Satellite television and in motion, it is already possible

Durante los últimos cinco años hemos visto como cada vez son más los medios de transporte han empezado a apostar fuertemente por la instalación de diversos sistemas de entretenimiento a bordo en autobuses y autocares con un objetivo principal: buscar el incremento de su oferta de servicios, lograr la diferenciación con respecto a su competencia y el incremento en el número de pasajeros ven en este medio de transporte una alternativa al tren, el avión e incluso el coche.
Y entre toda esta oferta de servicios de entretenimiento a bordo, encontramos la televisión vía satélite. Un nuevo sistema que nace gracias al desarrollo de nuevas antenas satelitales que son capaces de seguir todo tipo de satélites de forma automática.

Digital satellite television in moving vehicles

Satellite television has been used as an entertainment system for many years, but fundamentally in fixed locations such as private residences, campsites, caravans and pleasure boats... It has not been until recent years when the market has offered different antennas that make it possible to monitoring of satellites from moving vehicles such as the bus so that you can enjoy live satellite television during the route .

What do I need to be able to enjoy live television on my bus?

• An antenna that allows permanent orientation to the selected communications satellite
• A digital channel tuner (for “open” channels) or a decoder (for channels belonging to some payment platform).
• A monitor that allows the visualization of the contents.

What types of satellite antennas for vehicles are on the market?

Basically, it offers us two models of satellite antennas specially designed for use in buses :

• Low profile “Phased Array” antennas 16-18 cm high.
• Conventional profile antennas 24-34 cm high.

Its main differences are two:

• At the design level : the main difference is the internal configuration . The low profile antennas mount a series of small equal antennas, separated, with the same orientation and fed synchronously, while the conventional profile antennas incorporate a parabolic reflector with a configurable diameter depending on the signal intensity necessary to be able to view the channels broadcast by the different satellites.
• At a technical level : the fundamental difference is linked to the elevation angle at which each of the antennas can work. Low profile antennas typically work at lower elevation angles than conventional antennas. This makes its use in areas very far from the equator, such as in northern Europe, or with satellites that have a very high elevation angle, sometimes complicated.

What live satellite TV services can I offer my customers?

Basically there are three services that can currently be offered to the passenger by installing a satellite antenna that allows the reception of the chosen satellite signal in motion :

• Free-to-air satellite television channels connecting the satellite antenna to the vehicle's receiver and screen.
• Payment channels offered from any type of payment platform simply by including the decoder of the previously selected channels in the installation.
• In Spain, Portugal and the South of France it is possible to offer conventional DTT channels including a satellite DTT receiver in the installation of the antenna DTT-SAT

Currently, the installation of live satellite television is the most economical investment for those companies that simply and directly want to offer quality entertainment to their passengers.