WFSU-TV is home to the largest production facility in the region - with capabilities in studio production, teleconferencing, field production, remote production, post-production, and satellite resources. Interview programs, documentaries, teleconferences, feature programs, governmental affairs, educational programs, musical programs... you name it and we have produced it. WFSU is the video production solution for many businesses and state agencies.
Additionally, WFSU-TV has been recognized time and again by peers, interest groups, associations and the public for quality production and service.
Studio Facilities Highlights:
Fully equipped 4800 sqf television studio
Studio Cameras: 3 Phillips LDK11
Switching: Phillips DD30
Digital Video Effects: Grass Valley GVeous, 2-channel
Audio: Wheatstone Analog
Graphics: Chyron Duet HyperX with Clip Player
Formats: DVC Pro, Beta SP, DVCam
Post-Production Facilities Highlights:
Editing Software: Final Cut Pro
Graphics: Complete Adobe Package
Format: DVD, DVCPro & Beta SP
Field Production Highlights:
Wireless Mics and IFBs
Field Prompter
Formats: DVC Pro, Tapeless Digital
Current Clients:
Brighthouse News- Tampa/St. Pete
The City of Tallahassee
The Florida Department of Health
The Florida Division of Emergency Management
The Florida State University
The Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Public Service Commission
THE FLORIDA TRANSPONDER
The State of Florida leases its own satellite transponder - Transponder 18 on AMC-3(KU). AMC-3 is located near the middle of the satellite constellation, at 87 degrees West longitude. Using this transponder, programming reaches anywhere in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico, parts of the Caribbean Basin, and parts of Alaska. The Florida Transponder can be accessed by educational institutions, as well as government agencies and commercial enterprises.
The Florida Transponder is a completely digital platform, with separate channels for educational, governmental, and commercial programming. Digital compression on the Florida Transponder allows the state to increase the number of potential users, since a digital feed utilizes less bandwidth than an analog feed. Digital compression also allows the state to pass on more savings to state users through lower rates.
WFSU-TV SATELLITE SUPPORT SERVICES
WFSU-TV manages The Florida Transponder for the state. It is our goal to assist you in securing satellite services and work with you to fill your needs for teleconferences, classes or other video feeds. We are also here to provide your school or agency with the information you will need to convert any existing satellite downlink system or network to receive digital feeds from the Florida Transponder, or to purchase and install a new downlink.
DVB-S2
Programming on the Florida Transponder (The Florida Knowledge Network and the Florida Channel) utilizes the new DVB-S2 format. "Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite - Second Generation" (DVB-S2) is an enhanced DVB specification. DVB-S2 is based on the DVB-S standard which is now being used for satellite broadcasting, and the DVB-DSNG standard, which is used for satellite news gathering. The system allows transmission of one or more MPEG-2 audio/video streams, and is capable of using various modulation schemes with concatenated encoding. For our programming - The Florida Knowledge Network and the Florida Channel - we utilize the 8PSK modulation format, with a Symbol Rate of 3.2 Mega Symbols and FEC of 2 / 3.
DVB-S2 Integrated Receivers/Decoders (IRDs)
We can suggest two IRDs for use at downlinks who want to receive the Florida Knowledge Network and the Florida Channel. The first is the Sencore MRD 3187A, a professional-grade, broadcast quality IRD. The second is a less expensive, "Pro-sumer" set top model, the Coship CDVB5112.
Of course, these are likely not the only two DVB-S2 IRDs available. Downlink sites are free to research other models that might better suit their needs or budget. But, they should be sure that any other IRD that might be suggested is capable of DVB-S2 reception. Standard DVB-S IRDs -- including those they may already have in-house -- may not be compatible with this newer DVB format.
Picture and Signal Quality
Reception of these digital feeds can be susceptible to interference from the weather -- rain and heavy cloud cover -- so "tiling" or "pixilation" of your picture is something that will happen on occasion. Downlink Sites can take steps to minimize those problems.
Sites should do regular maintenance on their downlink dishes to ensure the best quality signal. That includes making sure the dish is peaked and that it is aimed correctly for optimum reception. SES Americom, the company that owns AMC-3 -- the satellite the Florida Transponder calls home -- regularly posts Center-of-Box information on their website: www.ses-americom.com.
From the SES homepage, check the drop down menu for "Tools," which is one of the menu selections at the top of the webpage. Select "Center of Box" from the menu. That will take you to a new page which lists all the satellites for which SES is posting COB information. When you click on the "AMC-3" selection, a new page will come up which details COB for AMC-3 for a period of several days. This information is updated regularly, so you can check your dish throughout the year.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The times referenced on this page are Greenwich Mean Time which you will have to convert to your local time (click to check).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you need more information on how you can utilize this communications resource, or have any questions about the move to DVB-S2; the equipment necessary for sending or receiving digital feeds; or any other questions related to the Florida Transponder, call Rick Potrikus at (850) 487-3170, x345.
Links
A list of equipment recommendations for satellite dishes, mounts and all related specifications is provided courtesy of the Florida Department of Education on FL DOE's Florida Knowledge Network homepage. At the Knowledge Network Engineering Services Satellite page, you will find receive system specifications as well as a number of other useful links.
