Contact: Michael Sherman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel. 319-754-0604
Cell Phone: 901-351-9861
Email: msher@winegard.com
WINEGARD SIGNS CONTRACT FOR EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO
NEW TRIPLE-STACKING SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY
Incorporated In New HOME RUNTM Bundle,
Allows Retrofitting Of Existing MDUs And Homes
To Receive Triple Play Plus Expanded HD Access
On One Existing Coax Cable
Burlington, Iowa, March 13, 2006 — Winegard Company announced today, the signing of an exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreement with Global Communications, holder of 8 patents on Triple-Stacking Technology (TST), covering the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Bob Howell, Director Signal Distribution/Off-Air Antenna Business Group, said “Winegard has been working with Global for 9 months in an effort to bring Triple-Stacked Technology to the market, as part of Winegard’s new Triple Play HOME RUN bundle. The addition of TST, branded by Winegard as the TRIADTM, to Winegard’s HOME RUN, makes it absolutely unique.” Before TRIAD, no matter how integrators installed satellite TV, a minimum of 2 cables had to be pulled to Decoder equipped HDTVs or Set Top Boxes to provide the most popular satellite HDTV signals. TRIAD allows new installations and retrofitting of MDUs and SDUs to receive all HD channels from all three satellites (101,110 and 119), by stacking all 3 satellite signals and combining them onto the HOME RUN’s single existing coax cable delivery system.
To stack and unstack all DBS High Definition signals, the TRIAD uses a combination of three new TRIAD satellite processors. The WSP-010 Satellite Processor/Polarity Stacker/DBS Amplifier operating at 950-2150 MHZ takes the 950 to 1450 MHz signals, stacks them and up-converts these frequencies to 2150 MHz. The WSP-020 Satellite Processor/Polarity Stacker/DBS Amplifier takes the 950 to 1450 MHz signals on all 3 birds and down-coverts them from 258 to 813 MHz. The MB-3000 Satellite Processor/Matrix De-stacker/DBS Amplifier utilizes 4 frequency block selector chipsets to down-convert the signals to enable multiple receivers to select the frequency block or viewing channel for each DBS receiver.
The Triple Play, the hottest thing going in signal distribution today, is the industry term applied to the bundling of VoIP (Voice over IP), High Speed Broadband Internet and Video (Satellite/Cable/Digital Off-Air/HDTV), preferred 3 to 1 over individual services. The HOME RUN, enhanced by TRIAD, answers the need for a fast, easy, inexpensive, quality solution to deliver the full Triple Play Plus signal package.
With the Winegard TRIAD stacking system, users can view all this HDTV programming on DirecTV’s101, 110 and 119 satellites. Incorporate the TRIAD with Winegard’s new HDTV Signal Processor and users can also enjoy all their “free-to-air” local HDTV broadcast channels on this same single cable run. Incorporating the Winegard MultiletTM IP/VoIP combining filter technology, residents can now experience the full “Triple Play” with expanded Satellite HDTV, local Off-Air HDTV channels and VoIP/IP, all on the same single coax cable run, eliminating the need to pull additional RG-6 coax or CAT-5 cabling.
Howell continued, “The Block conversion limits of Triple Stacked TRIAD Technology of 950 to 2150 MHz, is important. The only alternative currently on the market today for triple stacking operates up to 3 GHz, posing some technical challenges at this higher frequency range. The higher the frequency, the more susceptible the RF technology may be to RF interference. Passive 3 GHZ components such as splitters, taps, etc. are not supported unilaterally at this higher frequency range and are sometimes hard to find. Triple stacked systems must be designed with available Freguency bandwidth spectrum for the inclusion of local Cable TV and free “Off-Air” HDTV broadcasts channels. The TRIAD accomplishes this, combining it all on the same existing single cable run.”
Winegard also intends to market the TRIAD as a stand-alone product for existing and new satellite installations for properties not interested in delivering the Triple Play at this time.
Signal delivery systems have been taking second place to all the glamour CE home products, service providers’ upgrades and media moguls programming deals. “What” people watch, listen to and do with their new components and Triple Play bundled services, has been getting the majority of press coverage. Once installers and customers get these products and services home, this will change to “How” people will watch, listen to and use these components to receive Triple Play services into 26 million MDU residents and 84 million homes needing retrofitting.
Beta Field-Testing both technologies in a “real-world” test environment has already begun. The TRIAD and HOME RUN package will be available by late spring.
###
If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Bob Howell, please call Michael Sherman at 319-754-0604, send an email to msher@winegard.com or visit Winegard’s web site at www.winegard.com.
About Winegard:
The Winegard Company is widely considered an innovator and pioneer in product design, performance and assembly and has consistently adapted to meet the challenges of the ever-changing electronics market. It remains committed to continuous improvement in the quality, cost and delivery of its products and services to effectively meet all of its customer’s needs and currently designs and manufactures more than 1,000 different products in six product lines distributed in all states and worldwide, including:
• Bundled Signal Distribution: Video, VoIP and High Speed Data and More, on a single existing cable run.
• Satellite Antennas and Mounts: Residential antennas ranging in size from 46 cm to 1 meter.
• Mobile Television Reception Products: Recreational vehicle, truck, marine, and automotive applications. Satellite systems ranging from manual crank-up models to automatic satellite tracking systems with GPS/DVB. Off-air antennas including bidirectional and omni-directional VHF/UHF/FM antennas. Ground Antenna Mounts and Accessories.
• Off-Air Antennas: From DC to 5.8 gigs AM/FM/VHF/UHF Antenna Systems, Distribution and Pre-Amplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories
• Telemetry: Medical and Data Antenna Systems, Distribution Amplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories.
• Wireless Remote Home Control System: Sends the entertainment you want, remotely, where you want it, when you want it.
