New technology finds, locks antenna onto WiMAX Network without human intervention

BURLINGTON, Iowa (March 10, 2014) – Winegard, in a joint venture partnership with DTS (Data Technology Solutions), today introduced a new WiMAX auto acquisition mount that sits atop oil and gas drilling rigs to eliminate the need for technicians to manually peak the WiMAX antenna to the network. This is an enhancement to fixed mount options.
The antenna mounting system is being introduced at the Satellite 2014 Conference & Exhibition, March 10 – 13, held at the Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., in Winegard booth #4061.

Benefits of the new design to drilling companies include eliminating delays associated with dispatching a technician to physically access the crown of the rig, technician safety issues and the accommodation for rigs that skid onsite to drill multiple wells from a single pad.

Software developed for the unit allows the antenna to automatically aim the unit at the main beam on the WiMAX network and peak itself to gain the highest link quality. If the rig is moved, the unit also will automatically reestablish the link. The same software allows the operator or technician to access the unit remotely to peak the system signal.

Winegard VSAT systems reseller partner DTS worked closely with Winegard hardware and software engineers to create the new auto acquisition unit to reduce costs, enhance safety and simplify drilling operations for its oil and gas exploration customers around the world.

"Winegard did a great job on the new WiMAX auto acquire unit. It will benefit our customers by providing them with high speed data with low latency while reducing their overall rig cost to zero dollars," said DTS President Mike Guidroz. "Our customers can now rig down and reset up without having to dispatch a technician onsite. The system also requires no interaction from the customer. All they have to do is simply power on the unit once the rig is operational and it does the rest by itself."

"We worked out the pole mount design and environmental issues to handle extreme vibrations and prevent water infiltration," said Winegard President Jon Manley. "One of our engineers developed the software that connects Winegard’s controller and the WiMAX radio. We took this product from concept to creation within just 90 days. It was a total team effort with DTS."

The mount, which is compatible with Ubiquiti™ Networks reflectors and is customizable for other reflectors, is highly suitable for mobile and remote oil and gas operations.

Unlike fixed mount options, the enhanced WM1000 greatly reduces downtime in critical communications/data during situations when the reflector position changes making it unable to maintain signal.

This mount provides unsurpassed efficiency, higher throughput over longer distances, simplicity and reliability for end users.

Weighing in at just 29 pounds, the WM1000 mount is designed to handle large payloads. A standard 19 inch 2U rack mount controller is included with the mount.

Additional applications for the U.S. Patent Pending WM1000 mount include news gathering and broadcast, emergency response management and public safety.

About Winegard
Winegard Company is a respected world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative antenna products for satellite and terrestrial communications. Since its founding in 1954, Winegard’s pioneering solutions have shaped the industry for home, recreational vehicle (RV), truck, marine, medical and automotive antennas. The company’s 2-way VSAT antennas provide real-time broadband solutions for extreme and remote environments in support of the oil and gas industries, as well as military and emergency response teams. Winegard is a privately-owned company that designed the first residential multi-channel TV antenna for the U.S. It has designed more than 1,000 antenna models and does custom antenna design and development work. To learn more about Burlington, Iowa-based Winegard, visit http://www.winegard.com or call 800-288-8094.

About Data Technology Solutions
Data Technology Solutions (DTS) is a leading provider of managed communications services for the oil & gas, maritime, government & military, disaster recovery and commercial shipping industries. DTS delivers communication solutions that perform in the most challenging environments all over the world with support from technical professionals that proactively monitor and manage the most complex networks. Our portfolio includes wireless broadband, VSAT/USAT, Satellite TV, satellite phones, space segment, video, thermal imaging cameras, wireless intercoms, asset tracking, and voice and faxing. To learn more about, Breaux-Bridge, Louisiana based Data Technology Solutions, visit www.dtscom.com.