ATN-7: Encyclopedia II - ATN-7 - Epping Site Satellite Links

ATN-7 - Epping Site Satellite Links

In 1983, one of the first full-time commercial TV satellite links was established between Los Angeles and Sydney using the mid-pacific Intelsat satellite. This was unique for what was known as a half transponder link, as it carried 2 NTSC TV programs each with stereo sound and data. (Comsat pretested this at their Clarksberg MA center). The video was multiplexed using Thomson "Vidiplex" and the audio and data equipment was from Wegener. The various news and other programs were fed out of Seven's News Bureau at Century City in Los Angeles and then north to a Comsat satellite earth station at Santa Paula.

Because in 1983 the satellite power was very limited, a receive satellite dish (TVRO) for east-coast Australia needed to be in the order of 18 metres diameter. An alternative of two 12 metre dishes ("C-band" with Gregorian feed-horn from Andrews), were installed at the Epping site. The signals received from the two dishes were electronically combined so that the signal was equivalent to an 18 metre dish's reception. Later when replacement satellites with higher powers were placed in orbit, the two dishes were used independantly on different satellites. Other innovations such as analogue video noise reduction were also used to improve the signal.

One of the TV programs carried was CNN. This was the first international transmission of CNN outside North America. In 1984 TV Asahi in Tokyo contracted to also receive CNN via the Iberaki earth station operated by Japan's KDD Corporation (Kokusai Denshin Denwa - now (KDDI). After ATN's engineering staff assisted KDD and TV Asahi with the special receiving adaptors, CNN was distributed on Japan Cable TV which mainly served the Roppongi district of Tokyo, including many foreign consolates and embassies. This first international distribution of CNN was formally opened by Ted Turner, CNN's then owner.

Subsequently, in 1986, a 13 metre Vertex "Ku-band" dish was added for Australian Television Network program distribution via the new Aussat satellite.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Epping Site Satellite Links", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki