Houseboating Adventures - Issue 17 - (Page 57) shocked to know that that’s the way that the system actually works. CW: The dome, while it’s the most visible part of the system, is actually among the simplest because its primary function is to protect the antenna mechanism that is within it. But it’s not simply a piece of fiberglass or plastic that we put up there. We actually spend a great deal of time with the materials that we use to fabricate those domes because we want to make sure that the signal the antenna needs to receive doesn’t get absorbed or reflected by the dome itself. HBA: Did it take a special material? Because to me it looks just like it’s a fiberglass dome. CW: No, the different domes, depending on the system that you’re looking at, might be made out of different materials, but they are virtually RF neutral, meaning that the dome itself is largely invisible to the signal. The signal is able to pass through it unhindered. This is critical because the signal is relatively weak and any loss, either due to rain, thick coats of paint, or the dome, might reduce the signal strength to the point where the antenna can’t collect enough and the system won’t function properly. HBA: This is the TracVision system? CW: Actually the first systems that we created were two-way communication systems in the early 1990’s. We received a contract from Scientific Atlanta to use our technology to build them a stabilized antenna for two-way maritime communication. Basically, a satellite telephone antenna. We started doing that and realized that this was a product that we could potentially market as our own product. Right around that same time DIRECTV came on the scene with satellite television that was powerful enough that you could receive it using an antenna that was only about 18" in diameter. Prior to that you had to use a big dish that )6B@" A05("%C&5AB9&@ was in the back yard that was the size of a wading pool. Once DIRECTV came along, it became practical to have a smaller antenna. Using our mobile satellite technology, we became the first company to get engineering approval and accreditation from DIRECTV for an in-motion antenna. Now people on boats were able to get DIRECTV the same way that they would get them at home. HBA: What year was that? CW: Our first TracVision product actually shipped late 1995, early 1996. We are supporting mega yachts now, all the way down to recreational powerboats as small as 25 or 30 feet. Plus, we have a range of services and systems that are suitable to houseboats. In 1999 we began shipping a series of products for the RV market, which were based on the same general principals but had an elliptical dish. In fact many houseboat owners actually have what is essentially one of our in-motion RV systems, with an elliptical dish on it as opposed to the round dish. With its lower profile, it’s about the same size as an air conditioner on top of a RV, about 12" high. We actually have a lot of houseboat owners that use those systems because they don’t need the high-performance, dynamic systems that you would put on a 45’ Sport Fisherman that’s going to be plowing through the waves off the coast of Florida at 20 knots. We’ve also expanded the systems to include an even smaller low profile system for automobiles, about 5 inches high. And because we have a lot of customers who want High Definition television our marine and RV systems can now offer that as well. We are supporting the demand among consumers to have the same mobile access to the services that they enjoy at their home or office. People want to stay connected via televi-
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