Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!dreaderd!not-for-mail Message-ID: Supersedes: Expires: 10 Mar 2002 10:14:32 GMT References: X-Last-Updated: 2002/01/25 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: rec.video.satellite.tvro FAQ - Part 1/3 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU X-Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.MIT.EDU Date: 25 Jan 2002 10:15:05 GMT Lines: 375 NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu X-Trace: 1011953705 senator-bedfellow.mit.edu 3959 18.181.0.29 Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.video.satellite.tvro:117577 rec.answers:71362 news.answers:223502 Archive-name: Satellite-TV/TVRO/part1 Posting-Frequency: 30 Days Disclaimer: Approval for *.answers is based on form, not content. Part 1 I. What is a BUD? BUD is an acronym for "Big Ugly Dish". The term usually refers to satellite dishes that are 6' in diameter or above. I.A. Brief History of TVRO. The first satellite television systems for the consumer were TVRO (TeleVision Receive Only) satellite systems. TVRO started appearing all over the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 1980s. TVRO satellite systems are characterized by big dishes that are usually 6-12 feet across. TVRO systems receive television signals from C-Band satellites. A C-Band satellite has 24 channels (transponders) on each satellite. There are over 20 C-Band satellites that may be received in the continental United States. A TVRO satellite system must have a movable dish in order to access the signals from so many satellites. Even though most of the press and most of the advertising that you now see involves the small dish DBS systems, TVRO is still alive and well. I.B. TVRO System Components The components of a TVRO system include the dish, the mount, the actuator, LNB(s), cables, receiver(s) and usually a descrambler. I.B.1 Dish This is the most recognizable component, a parabolic reflector which may consist of Solid Aluminum, Perforated Aluminum or wire mesh. The dish concentrates and reflects the incoming signal from the satellite to the feedhorn. I.B.2 Mount The most common type of dish mount is called a polar mount, which is oriented to coincide with the earth's axis, enabling it to "track" the satellites, which are spread out in geostationary orbit above the Equator. The mount usually is installed on a 3 inch pipe, which is sunk in concrete. I.B.3 Actuator (Positioner) The actuator is device used to move the satellite dish to allow it to aim at individual satellites. Actuator arms are most commonly found in 18 and 24 inch lengths. The longer actuators allow the dish to move across a wider arc in the sky; Also a more expensive positioner called a "horizon-to-horizon" actuator is capable of more precise aiming and as the name implies it can cover a 180 degree range between the Eastern and Western horizons. I.B.4. LNB The LNB is a component that amplifies the signals from the dish and also converts them to frequencies more favorable for transmission through coax cable. The common frequency range used today for transmission through the coax is 950 to 1450 Mhz. Both C and KU band output in the 950 to 1450 Mhz range. When a LNB is used in conjunction with a step motor. This motor rotates a probe within the feedhorn to adjust the polarity for the incoming signal. A device called an LNBF can be used instead. The LNBF does not require a polarity motor, instead it alters polarity depending on the input voltage level from the receiver. I.B.5. Feedhorn The feedhorn acts as a microwave "funnel" way. It also places the LNB at the focus of the dish. There are a few types of feedhorns commonly used in North American BUD. -- Single C band feed: Contains ONE C band LNB. -- Dual C band feed: Allows the use of Two C band LNB's one for horizontal polarization and one for vertical. -- Dual Band Feed (C and KU): Has two separate LNB's, one for C band and one for KU band. -- DUAL C band and single KU band feed: (Available. but not commonly in use). I.B.6. Cables This is a bundle of various wires and cables that run from the dish to the receiver, and consist of cables for the C and/or KU LNB's, Power to the LNB (Usually sent over the same coaxial cable) as well as power for the positioner arm, return signals for position readout, and control voltage for the polarotor. http://www.21st-satellite.com/tvro_cables.html has information concerning the cabling. I.B.7. Receiver The receiver takes the signal from the LNB and produces a TV picture from the signal sent from the LNB via the coax. Many receivers also allow you to tune subcarrier audio. Newer receivers work with the standard 950-1450 mhz block that comes out of a standard LNB. The receiver may also have a descrambler interface for built in decoding pay services. This type of receiver is called an IRD or Integrated Receiver Descrambler. Receivers also are available for reception of digital signals. Some of these digital receivers are compatible with both analog and digital signals. Most consumer level digital receivers are compatible with only one digital format. I.B.8. Descrambler The best known North American consumer descrambler is the VideoCipher system which is manufactured by General Instruments (Now owned by Motorola). VCII (or VideoCipher II) was the original VideoCipher technology, which was compromised very early on. Many people modified the VCII module in order to watch subscription programming without paying for it. This technology was no longer manufactured after 1989, and was completely replaced by the VCII+ technology in 1993. VCII modules were black. VCII modules are not compatible with 4DTV IRD's. VCII+ (or VideoCipher II Plus) was a more secure technology mainly because GI integrated a bunch