New Products Release

Bi-Directional Microwave releases their Simulcast Solution, ATCS/NTSC, DVB/PAL, Studio to Transmitter Link at NAB. The Simulcast Solution offers broadcasters the advantage of moving into DTV at a gradual, less expensive rate, and encoders/decoders are part of the package with a substantial savings.

Bi-Directional offers their standard transceiver product in all frequencies between 10.0 and 23.6 Ghz with dual polarized antennas (vertical and horizontal) see the literature. The NTSC or PAL radio runs on polarity one, while the ATSC (DTV) component can be added to polarity two sometime in the future. The primary NTSC/PAL radio does not have to be shut down to add the digital radio and because the antennas have already been aligned to run the NTSC/PAL radio, adding the DTV is much easier. In addition, a lot of the broadcasters like the idea of telephone, two-way command and control between the studio and the transmitter. In our NTSC/PAL Transceiver, there is a built in duplex phone line which offers user switched, variable pitch, antenna alignment tones that coincide with an antenna alignment AGC voltage port for accuracy. As well, there is telephone ringdown which alerts operators on either end of incoming calls, anytime the operator on the opposite end picks up his ends supplied telephone handset. The duplex phone circuit is a blessing when setting up systems initially, or checking system performance and possible antenna alignment. Many of our customers have elected to add the optional RS-232 ports to the duplex telephone circuit. This way they can totally control the transmitter site from the studio through duplex digital switching at 56kb/s. The ATSC/DVB digital radio is a DS-3, 45mb/s carrier, on which we add encoders and decoders for one DTV Video, with up to 3 imbedded audios initially. In the future, and with the right planning, broadcasters can add 23 more Video and Audio channels to the DTV side. As well, with the right MEPG Stream, the broadcaster can combine the NTSC and ATSC on the DS-3, DTV radio polarity. This leaves the NTSC/PAL radio available to move to anther location simply by capping off that polarity. Again, the DS-3, does not have to be shut down to move the NTSC radio.

The NTSC/PAL radio can then be matched with another set of dual polarized antennas, and the expansion can begin again, gradually and within the constraints of time and available money. Initially, of course, the two polarities run at separate frequencies within the same band, but by swapping the ATSC polarity, both NTSC or PAL and ATSC or DVB can be run on the same frequency with the right digital steaming.

If a broadcaster wants to move into a combined ATSC/NTSC signal, then that can be accomplished by buying the DS-3 initially. With the right selection of encoders/decoders, both DTV & NTSC can be broadcast. Long range planning is the key to adding options. Bi-Directional systems just give you some latitude to the spend less money, and get more for it.

Additionally, Bi-Directional Systems also offer a high quality line of FM, UHF & VHF TV Transmitters. Power ranges from 10 Watts to 30 KW are available, and depending on the transmitter size. Delivery will run 90-120 days on the average. Pricing is very good and the quality is high. To date there are some 2,400 of these transmitter systems operational throughout Latin America and Mexico. Systems come with antennas if ordered, or other antennas can be matched. The UHF, One KW is FCC approved, as are the smaller one in the UHF line. The VHF are next to get FCC authorization, but off shore sales are continuing.

For more information contact:

Aaron Davis