Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/intro Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Author: J. Trees Contributors: F. Tilley, D. Levingston, F. Miata The control file for rec.video.satellite.tvro can be found at http://www.landfield.com/usenet/control/rec/rec.video.satellite.tvro For your newsgroups file: rec.video.satellite.tvro "Large Dish" ("BUD") systems and technologies. The charter, culled from the call for votes: Rec.video.satellite.tvro will be for the discussion of TVRO (an acronym for TeleVision Receive Only) ... or "Large Dish" satellite reception, generally by non-commercial home-dish owners and hobbiests. This group will continue to cover C/Ku band reception worldwide, including programming, technical, legal issues and other matters relating to home-dish usage, in the same way that the existing group, rec.video.satellite has done since its inception. The existing HOMESAT mailinglist will be gatewayed to this group, if this proposal is successful. This FAQ will be posted in 10 parts (Not including this Intro) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. What is TVRO? 1.1 How did satellite TV begin? 1.2 How exactly are satellite signals transmitted? 1.3 What frequencies and/or bands are used for TVRO satellite transmissions? 1.4 Who is likely to be a prospective big dish system owner? 1.5 Okay, now I know a bit about BUD systems. But those minidish satellite systems are fairly cheap and simple. What about DBS? 2. How do I get started assembling a home TVRO satellite system? 2.1 About how much might it cost to put a system together? 2.2 Exactly what equipment do I need? 2.3 Okay, I have my equipment. How do I get my TVRO satellite system installed? 2.4 Okay, I now have my satellite system working. How do I connect more than one TV and receiver to it? 2.5 All the hype these days is about HDTV. Can I view HDTV signals with my BUD system? 3. Programming 3.1 What Programming is Available on BUDs? 3.2 What about the broadcast networks? Can I get them with my big dish system? 3.3 What are the requirements for subscribing to the networks? 3.4 What are these "raw feeds" and backhauls that I always hear about? 3.5 How do I access all this programming? 3.6 Are ALL channels freely available for watching? What is encryption? 3.7 How do I tune audio? 3.8 There is so much programming! How do I keep track of it all? Are there program guides available? 3.9 Who provides subscription programming and about how much might it cost me? 4. Compression, Encryption and Encoding Methods 4.1 What Television Broadcast Standards are compatible with BUDs? 4.2 What Compression Schemes are used with BUDs? 4.3 What Encryption Methods are used with BUDs? 4.4 A WORD ABOUT 4:2:2 SCREEN PIXEL RATIO 5. Are there any hobbies related to owning a big dish system? 5.1 DVB/MPEG-2 5.2 Non-standard Audio (analog SCPC and FM Squared) 5.3 International Satellite Tracking 5.4 Inclined Orbit Satellite Tracking 6. How does the environment affect my big dish system? 6.1 Stormy Weather 6.2 Winter Weather 6.3 The Sun 6.4 Wildlife 7. Can Zoning Ordinances or Homeowner Associations prevent me from Installing a TVRO System? 7.1 Zoning Ordinances 7.2 Homeowner Associations 8. What is the Future for TVRO? 9. Where Can I get More Information or Help with my TVRO System? 10. Glossary and Sources Cited From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:35 MDT 2003 Article: 168635 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl1!newsfeed.on.tac.net!newsfeed.telusplanet.net!newsfeed.telus.net!chi1.webusenet.com!news.webusenet.com!nnxp1.twtelecom.net!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/02 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 1/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:56 GMT Lines: 161 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215036 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168635 rec.answers:145506 news.answers:208828 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:15:58 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part1 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART ONE - What is TVRO? TVRO is an acronym that stands for TeleVision Receive Only. Generally speaking, TVRO is the satellite distribution system for delivering programming to cable TV headends and systems. Of course, anyone with a home TVRO satellite system can potentially receive programming for their enjoyment. To receive TVRO satellite signals, at least a modern C-Band only or Ku-Band only capable receiver and an appropriate satellite dish antenna is necessary. Usually with TVRO, the bigger the dish, the better. In fact, TVRO is often referred to as big dish satellite television. Unlike direct broadcast satellite (DBS), TVRO uses mostly open standards technology so equipment and dish sizes can vary greatly (More on this later in the FAQ). * How did satellite TV begin? In 1945, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke envisioned the positioning of objects 22,300 miles in orbit above the Earth that could send and receive information. This would cause these artificial satellites of the Earth to seemingly "hover" above the ground without moving. The orbital "belt" around the Earth containing communications satellites would later be named the Clarke Belt in honor of Arthur C. Clarke's original vision. By 1957, the former Soviet Union created the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, which sent out electronic beeps of Morse Code extolling Soviet technological-superiority propaganda. Sputnik, however, did not orbit the Earth at the exact distance of 22,300 miles needed to seem stationary from the ground; this orbit is known as geosynchronous orbit. In 1962, the first satellite- relayed television program was broadcast over the Telstar 1 satellite from France to the United States. By 1973, Canada's Anik A1 satellite became the first domestic satellite to be placed into geosynchronous orbit over North America. In 1976, Home Box Office (HBO) became the first non-terrestrial television network to relay its signal via satellite. Soon, Ted Turner, owner of Atlanta, Georgia UHF station WTBS also decided to uplink its station via satellite, creating the first "superstation". Pat Robertson created the Christian Broadcasting Network (now ABC Family Channel) and uplinked it also. The foundation for modern cable programming and the modern cable television industry had begun. But even as this was all happening, an industrious Stanford University graduate named Dr. H. Taylor Howard had a vision of his own. He knew about the potential of being able to receive satellite programming and decided to build a homemade parabolic satellite receiving antenna and receiver unit. In 1977, the first home satellite system was built and the home satellite industry was born. He even attempted to pay HBO for its programming but HBO refused, saying that it only accepted subscription fees from cable companies! By 1980, several companies were manufacturing home satellite equipment and anyone simply having a satellite dish, back then usually 12 to 16 feet in diameter, was bound to draw attention from neighbors and friends. The early satellite industry was somewhat chaotic; standards and legal clarification were needed to set guidelines for the usage of satellite receiving equipment and the reception of satellite signals. This occurred in 1984, when then President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Cable Communication Policy Act. Among other things, the new law established the legal status of owning home satellite equipment. It also permitted program providers to encrypt, or "scramble", their signals and allow home satellite viewers the option of paying for subscription programming for a nominal fee. In 1986, HBO, the first cable-type service available via satellite, became the first programming service to encrypt its signals. Long gone were the days of Taylor Howard being denied the ability to pay for his programming! Many people became a fraid that encryption was the end of home satellite reception and this view caused many satellite dealers to get out of the satellite system retail business. By the late 1980's, satellite TV became well established as the best method of program reception available. * How exactly are satellite signals transmitted? Satellite transmissions start with the uplink signal, which are transmitted by very large fixed satellite dishes up to the satellite in orbit above the earth. The satellite then retransmits the signal on a lower frequency down to a general geographic area of the earth with what is called the downlink signal. On the ground, home satellite receiving equipment converts the downlink frequencies to the even lower 950-1450 MHz standard frequency block. The signal then travels to the satellite receiver for modulation to TV channel 3 and is then sent to the television itself. * What frequencies and/or bands are used for TVRO satellite transmissions? Satellite transmissions can be received from two different bands: C-Band and Ku- Band C-Band was the original band of frequencies used for the transmission of communications satellite signals and is still the most commonly used band for TVRO use. In fact, the term C-Band is often used interchangeably with TVRO; unfortunately, this usage is actually incorrect since Ku-Band TVRO also exists. C-Band frequencies fall within a range of 3.7 to 4.2 GHz. Ku-Band is a newer satellite band for TVRO transmissions. Ku-Band frequencies fall within a range of 10.9 to 12.75 GHz. Unlike C-Band, Ku-Band has no accepted standard for reception, at least in terms of channel number assignments. As far as reception, any satellite receiving system capable of receiving C-Band can receive Ku- Band with only minimal need for additional equipment. In fact, Ku-Band can be received with smaller satellite dishes than those needed for C-Band reception! (More on this later in the FAQ) Ku-Band is also the satellite band used for DBS systems (more on DBS later). * Who is likely to be a prospective big dish system owner? The prospective big dish system owner is primarily the person who wants choice. The big dish offers the most variety of programming of any direct-to-home television distribution method. Whether its standard "cable-type" programming, audio (music and radio networks), or non-standard fare, the "BUD", or "big ugly dish" as it is affectionately called, offers a little bit of everything. Big dish offers the flexibility of more than a few satellites worth of programming, all the advantages of modern digital technologies, and technological superiority over other TV reception methods. The prospective big dish owner actually *enjoys* searching for hard to find programming, such as "wild" feeds and unknown free-to-air channels (more on this later). The prospective big dish owner likely has a technical bent and likes to experiment with the technology itself and takes pride in his/her investment. He/she likely even *enjoys* having a large satellite dish right in their backyard for all to see! The prospective big dish system owner is clearly looking for something extraordinary in their quest for programming excellence. * Okay, now I know a bit about BUD systems. But those minidish satellite systems are fairly cheap and simple. What about DBS? DBS, or direct broadcast satellite, is a relatively recent development in the world of television distribution, with Hughes's DirecTV, the first high powered DBS system, going online in 1994. DBS uses high powered Ku-Band satellites that send digitally compressed television and audio signals to 18 to 24 inch fixed satellite dishes. DirecTV's introduction was the most successful consumer electronics debut in history. In 1996, Echostar's DISH Network went online and has gone on to similar success. So why all the fuss about DBS? To oversimplify somewhat, it's easy. It takes little technical know-how to purchase and install DBS hardware. Since they use smaller satellite dishes than TVRO, people are more willing to have them installed since they aren't extremely noticeable with their 18 to 24 inch diameter sizes. Consumer electronics and discount stores can easily stock them in their stores, making them a more visible product to non-technical consumers. DBS systems also don't have any moving parts, such as a dish mover. Channel surfing is almost the same to the viewer as broadcast TV or cable with video quality that is quite a bit better (but lesser than TVRO). And, of course, advertisements can't wait to tell the consumer about how good "digital quality" is. Realistically, DBS is "cable via satellite". The customer makes a one-time purchase between $50 and $150 and pays monthly subscription fees for ALL the programming; none of it is free. In the modern era of programming choice, DBS certainly has its place, along with other methods of television reception, such as over-the-air broadcasting (analog and digital HDTV), analog and digital cable, MMDS (microwave "wireless cable"), and, of course, big dish satellite. Compared to even ten years ago, let alone twenty or thirty years ago, television distribution has come a long way. But DBS is just what it is: an alternative to entrenched cable television's dominance and poor track record of picture quality and service. DBS doesn't offer any wide variety of programming options or much hobbyist value. Also, like other consumer products, is a reflection of the efforts of a single company's vision of what you get to watch and how they want you to get it. DBS is a great option for many people, particularly those in rural areas not served by cable who want no-hassle, out of the box television reception that doesn't show up as snowy pictures on the TV set. For more about DBS, read the rec.video.satellite.dbs DBS FAQ by Brian Trosko. A copy of the FAQ is located at Robert Smathers's WWW Pages at: http://www.nmia.com/~roberts/dbs.html From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:39 MDT 2003 Article: 168636 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!petbe.