HDTV from a solar powered airplane!

[kjnorman]

Considering the complaining about tower height and signal shadows and all that stuff, perhaps our locals should stop their gripping and get one of these solar powered airplanes (http://www.theregus.com/content/5/25728.html)

Apparently equivalent to a 12 mile high tower, The Reg US tells us more.

During the test flight, the company also successfully tested digital high definition television broadcasts from its stratospheric transmitter. And the company pointed out that because of its much higher "look angle," SkyTower platforms can fill in "urban canyons," or areas currently missed by terrestrial and satellite broadcast transmissions due to tall buildings or terrain.

Furthermore, during the tests, a 24 mbps data rate was achieved using only 1 watt of power -- less than 1/10,000 the power used by a typical terrestrial broadcast transmitter that has to overcome buildings, trees and other obstructions to cover the same area.

Sounds like a fine plan to me! At least until night comes along http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Kerry

[This message has been edited by kjnorman (edited 07-25-2002).]

One of these days I will get the message right the first time...


[This message has been edited by kjnorman (edited 07-25-2002).]

[RobbQ]

I can just hear channel 12 now "We've put in a request to have the sun remain in the sky 24 hours a day. At the moment we are well within all regulations and laws of the universe... but in the best interest of our customers we are trying to have them changed."

These would be very nice, as long as they weren't grounded at the first sign of terrorist activity. Hey, maybe the satellite companie(s) could contract to deliver local channels through these. Anything for more bandwidth for HD!

[This message has been edited by RobbQ (edited 07-25-2002).]

[Matt Heebner]

Oh man, thats too funny. I could see permit negotiations going on for all eternity about this.

Matt

[Kevin Arnold]

BREAKING NEWS:
WISN TV Channel 12 announced today a new, more efficient use for chopper 12 power zoom-a-matic. The underutilized news chopper will be outfitted with a boom and cable so that WISN DT's digital antenna and transmitter can be suspended from the chopper and used to air their digital signal.
"No permits are required for this novel approach", according to Hearst Argyle VP Lessen Candid, "and since many of our DT viewers have antenna rotors they can follow the signal as we patrol the freeways".
WISN is exploring in flight refueling as a means to maintain a superior signal. They have purchased WITI's 1/2 watt Digital transmitter so that power consumption is low.


-30-

[Joseph S]

Don't know if the pic will work, but if it does...

http://homepage.mac.com/jshea/.Pictures/haha/chart.gif

Look at that Hear$t-Argyle stock tumble post 5/1/02. http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/biggrin.gif :smileystickingtongueout:

[This message has been edited by Joseph S (edited 07-25-2002).]

[Gregg Lengling]

Hey maybe they can have the 128th refueling group handle their fuel problems and get some practice in at the same time. but the question is do they have a chopper, weren't they the ones that crashed at East Troy in the fog. Reminds me of the joke from the East Troy Fire Dept. from years ago. What were Stevie Ray Vaughn's last words?
Well, do you guys want to go to Chicago or crash here for the night.

I don't want to sound insensitive because Stevie was one of my Musical heros. We played him during all the breaks at my 40th birthday party (and I'm not say how many years ago that was.).


------------------
Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
glengling@ameritech.net

[MesaV]

Boo… Know wonder your back hurts, with jokes like that someone must have power slammed you to the canvas. http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/ubb/frown.gif