Dth Glossary Of Terms

•Analog A method of signal transmission in which information is relayed by continuously altering the wave form of the electromagnetic current. Now used in AM radio or most voice telephone circuits.
•Backhaul Point-to-point video transmission from a remote site back to a central site for further distribution.
•Bandwidth A range of frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum.
•Bird Slang for communications satellite.
•Broadband A descriptive term for evolving digital technologies that provide consumers a signal switched facility offering integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video-on-demand services and interactive delivery services.
•CEMA Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association.
•Common Carrier The FCC's class of transmission systems, such as telephone, telegraph and certain satellites, open to public use with uniform fees.
•Compression A term used to denote reducing the amount of bandwidth needed to transmit video or audio, thus increasing the capacity of a satellite transponder.
•CONUS Continental United States Continuous Wave.
•C-Band The 3.7 - 4.2 GHz (Gigahertz) frequency band is used for the distribution of programming by virtually all satellite/cable networks. There are 22 C-Band satellites in operation over North America today. They range in power from 5-11 watts per transponder, requiring receive antennas of 5-12 feet in diameter. Beginning in 1992, the fleet was gradually replaced with higher powered (10-17 watt) satellites. This allows the average size of a C-Band installation to be reduced to 90 inches in diameter.
•Clarke Belt The name given in honor of Arthur C. Clarke, to the orbit 22,300 miles directly above the equator where satellites can maintain a stationary position in relation to the earth. Also called geostationary orbit.
•dB, Decibel An analog unit of measure of signal strength, volume or signal loss due to resistance as expressed in logarithmic form.
•DBS, Direct Broadcast Satellite The transmission of audio and video signals via satellite direct to the end user by C-Band and Ku-Band receivers.
•Demodulation The process for retrieving an information signal that has been modulated onto a carrier.
•Digital A method of storing, converting and sending data in the form of binary digits (i.e., 0 or 1).
•Dish Slang term for antenna.
•Dish cover A cylindrical weather protection device.
•Downlink To receive from a satellite; also, the dish used for reception.
•DTH, Direct-To-Home Official term used by the Federal Communications Commission to refer to the satellite television and broadcasting industries.
•DVR Digital Video Recorders (same as PVR).
•Encryption/ Decryption Encryption is the process of electronically altering a video and/or audio from its original condition. Decryption is the process of returning the video and/or audio to its original condition.
•EPG Electronic Programming Guide.
•Feedhorn The part of the satellite system that collects and focuses satellite signals reflected by the antenna.
•FSS Fixed Satellite Service.
•GSO Geosynchronous Orbit; satellites in geosynchronous orbit travel around the earth in an area approximately 22,300 miles from the surface at the same rate that the earth turns, therefore completing one revolution every 24 hours.
•Headend A cable TV systems control center where incoming signals from satellites and other sources are put into the system.
•High Definition Television Technology that significantly increases the resolution of digital video signals offering vastly improved picture quality over the current NTSC standard.
•Hybrid Satellite A satellite that carries two or more different communications payloads (i.e., C-Band and Ku-Band).
•Hz, Hertz Cycle per second; a measure of electromagnetic frequency that represents the number of complete electrical waves in a second. One kilohertz (KHz) is one thousand cycles per second; one ****Hertz (MHz) is one million; one gigaHertz (GHz) is one billion.
•ICTA Independent Cable & Telecommunications Association.
•IPG Interactive Programming Guide.
•INMARSAT International Maritime Satellite Organization.
•INTELSAT International Telecommunications Satellite Organization.
•ITU International Telecommunications Union.
•IRD (integrated receiver decoder) A device capable of receiving and tuning satellite signals. The output of the receiver can be either baseband video for use with video monitors or RF for use with standard TV sets.
•Impulse Pay-Per-View Technology that allows the consumer to purchase a movie or special event instantly via a computerized order processing center. This technology allows for the processing of a high volume of orders in a short time period.
•Ka-Band A higher frequency than Ku-Band, operating from 18 to 31 gigaHertz.