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/02 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 2/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:57 GMT Lines: 437 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215037 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168636 rec.answers:145507 news.answers:208829 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:15:58 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part2 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART TWO - How do I get started assembling a home TVRO satellite system? * About how much might it cost to put a system together? A home TVRO system once cost as much as $100,000 in 1980! Prices have dropped substantially since then, of course; a "typical" retail price home system (dish included) with professional installation could cost from $1500-$2500 depending on the setup. The good approach these days is to find a decent used system, as many of these are around; many people will actually thank you for "ridding them" of their "antiquated" TVRO system! TVRO systems are NOT antiquated, of course. Reasonably priced used systems can range from free to $250-$300 or so. * Exactly what equipment do I need? There are six basic components to a big dish system: the satellite dish, the feed assembly, the low-noise block downconverter (LNB), the positioner/controller, the cable, and the receiver or IRD. The first component is the satellite dish. The satellite dish is unquestionably the most visible component of a home satellite system, and can range from five feet upwards to twelve feet or larger. The "average" size for a TVRO satellite dish is ten feet, but can be smaller in stronger signal areas. Most IRDs have a built in controller for moving the dish. Some receivers require an separate controller, sometimes called a dish mover, to control the position. Satellite dishes are also made of a variety of materials. Aluminum mesh dishes are the most common type, but solid aluminum and fiberglass dishes are not unusual. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. Mesh dishes are usually less expensive than solid dishes, and easier to transport from the manufacturer and vendor to the installation site. Solid aluminum and fiberglass dishes generally have one primary advantage over mesh dishes. Although usually more expensive, solid dishes are usually better for overall reception quality, particularly with Ku-Band signals. Whatever type of satellite dish, a properly peaked antenna with a dish of the appropriate size should have no problem receiving both C-Band and Ku-Band signals. For locations subject to extreme weather, such as hurricane-force winds, extreme heat, or extremely heavy winter snow, Paraclipse made specially designed satellite dishes (the Classic series) ranging >from 12 to 16 feet; these are quite pricey if you can find one, however, ranging from around $1000 to a whopping $7000 for the 16-footer! In terms of size, bigger is usually better for a TVRO system. Satellite signal strengths are almost always stronger in the center of the signal footprint, where an eight foot dish should have no problem receiving both C-Band and Ku-Band signals. The farther from the center of the footprint, the larger the size of the dish needs to be for quality C-Band reception. A twelve foot or larger dish may be needed in fringe areas such as Alaska, Maine, south Florida, Hawaii, and remote areas in Canada. For Ku-Band, size is much less critical and for Ku- Band only systems, a dish as small as 30 *inches* may work. However, it is usually not advantageous to have a Ku-Band only TVRO setup unless it is a fixed installation for reception of a specialty satellite, such as one with a large amount of international programming, for example. The second component is the feed assembly, which is where the real antenna is located. The feed assembly is used to "funnel" the satellite signal from the parabolic dish reflector to the antenna probe, which relays the signal to the LNB antenna for subsequent frequency conversion and amplification. The term feedhorn is often used interchangeably with feed assembly; this is not entirely accurate, as the feedhorn itself is just part of the overall feed assembly. The scalar ring is used for precision in focal point adjustment in conjunction with the dish reflector. Some feed assemblies are designed to mount two or more LNBs. Such feeds come in two basic types, those that mount one LNB each for each band, C and Ku, and those that mount one LNB for each polarity, vertical and horizontal for most satellites aimed at North America, or right hand and left hand circular for most of those aimed elsewhere. Hybrid types provide some combination of dual polarity and dual band. Multi LNB feeds usually have a separate antenna probe for each LNB. For dual band, polarity is controlled in the same manner as done for a standard single LNB feed, usually with a servo motor to mechanically move the antenna probe to match the desired polarity. Dual polarity feeds (orthomode) have no moving parts, and are used primarily in multi receiver installations to provide all receivers simultaneous access to channels on both polarities, something impossible with a servo actuated antenna probe. A disadvantage to using an orthomode feed is that, without the fine control of the servo motor, signals that deviate from true horizontal or vertical polarity cannot be optimally received unless the dish is fixed upon one satellite, and the feed assembly adjusted accordingly. Another type of feed, called an LNBF, is similar to that used on the little DBS dishes. An LNBF integrates feed, antenna, and LNB into a single electronically controlled unit. The third component is the low-noise block downconverter, or LNB. The LNB is the component that amplifies the very weak signal reaching the antenna from the satellite 22,247 miles above the equator, and converts the downlink frequencies to a lower block of frequencies more suitable for transmission through the cable to the receiver. The standard block of frequencies is 950-1450 MHz. Some early block downconversion systems used a 900-1400 or lower block of frequencies, and receivers designed specially for those frequencies. Older systems used separate components for signal amplification (low-noise amplifier, or LNA) and downconversion (block downconverter). Really old systems didn't downconvert a frequency block for transmission to the receiver, instead sending in only one specific frequency requested by the receiver. C-Band LNBs are rated in degrees Kelvin; Ku-Band LNBs are measured in decibels (dB) instead of degrees Kelvin. For C-Band LNBs, up to 30 degrees K is usually suggested, but this is simply to maximize picture quality. For C-band and a large dish reflector, anything up to 100 degrees is adequate for 99% of the video signals out there, and should give equal or better results to a sub 30 degree LNB on a smaller dish. Only for very weak signals is a sub 30 degree LNB important on C-band. For Ku-Band LNBs, a range up to around 1.5 dB should provide acceptable picture quality. Note that these numbers only apply to analog-only reception or larger dish reflectors; for quality digital reception or smaller dish reflectors, LNBs rated around 20 degrees K or lower for C-Band and 0.7 dB for Ku-Band should be optimal. Make sure that you do some research before buying LNBs for your system, especially if you desire good digital reception; LNB noise ratings alone will not tell you if you have a good LNB or not. For digital reception, just as important or maybe more so is the frequency stability of the LNB. In general, the best bet is to try your LNB(s) and see if the picture quality is acceptable to you. The LNB has an F-type coaxial cable connection for the signal to travel, usually from the feed, underground, and then inside the system owner's home, to the satellite receiver. The fourth component is the dish positioning assembly. This is the physical part that precisely positions the dish when commanded to by the satellite receiver or dish mover. The most common type of positioning assembly is the linear actuator, which connects near its middle to the fixed part of the dish mount, and at its end to the movable portion of the mount or to the reflector. If the satellite system is located in roughly the eastern part of North America, the actuator needs to be aligned with the moving end oriented west; if the satellite system is located in roughly the western part of North America, the actuator needs to be aligned with the moving end oriented east. Refer to your actuator's manual for a visual of these positions or have someone with installation experience help you (not a bad idea, anyway!). Because of the geometry of the polar dish mount, a linear actuator cannot physically move the reflector all the way from one horizon to the other. So, the other type of positioner is known as the horizon to horizon mount, usually some form or worm and sector gear arrangement, which as the name indicates, can track the entire arc between the eastern and western horizons. The fifth component is the cabling. Most installations use a flat ribbon cable comprised of separable sections for each of the necessary functions: 1-two heavy wires for running the actuator motor; 2-two or three small wires to provide dish position feedback to the receiver; 3-two RG-6 coaxial cables for the LNBs; and 4-three small wires to control a servo motor. For installations that use more than two LNBs, a separate RG-6 cable is usually run alongside the ribbon cable for each additional LNB. The sixth component is the satellite receiver. The satellite receiver is arguably the most critical component of any satellite system. The receiver is used to send a picture and sound to your TV or VCR. Some receivers do not contain a dish mover, but many receivers are of the integrated receiver decoder (IRD) variety. Most IRDs contain a built in dish mover to correctly position the satellite dish for view of the satellite arc, tune subcarrier audio (more on this later), and other critical system functions. IRDs are able to not only receive and tune satellite signals, but also either contain an interface for connecting an internal decrypting module for decoding encrypted analog subscription programming, or incorporate a similar apparatus for decoding encrypted digital subscription programming, or both. Most modern IRDs also have at least one remote control to facilitate operation. Many IRD models have a UHF remote and antenna instead of the "standard" infrared remote which allows the IRD to be controlled without even being in the same room as the TV. Some remotes are both infrared and UHF, which allows the UHF portion to be left in another room after using the infrared portion to program a programmable remote for use in the main entertainment area. TVRO receivers are renowned for being quality components for home theater systems. All modern models have composite (RCA) connections to allow connection to devices such as audio/video receivers and external monitors. Some also provide S-VHS connections for convenience with use of other components that have them, even though the composite video connection is capable of providing all the analog signal quality that NTSC video is capable of providing. * Okay, I have my equipment. How do I get my TVRO satellite system installed? Easy. Have someone else do it. Pay them lots of money, sit back and when the job is done, watch lots of TV! All kidding aside, many people DO choose to have a professional installation done to avoid the hassle of the installation job. But if you DO do it yourself, you can save a considerable amount of money in parts and labor. http://www.geo-orbit.org/sizepgs/tuningp2.html is a valuable resource discussing polar mount installation. The first step in the installation is to do a site survey. You need to have a clear view to the south in order to properly track the satellite arc. If you are in a thick cover of trees, this will likely affect your reception in some manner. Deciduous (leafy) trees are more problematic in the spring and summer months; conifers (evergreen) can be a problem year round. Even if you plan to do the actual