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Technology Stocks : California Amplifier - 2 -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: the navigator who wrote (1718)	7/25/1999 10:36:00 AM
From: Hiram Walker	Respond to of 2267

To all, a great article about satellite and new services. juddy1 et all, great article about by: Abbie_Hoffman98 (54/M/Islands in the Stream) 2945 of 2945 satellite and its future. I love this one,a must read for us. multichannel.com Broadband Week for July 26, 1999 DBS Faces Equipment Issues Like Digital-Cable Dilemmas By MARTIN LEVINE July 26, 1999 The often-complicated cable-TV relationship between new programming options and the requisite new customer-premises equipment is about to come home to roost for direct-broadcast satellite system operators. Many of the same issues that complicate the lives of cable operators going digital -- notably, segmenting subscribers by new generations of digital set-top boxes capable of receiving different services -- are now coming into play for the DBS industry. Both DirecTV Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. are adding capabilities and expanding the use of orbital slots to deliver them. In large part, new subscribers will segment themselves by their choice of hardware. But the addition of interactive service platforms -- such as Wink Communications Inc., America Online Inc.'s "AOL TV" and Microsoft Corp.'s WebTV Networks -- as well as local-into-local broadcast capabilities and high-definition-television reception all raise new questions about the degree of integration in receiver designs, hardware subsidies and, in some cases, the installation of new, larger satellite dishes. It's likely to be months before all of the equipment and service options are addressed -- particularly with the uncertainties surrounding legislation providing for local-into-local broadcast-TV service -- including any subsidies or incentives to existing subscribers who upgrade their hardware. With very few exceptions -- such as local-into-local service from EchoStar -- the new interactive-service and programming options from DirecTV and EchoStar will require new receivers. And most subscribers will require new satellite dishes, as well. Early next year, DirecTV is expected to add Wink-enabled interactivity to its programming lineup, essentially by passing through Wink enhancements transmitted by those broadcast and cable networks that have agreements with the Alameda, Calif.-based interactive-platform developer. Also in the first half of next year, DirecTV plans to add its next interactive enhancement, AOL TV, in concert with the nation's leading online-service provider. Only Thomson Consumer Electronics has announced plans to offer a box capable of receiving Wink-enhanced programming. Changes in DBS receivers, meanwhile, will be matched by the introduction of a new generation of somewhat larger satellite dishes that are designed to see more than one orbital slot. DirecTV subscribers who opt for local-into-local -- those outside of New York and Los Angeles -- and those who add HDTV programming will need new 18-inch-by-24-inch dishes with dual LNBs (low-noise-block downconverters) to receive signals from both DirecTV's main orbital slot at 101 degrees west longitude and the 119-degree slot it acquired from PrimeStar Inc. The slot at 119 will be used for HDTV programming and local-into-local service outside of Los Angeles and New York. EchoStar is going with a 20-inch round antenna for local-into-local service, with the dual-LNB antenna capable of receiving programming from EchoStar's full-CONUS (continental United States) slot at 119 degrees and the 110-degree slot it acquired from News Corp. Can you say 10 million new dual-LNB antenna's and 20 inch dishes,WOWEEE!!! Hiram

To: the navigator who wrote (1718)	7/26/1999 11:30:00 AM
From: Chuck D	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2267

Brief notes on CAMP annual meeting-The President, Fred Sturm, reported, CAMP is a fixed location equipment provider ( guess most of us already know that), they have 30-40 engineers and are expanding fabrication as a result of the Gardiner acquisition (now including mfg capabilities in China)),Camp is structuring to have a ability to quickly respond to changes in the marketplace. He noted the wireless decline since 1996, (most of us are also aware of that)! Quarter 1 showed a "very positive trend in sales" noting it only included 6- weeks of Gardiner sales. Improvement is expected when Gardiner contributes sales for a full quarter! Interesting note, he referred to their planar antenna as their "flagship product". There was discussion on the "last mile" solution which places their "flagship product" as key to reception. I guess one could do some math to calculate potential sales for the product. Fred saw market expansion as a result of the Echo Star/ Direct TV merger @ ~10% now, but as more conversion to digital occurs CAMP market expands. The Wireless Local Loop WLL, will be an expanding market for CAMP. Fred said they had recieved a large order from Canada, and will release news as soon as details are worked out. Some of CAMP's customers and applications were discussed, I just did't get it all. Fred said they don't expect sales from Sprint/MCI until end of this year. One question from the floor focused on increased institutional interest which was confirmed, of course recent large block trade are not coming from individuals. Sorry for the recap delay, was on vacation after the meeting, as for me, attending is always interesting. This was well attended and referred to as "the most positive meeting" one shareholder could remember. Stay tuned as the market unfolds!!!!!!