IBC 2019 Amsterdam — Walton De-Ice, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of satellite earth station antenna (ESA) weather protection solutions, announced that a leading global sports media entity has purchased multiple Walton Plenum Hot-Air De-Icing systems and heated Snow Shield antenna covers. The Walton De-Ice systems have been installed in order to protect incoming and outgoing satellite signals from effects of snow and ice at one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced TV production facilities.
According to Walton De-Ice, the global sports media company has added four new Walton Hot Air De-Ice systems to protect 6.1m satellite network distribution antennas. In addition, ten heated Snow Shield antenna covers will protect 4.5m antennas used to collect raw satellite sports and remote feeds at the facility. Contract terms were not disclosed. Walton revealed that the new systems replaced competing suppliers’ installations at the site. “We are delighted that our long-time customer, a leader in global sports TV with offerings over 60 countries, has again selected Walton De-Ice to protect its critical network distribution and contribution signals from the effects of snow and ice using the latest Walton De-Ice systems,” says Bill Walton, President of W.B. Walton Enterprises, Inc. (Walton De-Ice). Walton’s Hot Air De-Ice systems — including the company’s unique Plenum enclosure installed on the rear of a satellite earth station antenna — provide the most reliable and economic antenna de-icing solutions on the market. Walton systems offer maximum flexibility with electric, natural gas, and liquid propane gas heater options. Unlike other types of heaters such as electric pad systems that can cause reflector distortion, Walton Hot Air De-Ice systems heat the entire antenna reflector uniformly, which minimizes reflector distortion that can cause signal problems, especially at Ku-, and Ka-Band. The Snow Shield solution for 0.6 to 6.3-meter antennas is a coated RF-transparent material stretched over the satellite antenna, and can be used as a Passive, Heated, or Ice Quake system to shed snow off the antenna before ice forms.