installation yourself, a professional site survey is still recommended. In some instances, a roof mount of some type may be required to get a clear view of the required portion of the satellite arc above any stand of trees. If an acceptable location for dish installation is found, it's time to really get those hands dirty! A simple list of installation hardware and supplies will include a schedule 40 steel pole, several bags of quick-dry concrete (or you can mix some of the regular stuff yourself, if you REALLY want to...), a stepladder, tie wraps, a good set of screwdrivers, wrenches, and other such tools. It is also HIGHLY recommended that you have *something* for testing signal strength of the satellite signal, such as a dedicated signal strength meter or even an oscilloscope. You should also have an inclinometer when setting declination and offset angles. The most commonly required pole size is 3.5 inches in diameter on the outside. Before you buy one, read the instructions or measure the mount to be sure to get the right diameter. A good rule of thumb is for every foot in diameter of the dish, there should be a corresponding foot in length of the pole. For example, a ten foot dish should have a ten foot pole. Note that part of the pole needs to *actually be in the concrete*; three feet of pole in the concrete base should work great. Before putting the pipe into the concrete, something needs to be affixed to the bottom of the pipe so that it cannot be twisted by wind load on the dish. Either weld some kind of protrusion to the pipe, or drill a hole through it and stick a bolt or piece of steel rod through. It is highly recommended that PVC pipe be used for cable conduit so that the cabling is protected from the elements, gophers, moles, and any other "varmints" living below the ground. The PVC in the concrete needs to be angled at 90 degrees and only needs to be just inches into the concrete base as the conduit ditch to the system owner's home will only be a few inches deep. 1 inch diameter PVC pipe will suffice, but 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" will make life easier to run long ribbons through. Some hobbyists have an aversion to the PVC technique unless holes are drilled into in the PVC to allow water to drain out. Otherwise, the PVC will fill up with water, and it also makes it more likely that water will seep into the cable at some nick. Before any serious installing can occur, a good *hole* in the ground needs to be dug for the concrete base. Once dug, it's time to set the metal pole into it. Next, pour the concrete mix into the hole. While the concrete is still wet, insert the PVC pipe to be used for cable conduit, and use a level to make sure the pole is plumb on at least three sides. It will take at least 24 hours for the concrete to completely dry and harden, so don't get into a hurry to finish the dish part of the installation! While the concrete is hardening, unless you did it at the same time you dug the hole for the pole, a shallow trench needs to be dug for the underground cabling; this includes the PVC conduit pipe if used. Lay the cable until it enters the house; make sure to seal entry holes with caulk or other sealer to keep creepy pests and water out. It may be best to adhere to the requirements of your local electrical code when choosing a grounding technique. After the concrete base is good and hard the dish is ready to be mounted onto the pole. If the dish reflector hasn't been assembled, now might be a good time to do this; refer to the dish's instruction manual (if there is one) for assembly instructions. Some designs provide for the mount to be installed on the pole before the reflector is assembled. This is also a good time to connect the feed assembly and LNB(s) to the feed mount. Gently set the mount and/or dish/mount assembly onto the pole. Depending on the size and weight of the dish, and the height of the pole protruding from the ground, this might require three or more people. Point it as close to directly south as possible. After this is done, connect the coaxial portion(s) of your satellite ribbon cable to the LNB(s), connect the servo wires if your feed has a servo motor, and secure the cabling to the dish itself using tie wraps. Connect the actuator arm to the dish and make sure its in the proper orientation. The "hard labor" part of the installation is now done and the system is almost ready to be calibrated to track the satellite arc. But first, the receiver needs to be connected to the proper cables and wires so it can communicate with the dish. No two satellite receivers are exactly alike, but there are some connections that are required by all modern receivers for proper connection to the rest of the satellite system. Here is a list of them: 1. C-Band/Horizontal LNB coaxial input - C-Band or horizontal LNB coaxial cable connects here 2. Ku-Band/Vertical LNB coaxial input - Ku-Band or vertical LNB coaxial connects here 3. Actuator: (red) - Connects to actuator (large red) wire 4. Actuator: (black or white) - Connects to actuator (large white or black) wire 5. Actuator [Sensor]: +5V DC (yellow) (optional, probably not needed) 6. Actuator [Sensor]: Sensor (blue) Connects to actuator (small green or blue) wire 7. Actuator [Sensor]: Shield (gray) Connects to actuator (small brown, tan, or gray) wire 8. Ground: (black) - Connects to polarizer (small black) wire 9. Pulse: (white) - Connects to polarizer (small white or gray) wire 10. +5V, 150mA (red) - Connects to polarizer (small red) wire 11. RF OUT (coaxial) - Coaxial cable out to TV connects here Note that each receiver is different and color-coding may vary. The actuator and polarizer wiring colors also may vary somewhat. Whew! That was a bit tricky! Now connect the receiver to the television and..don't forget to plug in the receiver's power cord! The receiver should now be powered on. Now it's time to calibrate the dish for tracking the satellite arc. This often is the trickiest part of the entire installation. Make sure your satellite dish mount is pointed *exactly* to the south. Next you must check to see that the west button drives the dish west, and the east button drives the dish east. If the direction is backwards, you'll need to swap the two heavy motor wires, either on the receiver, or on your actuator motor. Next, if your receiver will let you, use your receiver controls to then find the satellite nearest to due south at your location. More commonly the receiver will require you to first set east and west limits. There should be some sort of programming mode on the receiver; this will show up on the television screen as text. If the receiver is brand new, this will probably come up automatically when you first turn it on. If your receiver is used, you'll want to note the satellite name showing when first turned on. If it is the same as the one due south of your location, reprogramming might be very simple. Also if used, the mount might be pointing considerably away from due south, but if that deviance appears to be the same location as the satellite that came up when you powered up the receiver, then also you might have most of your work done already (after ever so slightly loosening the mount on the pole, simply rotating the dish a bit east or west might pop up a picture). If not, most likely you should clear all memory on the receiver before attempting anything else. The following sequence will vary slightly depending on the receiver make and model: 1. Selecting LNB types - Select C/Ku-Band and proper LNB voltage. 2. Setting East/West limits - This tells the receiver the extreme limits of how far the actuator is to move the dish. These MUST be set properly or your dish or mover can be damaged! East limit might be required to be set first, then west. Refer to the receiver manual on the exact procedure for finding the satellite arc. 3. Satellite Programming - Once the arc has been tracked, satellites can be programmed in. In most cases this must be done manually. With some receivers, you need find only two, and then the receiver can find the rest automatically. It may take several hours or more to fine tune the satellite system, particularly for Ku-Band. Just be patient and eventually you will be the proud new owner of a working TVRO satellite system! Congratulations! * Okay, I now have my satellite system working. How do I connect more than one TV and receiver to it? There are two main options for a multiple TV setup. You can slave a second TV to the main receiver by splitting the coaxial cable >from the "RF OUT to TV" connection so that one cable goes to the primary TV and one goes to the second TV. You can then change channels using your UHF remote. Of course, everyone in the house will have to watch the same channel on both TVs. This setup is not recommended with a IF-only remote system. The other option is to get a second receiver and slave it to the master (main) receiver. The master receiver will have all the connections for positioning the dish, and polarization, if your feed uses a servo motor. DO NOT attempt to dual wire the actuator and/or the servo motor to *both* receivers as they are NOT designed for this!! This setup allows for viewing different channels on different TVs; however, it is limited to viewing on the same satellite and channels with the same polarity (more on polarity later). For long cable runs you may want to use RG-6 coaxial cable from the splitters to the slave receiver. For shorter runs standard RG-59 cables work fine. * All the hype these days is about HDTV. Can I view HDTV signals with my BUD system? Absolutely, yes! For those that haven't yet heard, High Definition Television, or HDTV, is the next generation television broadcasting standard meant to replace the 60 year old NTSC low-definition standard in North America. HDTV has a higher screen resolution than NTSC and uses a wide-screen format with a 16:9 aspect ratio instead of NTSC's 4:3 aspect ratio. The big push for HDTV adoption has been by the National Association of Broadcasters, while only a few cable-type services, mainly HBO and Showtime, have been early adopters of HDTV. The HDD200 is the U.S. model of the 4DTV HDTV add-on. The HDD201 is the Canadian model. They are exactly the same box, they just have different model numbers. The HDD only works with 4DTV or Digicipher equipment (as opposed to VideoCipher II+) as only digital signals can handle the higher data rates needed for HDTV. Besides, HDTV is inherently a digital technology and cannot exist as an analog signal. From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:42 MDT 2003 Article: 168637 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!priapus.visi.com!petbe.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2003/01/10 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 3/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:57 GMT Lines: 348 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215037 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168637 rec.answers:145508 news.answers:208830 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:15:59 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part3 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART THREE - Programming * What Programming is Available on BUDs? In a single word, LOTS! More than any DBS system can shake a stick at. And better picture quality, too. Much better. Since TVRO is the primary distribution system of programming to cable TV head ends, this is where you are going to find virtually all "cable-type" subscription programming. These days, however, the true BUD aficionado probably wants more than just typical cable stuff. Here is a short summary of what TVRO has to offer: * News - Not only regular CNN and Headline News stuff, but wild network news feeds from ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as international news and regional news networks. Don't forget financial news and the weather. * Sports - Probably the most sports available for your dollar. ESPN, as well as the regional Fox Sports Net networks and specialty sports programming. Most professional sports backhauls are encrypted but not necessarily *all* of them, not to mention a large amount of college sports backhauls are in-the-clear. Football, basketball, baseball, hockey, you name it, it's on BUD. * Movies - This is where TVRO really shines! Not just one measly HBO and Showtime, but all the premium movie channel multiplex packages: all the Cinemax, The Movie Channel, Encore, Flix, and Starz! you can *possibly* imagine! There are also sources of independent movies such as the premium Sundance Channel and the non-premium Independent Film Channel. Older movies also abound with American Movie Classics, B-Mania, Fox Movie Channel, and Turner Classic Movies. HBO and Showtime are also the first subscription networks to have HDTV channels for those with high-definition televisions. You may need a lifetime supply of popcorn for all the movies to be watched! * Music - Not just MTV and VH1, but Country Music Television and Great American Country for those country and western lovers, MTV Jams & MTV2 for rockers, and