Satellite technology
The Surprising Discovery About 5G You Need to Know
Fellow satellite broadcasters: Your station could be affected by 5G interference sooner than you think. And I’m not just talking about networks and stations in the top 46 PEA (Population Economic Area) markets. In June, we spent some time with the engineer for Gray TV in Honolulu. (And, yes, we were working!) He mentioned to…
Read MoreThe Complete List of Can’t-Do-Without Tools for Anyone Who Maintains a Satellite Antenna
At Link Up Communications, we take our tools seriously. Categorized and inventoried after every install, our installation tools are carefully organized in our office on their own ridiculously expensive heavy-duty shelves. Like you, we know that having the right tool – not just something that will “do” – saves you from a whole lot of…
Read MoreCompelling Reasons Why You Should Always Shop Open Source for Broadcast Components
We were visiting a potential customer earlier this summer — pitching the idea of retiring their Comstream platform for a new, digital platform with all the bells and whistles — when the subject of the extravagant cost of certain proprietary broadcast software came up. Like so many of the other ministries we serve, our new…
Read MoreThe Overpowering Reach of Broadband
Two articles that involve the FCC recently caught my attention. One, entitled “Actual US broadband penetration & speed falls far short of FCC claims” (https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/05/10/actual-us-broadband-penetration-speed-falls-far-short-of-fcc-claims) reveals that the FCC’s broadband maps — maps that track the speed and penetration of Internet in rural areas — are “wildly inaccurate”. The other, published in Wired…
Read MoreTHE NUMBER ONE THING YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOU’RE LOOKING FOR (BUT WE DO!)
We received a welcome note last week from one of our long-time space segment customers. The email read, in part: “We have finally made our decision. Please let me know when the order has been placed. Thanks for arranging the video conferences with both companies so we could make an informed decision.” That’s great to…
Read MoreTHE WEIRD EMAIL THAT HAS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT
A few weeks ago network engineers and managers across the country began receiving emails that looked suspiciously like spam, yet claimed to be from the FCC’s Relocation Payment Clearinghouse. In fact, if you’ve received one you’ve likely received multiples of this automated email, as we’re getting reports of techs and engineers seeing these in both…
Read MoreESSENTIAL INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT 5G FILTER
When it comes to the C-band repack, choosing the right filter is imperative. And I’m not just talking about a filter made to the appropriate specifications. In addition to industry, legislative, and FCC outreach, the now-defunct C-Band Alliance (made up of the major satellite owners) spent large sums of money on research to develop a…
Read MoreSEIZE THESE FOUR ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR A FOOLPROOF C-BAND TRANSITION PLAN
The assignment phase of the C-band auction is officially over, marking an end to what has been noted to be the highest-grossing spectrum auction in FCC history. After 97 rounds in the nation’s top 46 markets back in January, a grand total of $80.92 billion in gross bids was raised. Now the real work begins.…
Read MoreSUN OUTAGES: WHAT CAUSES SATELLITE SIGNAL LOSS?
For decades — ever since we began delivering programming via satellite – we have been dealing with loss of signal due to sun outages. These outages occur within a few days of the both the spring and fall equinox, when the sun lines up almost perfectly behind the desired satellite as viewed from the earth…
Read More2020 IN REVIEW: OUR TOP THREE MOST SUCCESSFUL BLOG ENTRIES OF THE YEAR
COVID-19, civil unrest, and a contentious national election for the history books has left me feeling less than nostalgic about the year 2020. Well, duh. Right? If you’re like me, you can’t wait to see 2020 from your rear-view mirror. On New Year’s Eve I’ll be firmly ushering 2020 out the door with a boot…
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