| •18 GHz |
GHz: One billion, or one thousand million, hertz,
or cycles per second. |
| •Analog |
Comes from the word "analogous" to which means
"similar to." In telephone transmission, the signal being transmitted
- voice, video or image - is "analogous" to the original signal. |
| •C-Band |
Portion of the electromagnetic spectrum used heavily
for satellite transmission. The uplink frequency is a 6 GHz
and the downlink is a 4 GHz. Traditional applications included
voice communications, videoconferencing, and broadcast TV and
radio. The large dish size and associated high cost of such
reception by dishes have contributed to their decline in popularity
for TV reception by individuals; Ku-Band dishes largely have
replaced them in support of DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite)
TV reception. |
| •Coaxial Cable |
A cable composed of an insulated central conducting
wire wrapped in another cylindrical conducting wire. The whole
thing is usually wrapped in another insulating layer and an
outer protective layer. A coaxial cable has great capacity to
carry great quantities of information. It is typically used
to carry high-speed data (as in connections of 327X terminals
to computer hosts) and in CATV (multiplexed TV stations.) |
| •Copyright |
A copyright protects the original author of a
story, program, song, movie, piece of sculpture, or other original
work from direct copying. Copying may be inferred where alleged
copyist had access to the copyrighted work. Copyright protects
the expression of an idea, not the idea itself. (In appropriate
cases, patents can be used to protect the idea) |
| •Curb Appeal |
Landlord's always want their properties to look
their best. They perceive satellite dishes, television antennas,
and extra wires as "not attractive" and do not want them in
view of the public, either outside the buildings or inside the
apartments. |
| •DBS |
Direct Broadcast Satellite. A term for satellite
which sends relatively powerful signals to small (typically
18-inch diameter) dishes installed at homes. |
| •Descrambler |
Set-top box. A device which corrects a signal
(often video) that has been intentionally distorted to prevent
unauthorized viewing. Used with satellite TV systems. |
| •Digital |
In displays, the use of digits for direct readout.
In telecommunications, in the recording or in computing, digital
is the use of a binary code to represent information. Analog
signals - like voice or music - are encoded digitally by sampling
the voice or music analog signals many times a second and assigning
a number to each sample. Recording or transmitting information
digitally has two major benefits. First, the signal can be reproduced
more precisely so digital transmission is much "cleaner" than
analog transmission. The second major benefit of digital is
that the electronic circuitry to handle digital is getting cheaper
and more powerful. It's the stuff of computers. Analog transmission
equipment doesn't lend itself to the technical breakthroughs
of recent years in digital. |
| •Dish Size |
Refers to the diameter of the dish, or antenna,
used in satellite reception. |
| •DSL |
Digital Subscriber Line. A generic name for a
family of evolving digital services to be provided by local
telephone companies to their local subscribers. Such services
go by different names and acronyms - ADSL (Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line), HDSL (High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber line)
and SDSL (Single Pair Symmetrical Services). Such services propose
to give the subscriber up to eight million bits per second one
way, downstream to the customer and somewhat fewer bits per
second upstream to the phone company. |
| •DTH |
Direct-To-Home. A term referring to all home satellite
platforms. |
| •Exclusive Contract |
When a multichannel provider has the exclusive
right to serve a MDU complex. |
| •Fiber Optics Fiber |
A shortened way of saying "fiber optic." Fiber
is made of very pure glass. Digital signals, in the form of
modulated light, travel on strands of fiber for long distances.
The big advantage that fiber has over copper is that it can
carry far, far more information over much, much longer distances. |
| •Franchise |
The exclusive right to operate telephone or cable
service in a community. This right - also called the franchise
- is granted by some government agency. |
| •Headend (Head End) |
The originating point of a signal in cable TV
systems. At the head end, you'll often find large satellite
receiving antennae. Now increasingly spelled headend. A central
control device required within some LAN/MAN systems to provide
such centralized functions as remodultaion, re-timing, message
accountability, connection control, diagnostic control, and
access. |
| •Homerun Wire |
The Homerun Wire is most often a single wire (usually
an RG6 or RG59 coaxial cable) that runs from each apartment
building's meter room to each apartment and is designed to deliver
television or telephone services. Some of the modern day Homerun
Wires are being used to deliver all services, cable and satellite
television, telephone and fax and high-speed internet connections. |
| •Inside Wiring |
That wiring located inside your premises or building.
Inside wiring starts at the telephone or cable company's Demarcation
Point and extends to the individual extensions. Traditionally,
Inside Wiring was installed and owned by the installing company. |
| •ISP |
Internal Service Provider. A vendor who provides
access for customers (companies and private individuals) to
the internet and the World Wide Web. The ISP also typically
provides a core group of internet utilities and services like
e-mail, news group readers and sometimes weather reports and
local restaurant reviews. The user typically reaches his phone
line, or over a dedicated line installed by a telephone company.
