GatesAir Scoops DTV Transmission Contract

GatesAir has won a large digital TV (DTV) transmission contract with Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN Chile), a Chilean public service broadcaster.
The contract includes a three year roll-out of 124
ISDB-Tb DTV transmitters in key cities throughout Chile, with initial
deployments focused on the metropolitan centers of Concepcion and
Valparaiso City.
TVN Chile selected GatesAir, one of 12
transmission suppliers under evaluation, due to its industry-leading
longevity, reliable customer service and support, and positive
experiences with GatesAir analog TV transmitters. TVN Chile also pointed
to GatesAir’s high-efficiency transmitter designs and broad range of
power levels as key factors in their decision. The initial rollout
includes a mix of Maxiva ULXTE liquid-cooled (1 kW and higher) and UAXTE
air-cooled (under 1 kW) transmitters, with additional phases to follow.
“GatesAir
has been in business for nearly 100 years, and has supported many of
the largest national DTV transition projects worldwide,” said Mario
Sepulveda, Chief Engineer, TVN Chile. “Our experience with GatesAir has
proven they can reliably support large transmission networks with
technical resources and spare parts, quickly solve problems, and fortify
projects with customer-friendly frame agreements and warranties. All of
this speaks to the very high quality of their products and services.
The very high efficiency of Maxiva transmitters will also reduce
footprint and air conditioning at all of our transmission sites,
lowering our total cost of ownership throughout Chile.”
Chile’s
unusual geography makes DTV transmission a unique challenge for
broadcasters, with mountainous and coastal regions running north to
south in close proximity through much of country. The country’s long
length can also produce dramatic differences in temperature range,
making GatesAir’s liquid-cooled solutions highly valuable in Chile’s
hottest summer weather. GatesAir’s ULXTE transmitters are used worldwide
to substantially reduce air conditioning use for higher power
transmission systems in warmer climates.
Sepulveda adds that
GatesAir’s integrated remux technology will simplify regional content
distribution. Content generated at TVN Chile’s Santiago headquarters is
distributed to satellites in different regions, with unique program
multiplexes delivered in the north and the south. Maxiva transmitters in
each region will receive their DTV broadcast multiplexes via satellite,
and then “remux” the signals for transmission to regional viewers.
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