22 Jul 2024by Martyn Wingrove
Technology for accessing quality programming on cruise ships has been advanced with the development of new television receive-only antennas
Guests on passenger ships and mega yachts can view high-definition media programmes on live television, regardless of communications methods, using Cobham Satcom’s latest television receive-only (TVRO) antenna.
Sea Tel 370s TV, Cobham Satcom’s new flagship product, has a 3.7-m diameter dish and automatic C-band switching between circular and linear polarisation, ensuring uninterrupted viewing and continuous live television availability.
It is part of Cobham Satcom’s Sea Tel integrated marine electronics (IMA) platform of satellite communications antennas and terminals available across the maritime, offshore and passenger shipping sectors.
IMA is also used for very small aperture terminal (VSAT) and other TVRO antennas deployed on vessels worldwide.
Cobham Satcom said automatic switching “alleviates the shipowner having to undergo the costly and time-consuming work previously required when an engineer had to board the ship and manually convert antennas between circular and linear polarisation when entering a new region served by incompatible satellites.”
The manufacturer has introduced technology to mitigate the recent phenomenon of 5G interference with satellite TV on board when sailing closer to shore, and when operating under extreme atmospheric conditions.
Cruise ships and super yachts with existing Sea Tel 2.4 m and 3.7 m TVRO antennas will be able to install a C-band feed upgrade with a new circular/linear 5G filtered feed, reducing capital and operational expenditure compared with replacing the whole antenna.
“The ability to deliver high-quality television on board is a key factor in guest satisfaction scores in the cruise sector,” said Cobham Satcom vice president and maritime product line director Henrik Fyhn.
“Removing the need for regular engineer visits to manually modify an antenna for ships traversing between incompatible satellite regions can deliver at least six-figure savings over the lifetime of a vessel.”
Cobham Satcom is improving technology on its range of TVRO antennas to improve their capabilities and reduce interference.
In May 2024, it released Sailor XTR TVRO antennas with 1.0 m or 1.2-m antennas with a smaller onboard footprint for various vessel types.
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