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| Why host a downlink? | FAQ | Site Facilitator’s Guide | Additional Info | Sample Press Release |
What is a satellite downlink broadcast?
A satellite downlink broadcast is a distance learning tool that offers
a unique opportunity to provide live training and technical assistance
to a broad audience that may otherwise have difficulty attending or
accessing training. Using this distance learning technology, CADCA,
in partnership with the National Guard and the Multijurisdictional
Counterdrug Task Force Training Program, is able to: 1) Provide critical
content information to assist communities as they make program choices.
2) Offer frameworks for implementing prevention programming. 3) Engage
the field in a dialogue with leading scientists and practitioners.
If your coalition is interested in these or similar training and technical
assistance objectives, the satellite broadcasts are an exciting and
viable medium to accomplish them. By accessing the downlink through
your local National Guard unit, school or university, viewers can
listen to content presented by a panel of experts and interact with
them via phone or fax. By hosting a downlink, you join on average
2,500 viewers in 200 sites and millions of cable access television
viewers, in a high-tech learning experience.
I’m not a technical person. How can I host a downlink site?
Please don’t let the technical details prevent you from hosting a
downlink site! While there is some work involved in hosting a site,
the technical aspects are not difficult to manage. You can participate
in the teleconference from any site with a satellite dish having C-band
or KU-band capabilities. Possible locations include: high school,
colleges and universities, some hotels and restaurants, FEMA offices,
local Veteran Administration facilities and the Air Warrior/GETN downlink
sites.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
You may call Mary Larson at 1-800-54-CADCA, ext. 247 or e-mail her at
mlarson@cadca.org.
What are the responsibilities of the site facilitator/host?
By registering for a broadcast, you agree to be the site facilitator/host
of your local downlink event. As site facilitator, you will be responsible
for managing your event. You must:
Oversee all physical arrangements and technical requirements to ensure
the teleconference is executed successfully. It is recommended that
facilitators visit the site prior to the broadcast if possible. Circulate
the Sign-In Roster and the Audience Broadcast Viewer Critique Form.
Reproduce any additional education materials provided for the downlink
broadcast. To save distribution and shipping costs, only one master
copy of the on-site materials and a special site facilitator guidebook
will be provided. Enlist support staff to help you – particularly
on the day of the broadcast, because there are a number of responsibilities
associated with hosting a site.
Site Facilitator’s Responsibilities:
The site facilitator is responsible for the overall event at his/her
downlink site. The site facilitator must ensure the following:
The physical arrangements are correct.
All technical equipment works.
All technical issues are coordinated with the downlink technician.
The downlink technician has the correct satellite coordinates.
The provided materials are distributed and collected
Program Technical Information:
C Band Analog Satellite Information
The satellite coordinates usually change for every broadcast. It is strongly
suggested that you aim and test the downlink well before the program –
not during the test pattern. The primary reason reception problems occur
with C band downlinks is because the automatic steering software is out
of date. When the downlink dish is aimed at the right satellite, the most
common problem is not being able to find the program on the designated
channel or transponder. Some satellites are actually moved around in the
sky and new replacements are launched every year to replace those that
go out of service. Downlink receivers should be reprogrammed at least
once a year to stay current. If the receiver’s program is outdated, it
may not be able to locate a new satellite or it may think one is still
up in the sky when it is out of service. The satellite technician should
be able to acquire the correct satellite and channel manually if required,
using the information provided for the specific broadcast. Your supporting
satellite technician must be prepared to locate it through manually steering/tuning
the satellite downlink. There will usually be 30 minutes of test pattern
time prior to each broadcast in which the technician can locate either
satellite. If the technician still has trouble finding the program, he/she
should call the following telephone number for assistance:
C Band Trouble Numbers:(800) 247-8899 or (602) 730-1388
Please do not wait until the last minute to request help.
Program Technical Information:
GE Spacenet CDV Network (ANG Air Warrior, SEN, USAF, USCG, etc.) Satellite
Information
If your site has registered (e.g., ANG-143; IRD(s) 09687 & 08765)
it will be forwarded to GE Spacenet Operations for authentication
on the date and time of the program. If you only listed your site
number (e.g., ANG-143), all of the IRDs at the site will be illuminated.
You can call GE Spacenet directly at (800) 770-2887 if you fail to
illuminate as scheduled.
Receive, Reproduce and Distribute Audience Support Materials:
To save distribution and shipping costs, only one master copy of the
support materials will be furnished as part of your program support
package. You must reproduce these materials for your expected audience.
Telephone Call-In Numbers:
Call-in telephone numbers for live questions will be superimposed
on the television screen when the speakers are ready to accept calls.
