15 May 2006
RadioScape has used its world-class RF and software expertise to create the first, software-controlled, single chip RF front end that can handle six frequency bands — Band III and L-Band for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), medium wave, long wave and short wave for AM and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), and Band II for FM. The RF chip combines with a standard DSP chip that runs RadioScapes baseband digital radio software and also controls the RF IC to form a two chip solution, which dramatically reduces the power consumption and size of modules compared with current generation solutions.
This new RF IC is a breakthrough technology for RadioScape that will revolutionise multi-standard, multi-band digital radio, said John Hall, RadioScapes CEO. There is nothing like it in the market and is the result of a major initiative that we started over two years ago to create a technology platform for our next generation consumer radios. The objective was to create a highly flexible RF device that would complement our software-defined radio approach, timed to coincide with the emerging DRM market, and we have done that.
Until now, the only way to create a comparable multi-band digital radio was to create independent RF front ends for each of the different frequency bands each consuming power and adding to the bulk of the product. Our unique partitioning of the radio system allows us maximum re-use of the digital components by loading only the appropriate baseband stack into the DSP as and when required. explained Dave Hawkins, VP of Business Development at RadioScape. We have used the same approach in our RF IC, which reuses internal functionality to best suit the frequency band and standard required at the time. Dynamic configuration of the RF path on the RF IC is controlled by the DSP using software algorithms to ensure the optimisation of both performance and power consumption. The result is a multi-frequency RF device that requires less than half the power used by the equivalent circuits in our current generation of multi-standard modules.
Available only in a RadioScape module offering, the RF IC will be used to create a new range of modules that maintain the size and pin configurations of existing modules to enable manufacturers to quickly take advantage of this latest RadioScape innovation and benefit from the lower power consumption that it offers. RadioScapes RS200 family provide highly optimised DAB and FM reception whilst the RS500 family provides additional features and functionality, such as fully integrated Digital Radio Mondiale and AM reception, in addition to DAB and FM. Full details of the new RF IC-enhanced modules will be available shortly along with samples in June.
This is the first time that a single, front end RF chip has been implemented to handle these six, very different, frequency bands. While this chip uses both zero-IF and super-heterodyne methods to achieve the stringent requirements of the variety of standards and frequencies, RadioScapes pioneering software-controlled approach enables a significant part of the implementation to use common circuitry. A major benefit of this challenging approach is the dramatic reduction of the external component count by over 150 items relative to equivalent designs which implement these standards. The high level of integration of the chip enables the board real estate for the front end RF to be reduced from 30 sq cms (covering both sides of the board) to only 9 sq cms on a single-sided board design for all standards and even smaller if a subset of standards and frequency bands is required.
8 May 2006
Arqiva to distribute and transmit Fives analogue terrestrial TV channel
New digital satellite-based distribution network to be commissioned
New uplink facility at Chalfont Grove
Arqiva today announced that Five has renewed its existing ten-year distribution and transmission management contract. The extension to the contract will see Arqiva manage Fives distribution and analogue transmission through to the closure of analogue TV.
Arqivas end-to-end solution distributes the signals to transmitters via satellite. As part of the renewal agreement Arqiva will re-engineer the existing distribution network to gain from improvements in compression technology and will distribute commercial regional variants of Five continuously on two separate satellites. A new uplink facility will be built at Arqivas Chalfont Grove site to complement the existing uplink in Winchester.
David Burge, Controller of Broadcasting, Five commented, It is important for us to ensure an extremely reliable distribution network in the run-up to Digital Switchover and, as Arqiva built and installed our uplink and transmitter system for our launch ten years ago, were confident that they can provide us with the service and expertise needed to achieve this.
Steve Holebrook, Arqivas managing director of Terrestrial Media Solutions, said, Were delighted to continue working with Five. Our one-stop shop solution delivers a reliable and cost-effective satellite digital distribution system to complement the existing nationwide network of analogue TV transmitters. The new satellite network will also provide additional levels of resilience to protect Fives regional advertising.
8 May 2006
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company , has announced today that it has signed a fourth transponder contract with the UK transmission service company Arqiva. The capacity subcontracted by SES ASTRA at the orbital position 28.2°/ 28.5° East will be used by Arqiva to help meet the demand from the rapidly growing number of UK channels launching on the Sky platform.
Arqiva provides a comprehensive range of end-to-end media solutions for content and channel providers and is a highly respected supplier of quality satellite solutions for the UK Direct-to-Home (DTH) market.
With this new contract, we further strengthen our position in the UK and Ireland DTH satellite market, said Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. “We are delighted that a company with such a distinguished pedigree as Arqiva has again chosen to source their satellite capacity via SES ASTRA.
“The new agreement with SES ASTRA allows us to further improve our offer and expand our business in this important and growing sector, added Nick Thompson, Arqiva’s Managing Director for satellite media solutions. We are pleased that we are able to strengthen our relationship with SES ASTRA by concluding another agreement with our partner of choice.
8 May 2006
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company, has announced today that it has signed a long-term satellite capacity agreement with Discovery Communications.
As of 1st February this year, XXP, a German factual based mainstream entertainment channel, has extended its analogue transmission from four to 24 hours per day (transponder 12, frequency 11,376.50 MHz, vertical polarisation). XXP has been using analogue capacity from ASTRA on the prime orbital position 19.2° East since May 2001. XXP is also distributed in digital on ASTRA.
Discovery Communications acquired a controlling stake in XXP in March 2006.
8 May 2006
Eutelsat, one of the worlds leading satellite operators, is reaffirming its commitment to the Asian communications market with its participation at this years Broadcast Asia, Asias premier broadcasting and multimedia technology event.
In order to strengthen its commercial proposal to the Asian broadcasting market Eutelsat has joined forces with RRSat, a leading provider of end-to-end transmission and production services. Using a digital video platform located in Israel that uses Ku-band capacity on Eutelsats W5 satellite, Eutelsat and RRSat can offer content providers an efficient and reliable means for reaching DTH, cable headends, hotel and conference centres in south-east Asia. In addition to geographic reach, RRSat offers broadcasters network engineering and custom-tailored end-to-end solutions including conditional access and standards conversion.
International broadcasters who have already selected the platform as their preferred point of entry into south-east Asia include EuroNews, Trace TV and World Fashion Channel.
Eutelsat broadcasts more than 1,800 television channels and 900 radio stations to an audience of 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Public and private broadcasters using capacity include. Eutelsat, as a pioneer in satellite broadcasting and broadband services, is actively involved in supporting the development of digital broadcasting services in Asia. Through satellites located in the orbital arc from 15 degrees West to 70.5 degrees East, Eutelsat provides a flexible in-orbit resource with superior coverages that enable free-to-air channels and pay-TV operators to reach satellite and cable homes in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, large parts of Asia and the Americas.
8 May 2006
Al Arabiya has reinforced its number one position in the region by receiving four awards in April which honour the news channels presenter excellence and bespoke website content.
At the Fourth Arab Media Festival in Beirut, Tahar Barakat and Najwa Kassem received the awards for best male and female presenters respectively, while Al Arabiyas website, alarabiya.net took the accolade of Best Website of an Arab News Channel.
The Fourth Arab Media Festival, organized by the Lebanese Universitys Faculty of Information and Documentation, drew media professionals from across the Arab world and culminated in the last day award ceremony. The awards were based on a sampled cross-section of the Lebanese population.
In Amman, Al Arabiyas website team won the Best Strategic Planning for Arab Websites award for the launch and management of investinsaudi.com. The Al Arabiya team worked in conjunction with the Saudi Public Commission for Investment, a government body dedicated to developing investment in the Kingdom.
