From the first time that a satellite was used to transmit a television signal up to today, satellite equipment and systems have become more versatile and available in more places. Today, technology allows individual users access to mobile satellite TV and mobile satellite Internet services. It's possible to take television along for a trip, access email, or find information from anywhere in the world
The satellite equipment began fairly simply. The first television signal relayed using a satellite system was relayed from Europe to North America in 1962. The first communications satellite to use a geosynchronous orbit (an orbit that matches the rotation of the earth to remain in the same position relative to the planet) was launched during the following year. Using satellites to carry television signals to the public was still quite some time away.
When national networks first began using satellites to transmit television signals, they were used to send the television programming to what are known as ground downlink stations. These stations would receive the signal sent by the network through the satellite and could then re-broadcast the program. The Soviet Union was the first nation to use satellite television in this way. The first domestic North American satellite to carry television in this way was launched by Canada in 1973.
The first satellite to experiment with broadcasting a signal specifically intended to be received in homes was launched from Cape Canaveral in 1974 and transmitted educational programming to various countries, including India, the US and other regions.
The satellite dishes themselves were fairly large with most dishes being about 10 meters, or about 33 feet, in diameter. In the early 1980s, the first commercial Very Small Aperture Terminal (or VSAT) ground stations became available. VSAT dishes are less than 3 meters, or approximately 10 feet in diameter. In fact, most satellite VSAT systems used in homes, for mobile satellite TV, or mobile satellite Internet is around 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter.
In 1984, a man by the name of Robert (Bob) Stacey was determined to solve a problem he was having with satellite TV. He enjoyed traveling with his Recreational Vehicle (RV), but missed having his favorite shows when he left home. He designed and built the first known motorized Satellite TV mount for an RV. Bob’s friend Ed Travis, an engineer who built satellite systems for the home consumer market designed an automatic Receiver/Positioner that was able to locate and identify over 20 Satellites in several minutes. Together they created MotoSAT, a company that makes mobile satellite TV and mobile satellite Internet systems.
Today’s world moves quickly. Everyone is “on-the-go” but needs to stay in contact and have instant access to information. It is easy stay connected wherever you may be on the globe using mobile satellite equipment. The keyword is “mobility.” Access to information, email, VPN (connecting to remote, secure networks), VoIP, is easy no matter where you are when you use mobile satellite Internet technology.
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