of separate chips into a single secure chip. The VCII+ boards also supported more scrambled channels than the VCII (256 tier bits instead of only 56). VCII+ modules were originally the lighter color blue, and then changed to pink to denote that they were covered by the Consumer Security Protection Plan (CSPP), which guaranteed a free upgrade to VCRS if the VCII+ security was compromised within the first three years of ownership. These began shipping in 1990 and stopped shipping in 1992. VCRS (or VideoCipher Renewable Security) was an enhancement to the basic VCII+ technology, but added the security card (known as TVPassCard), which is the replaceable security. The VCRS is shipped without a TVPassCard, but is designed to accept a card if the base module becomes compromised. In that event, all base modules without a card would no longer be able to decrypt the signals. VCRS boards are navy blue or purple to denote that they can be exported out of the US. The purple modules were known as VCRSi, but were functionally the same. All VCRS boards were covered by the three year CSPP. They began shipping in 1992, and stopped being manufactured in 1998. Other types of analog encryption include B-Mac, Oak Orion, and Leitch. Consumer descramblers for these encryption formats are not readily avalable. OAK was used on some Anik Canadian channels before StarChoice began using Digicipher and Bell ExpressVu became a DBS offering. II. What Programming is Available on BUDs? It is beyond the scope of this FAQ to list every channel that is available on BUD, so a short description of the types of programming available will be given accompanied with links to more information. The Lyngsat web site and SatCoDX contains contributor provided satellite feed information. http://www.lyngsat.com/america.shtml http://www.satcodx.com/ II.A Subscription channels Subscription channels are available though more than one provider. These channels usually are Premium Movie Channels, Super Stations, or channels which are also found on cable TV. NPS (And NPS affiliates) http://www.dsinps.com/prices/retailpackages.html http://www.dsinps.com/prices/all.html SuperStar/Netlink/TurnerVision.HBO Direct http://www.superstar.com/pkgpricing_index.asp http://www.superstar.com/alacarte_index.asp StarChoice Canadian is available in Digicipher II format, but only Canadian Digicipher receivers can be authorized to receive these channels. http://www.starchoice.com/english/shop/ChannelsText.asp II.B Wildfeeds Wildfeeds is a term given to network feeds transmitted to affiliates. These channels can often be received on BUD. A trend seems to be developing towards digital transmission of wildfeeds. Some of these signals now require commercial grade digital receivers. http://www.hads.net/wildfeeds/ http://www.vidiot.com/Wildfeed.html http://www.espee.net/wildfeeds/ II.C Backhauls Backhauls are uplinks of live events such as baseball games, news links, special events, etc. They are usually from a location where special feeds occur and most always are delivered without commercial breaks. Quite often these feeds are on Ku analog. II.D SCPC SCPC, or Single Channel Per Carrier, carriers could transmit a single channel of audio in a relatively small amount of satellite bandwidth rather than requiring a full or nearly full transponder, which enabled many uplink locations to share a single satellite resource without interfering with each other's transmissions. A description of SCPC audio can be found at http://www.nmia.com/~roberts/scpc-faq. II.E Digital MPEG/DVB is a digital format that is becoming popular among hobbyists. There is a fairly wide range of programming available in MPEG/DVB that is not encrypted. In general not many subscriptions are available in North American DVB, however there are companies that sell receivers and subscriptions for their own receivers. Most of these are ethnic channels.. http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/index.html http://www.dvbwave.com Digicipher II is another form of MPEG-2 transmission used by General Instrument's 4DTV receiver. 4DTV digital channels are available by subscription and some Digicipher II channels are available via 4DTV with no subscription required. http://www.dsinps.com/4dtv/channel.html http://www.dsinps.com/4dtv/channel2.html http://www.dsinps.com/special.html http://www.superstar.com/4dtv_index.asp Other digital formats exist. Digicipher I was a format used by PrimeStar. There are very few Digicipher I feeds remaining and DCI receivers are not readily avialable. MPEG 1.5 also are uplinked, but there is not an abundant consumer market for these receivers either. II.F Networks (Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act) Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (the "SHVIA") http://www.fcc.gov/csb/shva/ 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. Local stations provided to local markets: SHVIA gives satellite companies the option of providing local broadcast stations to subscribers living in the station's local market area. This is referred to as "local-into-local." SHVIA makes the provision of local channels a choice, not a requirement, for the satellite company. "Local-into-local" means that if a satellite customer lives in an area where the satellite company has decided to provide the service, the customer can receive local TV channels. If the company decides that it will not provide local broadcast stations in an area, the consumer may still receive local broadcast stations by using an antenna or basic cable service. SHVIA defines the "local market" as the designated market area ("DMA") established by Nielsen Media Research. 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/csb/shva/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.