Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb (
More info?)
How much activity is going to 4.2.2 and any receivers available that do not
cost over $1k?
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"john wilson" <jwilson9@erols.com> wrote in message
news:42168B8D.790B0997@erols.com...
> 1. Last week I was contracted to do a satellite tv downlink in support
> of ESPN who was broadcasting the Maryland/Duke basketball game at
> College Park, Md. My downlinked signal was the regular Galaxy 12 ESPN
> signal displayed on the jumbotron screen inside the arena and to the
> commentators after the game and to the production vans inbetween
> events. A separate uplink truck did the pre and post game on site
> activities, commentators, etc. Another uplink truck did the game
> itself. ESPN had 3 separate production trailers on site. I had plenty
> of time to talk with the uplinkers and view their various equipment.
> These uplinkers are very, very good at what they do and are frequently
> on the go literally across the country at times.
>
> 2. The trend in MPEG2 uplinking has been to MPEG2 4:2:2. Each uplink
> truck contains a primary and backup for all equipment to include 4:2:2
> encoders which were used for the pre/post game activities. One truck
> uplinked the pre/post activity to Galaxy 4 Ku band. Uplink power is
> about 150 watts. The other uplink truck used about the same power and
> uplinked the game on C band. I forgot to ask what satellite, but the
> look angles were comparable on both trucks. Antenna sizes were a 15 ft.
> Andrew and a 15 ft. Comtech. Both configurations were insured for
> $750,000. For DTV and/or Dish Network uplinks affecting services being
> broadcast via satellite in real time, the uplinkers carry a portable DTV
> or Dish Network antenna and receive the target signal in the truck to
> visually confirm the quality of the downlinked signal.
>
> 3. MPEG2 4:2:2 baseline is bad enough but reception equipment is
> available if you want to pay the high dollar price. Both uplinkers told
> me the trend now is to encrypted HDTV and leave the 4:2:2 format. These
> HDTV transmissions typically will occupy a full transponder bandwidth.
>
> 4. I also did a satellite tv downlink teleconference in January using
> an encrypted MPEG2 satellite signal. Thanks to the new generation of
> blind search receivers many teleconferences now will be encrypted
> MPEG2. My pre-authorized receivers used Nagravision modules, the same
> encryption mode as used by Dish Network. The downside of any encrypted
> signal is an average of 2 db in signal strength is used in the decoding
> process. But the receivers worked worked well. Galaxy 3 Ku band was
> used.
>
> 5. A number of SNG vans came and went. Ch. 13 from Baltimore did a
> live standup and a Ku band uplink. WRC Ch. 4 in DC did a 2 ghz.
> point to point microwave link that probably was about a 10-15 air mile
> line of site to the tower. All of my concerns about RF interference
> were not happening until the Maryland State Police helicopter appeared
> with the searchlight and flying very low. He was spewing microwave RF
> really bad. The helicopter was flying low over campus to intimidate and
> warn any students not to think about rioting. It has infrared
> technology on board. The received infrared signal can be relayed
> through another microwave transmitter to ground units. I suspect that
> link is what caused temporary problems for me. Whenever he would fly in
> my look angle line of sight path it disrupted my reception varying from
> minor to total wipeout. When he moved on my reception again was great.
> Fortunately the ballgame had ended when he appeared on scene and only
> the guys in the producation vans had to deal with his temporary RFI.
>