SATCOM TV

It’s hard to believe – on May 30, 2015, the SATCOM easyLINK system - the first remote system for multiple satellite applications - celebrates its “10th anniversary”.

On May 30, 2005, the first “easyLINK“s were delivered to N24. Jordi Utech, technical plant manager and veteran of N24, personally accepted the systems at our former company headquarters in Dreieich. Two or three days later, the third system was delivered to the Swiss production company “Newscam”. But, in those days, especially N24 leveraged the revolutionary production form which made the EB teams suitable for broadcast. Just like in the story of “The Hare and the Tortoise”, the two vehicles were on their way and there were even rumors in the industry sector that N24 had equipped themselves with 10(!) vehicles.

Today, 30 SATCOM easyLINK systems (SeL) are on the way in Europe.

About 56,500 transmissions have been realized in 10 years. The default rate due to the SeL system amounts to incredible 0.036 %. In the meantime, the third generation with HD transmission technology and UMTS bundling is on its way. Despite the advance of terrestrial transmission possibilities, SATCOM easyLINK hasn’t lost any of its versatility. While the vehicles, in former times, had on board “only” one EB camera and the “blue box” (the SeL-On-Board-Unit), today, there are small and agile SNG vehicles with cut and, in part, 2 cameras. Thus, for many customers, SATCOM easyLINK these days is still a solid support in current reporting and they allow “their” easyLINK to grow with technical progress. So, we are looking forward to the next 10 years with great confidence - with KA-band transmissions and perhaps, some day, the first SATCOM easyLINK transmission in 4K.

Some impressions from 10 years of “SATCOM easyLINK”:

The first two customer vehicles photographed by Jordi Utech

9 years later in HD – Use in Italy

Small spatial miracle – the SeL equipment of the MCS Saxony-Anhalt

Nicely designed – the first SeL of the SWR in Mainz

Fits everywhere – the SeL of the ZDF studio Düsseldorf

Pictures from the “insights”:

A miracle in Dreieich?

No - the SATCOM team marvels at the first SATCOM easyLINK demo vehicle 2004

The two “bosses” critically verifying the first indoor unit

The French news channel i>Télévision had designed and built its new SNG fleet consisting of 5 HD-KA satellite vehicles and 2 HD-KU-SNG’s at SATCOM GmbH in Heusenstamm.

The five KA-band broadcasting vehicles had already been delivered in November 2014 and, immediately after their delivery, they were stationed in the individual regions of the transmission area of Canal+. They successfully went through their first baptism of fire during the 4-day transmission marathon with respect to the attack on the editorial office of Charlie Hebdo magazine as well as the subsequent police action in the greater Paris area.

i>Télévision uses a product from Mobile Viewpoint for encoding the HD-image signals. A corresponding HUB was installed in Paris to receive and process the IP-data. An intelligent VoIP concept connects both the vehicles to the headquarters in Paris and the vehicles with one another. As a secondary product of data transmission, this concept allows to realize via satellite or terrestrial means, the return line of the transmitter (n-1) as well as the intercom functionality. The vehicles are designed for the current use. Their handling is designed in such a manner that even non-technicians can work well with them. In addition to the 5 KA-vehicles, in December, two small KU-HDSNG’s had been delivered to i>Télévision. Here, special challenges arose with respect to the interior equipment and the positioning of the workplaces. As the vehicles represented the smallest variant of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, it was especially about to find place saving and ergonomic solutions. Both vehicles are able to transmit for about 6 hours on battery power; on board, they have their own power generator as well as an air conditioning with an output of 5 kW.

By the handing over to the Landesfunkhaus Niedersachsen in Hannover, SATCOM satellite communication GmbH from Heusenstamm has delivered the fifth KA-SNG-vehicle to the NDR. Besides planning and conception, the content of the order having been realized within four months included the comprehensive mechanic and AV implementation. The vehicles for a trimedial use in the NDR Landesfunkhäuser in Kiel, Hannover and Schwerin as well as in the headquarters of Hamburg are designed for small teams. The production technique has been implemented in a user-friendly manner, so that even non-technicians may work with the vehicles without any problems. The KA-HF-vehicles as they are called at the NDR, combine all types of media. Besides the application for the Internet, particular attention has been paid to the needs of radio broadcasting. The TV-team can go live and realize transfers via IP.

Annett Koerth/ project manager of the NDR: “It was important to the NDR to conceive a work equipment which can be used very flexibly in trimedial editorial environments and nevertheless is still manageable. With SATCOM, we have found an experienced partner who supports us with a great deal of commitment in implementing our ideas.”

Besides a connection via KA-satellite, the radio broadcasting is given the possibility to transfer via UMTS. As Thomas Becke, managing director of SATCOM GmbH said: “It was important for us to build a means of production which is easy to handle and in which the teams enjoy working. Thus, besides the technical components, both the interior concept and the design were close to our hearts.” “The work tables are movable as required and the multiview monitors can be turned down for the ride, so that a good vision through the rear-view mirror is possible”, as Thomas Becke went on.

After an intense course of instruction given by SATCOM to the individual teams of the regional studios, the KA-HF-vehicles are in use for the NDR with immediate effect.

For 25 years now, SATCOM satellite communication is one of the most established TV production companies in Germany. Our strengths lie within live production, satellite transmission and live streaming of sociopolitical and cultural events. We work on an international basis. Our customers are TV channels, producers and industrial companies. Besides the technical implementation, we offer conceptual and editorial services. Furthermore, we see to a perfect producing.

Together with ProVan Solutions, also part of the SATCOM Group, we develop concepts for small modern means of production and realize them in-house.