monitoring, configurable alarm inputs, and on-board relay output for manual or automatic switching. Descriptive messages can be recorded for site identification and for each alarm input. Alarm-specific dialing and programmable call schedules allow users to customize the dialing process. These features give many checks and balances for maintaining medicine integrity.
  
  “ Thompson provided the best solution by really understanding the needs of our physicians and staff. Since our original monitoring project, I have contacted them to design several other systems for our facilities.” Ben Rogers, IT Director, OHACI.
  
  TEC provided this “outside of the box” solution for all OHACI locations in central and western Illinois.
  
  
• April 2007 - TEC expands Security Division
  Thompson Electronics Company (TEC) recently expanded their security division. An additional security sales specialist and project manager will help TEC to better serve our customers rising demand for security solutions via access control and video surveillance. Our sales specialist will provide product expertise to clients. Our project manager will coordinate security project’s from design through installation and completion.
  
  June 2006 -TEC Partners with Danley Sound Labs
  In order to provide the latest, most innovative, sound solutions to our customers... Thompson Electronics Company is now a dealer for Danley Sound Labs.Danley is the exclusive home of Tom Danley, one of the most innovative loudspeaker designers in the industry. Tom’s innovations have been utilized in projects ranging from ground zero bombing simulation and active noise cancellation of jet engines to critical listening mastering studios, high end home theatre and houses of worship around the world.
  
• May 2006 - TEC - Strategic Partner with GE Security
  Thompson Electronics Company (TEC) announces the availability of the new GE Telligence™ Healthcare Communications System to Illinois hospitals. Dukane, now part of GE Security, introduced the latest in Nurse Call and Healthcare Communication Technology at this year’s Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Annual Conference in San Diego.
  
  The new Telligence™ system employs exclusive Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology that provides a level of scalability, flexibility, and reliability that is simply out of reach of conventional patient-staff communications systems. Telligence works with caregivers, ensuring that they get quality information that leads to timely response and heightened patient satisfaction.
  
  Telligence also delivers a wide range of options and cost-saving features with innovative devices and a powerful network that represents value for system installers, patients, staff, and hospital administrators alike. Telligence press release
  
• March 2006 -Grand Bear Lodge
  Grizzly Jack’s Enchanted Forest features “The Eclipse,”a thrilling ride, one of only 3 in the world, along with 9 other full-sized rides. TEC provided the audio/video system in the Enchanted Forest restaurant and bar. A complete multimedia experience begins upon entering the bar area. A wall of video behind the bar is made up of three side by side 50” plasma video screens. Elevated above and beyond the back bar is the band platform and above and beyond that is the tree house DJ area. The tree house holds a full blown DJ station that includes the master Crestron control panel. With our TEC programming magic the touch screen provides simplified control of all audio components for the DJ, the band stand area, automation of the three 50” plasma video screens and distributed audio throughout various areas in the resort.
  
• February 2006 - Purdue University Sound
  Thompson Electronics Company(TEC) recently completed state-of-the-art sound systems for two Purdue University theatres - The Nancy T. Hansen Theatre, a 300-seat proscenium theatre and the Carole and Gordon Mallett Theatre, a flexible performance space were both part of a muti-year project at the university. TEC was involved in all major aspects of the audio for the new theatres. more
  
• November 1, 2005 Thompson receives Excellence Award – News Brief -
  PSA Security Network presented Craig Thompson, Thompson Electronics Company president, the PSA Excellence Award for 2005. The award recognized Thompson for outstanding service, support, and leadership as chairman of the PSA Security Network Governance committee. The award was received at the recent PSA Security Network Conference in Hawaii.
  
• October 2005 Newsletter Archive Online - News Brief -
  Sound Advice for Today's Sound Operators. Sound advise is right at your fingertips with the
  new archive knowledge base of our past sound newsletters. Visitors can look up a specific sound topic to help solve a dilemma or expand their sound knowledge.
  
• June 2005 Fire Alarm Inspection Reports - Added value for our inspection customers
  
• May 2005 - New Technology - Making an excellent audio system for YOU...
  
• April 2005 News Feature - Craig Thompson, president of Thompson Electronics Company Interview by Peoria Magazines, Interbusiness Issues.