| •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 megaHertz (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 |
MegaHertz. |
| •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 stored 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. |