VH1 Classic Rock & VH1 Mega Hits for those who like to rock with the volume a *bit* lower! Don't forget the audio of Digital Music Express (DMX) and MusicChoice as well as radio "superstations" like jazz station KLON Long Beach, a long time favorite of BUD listeners! * Religion - TVRO wins hands down over DBS here! Whether of the Protestant, Catholic, or any other Christian persuasion, it's here on channels like Trinity Broadcasting and Eternal Word TV Network. Muslim programming is also available, especially with a digital FTA receiver (more on this later). * Foreign Language and International - TVRO wins again! Tons of Spanish language programming is available, much of it not found anywhere else. You can also find programming in French, German, Italian, Arabic, Farsi, Japanese, and other languages for the internationally inclined. International programming abounds for those truly interested in television from a different cultural viewpoint. Lots of international and foreign language audio, too. * Kids - Whether for learning or just for fun, big dish offers lots of programming for the little ones. Not just Nickelodeon but Discovery Kids, Nick Too, Nick Games and Sports, PBS Kids, and Noggin. Kids' programming in the morning on The Learning Channel. Not to mention...cartoons! Cartoon Network and Toon Disney should satisfy your kids' animated cravings. * Family - Big dish is truly a bastion of family-oriented programming served as an safer alternative to much of the not-so-family oriented programming on TV today. ABC Family Channel and the PAX Network are good for starters, but also less well known networks such as America One Television and others provide good, wholesome entertainment for the entire family. * Adult - Need I say more? More here than anywhere else.... * Educational - This is another area where big dish dominates. Not only do you get PBS, but Discovery Channel and its specialty multiplex channels, TLC, and others. Not to mention university channels from institutions such as BYU and the University of Southern California. * Lottery Drawings - Big dish owners have the privilege of being able to view state and interstate lottery drawings from all over the United States. Time to check those lucky numbers! * Dr. Gene Scott - A longtime big dish institution by himself. Love him or hate him, he probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon... This is just a small listing of the programming available. Enjoy! * What about the broadcast networks? Can I get them with my big dish system? Yes. But keep in mind that they are probably going to be distant network affiliates to you, and availability is subject to the quality of your over-the-air network reception quality. The two sets of major network channels are part of the Denver 5 package and the former Prime Time 24 package of affiliates. The actual affiliates are subject to change at any given time. Currently, they are: Denver 5 PT 24 ABC KMGH Denver WKRN Nashville CBS KCNC Denver WSEE Erie, Penn. NBC KUSA Denver WNBC New York Fox - - - WB KWGN Denver - KDVR, Denver's Fox affiliate, as well as a national Fox feed, are also available separately. These network channels are available via subscription. These networks are also only available if you live outside your locals' Grade A or Grade B signal coverage areas. This is done at the discretion of your subscription provider usually. Since TVRO is *not* a closed system like cable television or DBS, it is NOT subject to network affiliate must-carry rules mandated by the FCC in the U.S. Note that other network channels sometimes show up in-the-clear, particularly ABC. NBC is still in the clear, but you need special equipment to receive it (more on this later). CBS is usually encrypted, as well as Fox. WGN Chicago, a popular subscription channel and one of the superstations that still remain, as well as WPIX and KTLA. If getting the networks via satellite doesn't sound like an option, your over-the-air antenna will work fine with your satellite system and over-the-air signals will pass through the receiver just fine. Of course, the signal quality will be inferior if it isn't an HDTV digital signal. * What are the requirements for subscribing to the networks? Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (the "SHVIA") http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/shviafac.html On November 19, 1999, Congress passed the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (the "SHVIA"). The SHVIA was signed by the President and became law on November 29, 1999. One of the key elements of the SHVIA is that it permits satellite carriers to offer their subscribers local TV broadcast signals through the option of providing "local-into-local." This act also authorizes satellite carriers to provide distant or national broadcast programming to subscribers. This law generally seeks to place satellite carriers on an equal footing with local cable television operators when it comes to the availability of broadcast programming, and thus gives consumers more and better choices in selecting a multichannel video program distributor (MVPD), such as cable or satellite service. Distant stations provided to some subscribers: The new SHVIA also addresses the satellite retransmission of distant television stations to subscribers. This applies to television broadcast stations that are not from the subscriber's local market. Subscribers who cannot receive an over-the-air signal of Grade B intensity using a conventional, stationary rooftop antenna are eligible to receive these distant signals. In addition, subscribers who were receiving distant signals as of October 31, 1999, or had distant signals terminated after July 11, 1998, may still be eligible to receive distant signals provided they cannot receive over-the-air signals of Grade A intensity. Both Grade A and Grade B signal intensity are defined by FCC rules. If a consumer is eligible to receive distant signals under these provisions, it is still up to the satellite carrier to decide whether to provide the distant signals to eligible subscribers. The SHVIA Fact Sheet: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/shviafac.html Persons who subscribe to C-band service may continue to receive distant network television signals if such signals were being received on October 31, 1999 or if the signals were terminated before October 31, 1999. Persons who first subscribed to C-band services after October 31, 1999 are not covered by this exemption. The FCC created a computer model for satellite companies and television stations to use to predict whether a given household is served or unserved. If you are "unserved", you are eligible to receive distant network signals. If you are "served", you are not eligible to receive such signals. If you disagree with the model's prediction, you may request a "waiver" from each local network TV station that you are predicted to be able to receive. If the waiver is granted, you will be eligible to receive the distant signals. SHVIA outlines a specific process for requesting a waiver. SHVIA requires that the satellite subscriber submit the request for a waiver, through the satellite company, to the local network TV station. The local network TV station has 30 days from the date that it receives the waiver request to either grant or deny the request. If the local network TV station does not issue a decision within 30 days, the request for a waiver is considered to be granted and the satellite company may provide the distant signals. The SHVIA provides that if the local network TV station(s) denies the request for a waiver, the subscriber may submit a request to the satellite company to have a signal strength test performed at the subscriber's location to determine whether the subscriber's signal is at least Grade B intensity. The satellite company and the local network TV station(s) that denied the waiver will then select a qualified and independent person to conduct the signal test. SHVIA requires that the test be performed no more than 30 days after the subscriber submits the request to the satellite provider. If the test reveals that the subscriber does not receive at least a Grade B signal of the local network TV station, the subscriber may receive the signal of a distant TV station that is affiliated with that network. http://bsexton.com/cgi-bin/tv.cgi can help you determine the service contour prediction for your location. * What are these "raw feeds" and backhauls that I always hear about? "Raw feeds", or more accurately, recurring feeds, are programs being distributed in their unedited form at a specific scheduled time to a network of television stations. These programs are often syndicated programs but can also be those intended for broadcast networks. Recurring feeds are unedited, so they often don't contain commercials where the commercial breaks are scheduled. Recurring news feeds also often show the "uninteresting" activity that happens during these commercial breaks, such as private conversations and equipment adjustments. Recurring feeds are often referred to as "wild" feeds because, at least to the TVRO viewer, they often do not follow a regular broadcast schedule. In regards to satellite communications, a backhaul is the distribution of a program from a live event at a specific location being sent back to the programmer's network center so it can be processed and distributed in its edited form over the programmer's primary network. Backhauls can also be used for sending recorded programming to a programmer's network center, such as a major news organization, for broadcast later in the day. Perhaps the backhauls that most interest big dish viewers are sports backhauls, but backhauls can be of any type of programming. Recurring feeds and backhauls are perhaps one of the most interesting types of viewing available to big dish owners. These feeds are a definite departure from the standard edited programming fare TV viewers are used to with over-the-air broadcasts, cable television, and DBS. * How do I access all this programming? Simple. Turn on your television set, get the remote control, and...enjoy! Seriously, for those accustomed to watching over-the-air broadcasts, cable TV, and DBS, TVRO viewing will take a little time getting used to. Fortunately, as long as your satellite system is installed properly and in good working order, accessing big dish programming isn't all that difficult. The main things to understand are that like other forms of television, each network or feed has its own channel. Without going into a detailed technical discussion, an analog channel is a simplified form of what actually is an electromagnetic frequency. For example, over-the-air broadcast channel 2 is actually a frequency of 55.25 MHz; cable TV channel 25 is actually a frequency of 229.25 MHz (Note that digital channels are a bit different; more on this later). But most people find channel number assignments easier to remember than frequencies. In regards to satellite TV channels, it works almost the same except the frequencies that the channel numbers represent are MUCH higher than those of most other forms of television. Another difference between analog TVRO and other TV channels is that C-Band and Ku-Band channel numbers cross-reference to downlink frequencies that are sent from a satellite's transponders. A transponder is a device on board a communications satellite that receives an uplink frequency and automatically sends a different downlink frequency. For C-Band, the channel number essentially is the same as the satellite transponder number. Ku-Band channels can be assigned to transponders in a vast variety of different numbering schemes, making Ku-Band tuning more difficult. There are a maximum of 24 C-Band channels per satellite and as many as 60 on a Ku-Band satellite, although the number varies. Also note that satellites can contain *both* C-Band and Ku-Band transponders. Besides channel numbers, a *requirement* of TVRO viewing is being familiar with the satellite arc. For example, Galaxy 5 is just one of many satellites that your satellite dish can point to for program reception. This is why your receiver must be programmed correctly for tracking the satellite arc, since one channel of programming can be on one satellite and another channel of programming can be on another. Most satellite receivers use a custom two-character abbreviation for the name of a satellite. For example, Galaxy 5 might be G5 or something else on a particular receiver. These abbreviations are completely arbitrary, in spite of the overuse of shorthand abbreviations in published satellite programming guides. The complete notation of a particular channel includes the satellite name and the channel assignment. For example, ESPN is currently on Galaxy 5, channel 9 and is an analog C-Band channel. Tuning digital channels (4DTV, that is) is just as easy as tuning analog counterparts. Digital channels are usually a three-digit number and, unlike analog channel numbers, digital channel numbers do NOT represent a satellite transponder and are instead completely arbitrary. In fact, channel