Satellite Terms and Abreviations Explained

Satellite Terms & Abreviations Explained

ADR
ASTRA Digital Radio. Transmission system used by ASTRA in order to broadcast twelve stereo radio programmes in hi-fi quality on only one sound subcarrier of a satellite TV transponder.

AFC
Automatic Frequency Control. Electronic circuit that connects the undesirably deviations from a selected frequency in the receiver, in order to stabilize reception of a channel.

Analogue
Usually a reference to the receiver type but means that the signal is sent on an Analogue wave..

Astoncrypt
This is a CAM which emulates S.E.C.A.’s Mediaguard system

ASTRA (SES-Astra)
System currently comprising 10 satellites (ASTRA 1A to 1H) at 19.2° East, and ASTRA 2A at 28.2° East. (Societe Europenne des Satellites) based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. www.ses-astra.com

Audio
Sound signal. That part of a TV or radio transmission that is heard.

Audio Bandwidth
Term used for the sum total (range) of frequencies contained within a specific band.

AV
Abbreviation used to mark switches, buttons or connections intended to connect or activate audio-visual (audio and/or video) equipment. For instance, the AV connection between the receiver and the TV set is usually brought about by means of a Scart cable, as this provides better quality than using antenna cable.

AZ-EL
Abbreviation for a mounting system for parabolic dish antenna that can be adjusted in two axes - azimuth and elevation.

Azimuth Elevation
The satellite dishes angle to the satellite, an Az/El mount is used on a dish to set it’s angle to the satellite.

Band
A band is a range of frequencies in a range between two end points determined by general consent eg VHF, FM.

Bandwidth
A range of frequencies together making up a particular band.

Beam
The radiation from a satellite transponder. This may have a circular, elliptical or other shape, when looked at in diameter. The area, where this beam of radiation intersects with the Earth's surface is the reception area, also known as the footprint. The shape of the reception area depends on the elevation angle of the satellite as well as on the size of the broadcast angle of the transmitter antenna.

Beta Digital
An encryption system and variant of Irdeto owned by Mindport.

Bit
In computer sciences, the smallest elemental unit of data. A bit exists in only one of two possible states "Zero (or On)" or "One (or Off)". By adding together a number of bits you can create a digital "word", known as a byte.

Bouquet
A group of television channels owned by the same company, e.g. British Sky Broadcasting, TPS, Canal Digital, Viasat, Canal+, Sky Italia and Premiere.

Branch connector
Passive construction element in a distribution system designed to divert part of the signals from the trunk line. The level of the branched-off signal is dependent on the branch damping of the branch connector.

Byte
In computer sciences, a group or packet of 8, 16, 32 etc, bits used in data transmission. Larger units are Kilobytes (1024 bytes) and Megabytes (1024 Kilobytes each). This deviates from the expected metric progression (1,000, 1,000,000 etc) because of the binary structure of computer data. Thus one Kilobyte is actually 210.

Clark Belt
Named after Arthur C. Clark, the Belt is situated 38,000 Kilometres above the Earth. This is where all the geostationary satellites are positioned either east or west. Satellite dishes face south in the Northern Hemisphere, and north in the Southern Hemisphere.

Common Interface (CI)
Most CAMs are CI type unless they are embedded or cardless. This is the empty slot on the receiver, into which a Conditional access Moduke (CAM), is inserted.

Composite Video
Composite video is the format of an analouge television signal before it is modulated onto an RF carrier. It is usually in a standard format such as NTSC, PAL or SECAM. It is a composite of three source signals called Y, U and V (together referred to as YUV). Y represents the brightness or luminance of the picture and includes synchronizing pulses, so that by itself it could be displayed as a monochrome picture. U and V between them carry the colour information. They are first mixed with two orthogonal phases of a colour carrier signal to form a signal called the chrominance. Y and UV are then added together. Since Y is a baseband signal and UV has been mixed with a carrier, this addition is equivalent to frequency-division multiplexing.

Conditional Access System (CAS)
Encryption, there are many variants on the market, some of those used in Europe are: Videoguard, Irdeto, Viaccess, Conax, Seca, Cryptoworks, Mediaguard and Nagravision.

Conax
Encryption System owned by Telenor and Canal Digital, used in the Scandinavian countries, Bulgaria and by a hanfull of other broadcasters.

