FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2009
I get a lot of press releases, as you might imagine. Some evoke fascination, some excitement, and some are…well…kind of confusing. Particularly when the technology isn’t familiar to me in the first place!
That would have been the case with this press release from Intellian. First off, I wasn’t familiar with the company or its products, and second, I didn’t know a lot about satellite television.
But I got a chance to talk with Intellian’s Aaron Friedman recently. We spent some time discussing satellite TV technology, the market, and how Intellian intends to set itself apart. I learned a lot.
So let’s read the press release, and I’ll chime in periodically as we go.
Marine Satellite Technology Leader Delivers All DIRECTV Programming in One Dome
Right off the bat, it could be confusing. What’s this about “one dome”? You mean it takes two domes to receive all the DirecTV channels?
Well, yes. Ku and Ka band are quite different, and domes optimized for one just don’t work for the other. It’s likely that all dealers and installers, and many of Intellian’s potential customers, would already be familiar with this problem, but I wasn’t.
I learned that the high-bandwidth Ka band is quite a bit trickier to receive than the older Ku band, for two reasons. First, the Ka-band signal is broadcast at higher frequency (18.3-20.2 GHz) than a signal in the Ku-band (950-2150 MHz). Second, the beam-width of a signal in the Ka band is much narrower than the beam-width of a Ku-band signal. The result is that Ka band antennas require extremely sophisticated and precise tracking capabilities for use aboard moving vessels. Ka-band domes tend to be larger, heavier, and more expensive. Despite all that, though, they can’t receive the programming off the Ku-band satellites.
Until now, that is.
Irvine, Calif. – Intellian Technologies, the world’s technological leader in marine satellite antennas, announced today the latest addition to its revolutionary line of antennas, the d-Series High Definition (HD) TV systems. Incorporating a radically new, patent-pending design, the d-Series are the only marine-grade antennas that can receive signals from all DIRECTV satellites. With a small size and very light weight, the d4 and d6 d-Series antennas are suitable for smaller boats through large yacht, and can be installed on bimini/buggy top frames or even small hard/arch tops. The Intellian d-Series HDTV systems are the only choice for DIRECTV subscribers who want to see all available HDTV and sports package programming while underway on the water.
As far as I can tell, this is an accurate claim. Intellian’s primary competitors, KVH and Sea Tel, don’t seem to offer comparable marine products. I assume, though, that this is a sort of arms race, and they won’t be far behind.
Marking a new era in marine satellite antenna technology, the Intellian d4 and d6 single-dome solutions are the next logical step in at-sea television-viewing convenience. Incorporating Intellian Technologies’ sophisticated, patented Wide Range Search (WRS) algorithm to search, find and hold satellite signals and Dynamic Beam Tilting (DBT) technology to ensure clear, interruption-free program viewing even in rough seas or at speed, the d-Series also feature the new Intellian dual Low Noise Block (LNB). Developed in its Irvine, California office and awaiting patent approval, the Intellian dual LNB technology can receive both Ku- and Ka-band DIRECTV programming signals, and deliver 35% more satellite TV programming and over 21 times more HD programming than other single antenna, marine-grade products on the market.
This is probably the most difficult paragraph to parse, because Intellian has a lot of innovative technology to describe. I’d be utterly lost, except that during my chat with Mr. Friedman we talked about a lot of this technology.
The Dynamic Beam Tilting is quite clever, for instance, incorporating a high speed rotating subreflector (at the focus of the parabolic dish, for you geometry geeks). For minor adjustments needed to compensate for a vessel’s shifting attitude, the new Intellian unit modulates only the angle of the lightweight subreflector assembly, which is faster, quieter, consumes less power, and requires no gyro.
The Wide Range Search Algorithm is also very clever, but I doubt I can explain it clearly. I’ll give it a shot, though: it is a technology and search algorithm that utilizes the “side lobes” of a signal to find and lock onto the stronger core signal sent from a satellite. This allows for quicker location of the signal and greater signal strength once locked on to the main lobe of the signal.
The net result is that the unit does not require precise position data to locate a specific satellite’s signal. Once the target satellite has been acquired, the antenna constantly tracks the peak signal, adjusting as necessary.
“The Intellian d-Series is a revolutionary new solution designed to address issues boaters have had viewing DIRECTV HDTV programming,” said Eric Sung, president and CEO of Intellian Technologies. “Prior to its introduction, boaters were limited to a dual antenna Intellian solution or a third-party, repurposed home satellite product that weighs over 200 pounds. Our elegant, rugged and marinized d4 and d6 antennas are the ideal choice for DIRECTV subscribers looking to maximize their on-the-water viewing pleasure.”
The d-Series features automatic satellite switching and a plug-and-play interface that allows connection to as many as six satellite receivers. FCC and CE approved, the d-Series, like all Intellian marine TV antenna solutions, meets the company’s extremely high environmental testing standards. With a simple, elegant design and compact size, the perfectly balanced d-Series platform also minimizes components and cabling, thus increasing reliability, and making installation and maintenance easier than other solutions on the market. The d4 has a 17.7-inch antenna dish, weighs 25.5 pounds and is housed in a 21.3-inch high dome with a 19.7-inch diameter. The d6 has a 23.6-inch dish, weighs 44 pounds and has a 28.3- by 27.5-inch dome. The Intellian d-Series antenna systems are designed to operate in +/- 25-degree rolls and +/- 15-degree pitches at 45-degrees per second. Operating as low as negative 5 to 130-degrees Fahrenheit, the Intellian d-Series HD antennas are IPx6 rated, shock and vibration proof, and protected by a 2-year parts and 1-year labor limited warranty.
Price & Availability:
The Intellian d4 and d6 d-Series marine satellite HDTV antennas have a suggested retail price of US $5,995 and US $7,995, respectively, and will be available for purchase the second week of July, 2009 from authorized Intellian Technologies dealers and distributors throughout the United States. For more information on the d-Series antenna systems visit www.intelliantech.com/dseries. For more information about Intellian Technologies and its entire product line, compatible sat
ellite networks, or international pricing and distribution please visit www.intelliantech.com or call (949) 916-4411.
So there you have it. Smaller, lighter, more energy-efficient, and you only need one dome to get all the programming DirecTV offers from anywhere in North America. In the world of marine satellite television receivers, this is big news.