numbers on 4DTV and DBS systems are often referred to as virtual channel numbers. An example of a digital channel is The Food Network at Galaxy 1R, channel 600. One more important aspect of TVRO channel surfing is polarity. TVRO satellite transponders aimed at North America use what is called linear polarization. A channel is either vertical or horizontal in polarity (sometimes referred to as odd or even). Usually, transponders alternate between vertical and horizontal polarity as each channel is selected. * Are ALL channels freely available for watching? What is encryption? Not all channels are available for home viewing. Channels that are not "in-the-clear" are encrypted. Encryption, often referred to as scrambling, keeps viewers that are not intended to view a particular channel from viewing it. The most common use of encryption is to keep non-paying viewers from accessing subscription or pay per view programming. Encryption will be discussed in more detail later in this FAQ. * How do I tune audio? Audio tuning is not too difficult. The audio portion of a satellite channel is separate from the video portion, so audio-only transmissions can be on the same transponder as audio/video television programming. Audio frequencies range from 5.0 to 8.5 MHz. Make sure you also select whether the transmission is either wide, normal, or narrow audio. Audio tuning is usually done via the receiver's on-screen menu; refer to your receiver's manual for information specific to your particular model of receiver. * There is so much programming! How do I keep track of it all? Are there program guides available? There IS a giant variety of standard programming available to big dish owners! Fortunately, there are several quality published guides available so that you can keep up with most of it. Here are the three most popular printed ones: OnSat http://www.tripled.com/onsat/ Triple D Publishing, Inc. Satellite Orbit http://www.orbitmagazine.com/ Vogel Communications, Inc. TV Guide Ultimate Satellite http://www.tvguide.com/ TV Guide. In addition to these published guides, the Motorola/GI 4DTV receivers have their own on-screen guide. * Who provides subscription programming and about how much might it cost me? It must be noted that there are far fewer providers of C-Band/TVRO subscription programming since the advent of DBS in the mid-1990's. Currently, there are about three: National Programming Service http://www.dsinps.com/ (800) 786-9677 Netlink-Superstar-TurnerVision http://www.superstar.com/ (800) 395-9557 Satellite Receivers, Ltd. srlpc@gbonline.com (800) 432-8876 The following are secondary programming providers who resell programming from one of the primary programming providers; they don't necessarily resell at the same price, so shop around for the best price and service. Nelson Hill Electronics http://www.xcity.com/nhe/mainframe.htm Orbit Communications http://www.orbitcommunications.com Programming Center (none) (800) 432-8876 Rural TV [NRTC] http://www.nrtc.org/sattv/ruraltv/ Sat2000.com http://www.sat2000.com Subscription package pricing is generally very competitive with DBS package pricing, and always less expensive than comparable cable TV programming. TVRO subscription programming has the added benefits of time-zoned feeds, the most complete premium movie channel packages, no "filler" channels that DBS companies make you pay for that are in-the-clear with a big dish system, and the best picture quality available. Each of the packagers have several packages to choose from, which means you stand an excellent chance of finding one that has mostly only channels you watch, for less money than you'd have to pay to get on cable or DBS. Plus, TVRO subscription packagers provide true a-la-carte options for those who want to be really selective in paying for subscription channels. As always, shop around for current programming prices. From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:44 MDT 2003 Article: 168638 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl1!sjc72.webusenet.com!news.webusenet.com!newsfeed1.easynews.com!easynews.com!easynews!news-out.nuthinbutnews.com!propagator2-sterling!In.nntp.be!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!cambridge1-snf1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/11 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 4/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:57 GMT Lines: 164 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215037 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168638 rec.answers:145509 news.answers:208831 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:15:59 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part4 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART FOUR - Compression, Encryption and Encoding Methods * What Television Broadcast Standards are compatible with BUDs? All television distribution uses some set of technological standards incorporated to allow specific types of reception. This is mainly important in terms of the type of TV set you use and what part of the world you are in. Satellite television, generally speaking, is compatible with all standards of television broadcasting; the only necessary information needed is whether or not a particular model/type of receiver will work with your television set and what country a satellite transmission is intended to be viewed in. (This FAQ is not meant to be a comprehensive technical guide to how television itself works. It is only meant to distinguish between different technological standards so that they can be recognized and differentiated as simply as possible.) 1. NTSC - NTSC, which stands for National Television System Committee, was established in 1941 as the original standard for television broadcasting. It primarily exists in North America and Japan. In the simplest terms, NTSC has a 525-line screen image delivered at 60 half-frames per second. Your television (if you live in North America or Japan) is probably an NTSC compliant television. 2. PAL and SECAM - These are standards that are not used in North America. PAL, or Phase Alternating Line, is the standard for television in most of Europe and, for that matter, is the most used television standard in the world. Unlike NTSC, PAL has 625-line screen image delivery delivered at 50 half-frames per second. The primary difference between NTSC and PAL is that the phase of the color components is reversed from line to line and the color difference signals are of a different type. SECAM is a third standard used in France, Russia, and a few other places in the world. Both PAL and SECAM are considered to have superior horizontal resolution than NTSC. NTSC, PAL, and SECAM refer to general low-definition television viewing standards and do not address the issue of compression of broadcast bandwidth. * What Compression Schemes are used with BUDs? Digital compression allows for more than one video and/or audio channel per satellite transponder. 1. DigiCipher II - DigiCipher II (DC2) is a digital encoding and encryption format developed by General Instruments (now part of Motorola) that is used for many American digital TVRO transmissions. In order to view DC2 channels, a special receiver called 4DTV is required. DC2 is a proprietary standard based upon MPEG-2. DC2 technology can be licensed to other companies, but no other companies have requested a license. Only Motorola manufactures 4DTV receivers. Those made for consumer BUD use cost around $400-$800 suggested retail, but are typically available at discounts that at times can be quite deep. 2. DVB/MPEG-2 - MPEG-2 is a general encoding scheme used for many differing digital technologies; DVB, which stands for Digital Video Broadcasting, is the satellite television-specific variety of the MPEG-2 standard. This is not so much a competing digital standard as it is an OPEN standard. This standard is used in most of the world outside of the U.S. for digital TVRO broadcasts. Many international and non-traditional programming is found using DVB/MPEG-2. Many U.S. DVB feeds are free to air and are receivable with a DVB/MPEG-2 FTA digital satellite receiver. Channels using this standard may or may not choose to stay free-to-air indefinitely; once a network disappears, it may or may not be gone forever to consumer TVRO viewers. For more complete information about DVB/MPEG-2, see the MPEG-2/DVB (Satellite) FAQ written by the Delphi DVB Hobbyists. It is located at: http://dvbwave.com/faq And Rod Hewitt's "North American MPEG-2 Information" at: http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/index.html * What Encryption Methods are used with BUDs? The type of encryption depends on whether the transmission is analog or digital. In North America, there are still encrypted analog channels, although more and more channels are switching to digital compression and the encryption methods used with digital channels. The only important remaining analog encryption method is VideoCipher II+ Renewable Security, or VC-II RS for short. VC-II RS was developed by General Instruments. The original VideoCipher I was developed in the mid-1980's by M/A-Com (who was later bought out by GI) when satellite encryption was just beginning. VideoCipher I was short-lived and was replaced by VideoCipher II, and later VideoCipher II+. VC-II RS is the last version of this encryption scheme that will probably ever be developed as more and more channels use digital encryption methods. All modern IRDs have VC-II RS decoding capability. Besides VC-II RS, the other common form of analog encryption still used is Leitch. This is used primarily by networks such as ABC and ESPN. The other notable types of analog encryption are Oak Orion and BMAC. Oak Orion was a standard used by Canadian satellite transmissions until most Canadian subscription channels moved to Bell ExpressVu (DBS) and StarChoice (DigiCipher II). Oak Orion is no longer used. BMAC was a third analog encryption scheme but is no longer used much anymore. More importantly these days are digital encryption methods. Here is a description of these methods: 1. DigiCipher II - DigiCipher II (DC2) is the defacto American standard for digital TVRO encryption. The only hybrid digital/analog IRD is Motorola/GI's 4DTV receiver. With the introduction of the Motorola/GI 4DTV sidecar receiver in 2001, you no longer need to replace your older analog IRD to enable DC2 reception. There are no third-party DC2 receivers, unlike analog TVRO IRD's. No third-party companies have requested a license, so Motorola/GI never has licensed the technology. Canadian StarChoice is transmitted in DC2, and StarChoice receivers are manufactured by Motorola/GI. (The following are DVB/MPEG-2 encryption methods.) 2. PowerVu - used by AFRTS, NBA TV, RDS - Roseau des Sports, Musique Plus, MusiMax, Le Canal Nouvelles TVA; others This is a standard developed by Scientific Atlanta. You need either the Scientific Atlanta PowerVu 9223 receiver, which runs about $1600, or the Scientific Atlanta PowerVu 9234 receiver, which runs about $750. The 9223 is designed for cable companies to allow them to receive MPEG-2 signals that are uplinked for their benefit. Consequently, its user interface is very complex and is not designed for channel surfing. The 9234 "Business Satellite Receiver" is a little more user friendly. 3. Irdeto - used by ABS-CBN International, Lakbay TV, Channel D; others This is a standard developed by Irdeto Access. 4. Nagravision - used by Caliber Learning Network, other private networks This is a standard developed by Kudelski. 5. Viaccess - used by some programming on Telstar 5 satellite This is a standard developed by France Telecom. 6. Wegener - used by Empire Sports Network, Televisa, XEW - Canal 2, XHGC - Canal 5; XEQ - Canal 9; others This is a standard developed by Wegener Communications. Note: There is no consumer receiver that can receive both DigiCipher II/VC-II RS *and* DVB/MPEG-2 programming and there probably won't be one available anytime soon. General Instruments produces a commercial grade receiver (DSR-4800) that will receive both Digicipher II and DVB/MPEG-2. A WORD ABOUT 4:2:2 SCREEN PIXEL RATIO Most DVB/MPEG-2 receivers receive what is called 4:2:0 screen ratio for picture resolution. But certain DVB/MPEG-2 channels, usually network and/or studio feeds, use what is called 4:2:2 screen ratio. This involves the ratio of video data to vertical pixel and horizontal pixel color. 4:2:2 is NOT part of the standard DVB specifications but is used mainly by studios that need better picture quality than standard DVB offers. This is the standard currently used for in-the-clear reception of NBC, as well as Warner Brothers and Fox network feeds. Most consumer FTA receivers cannot receive signals with the 4:2:2 ratio; a more expensive receiver is required. Note that 4:2:2 is NOT a type of encryption; however, like certain types of encryption, it does force the TVRO viewer to make certain considerations when purchasing receiving equipment. From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:47 MDT 2003 Article: 168639 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!petbe.