Towards the end of last year, I was named Chairman of the Satellite User Interference Reduction Group’s (SUIRG) Video Carrier ID working group, and as such, satellite interference has taken up a lot of my year in one form or another. If you read my article in this issue, “The Colem Identity,” you will receive an insight into the work SUIRG carries out and the project we have been working on leading toward Carrier Identification for all satellite video transmissions. As you can imagine, that has kept me pretty busy in itself, but I have found time to roll out a few projects and to even do some product development, thanks to the support of Tom Blake, my recently appointed Product Architect.

The ID project is an extremely worthwhile initiative. Satellite interference is becoming an increasing problem, due to increased demand on the satellite infrastructure and the plethora of activities satellites are used for these days.

With my SUIRG hat on, and while attending a number of events this year, I have been actively working to bring broadcasters, manufacturers, and other satellite operators, on board with both the Carrier ID and training initiatives. The work is proving successful, with many of the companies involved in that chain realizing the importance and business benefit of reducing interference. In fact, taking video transmission as the prime example, we are now at a point where encoder manufacturers are preparing and — in many cases — have achieved the goal of making Carrier ID available on all video encoders for the single transmit chain scenario.

Colem launched a number of features at this year’s IBC aimed at reducing interference, including the Company’s standard offering of Automated Carrier ID. This ensures the unique ID is registered automatically on product deployment. In addition, Colem has developed a range of tools that allow the unique ability to self-monitor a terminal’s transmission parameters as well as the ability to check spectrum availability. Using the equipment within the terminal and applying analytic techniques unique to Colem, users are now able to automate the live monitoring of available transmission bandwidth. In addition, media management has been added to the mix, giving broadcasters more flexibility at the vehicle, or flyaway, than previously possible and ensuring interference is avoided.

Tom Blake, on the other hand, has been focused on larger NMS projects and has developed new techniques in production and configuration of these systems. Colem has two projects at present using these capabilities; a data system with multiple modem links and a news broadcast system. Both of these products are fully client configurable yet remain tailor-made to suit individual customer requirements. All include an array of features from predictive and logical alarm handling, reporting, logging and mapping. These techniques will be incorporated into Colem’s SNG and FlyAway products during 2011.