HISTORY
Melbourne Satellites has been an Importer and
Wholesale Distributor of satellite receiving equipment for approximately
eleven years. The wholesale supply of TVRO equipment has been
to companies all over Australia, as well as retail sales to a large
domestic market for receiving both local and international programming.
Melbourne Satellites also offers knowledge and installation
manpower for various projects Australia wide.
Previous projects and installations have included:
In November 1993, Melbourne Satellites commenced
working in conjunction with the Directorate of School Education
of Victoria, Catholic Education Office and Association of Independent
Schools of Victoria. This saw the successful installation
of TVRO Rx Only equipment for Interactive TV purposes on all education
facilities throughout the State of Victoria. The installation
project was completed on time with in excess of 1,500 State School
sites, 300 Catholic School sites and more than 100 Independent Schools
and TAFE Colleges. The supply and installation manpower was
all controlled by the strict Quality Assessment of Melbourne Satellites.
In April 1994 came the supply of equipment and
installation services to the TAFE Colleges of the Australian Defence
Force, for training and teaching purposes with antenna sizes ranging
from 1.5m to 3.7m in diameter for receiving local, international
and data signals.
Late 1994, The Tasmanian Department of Education
and the Arts requested Melbourne Satellites to install preliminary
test sites for receiving Interactive TV programs. This was
completed with key sites throughout Tasmania installed and viewing
SOFNet Broadcast provided by the Victorian Education Department.
Melbourne Satellites has also installed TVRO equipment
for reception of CDV transmissions from the National Technology
University, Fort Collins, Colorado. This equipment was being
provided to Universities throughout Australia for further education
programs and video conferencing. Outside the commercial Pay
TV industry, we believe Melbourne Satellites was one of the first
installation companies in Australia to work with this technology.
Mid 1995 had Melbourne Satellites installing and
commissioning the Rural Doctors Coordinating Unit Network throughout
Victoria and Tasmania. This analogue network had Rx Only equipment
installed to all rural and some metropolitan Hospitals. This
network has since been upgraded to digital reception from the Aurora
Platform off Optus B3.
During late 1995 to early 1997, Melbourne Satellites
in conjunction CDM and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia supplied
and installed the CBA-TV Interactive Satellite Network. Most
sites were located throughout Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory
and border areas of South Australia and New South Wales. Generally
dish sizes were between 1.5m and 2.1m and were coupled through an
analogue SA9708 B-MAC decoder.
Early 1999, Melbourne Satellite was contracted
to return to the Commonwealth Banks in Victoria and upgrade an existing
analogue service previously installed by this company. This
involved the installation of digital Panasonic satellite receivers
for reception from the Aurora Platform off Optus B3.
Mid 1999 saw Melbourne Satellites awarded by Optus
Cable & Wireless the Education Victoria Digital SOFNet Upgrade.
This upgrade had two main components.
Part A of
this project was the digital upgrade to an existing analogue network
previously installed by our company. Melbourne Satellites
implemented an introduction and training day for prospective subcontractors
outlining work procedures and Quality Assurance Methods. Representative
from the Education Department, Optus Cable & Wireless and Melbourne
Satellites were able to express their thoughts. Over a period
of 12 weeks approximately two thousand three hundred sites were
visited and had new LNBs and IRDs fitted, Televisions and VCRs tuned,
a full new system demonstration to required staff, and Quality Assurance
assessment completed. All information was then returned to
our office and loaded into a new database created by our staff.
Part B had Melbourne Satellites provide two 1300
phone numbers for after installation service and warranty. This
assisted the users of this network with full telephone support
for any difficulties or problems encountered. With problems
not able to be solved via a telephone conversation, technicians
were instructed to attend site to restore system. Melbourne
Satellites still provides full help desk facilities and back up
service for this network
Most recently, June 2000, Melbourne Satellites
won the State Library of Victoria, VICNET Libraries On-line Project.
This involved the supply and installation of Rx Only satellite antennas
with high-speed satellite modems to approximately forty various
sites throughout Victoria. It included initial site inspections,
council application, installation and connection to existing routers
and computer networks. This project was completed on time on budget.
Filling the gaps on a smaller scale Melbourne
Satellites also supplied and install Rx Only equipment and various
ATO sites (Australian Taxation Offices) and many DSS (Department
of Social Security) sites throughout Victoria.
Melbourne Satellites also offers a variety Teleconferencing
Services. These range from temporary on-site satellite installations
to Downlink & Record via satellite to digital tape with duplication
and distribution services Australia wide.
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