An ISP is also called a TSP, for Telecommunications Service
Provider, and ITSP, for Internet Telephony Service Provider. |
| •L-Band |
Potion of electromagnetic spectrum commonly used
in satellite and microwave applications with frequencies in
the 390 MHz to 1550 MHz range. The GPS (global positioning system)
frequencies are in the L-Band. GPS uses 1227.6 Mhz and 1575.42
MHz. |
| •LMDS |
Local Multipoint Distribution System. Developed
by Bellcore for Wireless Local Loop (WLL) applications. These
high-frequency signals, transmitted via microwave installations,
can send small receiver dishes, typically installed on the top
of apartment buildings or on homes. Because of the high frequency,
line-of-sight is required for maximum signal performance. There
are actually all sorts of variations on the LMDS theme. In one
trial, the service was used for highspeed Internet downloads
to LMDS subscribers - the Internet downloads coming from LMDS,
the command to initiate those downloads being sent from the
subscriber's PC over his local phone line. |
| •Merchant Builder |
When properties are first constructed, many times
the initial landlord is a Merchant Builder. Their motives are
to build and rent a property then sell it immediately for a
profit. To do this, many look to short-term profits and cost
reducers. A good example would be in the area of television
signal. Cable operators often pay substantial per-door fees
above and beyond satellite providers. This results in Merchant
Builders granting the cable provider the exclusive Right of
Entry agreement. These motives are not often consistent with
typical MDU operations. They are interested in overall profits,
and this often requires high monthly income rather than large
lumps. This is especially true when dealing with real estate
investment trusts. |
| •MMDS |
Microwave Multi-point Distribution System or Multipoint
Multichannel Distribution Service. Nobody seems to know which
MMDS means. But, irrespective of what the acronym means, the
definition is the same. MMDS is a way of distributing cable
television signals, through microwave, from a single transmission
point to multiple receiving points. Often used as an alternative
to cable-bases cable TV. According to an April, 1995 press release
from Pacific Telesis, which was starting an MMDS service, "in
digital form, it will provide more than 100 channels to a radius
of approximately 40 miles from the transmitter. The MMDS transmitter
delivers video to homes that are in its 'line of sight.' MMDS
transmissions are limited by the terrain and foliage of a given
market. The microwave signal is received by an antenna on the
subscriber's home, then sent down coaxial cable to a box atop
the customer's TV set. the box decodes and decompresses the
digital signal." MMDS is increasingly being called "Wireless
Cable." |
| •Modems |
Acronym for Modulator/DEModulator. Conventional
modems comprise equipment which converts digital signals to
analog signals and vice versa. Modems are used to send digital
data signals over the analog PSTN (Public Switched Telephone
Network). Although the carrier switches (e.g., central offices
and tandem offices) are typically digital, as is the backbone
transmission network (e.g., T-carrier), the local loop always
is analog unless the user orders more costly digital loop (e.g.,
ISDN or T-1). therefore, the PSTN is analog as far as most people
are concerned. Conventional modems work like this. Your PC outputs
data in the form of "1's" and "0's" which are represented by
varying levels of voltage. The modem converts the digital data
signal into variations of the analog sine wave so the data can
be transmitted over the device with a digital bit stream. The
modulation techniques include some combination of Amplitude
Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM) and Phase Modulation
(PM), also known as Phase Shift Keying (PSK). Used in combination,
these techniques allow multiple bits to be represented with
a single (or single set) OF SINE WAVES). In this fashion, compression
is accomplished, which allows more data to be transmitted in
the same period of time and which therefore reduces the connect
time and the associated cost of the data transfer. Contemporary,
conventional modems are standardized by the ITU-T as part of
the "V" series of standards. Such modems are characterized by
error detection and correction mechanisms, adaptive equalization,
internal dialing, and numerous other sophisticated capabilities.
56 Kbps modems are the latest development in the world of conventional
modems; they remain to be standardized. The term "modem" also
is applied (and correctly so, in the purely technical sense)
to ISDN TAs (Terminal Adapters), ADSL TUs (Terminal Units),
line drivers and short-haul modems. The last two, in fact, are
voltage converters. |
| •MSO-SO |
Multiple System Operator. A company that operates
more than on cable TV system. SO Serving Office. Central office
where IXC (IntereXchange Carrier) has POP (Point Of Presence). |
| •MVPD |
Multichannel Video Program Distribution. It is
provided by cable and satellite. See IB docket No. 95-168 or
PP docket No. 93-253. In the matter of Revision of Rules and
Policies for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service before the
FCC. |
| •Occupancy |
Occupancy is the single most important term to
a rental community MDU operator. Maintaining maximum occupancy
at the highest possible rent is the landlord's primary mission.
