ARCTEK Satellite Productions Debuts 1080p HDR, 4K-Capable ARCTEK Black Encoding Truck

New mobile unit can provide both MPEG4 and HEVC compression

ARCTEK Satellite Productions has launched its latest satellite encoding truck. ARCTEK Black, which rolled out in June, is capable of 1080p HDR and 4K transmission and monitoring with MPEG4 or HEVC compression. The ultra-versatile unit can also transmit via C-band satellite, fiber, or internet via the GigE switch.

“ARCTEK Black gives us another mux/encoding vehicle in our arsenal,” says ARCTEK owner Brian Stanley. “It gives us the ability to transmit larger-bandwidth formats like 1080p HDR and 4K right now — and all in an efficient, tried-and-true Sprinter chassis.”

ARCTEK Black deploys 10 Adtec encoders: two EN81’s and an afiniti eight-source HEVC and mux.

As the ARCTEK White truck (built in 2006) began to age out, Stanley knew that an upgrade would be necessary to meet the demands of the company’s clients and stay on the cutting edge of transmission technology. Originally planned for spring 2020, the launch was delayed by the pandemic. Then, in early 2021, the company identified a 10-week period beginning at the end of March when it could be short a truck and pulled the trigger despite the aggressive timeline.

“We decided on a new dish to get more gain and performance over ARCTEK White,” Stanley explains. “The AVL auto-deploy batwing 2.4-meter C-band dish outperforms anything on the market. We have one on our ARCTEK Purple C-band truck and straight out love it.”

AVL Technologies delivered the 2.4-meter C-band dish ahead of schedule, and systems integrator Frontline Communications delivered the truck in time to meet ARCTEK’s June 16 deadline.

“Frontline Communications handled the complete integration for start to finish,” says Stanley. “They knocked it out of the park on this truck. We couldn’t be happier.”

ARCTEK Black satellite truck features an AVL auto-deploy batwing 2.4-meter C-band dish.

After taking delivery, ARCTEK rolled the truck out from Frontline’s Clearwater, FL, facility straight to a motocross event in Pennsylvania. Since then, ARCTEK Black has handled several 10-source REMI productions, as well as a multitude of C-band backhaul uplinks for MLB and WNBA games.

ARCTEK Black travels with 10 Adtec encoders (two EN81’s and an afiniti eight-source HEVC and mux). Stanley describes it as “damn near infinite in its encoder expandability.” Other key equipment includes an AJA router, CPI 750-W transmitters, Marshall audio monitoring, Blackmagic Design recording and fiber conversion, Apantac multiview, RTS comms, and an Onan onboard generator.

“This truck has a straightforward design and can send ASI or GigE back to the network however they want to receive it,” says Stanley. “The truck is essentially an encoding truck with a redundant C-band transmission chain. It’s one of the cleanest and most flexible trucks we’ve ever built. This thing rocks.”

Inside ARCTEK Black are an AJA router, CPI 750W transmitters, and Marshall audio monitoring.

With the reliability of satellite paramount for customers, he adds, ARCTEK Black combines the reliability of C-band transmission with the benefits of HEVC compression, which can offer a 25%-40% saving in bandwidth. It also allows ARCTEK to serve the growing demand for 1080p HDR and 4K transmission.

“Let face it,” says Stanley, “nothing is as reliable as satellite, especially bonded cellular or public internet. My clients need the ultimate transmission reliability, and C-band satellite delivers. HEVC compression is the next step in encoding technology. With 25%-40% in bandwidth saving, we can get 20- to 30-source mux on a transponder or do 10-source mux at a higher quality or on a half transponder. And 1080p HDR and 4K are the future; ARCTEK Black is able to transmit both of these formats.”