LiveU and Accelerated Media Technologies to Offer Hybrid News Vehicles Containing Bonded Cellular and Ka Band Satellite

Oct. 8, 2014

LiveU has partnered with AMT to produce a hybrid news vehicle offering a combination of bonded cellular, Ka band satellite transmission and IP-based microwave capabilities. 

The vehicles offer the advantages of cellular bonding such as transmission on the move and without line-of-sight restrictions, the ability to transmit in any kind of weather such as rain, snow and strong winds without fading and without any risk to open masts and satellite dishes, and the ability to start transmitting within one minute without having to tune dishes. The vehicle itself can be smaller and easier to access or park in more places compared to traditional SNG trucks.

The bonded cellular connectivity will be the default mode of use in order to minimize costs and enable mobility and all weather functionality. The addition of Ka band satellite will supplement connectivity in areas with limited cellular coverage, yet at a fraction of the cost of traditional satellite. This creates a highly resilient and reliable transmission combination from the vehicle while enabling full cost optimization.

The vehicles include a Ka band dish and the LiveU Xtender external antenna array, which offers six cellular modems and enhanced RF signal, with only one cable required to set up. Inside the vehicle is either a LiveU LU700 rack-mount encoder, or the LU500 2.2Lbs (1 Kg) backpack, LiveU's flagship field unit, which can roam around the vehicle while wirelessly utilizing bandwidth from the LU-Xtender or Ka band dish. For example, the vehicle can be parked in a spot with good cellular or Ka band coverage, while the LiveU field unit can be placed hundreds of yards away and leverage the same connectivity.

The vehicle also supports the LiveU Data Bridge functionality, which turns any LiveU device into a bonded cellular hotspot for any type of Internet usage by the crew in the vehicle.

In addition, the LiveU encoder in the vehicle can also support new IP-based point-to-point or mesh microwave networks.

LiveU and AMT have already delivered several vehicles to stations groups across the US, including Fox and CBS O&Os, and Sinclair Broadcast Group.

"Through our partnership with AMT we are able to offer LiveU customers these next-generation vehicles that remove a lot of the limitations of traditional trucks, yet are very cost effective," said Mike Savello, VP Sales, LiveU. "The combination of bonded cellular with the new Ka-band satellite produces a vehicle with extremely high quality of service where the cellular is the primary uplink and Ka band satellite is the backup in case of cellular congestion or low-coverage areas.  Both uplink technologies are dramatically more cost effective than traditional base-band satellite."

"We are excited to partner with LiveU to offer these cutting-edge vehicles," said Tom Jennings, President of AMT.  "This new configuration that we have developed with LiveU and our customer is proving to be a reliable, flexible news vehicle."