Surrey, British Columbia-based Norsat International Inc has launched the Microsat 150 Multimedia Satellite PC Receiver. Connecting it to a personal computer or laptop enables the user to capture real time satellite video, listen to and edit directly from the computer keyboard, selections of audio programmes and monitor real time data broadcasts containing up-to-date stock market reports, weather information and international news as it happens. This can all be accomplished using Microsat’s resident interactive software running in a Windows environment. Video can be overlaid over existing applications such as Lotus 1-2-3 or image manipulated using a video toaster. Using the product, it is possible to work on a spreadsheet while simultaneously viewing the CNN television channel in a small overlay in the corner of the monitor, for example. Microsat can be used with a small fixed dish to receive from several satellites or with a fully actuated dish to up to 40 satellites in the C or Ku Band – provided you can find something that is not scrambled – since antenna steering controls are built into the receiver. The Microsat 150 Multimedia Satellite Receiver is physically smaller than a laptop computer and can be connected to a personal computer or a laptop via a standard serial port. Microsat is compatible with widely-used software programs and operating systems including MS-DOS, OS/2 or Unix. It comes with a library of software driv-rs at a price of $1,000 and will be shipping at the end of this quarter. It can also be bought as a complete system including the Microsat 150 receiver, Ku Band LNB, and a fixed 0.9 metre dish for $1,200.
