EV> TW> Those drop outs used to be the biggest gripe about the Sat TV
EV> TW> service. I understand they not have more transmit power than
EV> TW> the old systens and rain dosen't wash out the signal like it
EV> TW> used to do.

EV>Howdy! Tom,

EV>Those Sat TV birds must have a real powerful semiconductor device.

EV>It's a wonder they can keep their battery charged at the increased
EV>power level to keep the bird from going dead.

EV>I was told by a civilian radio tech who worked for the Corps of
EV>Engineers there were high power transistors in use in some commercial
EV>RF gear.

EV>I'd hate to have to buy one of those Xsistors to replace one that died.
EV>73

Have to rembmeber they use very high gain antennas.
53.3 dB was one figure I saw
They also have very expensive high effecency Large Solar Panels
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 þ SLMR 2.1a þ 0