Satellite TV Glossary
Just in case you thought that you
were reading a foreign language at times, we have included a satellite
tv glossary that you can refer to whenever you get lost.
Additional Outlet (A/O)
This refers to receivers that are not the primary one that is normally
connected to the satellite dish.
Audio/Video Jacks
In most set-ups there are three jacks: one for the video, one for
the right speaker and one for the left. The audio jacks are necessary
for the sound to be in stereo.
Azimuth
This refers to the horizontal direction of a satellite. It would have
a different azimuth in San Diego than in Seattle.
Bandwidth
This is in reference to the range of frequencies that are occupied
by a signal.
Baseband
The raw satellite TV signal before it is re-modulated to become a
signal that is suitable for a TV.
Beam
The 'beam' refers to a satellite transmission pattern. The pattern
may be wide, narrow or spot.
Blackouts
Due to contractual agreements, some broadcasts are not available in
local markets.
C-band
This is a signal frequency range (3.70-4.20ghz).
Clarke Belt
Named after its founder Arthur C. Clarke, the most famous writer of
science fiction in our times, the Clarke Belt is an orbit that is
used by satellites at a height of 22,250 miles. At this orbit, satellites
make an orbit in 24 hours and still remain in a fixed position relative
to the Earth’s surface. (Arthur C. Clarke is the author of 2001 -
A Space Oddessy and many other novels.)
DBS
Digital broadcast satellite. This high-powered satellite uses a Ku-band
frequency (12.2 to 12.7 GHz) to deliver programming signals directly
to a small (18-inch) dish installed at viewer's home.
Digital Audio Broadcasting
Standard for transmitting digital audio.
Digital Compression
Process that translates video images into a digital code which takes
up less transmission space than the original signal would have.
Dolby Digital / AC-3 Compatible
Dolby Digital gives six independent sound track channels by way of
the optical output jack. When connected to your AC3 compatible home
theater audio set-up, this connection gives you Dolby Digital Surround
Sound.
Dolby Pro Logic
Dolby Pro Logic (also known as surround sound) is based on the use
of an amplitude-phase matrix. This is a way to encode four channels
of information into two tracks of stereo media and then decode them
back into four channels before they are eventually played back.
Downlink
The path that a signal follows from satellite to antenna.
DTH
This is an acronym for "Direct To Home" and is the official
term that is used by the Federal Communications Commission (FTC) when
they refer to the satellite television and broadcasting industries.
DVB
This is a broadcast standard for digital radio and television, using
MPEG II compression technology.
Feed Horn
A feed horn is a device that collects the signals at the focus of
the satellite dish and then channels them to the LNB.
Fixed Dish System
With this system the dish does not have to be moved. For example,
Directv® and Dish Network are fixed dish systems.
Footprint
A plot of land that is able to receive a particular satellite’s signals.
Geostationary
Satellites orbit the Earth 22,300 miles above the equator and rotate
at the same relative speed and direction as the Earth's surface.
HDTV (high definition television)
The pictures show more detail. HDTV generally uses digital rather
than analog signal transmission. In 2009, all broadcasting will be
in digital format and analog broadcasting will be officially in the
history books.
Interactive TV
Interactive tv is a service that lets you use a remote control in
order to access up-to-the-minute news, sports, financial information,
weather, get program trivia, respond to free offers and shop, plus
more.
IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder)
A satellite receiver that features a built-in decoder that is used
for unscrambling subscription channels. Normally, it is simply called
a receiver.
KU-band
This refers to the signal frequency range between 11 and 14 GHz that
is often used with communications satellites.
LNB (Low Noise Block down-converter)
Amplifies received signals and converts them from microwaves to lower
frequency signals which are then sent along a cable to the satellite
receiver.
Locks & Limits (Parental Controls)
With this you can restrict viewing of rated movies (based on the motion
picture rating system) or you can lock out entire channels. This will
help you control what your children watch, to a certain degree.
Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG)
The organization which defined the standards for moving pictures,
like movies.
MPEG I/II Compression
The modern method for compressing digital signals.
Noise Figure
Look for lower noise figures. The lower the better.
Offset
Type of dish with the focus and feed horn below the center of the
dish.
Pay Per View (PPV)
You get what you pay for, and then some.
Rain fade
When the sun finally decides to come out.
Receiver
Who the quarterback throws passes to.
R/F connectors
Output for coaxial cable (the stuff cable companies use). R/F connectors
will not provide stereo from the satellite receiver.
RG59
This is the type of coaxial cable that is commonly used for cable
TV.
Satellite Home Viewer Act: (SHVA)
Makes it illegal for homeowners associations and other organizations
to prevent home viewers from erecting a satellite dish.
S-Video Jack
If you aint got s-video then you aint got jack...
Threshold
A veritable undefinable level of pain that is normally judged in a
subjective fashion.
TiVo
The name of my dog... and also my pool maintenance man.
Transponder
This is a man who feels like he is living inside a woman's body. He
then takes steps in order to rectify the situation. It can also refer
to the equipment inside a satellite that is responsible for receiving
a single uplinked channel and re-broadcasting it back to Earth.
UHF Remote
Ultra High Frequency remote control that can operate the receiver
from another room. The IR (Infra Red) remote needs to be pointed at
the receiver.
