Radio Gate

Preventing such interference — or clearing it up quickly — is the job of one of the NFL’s unsung heroes: the gameday frequency coordinator. These specialists track and manage hundreds of frequencies and thousands of in-stadium frequency-dependent devices. They also account for interference from sources outside of the stadium, such as TV stations and special events.

“Right now, our duty is to cram 500 MHz of users into 25 MHz of spectrum,” the NFL’s lead frequency coordinator, Karl Voss, said in a May 2014 interview with Audio Gloss, a blog published by RF Venue, an audio technology company. “Everybody seems to think that [radio frequency] is their God-given right. And essentially the job of the coordinator is to make sense of that — to try and give as many people tools that they need to do their job within reason.”

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When gameday coordinators identify the source of a frequency interference problem, they don’t mess around.

Most issues can be resolved without conflict; that is the desire of coordinators, who try to reason with the unregistered users they refer to as “Coord-Nots.” But the NFL’s Game Operations Manual specifies that if someone is using an uncoordinated device, the coordinator will determine if a frequency can be assigned to it. If not, the user will have to use a hard wire — “or be directed to the club’s wireless coordination contact to have his/her credential removed, denying him/her access to the stadium.” The NFL even maintains a database of repeat offenders who are at risk of losing their privileges for a longer term.

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VectorPrime said:

The NFL controls the equipment. Are you sure they control the frequencies as well? Because thats an important distinction.

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jmt57 said:

So let me get this straight:

An appliance that is controlled by the NFL...

In a game with heavy weather...

Broadcasts inside Pats information to their opponent during that game...

And as a result, that means the Patriots are cheating...

And our entire sports media is if not explicitly agreeing, at least implying that it is indeed possible 'evidence' of the Pats cheating.


How freaking ludicrous is this? The logic of those that still declared the earth was flat even after Magellan completed his voyage 500 years ago made more sense.

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JMC00 said:

nfl spokesman just now

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JMC00 said:

nfl spokesman just now

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SVN said:

Greg A. Bedard ‏@GregABedard 4m4 minutes ago
Statement from NFL spokesman Michael Signora on the headset communication during the game:

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JMC00 said:

nfl spokesman just now

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juny said:

like me hoping i win the lottery, i'm hoping this statement will squash this.

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Bruins29 said:

People will say the NFL is covering for the Pats. Wait, werent they just fighting the Pats. Framing the pats? No now covering for the pats.

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Danny said:

At one point in the game NBC was showing Brady in the huddle and he stepped away, looked at the bench, and made a motion that he couldn't hear the play. Did anyone else see that?

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karguy85 said:

I can't even watch the postgame highlights. I'm gonna watch Big Brother instead...

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