# Ken Schaffer

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{{Short description|American inventor}}
'''Ken Schaffer''' (born 1947) is an American inventor and former publicist.<ref>[https://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/12/02/1991_12_02_048_TNY_CARDS_000359558?mobify=0 "Profiles: Opening Windows" The New Yorker, December 2, 1991]</ref>

==Inventor==

In 1975 Schaffer invented the [Schaffer–Vega diversity system](/source/Schaffer%E2%80%93Vega_diversity_system), a low-noise/wide dynamic range wireless guitar system that was form-factored as a [wireless microphone](/source/wireless_microphone) in 1976.<ref>[http://www.nady.com/news/gp_1979.pdf Guitar Player Magazine, Eliminating the Physical Link Between the Guitar and the Amplifier, (PDF)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220170751/http://nady.com/news/gp_1979.pdf |date=2010-12-20 }}</ref> Schaffer–Vega made approximately one thousand wireless systems that retailed for $4,400 each. Among the first bands to adopt the system were the [Rolling Stones](/source/Rolling_Stones), [Kiss](/source/Kiss_(band)), and [AC/DC](/source/AC%2FDC). Additionally, [NASA](/source/NASA) used Schaffer's wireless microphones to improve astronaut voice communication.<ref>[https://www.nutcom.com/?page_id=145 "How Ken Schaffer's TV2ME (or Something Just Like It, But Cheaper) Will Change Television Forever, PBS"]</ref>

In the 1980s, Schaffer developed a satellite tracking system that made it possible for United States intelligence agencies to monitor the internal television of the then-[Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union).<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/02/technology/circuits/02inve.html?fta=y "I Want My Moscow TV" New York Times"]</ref> The system tapped into the Soviet [Molniya](/source/Molniya_(satellite)) non-geosynchronous satellite constellation, which carried Moscow television to the Far North. With software engineer Warren Musselman, he developed an Apple II-based automatic tracking system based on a red 3 meter (10') dish on the roof of [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University)'s International Affair Institute in [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan), allowing Soviet Studies graduate students to watch live Russian television.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/09/nyregion/columbia-tunes-in-soviet-television.html?scp=3&sq=schaffer+harriman&st=nyt The New York Times, Columbia Tunes In Soviet Television]</ref> Other systems were installed at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), The University of Pennsylvania, and various private owners. Schaffer then conceived and executed a project through which the fledgling [Discovery Channel](/source/Discovery_Channel) devoted a week to carrying Russian TV, for which he shared the [National Cable Television Association](/source/National_Cable_Television_Association)'s Golden Ace award.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/CableACE_Awards/1988 NCTA List of Golden Ace Winners]</ref>

In 2003, Schaffer invented a device called [TV2Me](/source/TV2Me), which enables customers to access their cable TV channels from anywhere in the world via a broadband Internet connection.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/02/technology/circuits/02inve.html?_r=3&ex=1180324800&en=8c22c29db08966b0&ei=5070&oref=slogin&oref=slogin The New York Times, I Want my Moscow TV]</ref> The concept TV2Me introduced became known as 'placeshifting', as opposed to '[timeshifting](/source/timeshifting)'. The first TV2Me unit was purchased by musician [Sting](/source/Sting_(musician)), who used it especially to follow his favourite football team, [Newcastle United](/source/Newcastle_United) as he toured.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120905204353/http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2004/pulpit_20041028_000461.html PBS.com, How Ken Schaffer's TV2Me Will Change Television Forever]</ref>

==Publicist==

In the late 1960s and 1970s, Schaffer was publicist for [Jimi Hendrix](/source/Jimi_Hendrix), [Steven Tyler](/source/Steven_Tyler) of [Aerosmith](/source/Aerosmith), [Todd Rundgren](/source/Todd_Rundgren), [Alice Cooper](/source/Alice_Cooper) and for the [Comet Kohoutek](/source/Comet_Kohoutek) (on behalf of the [American Museum of Natural History](/source/American_Museum_of_Natural_History)'s [Hayden Planetarium](/source/Hayden_Planetarium)), among others, and in the 1980s [Boris Grebenshchikov](/source/Boris_Grebenshchikov).<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/02/19/from-russia-with-rock/ "From Russia With Rock" Chicago Tribune]</ref> Schaffer designed and custom built the guitar [John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon) used on his last album, ''[Double Fantasy](/source/Double_Fantasy)''<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/02/technology/circuits/02inve.html?fta=y&_r=0 "I Want My Moscow TV", New York Times]</ref> and promoted Lennon's favorite movie, [Alejandro Jodorowsky's](/source/Alejandro_Jodorowsky) ''[El Topo](/source/El_Topo_(1970_film))'', which ignited the cult of the [Midnight Movie](/source/Midnight_Movie).<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/06/archives/should-el-topo-be-elevated-to-el-tops.html?sq=el+topo&scp=3&st=p The New York Times, Should 'El Topo' Be Elevated To 'El Tops'?]</ref> In 1987, Schaffer conceived of a project which brought Russian singer/songwriter [Boris Grebenshchikov](/source/Boris_Grebenshchikov), often described as the "[Bob Dylan](/source/Bob_Dylan) of Russia"<ref>[http://www.greenmanreview.com/cd/cd_grebenshikov_collection.html "Boris Grebenshikov, Russian Songwriter: A Collection of Songs from Boris Grebenshchikov, Naxos World 2002"]</ref> to the West. Grebenshchikov recorded an album for [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records) produced by [Dave Stewart](/source/Dave_Stewart_(Eurythmics)) that featured [Eurythmics](/source/Eurythmics)'s [Annie Lennox](/source/Annie_Lennox) and [the Pretenders](/source/the_Pretenders)' [Chrissie Hynde](/source/Chrissie_Hynde) was the first music collaboration between a Russian and Westerners.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/21/arts/soviet-rick-star-plans-visit.html "SOVIET ROCK STAR PLANS VISIT, New York Times/(AP) May 21, 1987"]</ref> The project was documented by director [Michael Apted](/source/Michael_Apted) in "The Long Way Home", who filmed Schaffer and Grebenshchikov in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, London, New York and Los Angeles.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097774/ Boris Grebenshikov: The Long Way Home]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140118124116/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/78532/Boris-Grebenshikov-The-Long-Way-Home/overview The New York Times Movies] "Boris Grebenshikov: The Long Way Home (1996)" New York Times</ref>

==Personal life==

Schaffer was married to Belarusian actress [Alla Kliouka](/source/Alla_Kliouka), who played [Svetlana Kirilenko](/source/Svetlana_Kirilenko) on HBO's ''[The Sopranos](/source/The_Sopranos)''.<ref>{{imdb name|0459853|Alla Kliouka}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|40em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schaffer, Ken}}
Category:Living people
Category:20th-century American inventors
Category:1947 births

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ken Schaffer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Schaffer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Schaffer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.