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/02 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 5/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:57 GMT Lines: 74 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215037 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168639 rec.answers:145510 news.answers:208832 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:15:59 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part5 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART FIVE - Are there any hobbies related to owning a big dish system? Absolutely! Having a big dish system means more than just standard TV watching and satellite audio listening. Probably the largest hobby element to big dish ownership today involves having a DVB/MPEG-2 free-to-air receiver. Unlike standard big dish viewing, DVB/MPEG-2 programming has a higher tendency of being here today and gone tomorrow. DVB/MPEG-2 is also great for its abundance of non-"cable type" programming, particularly international programming. With the right receiver, DVB/MPEG-2 has the added bonus of allowing industrious (and patient) big dish aficionados to possibly find a channel that has never been found before. Another "alternative" form of enjoying TVRO is listening to "non-standard" audio. Besides standard subcarrier audio, there is a fair amount of DVB/MPEG-2 audio for the big dish owner's listening enjoyment. There are also two other forms of non-standard audio that, with a little effort and investment, can be tuned. Although having long been abandoned by commercial radio networks for digital transmission methods (DAT/SEDAT and, more recently, Starguide-III systems), analog single channel per carrier (SCPC) audio is still an interesting diversion from standard satellite radio listening. There was once a large amount of audio carried using analog SCPC; the amount today is limited to roughly 20 feeds on two satellites. In order to receive analog SCPC, you will need either a dedicated analog SCPC receiver, such as those made by Universal Electronics, or use the "poor man's" method by splitting the 70 MHz loop signal output from an older TVRO receiver, with one of the split outputs going to a broadcast TV audio tuner and the other returning to the 70 MHz loop input. Having a phase-lock loop LNB as part of your system will help dramatically for those seriously intent on more than casual analog SCPC listening as the audio will tend to drift with a standard LNB, forcing the listener to have to constantly re-tune the signal. Another form of non-standard satellite audio is FM Squared, often written as FM2, FM^2, or even FM/FM. FM Squared is another older method of analog satellite audio delivery; interestingly enough, it occupies the space on a transponder signal normally used for video. The amount of FM Squared audio available is even less than that of analog SCPC, limited mainly to some in-store audio networks, AP Network News, and some remaining Muzak "environmental music" feeds. Unfortunately, the best method of receiving FM Squared isn't cheap; a wideband radio scanner that tunes between 0 and 5 MHz is needed and few (like the ICOM R100) scanners have this capability. Not only that, such capable scanners are VERY expensive and the benefit of listening to such few remaining audio services probably doesn't justify the cost unless the scanner is going to be used for actual radio scanning as well. The scanner connects to your satellite receiver's baseband output connection. For information on remaining analog SCPC and FM Squared programming locations, checkout out Monitoring Times Satellite Services Guide web page at: http://www.grove-ent.com/mtssg.html Audio isn't the only big dish hobby possibility. With a good horizon-to-horizon, or H-to-H, mount, you can track some international satellites with your big dish system. This is especially true of satellite systems located on the east coast of the United States and Canada. The H-to-H mount allows for more dish movement (a full 180 degrees) than a standard non-motorized mount with an actuator. A good H-to-H mount is fairly expensive at around $400. For the big-time dish hobbyist, the cost is probably well worth it. With special tracking equipment, your TVRO system can also track inclined orbit satellites. Satellites usually go into an inclined orbit once most of their onboard fuel supply is gone. By allowing a satellite to fall into a natural north-south drift when its fuel supply is low allows the life of the satellite to be extended without much cost or added control by the company that owns the satellite. Tracking an inclined orbit satellite requires the use of a special dual axis mount that covers both horizontal and vertical tracking. Most inclined communications satellites are over Europe but there are a few over the Western Hemisphere as well. From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:50 MDT 2003 Article: 168640 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!petbe.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/02 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 6/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:58 GMT Lines: 49 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215038 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168640 rec.answers:145511 news.answers:208833 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:15:59 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part6 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART SIX - How does the environment affect my big dish system? Environmental factors are certainly an issue concerning your big dish satellite system. Much of your system is, after all, located outdoors, allowing exposure to the elements. Stormy weather can cause problems with your satellite dish. High winds during hurricanes, tornadoes, and other storms can cause your dish to be blown out of alignment. Worse, unusually high winds can, under the worst circumstances, even knock your dish over. If you live in areas subject to extreme wind conditions, consider the Paraclipse Classic Series satellite dishes mentioned earlier in the FAQ. Satellite dishes are also subject to periodic lightning strikes. Equipment such as a TVRO-specific surge protector (like the one made by Panamax) will help protect your satellite system from unexpected power surges. As far as rain goes, TVRO satellite dishes are not subject to rain fade the way DBS dishes are. Perhaps the worst environmental enemy of your satellite dish involves winter weather. Cold weather can damage or at least slow down the operation of the servo motor. Significant build-up of snow or ice can pull your satellite dish out of alignment or even warp the dish itself. The actuator arm can also freeze, which will prevent you from being able to move the dish out of its current position. Although there isn't a lot you can do about severe winter weather, keeping snow and ice from building up inside your dish will help insure quality signal reception and reduce the likelihood of your dish become misaligned. Use a broom to *carefully* sweep out your dish. Do not use an ice scraper on ice and DO NOT use hot water (or water of any temperature) to melt snow or ice, as this can warp your dish. The sun can also cause problem with your satellite system. Twice yearly, during the beginnings of spring and fall, satellite systems are subject to solar outages caused when the sun, the earth, and satellites over the equator are directly aligned. This can outages between 5 and 10 minutes per day and can occur for up to two weeks. Fortunately, solar outages are not a severe problem and only affect daytime reception. Wildlife can also cause problems. Nesting creatures such as birds, bees, and other insects can build nests in different areas of your satellite dish. This is especially problematic if the nest is located around the LNB and feedhorn, as this can cause reception problems. Carefully remove any nests located on your dish, taking special care in combating bee, wasp, and hornet nests. Underground animals such as gophers and moles can chew through unprotected satellite cables, causing outages. It is recommended that underground cables be protected with PVC pipe conduit. From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:55 MDT 2003 Article: 168642 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!priapus.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!cambridge1-snf1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/03 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 7/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:58 GMT Lines: 170 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215038 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168642 rec.answers:145513 news.answers:208836 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:16:00 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part7 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART SEVEN - Can Zoning Ordinances or Homeowner Associations prevent me >from Installing a TVRO System? Whoa, Nellie! We'll tackle each part of this question separately as they require different answers. A zoning ordinance involves decisions made by local governments that includes, among other things, what types of structures can be placed on property of a particular zoning (commercial, residential, industrial; etc.). In the United States, the issue of the legality of a local government preventing the use of TVRO equipment, particularly large satellite dishes, was first addressed with the Federal Communications Commission's 1986 Preemption Order (51 Fed. Reg. 5519) issued on Feb. 14, 1986. In *extremely* simplified terms, the order states that local governments' zoning ordinances CANNOT unreasonably discriminate against the installation of satellite dishes. This FCC regulation has been further revisited with FCC IB Docket No. 95-180 and more recently with the Report And Order Further Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC IB Docket No. 96-78), adopted Feb. 29, 1996. Here is some sample text from the original 1986 Preemption Order (via FCC IB Docket No. 96-78): The broad mandate of Section 1 of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 151, to make communications services available to all people of the United States and the numerous powers granted by Title III of the Act with respect to the establishment of a unified communications system establish the existence of a congressional objective in this area. More specifically, the recent amendment to the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 705, creates certain rights to receive unscrambled and unmarketed satellite signals. These statutory provisions establish a federal interest in assuring that the right to construct and use antennas to receive satellite delivered signals is not unreasonably restricted by local regulation.4 Here's some more of the text: State and local zoning or other regulations that differentiate between satellite receive-only antennas and other types of antenna facilities are preempted unless such regulations a) have a reasonable and clearly defined health, safety or aesthetic objective; and b) do not operate to impose unreasonable limitations on, or prevent, reception of satellite delivered signals by receive-only antennas or to impose costs on users of such antennas that are excessive in light of the purchase and installation cost of the equipment. Regulation of satellite transmitting antennas is preempted in the same manner except that state and local health and safety regulation is not preempted.7 Subsequent text: Satellite antenna users who are dissatisfied with the results of any local zoning decision can use the standard adopted here in pursuing any legal remedies they might have. In addition, we would entertain requests for further action if it appears that local authorities are generally failing to abide by our standards. Any party requesting Commission review of a controversy will be expected to show that other remedies have been exhausted. Essentially, if a local government wants to impose strict guidelines in terms of TVRO systems and zoning ordinances, the TVRO system owner has every right to challenge the ordinance based on these FCC guidelines; more than likely, the local government would not win any legal case regarding a U.S. citizen's right to own a TVRO system. Now on to the second part of the question. Dealing with homeowner associations and strict covenants is a different matter entirely. Until very recently, the big dish satellite system owner had little or no legal recourse in terms of dealing with strict homeowner association contracts; it was felt that, by being part of a homeowners association, you were dealing with a private contract and agreement and that by agreeing to sign the contract, you acknowledged the terms of the agreement, and if the agreement was very strict about satellite dish ownership, well, that was too bad. You could take it or leave it. This is no longer entirely true. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 made sweeping revisions to the original Communications Act of 1934, in effect modernizing it. Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 eases some of the absolute power of restrictive covenants and homeowner associations over television reception equipment ownership and placement. Here is the entire text: SEC. 207. RESTRICTIONS ON OVER-THE-AIR RECEPTION DEVICES. Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, pursuant to section 303 of the Communications Act of 1934, promulgate regulations to prohibit restrictions that impair a viewer's ability to receive video programming services through devices designed for over-the-air reception of television broadcast signals, multichannel multipoint distribution service, or direct broadcast satellite services. Unfortunately, this does little for TVRO system owners. Not having strong political lobbying backing it such as the broadcast industry and the cable TV industry, there is no TVRO-specific language in Section 207. Furthermore, in more recent clarification of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC's Report and Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (August 5, 1996) clearly states that Section 207 does NOT include larger C-Band satellite dishes. So for TVRO dish owners, only Ku-Band dishes "...that [are] designed to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct-to-home satellite services, that is one meter or less in diameter or is located in Alaska..." are protected under federal regulations. (Note that one meter is about 39 inches.) Here is the entire excerpt of the specfic Report and Order in regards to C-Band satellite dishes: 29. Several commenters and petitioners suggest that the statute also applies to classes of services related to TVBS, MMDS and DBS, and that our rule should include these related services. These commenters and petitioners contend that the terms "MMDS" and "DBS" should be interpreted broadly because Congress intended Section 207 to promote competition among video programming services by prohibiting restrictions that impair reception of all forms of video programming. For example, some commenters note that MMDS is really a form of multipoint distribution service (MDS), which is a general category of services using the same type of receiving antennas at different frequencies, and recommend that our rule preempt restrictions on the reception of any form of MDS, including MMDS, instructional television fixed service (ITFS), and local multipoint distribution service (LMDS). Other commenters and petitioners suggest that "DBS" also refers to a broad category of technologies. They recommend that we expand our definition of DBS to include other forms of satellite services including very small aperture terminals (VSAT) that transmit information, and medium-power Ku-band DTH satellite services. According to one commenter, the legislative history indicates that Congress intended Section 207 to apply to most reception of wireless video programming except systems using large antennas. 30. We believe that by directing the Commission to prohibit restrictions that impair viewers' ability to receive over-the-air signals from TVBS, MMDS and DBS services, Congress did not mean to exclude closely-related services such as MDS, ITFS, and LMDS. All of these services -- MDS, ITFS, and LMDS -- are similar from a technological and functional standpoint in that point-to-multipoint subscription video distribution service can be provided over each of them. We note that MMDS is the product of MDS technology, the first multipoint distribution service established by the Commission, and that ITFS is a service whose frequencies are available for transmission of MMDS. LMDS is a service that has been authorized to provide services comparable to MMDS as well as other types of services. The origins of all of these services can be traced to MDS. Thus, all of these related services should be treated the same for purposes of Section 207, and are properly included in the scope of Section 207's provision. We also determine, however, that VSAT, a commercial satellite service that may use satellite antennas less than one meter in diameter, is not within the purview of the statute because it is not used to provide over-the-air video programming. 31. We also believe that the statute can be construed to include medium-power satellite services using antennas of one meter or less that are used to receive over-the-air video programming, even though such services may not be technically defined as DBS elsewhere in the Commission's rules. Therefore, for purposes of implementing Section 207, we affirm our conclusion that DBS includes both high-power and medium-power satellite services using reception devices of one meter or less in diameter. 32. Because of the unique and peculiar characteristics applicable to reception of such services outside the continental United States, it is necessary to provide an exception for Alaska to the general size guidelines in our rule. In contrast with those portions of the continental United States (as well as Hawaii) that are at lower latitudes, DBS reception in Alaska requires larger antennas than those used in the lower part of the United States. The installation, maintenance, and use of these larger antennas in Alaska will be covered by the rules we adopt in this Report and Order, and governmental and nongovernmental restrictions impairing the installation, maintenance and use of these devices will be prohibited, even when the devices exceed one meter in diameter or diagonal measurement. This exception is limited, however, to antennas used to receive DBS service as defined by our rule, and will not apply to antennas that receive signals in the C-band. These larger antennas are subject to the more general satellite antenna preemption in Section 25.104 of our rules. Our decision to protect larger DBS antennas in Alaska than in the rest of the country is consistent with Commission policy to ensure that DBS is available to residents across the United States. As DBS service providers design their systems to comply with the Commission's requirement to serve Alaska, it may be possible to use smaller antennas that are closer to the size used in other parts of the country, and the need for this exemption may be obviated. Here is the source website of this text excerpt: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/1996_TXT/fcc96328.txt From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:42:58 MDT 2003 Article: 168641 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!priapus.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/02 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 8/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:58 GMT Lines: 70 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215038 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168641 rec.answers:145512 news.answers:208835 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:15:59 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part8 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART EIGHT - What is the Future for TVRO? It seems as though consumer TVRO is at a critical crossroads. In the mid-1990's, the TVRO scene made (for better or for worse) the often uncertain transition into digital satellite reception. This was also the same time period that direct broadcast satellite (DBS) was introduced and became wildly popular. Your "average Joe" couch potato TV viewer saw DBS as the answer to "getting hundreds of channels" with equipment costs lower than those of TVRO, simpler installation, and better picture quality than that of cable television. Not to mention, it is "digital", so it HAS to be good, right? DBS may prove to be a worse adversary to big dish satellite usage than cable television ever was. Although those who know better know the technological cons of DBS, such as the perils of the overuse of digital compression, no choice of programming providers, digital artifacting, rain fade and proprietary technologies, this has little or no meaning to "average Joe" couch potato TV viewer. He (or she, of course! "Jo" for her..) only cares that he gets ESPN, Discovery Channel, CNN, and other popular cable/satellite networks with easy channel surfing. Experimentation, wild feeds, different modes of broadcasting, and programming found nowhere else are foreign concepts to "Joe". DBS, by being smaller and newer than TVRO, along with "being digital" as a popular marketing catch-phrase, works hard to present the image that TVRO is simply "old, outdated satellite TV". This narrow-minded stereotypical TV viewer is becoming the majority and therefore speaks the loudest with his dollars. Cable television is an already entrenched force in influencing what you watch, and the two American DBS companies are not too far behind. Worse, the DBS companies are buddying up with some of the fewer remaining TVRO/C-Band subscription programming suppliers to try to force TVRO viewers to switch to DBS, often using outrageous technological and financial claims, not to mention outright lies. It isn't that large strides haven't been made by the U.S. Government to encourage choice in the source of one's television (and audio) programming, it is simply that big dish satellite has become the unfortunate victim of unfounded notions of being an outdated technology simply one the premise that if it isn't new, it must be outdated. One could argue, using an automotive comparison, that this is like saying that a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle or Chrysler PT Cruiser are "better cars" than a 1966 Ford Mustang or a 1972 Chevrolet Nova simply because they are more modern. Like the TVRO versus DBS debate, this type of oversimplistic comparison does not allow for true analysis of what each is and is not. TVRO is also the victim of being a more involved and complicated to use product than the mass-produced, smaller DBS systems such as DirecTV and DISH Network. Basically, TVRO is becoming more and more for just those with technical and experimental persuasions, not unlike the early days of TVRO. Someday, traditional subscription programming will either disappear from TVRO or simply become more and more expensive like it already is with cable TV programming. More and more equipment is also becoming necessary to get what is still out there, such as 4DTV receivers or sidecars, DVB/MPEG-2 free-to-air receivers and the like. In the future, an investment in even more equipment, such as expensive commercial DVB/MPEG-2 receivers with QPSK, 8PSK, and 16QAM modulation and 4:2:2 screen ratio will be needed just to maintain the level of programming choice TVRO viewers are used to. Although these changes in technology don't discourage diehard TVRO enthusiasts, it has the unfortunate effect of making TVRO an increasingly less attractive consumer product. Luckily, diehard TVRO viewers are a hardy lot and a mostly intelligent group overall. TVRO viewers know the technical advantages of TVRO and the superior choice that they have over cable and DBS. TVRO home theater aficionados couldn't imagine settling for the inferior technical quality of cable or DBS in their home theater setups. Most TVRO owners have been in it for the long haul since the beginning and view their systems as an investment; and with the right information instead of the anti-TVRO misinformation and lies, their investment in TVRO will still be viable into the 21st century. From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:43:00 MDT 2003 Article: 168643 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!petbe.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/05/02 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 9/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:58 GMT Lines: 51 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215038 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168643 rec.answers:145514 news.answers:208837 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:16:00 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part9 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART NINE - Where Can I get More Information or Help with my TVRO System? Here are some additional resources for TVRO information: Usenet Newsgroups- 1. rec.video.satellite.tvro 2. alt.video.satellite.4dtv 3. alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb World Wide Web- 1. Darryl Levingston's Satellite Page - http://home.austin.rr.com/drlev/satellite.htm 2. Global Communications - http://global-cm.net 3. Lyngmark Satellite Chart = http://www.lyngsat.com 4. Mr. Video Productions Wildfeed Satellite Listing - http://mrvideo.vidiot.com/Wildfeed.html 5. Official Motorola 4DTV Website - http://www.4dtv.com 6. Orbit Communications - http://www.orbitcommunications.com 7. Robert Smathers's Satellite TV Page = http://www.nmia.com/~roberts/robert.html 8. Satellite 911 - http://www.satellite911.com 9. Satellite Help - http://www.satellitehelp.com/index.asp 10. SkyReport - http://www.skyreport.com 11. Skyvision - http://www.skyvision.com 12. Wildfeeds On the Web = http://www.hads.net/wildfeeds/ 13. California Amplifier = http://www.calamp.com 14. Chapparal Communications - http://www.chapparal.com 15. Kaul-Tronics, Inc. - http://www.ktidish.com 16. Paraclipse Inc. - http://www.paraclipse.com 17. Superior Satellite Engineers - http://www.superiorsatelliteusa.com 18. Ricardo's Adjusting the Polar Mount - http://www.geo-orbit.org/sizepgs/tuningp2.html Books- 1. Digital Satellite TV - Frank Baylin 2. The "How-To" Book of Satellite Communications - Joseph Pectin 3. The Digital Satellite TV Handbook Mark Long 4. The Home Satellite TV Installation & Troubleshooting Manual - Frank Baylin, Brent Gale, and Ron Long 5. The World of Satellite TV - Mark Long 6. Tune to Satellite Radio On Your Satellite System - Thomas P. Harrington 7. World Satellite TV & Scrambling Methods = Frank Baylin, Richard Maddox, and John McCormac From drlev@hotmail.com Sun Jul 27 19:43:03 MDT 2003 Article: 168644 of rec.video.satellite.tvro Path: atlpnn01.usenetserver.com!newsfeeds-atl2!news.webusenet.com!priapus.visi.com!petbe.