Conditional Access Module (CAM)
A removable decoding module used in digital satellite and digital terrestrial receivers, there are many types of CAMs on the market, including programmable types like the Matrix and Joker CAMs.

Cryptoworks
An encryption system owned by Philips.

Digital
Data transfer using numbers = allows compression because numbers can be sent faster than the data is needed – thus allowing several channels to be sent at the same time.

DiSEqC
Digital Satellite Equipment Control, often thought of as a Eutelsat system it was actually STAB Italia www.stab-italia.com that designed the protocol for DiSEqC and have further developed it with USALS.

Dish/Parabolic Antenna
Reflects the signal from a satellite towards the LNB.

Eeprom
Rewritable Memory device found inside Receivers, CAMs, and Cards.

Embedded
Usually refering to a builtin encryption like Videoguard in Sky Digital receivers.

Encryption
Scrambling of a signal usually for the purposes of selling a service, or restricting a signal to a certain country for copyright reasons.

FEC
Forward Error Correction = often given as ¾ for example in this case the 4th bit of data corrects any errors in the first 3 bits.

Feed Horn
Front section of a modern LNB = Basically a wave Guide which bounces the High frequency signals down to the LNB Poloriser.

Flash (Memory)
A reprogrammable memory used in Cards CAMs and Satellite receivers.

Free To Air (FTA)
Free To Air services, are not encrypted and require no card or subscription for viewing. All of the BBC's domestic TV and radio services are FTA.

Free To View (FTV)
Free To View channels do not require a subscription, the channels are however encrypted and require a Sky freesat card. These cards will give you access to Channel Four, Sky Three, Five, Five Life and Five US.

Geostationary Satellites
These satellites appear from earth to be stationary because they orbit the earth above the equator and their distance and speed means that they take 24 hours to circumnavigate the planet which is the same time as it takes for the earth to rotate once. They are somtimes referred to as TV Satellite satellites.

Gigahertz (Ghz)
1 Ghz = 1000,000,000 Cycles per second.

Horizon to Horizon Mount

Irdeto
An encryption system owned by Mindport.

NO ENTRIES

KiloHertz (Khz)
1 Khz = 1000 Cycles per second.

Low Noise Block (LNB)
The LNB down converts the High frequency signals from a satellite to a range which can be “seen” by the satellites tuner using a Local Oscilator - Typically an LNB will have two of these a “Universal” LNB will have a Local Oscillator set at 9.75 Ghz and another at 10.6 Ghz (this higher one is activated by the receiver sending a 22Khz Tone.

LNB Loop
This allows a second receiver to be connected to a dish thus expanding the potential – the second receiver could be an analogue receiver connected to a digital receiver – or a second digital receiver – in the case of the later being a second receiver which has USALS BOTH receivers can control the dish position, but watch out always leave the second receiver on a vertical channel otherwise the first receiver may not be able to select a vertical channel when it is on.

Mediaguard
Nagra France develops and markets the Mediaguard conditional access system. www.nagra.fr.

Nagravision
Nagravision is a market leader in the field of conditional access for digital TV and broadband Internet. Leading operators are equipped with its technology which ensures secure access to their services via more than 35 million decoders (analog and digital). www.nagravision.com

Null Modem Cable
A Crossed Serial lead with 2 female ends used for two PC’s or two receivers or one PC and one receiver to talk to another, used for upgrading a satellite receiver with new software. Pin wiring on a serial null modem cable is as follows Pins 1-1, 2-3, 3-2, 4-6, 5-5, 6-4, 7-8, 8-7, 9-9.

Offset Dish
Most common dish type the dish, the signal is reflected down into the LNB.

PIC
Progammable Intergrated Circuit = a small computer used in satellite receivers CAMs and Cards.

PID (Packet Identify)
Bits of data joined together, every digital TV channel has a Video, Audio and PCR PID.

Polar Mount
Mount which usually fits on a pole and gives the dish the ability to Pivot on a line which is parallel to the two poles of the planet.

Poloriser
Usually part of a Modern LNB, it selects vertical or horizontal polorization of the signal – Circular left and right hand polorization of signals is also possible though rare – usually Polorisation is selected by different voltages sent by the receiver 13Volts = vertical 17v = Horizontal.

Power Vu
Encryption system owned by Scientific Atlantic, used to distribute channels to cable operators and TV service providers. www.sciatl.com.

