Sea Tel has debuted USAT, the first Ultra Small Aperture Terminal. Building on the Company’s recently released 60-cm antenna, model 2406, this smaller, lighter 60-cm antenna system meets the FCC’s and ETSI’s specification allowing multi mode use with Spread Spectrum, TDMA, and SCPC services. The USAT 24 is aimed at Coastal trading vessels and inland craft. The USAT 24 is also complemented by Sea Tel’s Coastal 24 Satellite Television receive antenna, allowing full communications and entertainment in a matching dual dome combination. Services are currently being Beta trialed with a number of modem providers including Hughes, ViaSat, iDirect, and STM on a number of satellite operator’s footprints world wide. Service in Europe and the U.S. is expected to begin during the 4th Quarter of 2008.
Sea Tel has also introduced the newest and smallest in its line of TVRO antenna systems. The ST14> antenna is just 16 lbs with an 18-inch radome and features a different design than Sea Tel’s previous antenna systems. The new pedestal assembly is made of a highly reliable and durable nylon polyamide injection molding that’s used on a large number of products that include aircraft antennas. The physical properties of this material include very good heat and moisture resistance, excellent chemical resistance, and superior strength and wear resistance. Recent comparison tests with the competition indicate that the ST14 antenna has 1dB more signal gain. The radome assemblies were also tested and the ST14 radome had 0.3 dB less signal attenuation than the competitor’s — a grand total of 1.3 dB more signal to satellite receivers means in a heavy rainstorm, or out on the edge of the footprint, the ST14 will still have a video signal when other antennas lose the signal. The ST14 offers wide coverage range; built-in GPS for fast satellite acquisition; DVB (digital video broadcasting) signal identification; Sea-Tel’s proprietary antenna control and fast-track signal lock software; plus high-performance stabilization and satellite tracking even in inclement weather. The ST14 is DiSEqC compliant and is fully compatible with Dish Network and Bell TV HDTV services. The ST14 can change satellites automatically when the satellite receiver changes to a channel that is on a secondary satellite.
