other network is available . Not only that , but satellite is still relied upon as a backup for other connection types , acting as a failsafe to ensure no loss of coverage during an important broadcast .
In the case of breaking news of course , often other connections may be either down altogether or clogged up with people communicating themselves . Being able to bypass that traffic with an antenna on an OB truck is invaluable in those situations . As technology is getting better , the equipment is also easier than ever to handle , meaning broadcasters can simply turn up , let an auto-pointing antenna do its work and begin broadcasting . However , as those of us working to resolve satellite interference know , that can at times cause a myriad of problems , both for the broadcaster themselves , and other satellite users .
THE IMPACT OF INTERFERENCE
Satellite interference only affects a minority of services and is therefore often ignored by broadcasters , especially if they have not experienced the effects . However , in a world where user experience is key and competition is rife , can you really afford any break in transmission and impact on that user experience ? And that is exactly what is at stake here when interference takes hold .
Yet it is the broadcasters themselves who are often the cause of interference , unintentionally of course , and that ’ s one of the primary reasons the satellite industry is so insistent on their taking part . Human error has long been touted as a significant cause of interference , and we also know that many broadcast professionals are not trained satellite engineers . Of course , with pressure to get feeds from anywhere and everywhere , whilst keeping resources down , it would be very hard to be trained in all aspects and as with many industries , broadcasters are facing the pros and cons of multiskilling in order to keep costs low .
Nonetheless , human error is a particular problem within Satellite News Gathering ( SNG ) and OB trucks , often resulting in misaligned terminals during setup and eventual interference . Increasing use of VSATs is a worrying trend which will only exacerbate the situation , and again should encourage broadcasters to do their bit .
THE GOOD NEWS
Whenever we talk about satellite interference , something I of course have to spend a lot of my time doing , it can seem very doom and gloom . However , there has been a great deal of traction over the past few years and the good news is that advancements in technology , from the ground to the satellite , are beginning to show promise in terms of prevention and , in most cases , solving interference as it happens .
Many of IRG ’ s members have products on the market capable of entirely automating the setup of equipment , even via a mobile app . Other solutions can monitor networks for any errors and alert broadcast professionals to problems before they become larger , and more disruptive . This doesn ’ t just benefit the satellite industry , it benefits other broadcasters suffering from the interference caused by their peers .
Indeed , satellite operators are now armed with so many tools that when interference occurs , they can very often mitigate the effects for the broadcaster almost immediately , though sometimes they are reduced to moving that user to a different satellite , causing themselves a problem with unusable space . The operators have also poured a great deal of effort into resolution and the new breed of satellites are better equipped to make a big difference .
THE BROADCASTER ’ S ROLE
With so much innovation happening and the satellite operators bearing the brunt of reducing interference for its customers , it is not surprising that broadcasters themselves are , for the most part , not implementing their own techniques and tools for reducing interference . However , adopting available technology and a set of processes and techniques to deal with interference will greatly help reduce it or even stop it happening in the first place .
Carrier ID remains one of the most effective ways to solve interference quickly , by embedding an ID into the carrier , making it easy to identify the interfering carrier . A few years ago we successfully lobbied manu-
Broadcast Beat Magazine • www . broadcastbeat . com • 21