As an Independence Sailor, you are always reminded of the fact that you are on the oldest ship in the U.S. Navy, a ship which was commissioned back in 1959. This was a time when the only form of movie entertainment for the crew was a projected show on the bulkhead of a plane filled hangar bay or on a screen in the mess decks.
Time and technology has definitely progressed since the days of the late 1950's, and high morale, along with a larger variety of entertainment has emerged for today's afloat Sailors. Now they can watch three channels of movies and stateside television programming 20 hours a day, along with live satellite feed of CNN 24 hours a day. However, there is no clearer testament to this observation than in Indy's newest addition to SITE-TV, the Direct-to-Sailors Television.
Indy crewmembers who enjoy the quality satellite programming provided by Newsports and the American Forces Network (AFN) while inport Yokosuka, can now enjoy these channels while out to sea.
While the equipment to increase the channel capability to three is on order, Interior Communications Electricians Abram Soto of San Antonio, Texas and Mathew Green of Pendleton, Or. from SITE-TV have worked with Naval Media Center Yokosuka to connect the ship to the satellite which will provide two different channels.
"This is, in a sense, a breakthrough for us in SITE-TV," said Green. "While we are going to lose the 24 hour feed of CNN, the Newsports channel provides the crew with a variety of programming from live NBC Nightly News, live Headline News, to Nightline, and sports events."
A question on most Sailors mind as the month of January comes to a close is the Superbowl. According to the technicians in SITE-TV, if the system is in full operation, we will be able to pick-up the Superbowl live while the ship is out to sea.
Kickoff time for us on Independence will be 8:00 a.m. on January 26th, and the signal should come in clear. There is one catch however, and that is the ship's heading. Depending on the ship's location and current heading, satellite feeds receive 'blindspots' or patches of blackout. The actual dish is located just aft of the island, and at times, the island will block the connection between the dish and the satellite. Let's just hope the ship is heading in the right direction on Superbowl 'Monday.'
Direct-to-Sailors Television is just one more step Indy has taken towards improving the quality-of-life while out to sea. With AT&T phones, e-mail, and now direct TV, it seems less and less that Indy has even left the pier.
Cutline:
ICI(SW) Mathew Green tries to locate the ships position and heading on the satellite receiver system located in Indy's Shipboard Information Training and Entertainment (SITE) Television Station.