There are two types of occupancy: 1. Physical Occupancy: This
is the total percentage of apartment units rented. Example:
If there are 100 apartments in the community and 95 are occupied,
there is a 95 percent physical occupancy rate. 2. Economic Occupancy:
this is the true number most properties operate by. It reflects
the percentage of actual dollars collected in rent compared
to what a 100 percent occupied property would be if rented at
the maximum listed rental price. Example: If there are 100 apartments
and they are suppose to be rented for $1,000 apiece, $100,000
a month would represent 100 percent economic occupancy. If 95
units are occupied but the total rent collected is reduced due
to discounts and move-in specials, and is only $90,000, the
economic occupancy is only 90 percent even though the physical
occupancy is 95 percent. |
| •Overbuild |
A term which means just what you think it does:
to build more capacity into a network than you really need.
Overbuilding has several potential benefits, depending on which
side of the equation you find yourself. First, it provides for
anticipated growth in traffic requirements. Second, it yields
greater revenues for the vendor, although at the expense of
the customer. ILECs (Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers) long
have been accused of overbuilding their networks, as the total
investment goes into the rate base, on which the carrier realizes
a rate of return guaranteed by the regulator. Overbuilding is
also known as "gold-plating." |
| •OVS |
Open Video Systems, the successor to Video Dialtone. |
| •Passing |
A home or building "passed" by a multichannel
video system is deemed able to receive the system's signal. |
| •PCO |
Point of Control and Observation: A place (point)
within a testing occurrence of test events is to be controlled
and observed as defined by the particular abstract test method
used. |
| •Plant |
A general term for all equipment used by a telephone
or cable company to provide telecommunications services. Usually
divided into inside and outside plant. Inside plant: Everything
inside the company central office. Thus, electronic equipment
in buildings. |
| •REITs |
The term means Real Estate Investment Trust. They
are specially designed corporations that the IRS grants a special
taxing method that avoids double taxation usually associated
with paying dividends to individuals. The IRS's intention is
to offer incentives for investing in real estate in America.
Due to several stringent rules, REITs are sensitive to the type
income they receive, as most of it must be derived from rents.
Not more than 5 percent of income may be from "other than rent".
When applied to receiving payments from television revenues,
the IRS has issued at least one letter ruling declaring proceeds
from monthly television revenues as "not" other than rent, allowing
then to apply it to the 95 percent category. If this is the
case, REITs may have motivation to conform to the conditions
of the IRS's Private letter Ruling and receive monthly residuals
from television and Internet services. |
| •ROE |
Regulatory commission authorized allowed rate
of return on equity. |
| •Signal Leakage |
(Leakage) is a cable TV term. Leakage occurs when
certain radio frequencies ooze out of the CATV's coaxial cable
in such strength that they are evident outside the home. They
might be sufficiently strong to interfere with aircraft navigation.
Leakage is really a shielding problem. |
| •Single Wire Solution |
There are many aspects to the term "single wire
solution": 1. In the world of digital satellite signal, the
best definition is: the placement of all signal from analog
and digital video (television), 1 or 2 way-data (Internet),
and telephony (phone and fax service) on a single homerun wire
leading from the meter room to each apartment. 2. Another prospective
on the words is the landlord's prospective: Landlords do not
want more wires on their property than absolutely necessary.
This has to do with "Curb Appeal". They want a single wire solution:
One wire that feeds everything to each apartment. 3. This is
also the term, though misused, but now becoming accepted, that
is used to refer to the stacked LNB that DSS signal into a format
that can be transmitted, tapped and split over a single one-way
coaxial cable, allowing multiple television receivers to independently
receive signal. |
| •SMATV Dish & DBS Dish |
The dish-like antenna used to receive satellite
signals. |
| •SMATV |
Satellite Master Antenna Television. A distribution
system that feeds satellite signals to hotels, apartment complexes
etc. |
| •Subscriber |
A person or company who has video service provided
by a satellite or cable or other multichannel provider. |
| •Telephony |
The science of transmitting voice, data, video
or image signals over a distance greater than what you can transmit
by shouting. |
| •Turn |
Turn is when an apartment becomes empty and must
be readied for the next resident. Every time an apartment has
to be turned usually results in the loss of two to four months
rent. The carpet replacement, cost to clean, paint and ready
an apartment is usually in the area of one month's rent. The
unit may lay available for 30 days or longer before a resident
moves in. The landlord may have to grant a move-in discount
that cuts into the first month's rent. Advertising and commissions
are other considerations. Landlords would much rather retain
occupancy and reduce Turn. |
| •VOD-NVOD |
Video On Demand. Video which a subscriber can
call up at will, or "on demand". Such systems are just beginning
to be introduced. NVOD Near Video On Demand. Providing a consumer
a multimedia item - movie, TV program, etc. - on a rotating
schedule, thus giving the appearance of an on-demand system
(i.e., VOD). |
| •Wireless |
A system without outside wires, for example cellular
telephony or satellite television. |
