Product Review – Sat-Lite Transportable Antennas

Lightweight and Highly Portable Sat-Lite 828/838

By Michael Weaver
Originally posted on LinkedIn

I had the opportunity to catch up with Chris Callow, Director of Sales with Sat-Lite Technologies at the Colorado Emergency Management Conference and visit with him about their line of airline checkable man-pack fly-away antennas. “For many emergency management professionals, deployability is key” said Callow, “Often times you cannot get heavy assets on scene quickly.”

PERC Portable Emergency Response Center
Sat-Lite 828 manual deploy with PERC by Comprehensive Communications Services

Today, lightweight and highly portable antennas have become an important tool for satellite communications deployments. The antenna will pack in 1 transit case or backpack. It features a unique 6 piece segmented carbon fiber composite reflector and can assemble in less than 10 minutes. The antenna comes in a manual (828) or an auto-deploy option (838) with a touch screen controller that is mounted on the pedestal.

"For many emergency management professionals, deployability is key" said Chris Callow, "Often times you cannot get heavy assets on scene quickly."
Chris Callow of Sat-Lite Technologies
Chris Callow
Director of Sales, Sat-Lite

Shown with the PERC by Comprehensive Communications Services in the photo above, a complete communications solutions can be safely transported in rugged cases and deployed rapidly to remote locations quickly. Often used as a “first strike” communications solution, the Sat-Lite 828 can be rapidly deployed when heavy assets cannot get into a forward area. Hurricane Michael, produced a substantial amount of debris, blocking roads and preventing heavy command vehicles from getting to many areas where communications infrastructure was compromised.

"Hurricane Michael, produced a substantial amount of debris, blocking roads and preventing heavy command vehicles from getting to many areas where communications infrastructure was compromised."
Michael Weaver of IP Access International
Michael Weaver
Senior Director for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, IP Access

Coupled with the PERC – This antenna solution can provide VSAT communications as well as LTE capability in a single a single case. The PERC has dual SIM slots capable of supporting FirstNet or Verizon as has an embedded iDirect Modem inside the PERC case. Four ethernet (RJ-45) POE ports are available in the PERC case to facilitate to higher speed, greater bandwidth, wired connections, when available. Customers can choose from a CradlePoint or Pepwave LTE router design.

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Michael Weaver is a 20-year veteran in the satellite communications industry and currently serves as Senior Director for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for IP Access International. IP Access is proud to deliver Satellite/FirstNet/LTE solutions to over 1700 active sites daily. Michael also serves as the Commercial Chapter Advisory Member for the Montana Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. When not attending exercises, training or public speaking, you can find him fishing on the beautiful rivers and streams in Montana where he calls home.