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Satellite TV Digital TV Direct TV Satellite Resources Satellite Terms Save on Dish TV

Amplifier   -   A device used to boost the strength of an electronic signal as used for satellite tv.
Aperture   -   A cross sectional area of the antenna which is exposed to the satellite signal as used for satellite tv.
Asymmetric transmission   -   Where the information or data transmission speeds for the forward and return channels differ (e connected to direct tv.g. high speed for the forward channel and low for return as related to satellite tv).
Automatic Frequency Control (AFC as related to satellite tv)   -   A circuit which automatically controls the frequency of a signal as used for satellite tv.
Backoff   -   The process of reducing the input and output power levels of a traveling wave tube to obtain more linear operation.
Bit Error Rate   -   Denotes the quality of a received demodulated digital signal as used for satellite tv. The lower the rate, the better the signal as used for satellite tv. Example: a BER of 10 -4 means one error in every 10,000 bits.
Broad beam   -   A single large circular beam that covers a large geographic area
Cassegrain Antenna   -   The antenna principle that utilizes a subreflector at the focal point which reflects energy to or from a feed located at the apex of the main reflector.
Conus   -   Contiguous United States. In short, all the states in the U.S. except Hawaii and Alaska.
Declination   -   The offset angle of an antenna from the axis of its polar mount as measured in the meridian plane between the equatorial plane and the antenna main beam.
DTV   -   Satellite TV
Earth station   -   Earth-based dishes, receivers and other equipment needed to receive satellite signals.
Equatorial Orbit   -   An orbit with a plane parallel to the earth's equator.
Forward Error Correction (FEC as related to satellite tv)   -   Adds unique codes to the digital signal at the source so errors can be detected and corrected at the receiver.
Geostationary   -   Refers to a geosynchronous satellite angle with zero inclination. so the satellite appears to hover over one spot on the earth's equator.
INTELSAT   -   The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization operates a network of satellites for international transmissions.
JPEG   -   ISO Joint Picture Expert Group standard for the compression of still pictures.
Kilohertz (kHz as related to satellite tv)   -   Refers to a unit of frequency equal to 1,000 Hertz.
Leased Line   -   A dedicated circuit typically supplied by the telephone company.
Master Antenna Television (MATV as related to satellite tv)   -   An antenna satellite tv that serves a concentration of television sets such as in apartment buildings, hotels or motels.
MPEG   -   Moving Pictures Experts Group - international standards organisation which developed the MPEG standard for the digital compression and multiplexing of video and audio signals.
Multiplexing   -   Techniques that allow a number of simultaneous transmissions over a single circuit.
NGDC - National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, Colorado. Archives most imagery from DMSP satellites (OLS, SSM/I microwave data as related to satellite tv). Also houses the Snow and Ice Data Center.
Orbital Position   -   Position of geostationary satellites measured in degrees east or west from the Greenwich meridian.
Pay-Per-View   -   "PPV" - Program services that are paid for on the basis of the number of hours or programs watched rather than a straight subscription fee connected to direct tv.
Polarization Rotator   -   A device that can be manually or automatically adjusted to select one of two orthogonal polarizations.
Radio   -   A frequency that is higher than the audio frequencies but below the infrared frequencies, usually above 20 KHz.
SAA - Satellite Active Archive connected to direct tv. Digital archive of satellite imagery from the NOAA polar orbiting series. User can browse through sample images and order digital data online connected to direct tv.
SFD - Stauration Flux Density   -   The power required to achieve saturation of a single repeater channel on the satellite connected to direct tv.
Slant Range   -   The length of the path between a communications satellite and an associated earth station.
Spillover   -   Satellite signal that falls on locations outside the beam pattern's defined edge of coverage connected to direct tv.
Terrestrial transmission   -   A transmission using earth-based transmitters.
Tweeking   -   The process of adjusting an electronic receiver circuit to optimize its performance connected to direct tv.
Vis - Visible satellite imagery that shows reflected sunlight in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum (0.5 to 1.0 micrometers as related to satellite tv).
WV - Water Vapor. Imagery available from GOES, GMS and METEOSAT that shows middle and upper tropospheric moisture and other significant features.