Satellite Update

By Doug Lung
published

The FCC International Bureau granted EchoStar Satellite Operating LLC special temporary authority (STA) to test the EchoStar 11 satellite at 138.5 degrees west longitude (WL) in the 12.2-12.7 GHz and 17.3-17.8 GHz bands for 30 days starting July 20. The STA also allows conducting telemetry, tracking and control operations with EchoStar 11 as it is relocated to its assigned location at 110.0 degrees WL.

XM Radio received STA to operate one terrestrial repeater at a power of 2 kW EIRP (average) or less for 180 days at weekly Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour events at various locations. The repeater will operate in the 2332.5-2345 MHz frequency band allocated for the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) and assigned for the exclusive use of XM.

From FCC Report SAT-00539.

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.