You call will roll into five lines, but with over 200 sites on average
for each broadcast, the lines may be very busy. Be patient. Please
do not call in live questions until prompted to do so.
Questioners should give their name, organization and location and
then ask their question. A fax-in question format is provided as an
alternate means of asking questions. Faxed questions may be sent at
any point in the program. It is a good idea to have a cellular phone
on hand in case your room is not equipped with a phone.
Program Break:
The producer should schedule a ten minute break midway through the
broadcast. During the break information about upcoming shows, special
events and other CADCA and National Guard activities will be provided.
“Hip Pocket” Training and/or “Wrap” Instructions:
Many steps have been taken to minimize any technical problems associated
with this broadcast. Sometimes, however, snow, heavy rain, mechanical
failure or other problems can interfere with a broadcast. Site facilitators
are encouraged to be prepared with other “hip pocket” training or
relevant discussion items to cover any unexpected interruption of
the broadcast. Having another videotape available on a topic related
to this one would be one contingency. Depending upon the subject,
the program length and your audience, you also may want to consider
a “wrap around.” A “wrap around” uses local activities before, during
or after a broadcast. It would be a good idea to invite a local subject
matter expert to “prep” the audience beforehand, to help summarize
intended ideas and outcomes, or to provide additional information
or hands-on training. Wrap-arounds can be very effective if planned
ahead of time.
Emergency Contacts:
C Band Trouble Numbers: (800) 247-8899 or (602) 730-1388
GE Trouble Number (for Military/Fed. CDV/Warrior) (800) 770-2887 (have
IRD(s) ready)
Check your time zone for correct broadcast time.
Ensure the satellite technician has the coordinates.
Confirm view room reservation.
Reproduce handouts, sign-in rosters and fax-in question forms.
Circulate sign-in roster(s).
Ensure that questions sent by fax include a name and return telephone
number.
Collect sign-in roster(s) and mail to CADCA.
Fill out site facilitator’s questionnaire and mail original to CADCA
and fax a copy to Ed Kronholm at (877) 820-5237.
Register for next CADCA satellite broadcast.
Mail the evaluations and sign-in rosters to CADCA at:
CADCA – 625 Slaters Lane, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Videotape Policy:
The downlinks may be videotaped and reproduced for future use without
additional permission from CADCA or NGB. Unless otherwise stated,
there are no copyright restrictions on the printed materials furnished
to support this program. The program may not be re-broadcast to groups
where a fee is charged for its showing nor may it be resold for commercial
purposes.
Additional Videotapes and Background Materials:
Additional videotapes can be ordered through CADCA for a fee of $10 for
CADCA members and $15 for non-members. Contact LeAndrea Burney at (703)
706-0560 ext. 224 or at lburney@cadca.org to place your order. Additional
background materials can be downloaded from CADCA’s website.
Program Completion Certificates, CEU credits, etc.:
At this time there are no completion certificates or CEU credits associated
with the broadcasts.
Program “Flashback” Fax - Site Facilitator Questionnaire:
To help us do our job better and to make yours easier, please complete
the Site Facilitator Questionnaire. Your comments are important and
will help us with future broadcasts. Immediately fax the form back
to Ed Kronholm, Field Event Coordinator, at (877) 820-5238. It is
critical that this form be returned so to justify continued support
of the FREE broadcasts by the program sponsors.
Sign-In Roster(s)
Distribute the Sign-In Roster(s) during the program. Collect the roster(s)
at either the break or at the program’s conclusion and mail them back
to Attn: Satellite Broadcast at CADCA.
Audience Response Form:
Circulate the Audience Response Forms and request that everyone complete
it. Collect the forms at the program’s conclusion and mail them back to
CADCA.
Site Facilitator Questionnaire:
Fill out and fax back the site facilitator questionnaire after the
live broadcast.
Will this program be Videostreamed?
This program will be videostreamed by the National Clearinghouse for
Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) at their website, PREVLINE at
www.health.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(Date) Contact:(Name)(Phone Number)
SATELLITE DOWNLINK BROADCAST
(Title of Broadcast)
(CITY, STATE) (DATE) – (Your Organization’s Name) is hosting a satellite downlink broadcast on (Date) at (Time) at (Location) on the important topic of (topic) and why this is important to (name of community). (Location) is located at (Address).
This broadcast is one of a series of anti-drug broadcasts that are available every month through a partnership between Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the National Guard Bureau. This particular broadcast will discuss the topics of (Topics) and will feature a distinguished panel of professionals which include: (Panelist Names).
The downlink is open to the public and is free of charge. If you are interested in attending, please contact (Name), (Title) at (Telephone Number) by (Date) so that it can be assured the room is large enough to accommodate those who plan to attend.
(Your Organization’s Background Information and Mission)
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