•Ku-Band The 11.7-12.7 GHz (Gigahertz) frequency band. This band has been split into 2 segments by the FCC. The first is the 11.7-12.2 GHz band known as FSS (Fixed Satellite Service). There are 22 FSS Ku-Band satellites in orbit over North America today. They range in power from 20-45 watts per transponder, requiring a 3-5 foot antenna for clear reception. The 12.2 - 12.7 GHz segment is known as BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service). Satellites in this band range in power from 100 - 200 watts per transponder, allowing the use of receive antennas as small as 12-18 inches.
•KHz KiloHertz.
•LEO Low Earth Orbit; satellites placed in orbit less than 22,300 miles above the earth.
•LNB Low Noise Block convertor. System devise used to amplify and convert satellite signals into frequencies sent to the tuner.
•MHz ****Hertz.
•Modulation The process of superimposing an information signal onto a carrier for transmission.
•MPEG Motion Pictures Experts Group.
•NAB National Association of Broadcasters.
•NCTA National Cable Television Association.
•Packet Data A process where *****d data is transmitted in discrete units, called packets, allowing for more efficient use of channel capacity and reliability of transfer.
•Pad Slang for transponder channel attenuation. It is an electronic device that adds electrical resistance to a circuit to protect a transponder from signals that are too strong.
•Personal Video Recorder (PVR) Product that tracks viewing habits, records programs and has other interactive features such as pause and rewind.
•PCS Personal Communications System.
•QPSK Quaternary Phase Shift Keying; a digital modulation scheme used in transmission communications that allows increased sending capacity
•RPM Revolutions Per Minute.
•RBOC Regional Bell Operating Company.
•SBCA Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association.
•SCPC Single Channel Per-Carrier; an economical way to get multiple signals on one transponder.
•Scrambling Altering a video signal transmission so it can not be received without an authorized operating decoder.
•Satellite Antenna (Dish) A parabolic antenna that collects satellite signals. C-Band antennas range in size from 5-12 feet in diameter; K-Band antennas range from 18 inches to 6 feet.
•Satellite Programmer A company that produces, packages or distributes video, audio, and/or data services for distribution to the home satellite dish and cable markets.
•Smart Card Technology that allows for the upgrade of encryption security through the use of a consumer-installable card containing a new computerized security code.
•SMATV Satellite Master Antenna Television; or private cable; a miniature cable system that receives programming by one satellite dish and serves an entire housing complex or hotel.
•SNG Satellite Newsgathering.
•Spread Spectrum A means of transmission in which encoded information is carried in discrete packages of information, then spread over a wide bandwidth for transmission to specific receivers that filter out the coded material.
•Superstation A local TV station whose signal is satellite delivered to cable systems and backyard antennas across the country.
•Sun Outage When the sun passes behind a satellite in relation to the earth and it‰s energy momentarily interferes with the satellite signals. This happens two times each year during spring and fall equinox.
•Tariff The usage fees charged for any given service.
•Terrestrial In communications parlance, this refers to earth, land or ground-based telecommunications systems.
•Transceiver A combination transmitter and receiver.
•Transponder A satellite component that receives and retransmits a TV signal or perhaps many narrower-band data or audio channels.
•TVRO (Television Receive-Only) An industry term used to describe a home satellite system that only receives and does not transmit satellite television signals.
•UHF Ultra High Frequency; the band in the 500 to 900 MHz range, including TV channels 14 through 83.
•Uplink To transmit to a satellite for relay; also, the dish used to transmit.
•Value Added Service Provider In satellite communications, can refer to a third party who leases capacity for resale.
•Video Compression Technology that significantly reduces the bandwidth required to transmit a video signal, making possible the carriage of numerous NTSC quality signals.
•VHF Very High Frequency; the band in the 30 to 300 MHz range, including TV channels 2 through 13.
•VSAT Very Small Aperture Terminal; the electronic devise attached to a satellite dish that allows two way communications of video, voice or data between the dish and a specific satellite; typically used in business applications, with expanding use for residential high speed satellite internet services.
•Zapping Changing the channel by remote control during a program to avoid a commercial.
•Zipping Fast-forwarding through commercials when playing back a program on a VCR.