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!hermes.visi.com!nycmny1-snh1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 8 Sep 2003 10:22:43 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2003/01/10 Organization: TVRO Hobbyists Reply-To: "TVRO Hobbyists" From: "TVRO Hobbyists" Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite.tvro,rec.answers,news.answers Followup-To: rec.video.satellite.tvro Subject: r.v.s.tvro FAQ - Part 10/10 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 26 Jul 2003 10:23:58 GMT Lines: 253 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1059215038 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3935 18.181.0.29 Xref: usenetserver.com rec.video.satellite.tvro:168644 rec.answers:145516 news.answers:208839 X-Received-Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 06:16:00 EDT (atlpnn01.usenetserver.com) Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part10 Posting-Frequency: 15 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. PART 10 - Glossary and Sources Cited GLOSSARY - Addressability: Remote-control function of equipment that allows a program distributor to activate, disconnect or unscramble the signal received by a subscriber. Analog: A format in which information is transmitted by modulating a continuous signal, such as a radio wave. Antenna: (communications usage) The basic element of a satellite receive site; a parabolic dish-shaped device that is either fixed (locked onto a particular satellite), steerable (able to "look at" more than one satellite of the same sort), or even dual (able to receive both C- and Ku-Band signals, one at a time or both simultaneously). Aspect Ratio: The ratio of a television screen's width to its height, the standard being a 4:3 ratio. Projection equipment may produce a variance from this standard. Attenuation: (communications usage) Signal strength loss between the transmission and reception points. For example: Heavy rainstorms can cause microwave signals to seem to fade, i.e., to attenuate, as the rainstorm passes through an area. Audio Subcarrier: The audio signal that is part of a video transmission is carried on a specific frequency (above the visual signal), known as a sub-carrier, which can be either on one or more channels. Azimuth: The angle between an antenna's beam and the meridian plane, measured along the horizon. Along with "elevation," azimuth is a coordinate used to precisely point an antenna at a particular satellite. Backhaul: 1. A point-to-point transmission in real-time from a remote site to the mix point or to the network distribution center. 2. To send a program from a remote site to the network operations center for real-time distribution. Bandwidth: A measure of the information capacity in the frequency domain. The greater the bandwidth, the more information it can carry. For example, television signals require a bandwidth of 3 million hertz, while telephone conversation needs only 3,000 hertz. C-Band: Frequency range from approximately 4 to 6 gigahertz (billion cycles per second) used by communications satellites. Component Video: A method of generating television images, either analog or digital, where the information is carried in separate signals representing the red, blue, green and brightness of the televised scene, and combined into a master signal before transmission to the viewer. Composite Video: A method of generating television images in which color and brightness are combined into a signal. Any single signal is comprised of several components. Component vs. Composite: (video usage) In composite video, all the elements in a television signal-sync, color, audio, etc.-travel together and interfere with each other in slight, almost imperceptible ways. Conversely, in component video, the signal is broken down into parts traveling separately. Because there is no chance for interference between the components, a higher quality video results. Compressed Video: Technology which makes it possible to transmit multiple high quality television signals simultaneously in the amount of bandwidth previously needed to carry only a single television signal. DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite): A class of satellite service defined by the FCC and reserved for direct-to-the-home transmission with no intermediate re-broadcast or cable carriage needed. DBS satellites utilize higher powered transmissions than regular satellites so that consumers may receive signals with small inexpensive antennas. Digital: A communications format used with both electronic and light-based systems that transmits audio, video, and data as bits ("0's and 1's") of information. Codecs are used to convert traditional analog signals to digital format and back again. Digital technology also allows communication signals to be compressed for more efficient transmission. Dish: (communications usage) A satellite antenna. Dolby (TM): Patented noise/hiss reduction systems developed by Ray Dolby to improve audio recording quality. Dolby A is commonly used in television; Dolby B was developed for use in consumer electronics. Downlink: 1. The process of receiving a satellite transmission. 2. The antenna used to receive a satellite transmission. Other terms for the equipment include "dish" or "earth station" EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power): A satellite signal strength as received at a particular location, measured in decibel-watts per square meter. Earth Station: The terrestrial portion of a satellite link consisting of an antenna, amplifiers, and equipment for receiving and/or transmitting a satellite signal. Encoded: A form of scrambling a television signal usually using a "fixed key" method where all descramblers of a certain type are pre-set to unscramble the encoded signal. Encrypted: A form of scrambling a television signal, where the receiver must not only have a descrambling device, but also have its "address" registered with the signal distributor Federal Communications Commission (FCC): An agency created in 1934 by Congress to regulate broadcasting in the United States and its territories. Footprint: (communications usage) The geographical coverage area of a satellite transmission within which the signal can be downlinked or received. Frequency: The number of complete oscillations (cycles) that an electromagnetic wave makes in a second, usually expressed in hertz; or the number of sound waves per second produced by a sounding body. Geostationary (Geosynchronous): Refers to a satellite's orbit which is synchronized to the rotation of the earth, thereby causing the satellite to appear to remain stationary. Communications satellites are parked in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator. HDTV (High Definition Television): A developing technology for producing and distributing television of greater clarity and scope by increasing the number of lines used to comprise the television picture. Headend: Generally, a cable television system's master control operation where signals are received (sometimes from a variety of sources: satellite, land-lines, microwave, even taped or live origination) and delivered on various cable system channels. IRD (Integrated Receiver and Decoder): A small box housing the electronics enabling the user to downlink and decode satellite signals. Ku-Band: Frequency range from approximately 11 to 14 GHz (billion cycles per second) used by communications satellites. LNB (Low noise block downconverter): A special amplifier that boosts the satellite signal while contributing a negligible amount of noise. It also converts a signal to a more suitable block of frequencies for use by an earth station receiver. Polarization: A satellite transmission signal has either a vertical, horizontal, or circular orientation; a satellite can be all vertical or all horizontal; if a satellite is cross-polarized, it can transmit both ways and therefore has twice the usable delivery capacity. Rain Fade: (communications usage) Signal weakening due to the presence of severe precipitation somewhere along the signal path. SCPC (Single-Channel-Per-Carrier): A type of FDM transmission where each carrier contains only one communications channel. Many VSAT networks utilize SCPC transmission. Scrambling: (TV usage) Altering a TV signal transmission so it cannot be received without an operating decoder. Split-Transponder: A method of transmitting two conventional digital or analog television signals through a satellite transponder simultaneously. Each of the two signals is transmitted at half the power normally available to a full transponder. Subcarrier: A smaller bandwidth channel modulated on to the main channel to add information (like audio), perform a function (burst) or act as a reference. Sun Transit: A time when the sun appears to transit or pass directly behind the satellite thereby briefly "blinding" the earth station's ability to see the satellite. This alignment occurs twice a year at predictable times prior to the vernal equinox and after the autumnal equinox. Transponder: Electronic package aboard a telecommunications satellite that 1) receives transmissions from earth (uplink); 2) changes signal frequency; 3) amplifies the signal; and, 4) transmits the signal to earth (downlink). Modern communications satellites use 24 or more transponders and can be C-Band, Ku-Band, or both. TVRO (Television Receive Only): An earth station or downlink capable of receiving but not transmitting satellite TV signals. Uplink: 1. To transmit a signal from an earth station to a particular communications satellite transponder. The earth station capable of transmitting a signal to a satellite. Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI): The first 21 lines of the 525 horizontal line standard television picture. These 21 lines do not contain picture information and can be used to convey ancillary information, such as test signals and/or data. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal): A small Ku-Band earth station used by private networks for receipt of broadcast transmission of data or video as well as interactive communication with a host computer or database for a multitude of applications. SOURCES CITED - 1. History of Satellite TV- http://www.orbitsat.com/AboutSat/history1.htm 2. SkyREPORT History of DTH- http://www.skyreport.com/dth_his.htm 3. C/Ku Band frequencies- http://members.tripod.com/The_Uplinker/freqchrt.html 4. Paraclipse antenna info- http://www.paraclipse.com/satant.htm 5. Recurring feed definition- http://www.worldtrans.org/CE/CE-47.HTML 6. Backhaul definition- http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci211630,00.html 7. Analog (OTA & cable) frequencies- http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/catv-ch.html 8. Transponder definition- http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213219,00.html 9. DVB/MPEG-2 encryption- http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/ 10. National Television System Committee- http://ntsc-tv.com/ntsc-index-01.htm 11. Webopedia.com- http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/PAL.html 12. Inclined-Orbit Satellite- http://yooz.net/howcomm/InclinedOrbit.htm 13. Skyvision Catalog (Winter 2001), p. 9, 13, 50-51 14. Orbit Communication Corporation [Technical Support- Seasonal Satellite Tips] http://www.orbitsat.com/Support/seasonal.htm ; http://www.orbitsat.com/Support/seasonal2.htm 15. Report And Order Further Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking [FCC IB Docket No. 96-78] http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/Orders/1996/fcc96078.txt 16. Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Title II, Section 207) http://www.fcc.gov/Reports/tcom1996.txt 17. Report and Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (August 5, 1996) http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/1996_TXT/fcc96328.txt 18. Satellite Support - Technical Glossary http://www.pbs.org/als/satsupport/glossary.htm 19. Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (the "SHVIA") http://www.fcc.gov/mb/shva/ 20. The SHVIA Fact Sheet: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/shviafac.html