Re: [amsat-bb] Video from imbedded correspondents

[Eric Rosenberg <wd3q@xxxxxxxxx>]

If they're in a fixed position, they're using Inmarsat, most likely 
mini-M.  "Studio quality" audio

If they're moving or filing "spot news" sound bite-type reports, it's 
Iridium, which has a distincitive (psk) sound.

I know of 5 NPR reporters who have Iridium phones. The Washngtn Post 
has 'em too, as do others.

Eric W3DQ
Washington, DC


At 12:00 AM 4/5/03 -0800, you wrote:
>Message: 7
>Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2003 17:21:55 -0500
>From: Howie DeFelice <hdefelice@petrexintl.com>
>Subject:
>
> > Anybody know how the journalists are getting their audio and video 
> back
>to......
>
>Most of it is coming back via INMARSAT satellite using H.320 video
>teleconferenceing equipment designed for ISDN. Most are using standard 
>M4
>terminals operating at L band. The transmission rate is typically 64 
>KBPS.
>They can use two terminals and bond the streams to get a composite 128 
>KBPS
>link to improve the picture quality. The M4 terminals themselves are 
>very
>small, about the size of a thick laptop computer. The antennas are 
>flat
>panel phased arrays and are about the size of an opened spiral 
>notebook. A
>single 64 KBPS connection from an M4 terminal to a terrestrial ISDN 
>number
>costs around $ 8.00 US per minute. The service is completely on demand 
>and
>requires no pre-arrangement. You can find more information on the 
>INMARSAT
>web site.
>
>Howie
>AB2S

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