Prime Focus Dish
Dish which points directly at the satellite and has a center feed.

Pay Per View (PPV)
Many operators have PPV channels for films orspecial events, the customer only pays for the programmes watched.

NO ENTRIES

Receiver
Receiver, Satellite receiver or Tuner, used to receive TV and radio transmissions from satellites.

RF
Radio Frequency

RGB
RGB stands for Red Green and Blue, these are the 3 colours used to display a TV picture. Using RGB the picture is sent as three separate colours corresponding to the three colours used in a TV to display the picture. A high resolution RGB picture can have a bandwidth of over 10MHz and this is without doubt the best way to send picture information to a TV or display. Component video Component video is comprised of a Y signal (this is the luminance being a mixture of red, green and blue), and two colour difference signals, referred to as either V & U or Cr & Cb respectively. Both require a sync signal to generate the required timing inside the TV so that a viewable picture can be built up. When using a DVD player it may be better to use Y Cr Cb output , as they generate these straight from the digital signals. There are more than a few options for sending the sync signal with RGB. The norm is for 75R terminated signals and 0.7V peak with higher voltage producing a brighter image.

Satellite Dish
A satellite dish is a type of parabolic reflector A parabolic reflector (also known as a parabolic dish or a parabolic mirror) is a reflective device formed in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution. Parabolic reflectors can either collect or distribute energy such as light, sound, or radio waves.

SCART
Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs (SCART), connector used for combined audio and video connections.

Scrambling
Encryption of a satellite signal, usually a subscription and Smart Card are neede to de-crypt the encrypted signal.

Service Provider
TV Operator/Provider, a company or organisation, which supplies a TV or Radio service or station.

Simulcrypt
The use of different types of encryption system at the same time.

Smart Card
A device used to act as a Key for the CAM, the card is interrogated by the CAM to check if the Card has the rights paid for the service you have selected SubscriptionPaying for a service, provided by a Service Provider.

Symbolrate (SR)
The carrier on the satellite is made up of a sequence of joined together pulses to make a continuous signal. Each pulse is a symbol. According to the modulation method each symbol represents 1, 2 or 3 etc bits of transmission rate data. As a general rule if you have bandwidth to spare, then use a lower order modulation or a low rate FEC (like 1/2 or 2/3) to spread the signal out. If you have power to spare then use a higher order modulation and/or higher rate FEC (like 3/4 ot 7/8). Ideally you want to use all of both the available bandwidth and power simultaneously. If you use larger reception dishes you will always be able to increase the system capacity. If you are doing a point to point link it is worth using larger dishes. If you have thousands of receive dishes then the aggregate cost of these is significant and you will want to allow smaller sizes even though this reduces system capacity and increases space segment costs.

T & K Mount
Type of Mount named after the shape of the mount helps to mount a Pole perfectly vertical.

Tuner
This is the part of the receiver.

UHF
Ultra High Frequency.

UHF Loop
Input & output to insert the Satellite TV signal into the normal TV Band.

USALS (Universal Satellite Equipment Control)
An advancement of DiSEqC 1.2 which allows the receiver to communicate it’s operating position with the Motor Mount which must also be USALS compatible. This enhancement makes fitting a motorized DiSEqC 1.2 system very easy, as you only need to enter the Longitude and Latitude of your current position in order for the mount to calculate where every satellite is situated.

Universal LNB
This type of LNB has a Local Oscilator set at 9.75 and another set at 10.60 the higher one is instigated when the receiver sends a 22Khz Tone.

Viaccess
Encryption system owned by France Telecom, there are two main types Viaccess 1 and Viaccess 2.

Viaccess Red CAM update
Viaccess Red CAM CA modules can be updated via the Hot Bird satellite at 13 degrees east. Go to the “Sex View channel which can be found at 12.092 GHz Horizontal, Symbol rate: 27500 FEC: 3/4.
Now do the following:
1. Turn off the receiver in to standby.
2. Turn on the receiver again on the same channel, then go to Menu and choose Common Interface and the OK. After about 15-20 minutes your Red CAM module should be updated to Version 4.81.
3. When the upgrade is finished, remove the module from the receiver and then re-insert it, it is now ready for use.

Videoguard
Conditional Access System (CAS), owned by NDS and used by Sky Digital for encrypting channels on the Sky Digital platform. Videoguard is also used by Sky Italia and Viasat.

NO ENTRIES