Winegard’s Introduces Triad™, A New HDTV Triple-Stacking Technology Combining All HD Satellite Signals On One Existing Coax Cable

Takes HDTV Reception To The Next Level By Incorporating TRIAD Into New Structured Wiring Box.


Burlington, Iowa, January 2, 2005 – Winegard Company introduced its new TRIAD Triple-Stacking Technology at the EHX trade show on November 9, 2005. Bob Howell, Director Signal Distribution/Off-Air Antenna Business Group, said “Before TRIAD, no matter how integrators installed satellite TV in an MDU or home, a minimum of 2 cables had to be pulled in order to provide satellite HDTV signals to Decoder equipped HDTVs or Set Top Boxes. Our new TRIAD Technology allows Winegard to retrofit existing MDUs and homes to receive all the HD channels, Triple Stacking the Satellite HDTV signals on one cable, offering a second more cost effective and much better option. Approximately 1% of MDUs have more then one cable run through out the building, the rest have one. TRIAD addresses this need.”

There are HD channels located on 3 satellites. With existing technology and dual LNB’s, the consumer gets all the satellite channels subscribed to and some HD channels, but can’t see the third HD satellite. But with 3 LNBs and Winegard’s new TRIAD, the consumer gets all the satellite channels, plus all the HD channels from all three satellites. This takes LNB Technology to the next level by allowing the satellite dish to, not only look at 3 satellites, the third being the one dedicated to delivering additional HD channels, but, by stacking the signals and combining them, deliver all HD signals on one existing cable.

Winegard’s TRIAD will be included in the MultiletTM Structured Wiring box. Winegard also intends to market the TRIAD as a stand-alone product for existing and new satellite installations incorporated into structured wiring boxes of properties not interested in delivering the Triple Play at this time.

On November 8, 2005, Winegard announced that it had concluded an exclusive agreement with Macab AB for its patented data/video combining filter technology, Multilet. This agreement provided Winegard with the technology necessary to support its present customer base and many new markets with a new “Triple Play” platform for the distribution of Video, VoIP and Internet services to multi-dwelling unit (MDU) installers and home integrators across the nation.

Howell continued “Winegard now has the ability to offer installers, the enormous advantage of networking or retro-fitting entire MDU projects, including Triple-stacked HDTV on new a single cable run or an existing RG-6 coaxial run, eliminating the necessity to pull additional coax or CAT-5 wire-runs. To homeowners, Winegard can now offer a product to easily deliver the Triple Play and network their home. The savings in time and money to these installers, builders and homeowners will immediately be self evident and undeniable. No one else will have a product to match it.”

While other new single wire solution for multi-unit buildings exist using coax, they don’t allow the down-sending of an off-air signal to receive local free HDTV broadcasts. To do this, they’ll have to pull another cable, nor do they allow the down-sending of Internet signals, without pulling another cable. Try to imagine the savings in not having to pull an additional cable run throughout a 150 unit apartment.

Beta Field-Testing both technologies in a “real-world” test environment has already begun. Winegard believes that the benefits of these technologies, once testing is complete and production begins, will immediately be self evident and undeniable to property owners, installers, builders and homeowners in terms of time and money savings. Both will be on display, live, at CES 2006. These products will be available the first quarter of 2006.

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If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Bob Howell, please call Michael Sherman at 319-754-0604 or send an email to msher@winegard.com.

About Winegard:
The Winegard Company is widely considered an innovator and pioneer in product design, performance and assembly and has consistently adapted to meet the challenges of the ever-changing electronics market. It remains committed to continuous improvement in the quality, cost and delivery of its products and services to effectively meet all of its customer’s needs and currently designs and manufactures more than 1,000 different products in seven product lines distributed in all states and worldwide, including:
• Bundled Signal Distribution: Video, VoIP and High Speed Data and More, on a single existing cable run.
• Satellite Antennas and Mounts: Residential antennas ranging in size from 46 cm to 1 meter.
• Mobile Television Reception Products: RV, Trucking, and Marine applications. Satellite systems ranging from manual crank-up models to automatic satellite tracking systems with GPS/DVB. Off-air antennas including bi-directional and omni-directional VHF/UHF/FM antennas. Ground Antenna Mounts and Accessories.
• Off-Air Antennas: From DC to 5.8 gigs AM/FM/VHF/UHF Antenna Systems, Distribution and Pre-Amplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories
• Telemetry: Medical and Data Antenna Systems, Distribution Amplifiers, Power Supplies and Accessories.
• Two-way Fixed/Transportable Mobile Satellite Internet Systems: offers real-time IP, video, voice, audio and data communications virtually anywhere, anytime.
• Wireless Remote Home Control System: Sends the entertainment you want, remotely, where you want it, when you want it.

Contact Information

Michael Sherman

Media Contact

Winegard

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