Strange Signals on Fox News, page 7

Hi All,

Although not a certified engineer, among other, so called, hi tech areas, have worked with video teleconferencing, satellite communications, and specific to the case at hand, satellite video teleconferencing.

Without seeing or hearing the specifics, can almost definitively say that what you are seeing is simple interference of one type or another. Used to see the "stuck" images, odd beeps, and the like whenever there was either transmission or reception issues or, especially during periods of extra sunspot/solar wind-type activity. There were times when the most important person's comments would turn into a stuck screenshot along with audio you would expect to be coming from R2D2! You can imagine that no one was happy.

Although not working directly with a television network, have a decent idea of what methods they use and know that they are similar to those we used. In addition to the usual microwave and other transmitters, the digital broadcast relies upon encoders, decoders, and crypto gear, aka “scramblers”, to encrypt and decrypt signals to prevent, eh-hem, "free service"- all of which are potential trouble spots. Not to mention that cable and satellite carriers have much of the same equipment as well, where many of the same problems may originate so analog or digital is not immune though analog is obviously more of a “tried and true” technology in general.

Again, not meaning to get you riled up or anything but that has been my experience.

As someone else suggested, to help answer the question, you should probably call up Fox engineering- surely there is some way to make contact and describe what you are seeing and hearing to them and ask if that is something of which they are aware. As with any business, if their product is being ruined by either their, or the cable carrier's, equipment, then they most likely will want to fix the issue.

As for the VP liking Fox News, perhaps that is the channel he prefers and just maybe they ask the satellite or cable question so his assistant can find out what other types of programming are available. In addition, since that is the VP, perhaps, actually more likely, the communications gear is sensitive to satellite signals and they need to know what type to bring or what precautions to take first.

Always try to see both sides of an issue, so unless you can post or send the specifics to someone with the appropriate equipment to analyze the information and they turn out to be something devilish, honestly think that is interference as briefly denoted above.

Obviously, you could be on to something huge, but oftentimes the innocent things are just that- innocent.

Hope this puts you a bit more at ease and aids in furthering the discussion,

Nikk

[edit on 1/4/2006 by EnserNG]