CLEVELAND, April 1 — Codec company Telos Systems said today it has introduced a technology known as “moon bounce” to enable remote broadcasts via passive lunar relay.
The Telos Lunar Zephyr, the company says, enables “convenient, two-way, broadcast-quality audio” between studios and remote locations whenever both have a clear view of the moon. The company provided the accompanying photo, captioned, “Gigi Grzndzk-Fnortner shows off the Lunar Zephyr transmission dish. So easy a child could do it!”
According to Kirk Harnack, Telos vice president and executive director, the new product is suitable for live remotes.
“It includes a high-power data modem and a quantum-phased parabolic antenna,” he said in a press release. “Where you would have settled for a mobile phone call, now you can have a Zephyr-quality remote instead. And it doesn’t need WiFi, 3G, 4G or any kind of Internet connection. There are no monthly data plans or expensive data roaming charges. The Lunar Zephyr uses the biggest, near-Earth relay satellite in the sky: the moon!”
He added that the company expects this to be very popular with Telos Zephyr and Z/IP One users, “who have come to appreciate Telos’ reputation for great audio quality from faraway places.”
Each Telos Lunar Zephyr includes a Telos audio codec, a rugged, road-tested, high-power data modem, an advanced-technology quantum-phased dish antenna and a selection of carbide-tipped ground stakes for securing it.
“Other remote-broadcast antennas can be difficult to aim properly, but the Telos Lunar Zephyr is different,” says Greg Shay, chief science officer for The Telos Alliance. “You simply point our quantum-phased parabolic reflector at the moon. It really couldn’t be simpler. I would point out that our high-powered data modem does require commercial power. For a good signal fade-margin we’re recommending the modem be plugged into a 240 volt, 100 ampere circuit. While this may seem like a lot of power, you’ll be assured of a great audio connection, at least until the moon sets.”
Noting the historic relevance of April 1 in lunar astronomy, Harnack also added that the Telos R&D Department is working on a sun-bounce upgrade kit, for longer connection periods. “We hope to announce the Solar Zephyr Upgrade Kit about this time next year, just before NAB.”
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