Method and system for broadcasting in a satellite communication system when switching between a primary site and a diverse site

1. A method comprising:

uplinking first uplink signals using a primary site;

determining a switchover event;

determining a primary site switch time;

determining a diverse site switch time after the primary switch time;

discontinuing uplinking from the primary site; and

uplinking second uplink signals from the diverse site.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein discontinuing uplinking comprises opening an RF path.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein opening an RF path comprises disabling an upconverter.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein uplinking signals comprises closing an RF path.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein closing an RF path comprises enabling an upconverter.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a switchover event comprises determining rain fade.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a switchover event comprises determining manual switch position.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary site switch time is a first future projected switch time.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the diverse site switch time comprises a second future projected switch time different than the first projected switch time.

10. A method comprising:

uplinking a first signal using a primary site;

receiving the first signal from the primary site through a satellite at a receiving device;

determining a switchover event;

discontinuing uplinking the first signal from the primary site;

uplinking a second signal from a diverse site; and

receiving the second signal from the diverse site through the satellite at the receiving device with a gap between receiving the first signal from the primary site and receiving the second signal from the diverse site.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein discontinuing uplinking comprises opening an RF path.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein opening an RF path comprises disabling an upconverter.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein uplinking a second signal comprises closing an RF path.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein closing an RF path comprises enabling an upconverter.

15. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein determining a switchover event comprises determining rain fade.

16. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein determining a switchover event comprises determining manual switch position.

17. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the primary site switch time is a first future projected switch time.

18. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the diverse site switch time comprises a second future projected switch time different than the first projected switch time.

19. A system comprising:

a primary site for selectively uplinking a first uplink signal;

a diverse site for selectively uplinking a second uplink signal;

a satellite in communication with the primary site and the diverse site generating a first downlink signal from the first uplink signal and a second downlink signal from the second uplink signal;

a receiving device receiving the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal; and

a controller coupled to the primary site and the diverse site determining a first future time for discontinuing uplinking from the primary site and a second future time for enabling uplinking from the diverse site so that a gap is formed between the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal at the receiving device.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the controller is disposed within the primary site.

21. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal comprises digital television signals.

22. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal comprise high definition television signals.

23. A method of operating a receiving device comprising:

receiving a first downlink signal communicated from a terrestrial primary site;

receiving a second downlink signal generated after the first downlink signal from a terrestrial diverse site spaced apart from the terrestrial primary site after a predetermined time gap; and

masking the gap with an error concealment module so that the second downlink signal occurs after the first downlink signal.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising displaying the first downlink signal after the second downlink signal on a television from a receiving device after masking.