Cobham SATCOM, LiveU create new satcom broadband solution for broadcasters

Cobham SATCOM and LiveU will offer a robust, high-performance hybrid satellite communications solution that will allow broadcasters to transmit live video from anywhere in the world.

A professional-grade LU70 backpack from LiveU will support the latest members of the SATCOM BGAN Explorer satellite terminal product line. This includes the recently-announced Explorer 710, which is set for a September 2013 launch.

The LU70 interface allows camera operators to control all BGAN interfaces locally. Operators can easily switch between satellite and cellular connectivity. The LiveU Center web interface can also remotely control the BGANs, letting news operators directly view and manage live transmissions from the studio.

The LiveU Total unified management platform incorporates the hybrid Cobham SATCOM/LiveU solution into the LiveU ecosystem. It also lets control rooms manage multiple video feeds from individual LiveU units situated in various locations.

The Explorer product line was designed by Cobham SATCOM to leverage the Inmarsat BGAN satellite network. Explorer satellite terminals are compact, easy to use, and reliable. They are designed to deliver instant access to satellite broadband connectivity no matter the time, place, or extremity of environmental conditions. 

Recommended additional reading:

• Philippine Airlines picks OnAir in-flight joint GSM, Wi-Fi services for fleet

SES signs new capacity deal with Turkish broadcaster covering sub-Saharan Africa

This Wednesday, SES announced that it signed a new satellite capacity deal with Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu (TRT,) a public broadcaster based in Turkey, to provide the Turkish company's programs to customers in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Company's SES-5 satellite will deliver TRT's FTA digital channel TRT Turk and its radio channel Turkiyenin Sesi Radyosu (TRS) to the region between Europe and Africa. The SES platform is located at the 5 degrees East orbital slot, and it will provide flexible broadcasting operations through its Ka-band uplink capabilities.

TRT leverages another SES satellite at the prime orbital position 19.2 degrees East to broadcast its programs to audiences Western Europe.

Ibrahim Sahin, the General Manager for TRT, stated that the Turkish broadcaster could reach critical audiences and important markets outside Turkey thanks to the expertise and global satellite fleet extended by SES. The new agreement and capacity provided by SES-5 will allow TRT to directly deliver premium Turkish news, culture, and entertainment programs to audiences in sub-Saharan Africa.

Recommended additional reading:

• iDirect execs discuss Ka-band satellites during GVF Ka Roundtable Assembly 2012

Hitron debuts HCMS D-SNG satellite-link monitor-control software

A recent announcement made by Hiltron Communications introduced their brand new HMCS D-SNG satellite-link monitor and control software. The latest member of the Hiltron product portfolio, HMCS is a cost-efficient system designed to work with the newest generation of high-definition (HD) D-SNG media vehicles.

HMCS provides full control of professional satellite systems such as the Ericsson Voyager II contribution encoders. It employs an intuitive graphical user interface and helpfully color-coded alarm message system. It is written in Java and is compatible with Linux, Apple OSX, and Microsoft Windows (XP, 2007, Server 2003/2008) operating systems.

HMCS is completely compatible with the HSACU D-SNG controller that Hiltron introduced only a short while ago.

Hiltron's newest satellite system control software uses an integral database that records and stores specific satellite transponder and encoding profiles. HMCS can also control whatever satellite communications and video equipment that the customer needs to use.

HMCS supports a huge selection of drivers for modulators, encoders, integrated receiver decoders (IRDs,) redundancy controllers, and spectrum analysers. Hiltron's new software also comes with a basic driver for the Hiltron HSACU antenna control unit, and customers can request a different driver.