The Love Dish often finds itself in the thick of it.  During disasters it can operate without any public services, only needing the bird in the sky to connect with the world.  The satellite high above the earths menacing atmosphere sits safely in geostationary orbit, so no matter what natural disaster is wreaking havoc on earth, the Love Dish can connect.   And because it’s a heavy little thing, it can handle strong winds.

This time of year Australia becomes subject to natural disasters, in the northern tropical region it can either be floods or devastating winds, caused by the heavy rains and cyclones, although this year BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) have said it looks like it’s going to be a low risk year for that sort of carry on, and in the southern part of the country it’s all about dry heat and fires.  Southern Australia is about to enter into one of the hottest spells in decades with predicted consistent temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).   Coupled with winds and a lot of under growth from the last few wet summers, it all adds up to extreme fire danger.  Anything can trigger it, even a piece of broken glass in the dry grass magnifying the suns energy can send the country ablaze.  Emergency services are on tender foot, and the Love Dish is ready for service to keep the world informed.

I may just need to turn on the air conditioner.

Mashable have made a list of the 11 big tech trends you’ll see in 2013.  I am most interested in point 5, Rise of Reporting.  No longer will there will be lazy journalism of surfing the net.  Mashable predict journalists will go to the action and get the facts themselves.   I am taking it one step further and would like to think the journalists will do it live on location.  In comes The Love Dish to the rescue, live quality broadcast pictures for everyone to see clearly on their big screen.   None of this broadcasting fuzzy pixelated mobile phone pictures, I am talking crystal clear pictures where there could be no doubt that there is a yeti in the forest for the world to see live.

http://mashable.com/2012/12/06/tech-trends-2013/

The Love Dish now has a new satellite phone, the IsatPhone Pro on the Inmarsat system.  I had been using a dual phone on the Thuraya and Optus system.  Great how I was able to switch from the Optus digital system or Thuraya satellite system, but it didn’t always connect straight away with the satellites and was costing monthly, so now I’ve gone to a more cost effective satellite phone, which is prepaid, since I don’t use it on a regular basis.  The phone is quick to pick up the satellite signal and the communication is clear.  So when on assignment in disaster zones, I’ll have 3 phones, my regular telstra next G phone, and for IFB a choice between a Telstra Next G pre-paid or the Inmarsat pre-paid.  No matter the situation we’ll have clear communications.