Access Control System
A removable credit-card-sized plastic card included with each satellite receiver. The card identifies each individual receiver and provides billing information each month to the program provider.

Actuator
A motor system that drives a motorized multi-satellite dish antenna.

Antenna
Device which picks up and delivers satellite signals to a receiver; most commonly a dish antenna.

Azimuth
The angular distance (side to side) from true north, along the horizon, to the DBS satellite, measured in degrees. During installation of the DBS system, punching the users zip code or latitude and longitude into the DBS receiver's setup screen will get precise azimuth and elevation angles for its location. This information is required to make sure that the dish is accurately aimed at the satellite.

Bandwidth
Range of frequencies occupied by a signal or allowed by receiving equipment (basically, what a receiver is capable of receiving).

Baseband
The raw satellite TV signal before it is remodulated to become a signal that is suitable for a TV.

Beam
A satellite transmission pattern. It may be wide, narrow or spot.

Bird
An alternate name for a satellite.

Blackout area
A pre-defined area of the country where particular programming (often sports or special events) will not be available, usually because of contractual agreements.

C-band
Signal frequency range (3.70-4.20ghz) used for satellite TV in America and Africa.

Clarke Belt
Named after its founder Arthur C. Clarke, the Clarke Belt is an orbit used by satellites at a height of 22,250 miles, in which satellites make an orbit in 24 hours, yet remain in a fixed position relative to the Earth´s surface.

Conditional Access
A method which ensures the program provider gets paid for its services by the user.

Conditional Access Module
The (detachable) conditional access interface.

DBS
Digital Broadcast Satellite. Often used to refer to satellite TV systems and their components (ex: "DBS system," "DBS receiver," etc.).

Downlink
The transmission of a signal from a satellite back to Earth.

DSS
Specific reference to the DBS system offered by DIRECTV/USSB

DTH Broadcast Satellite
Direct-to-Home Broadcast Satellite. DirecTV and USSB's satellites are manufactured by Hughes. Echostars' satellite are manufactured by Lockheed Martin. These satellites are in a geostationary orbit about 22,800 miles above the earth in various orbital slots within the Clarke Belt.

Dual LNB
An 18" dish with a single LNB and two outputs. This dish looks only at the satellite in the 101° position.

DVB
Digital Video Broadcast - system offered by Echostar

Elevation
The angular distance (up and down) of a satellite above the horizon. During installation of the DBS system, punching in a zip code or latitude and longitude into the DBS receiver's setup screen will get precise elevation and azimuth angles for your location. This information is required to make sure that the dish is accurately aimed at the satellite.

Feedhorn
A device which collects the signals at the focus of the satellite dish antenna and channels them to the LNBF.

Fixed Dish System
Satellite TV system in which the dish antenna is targeted at one particular satellite.

Footprint
An area of the Earth that is able to receive a particular satellite´s signals.

FSS Band
Portion of the KU-band (10.95-11.70ghz) which is the main satellite TV band.

Infrared Universal Remote Control
Line-of-sight remote which will control the satellite receiver and two to four other infrared units such as TVs, VCRs, DVDs or stereo amplifiers.

IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder)
A satellite receiver with a built-in decoder for unscrambling subscription channels. Usually simply referred to as a receiver.

KU-band
Signal frequency range (10.70-18.00ghz) used for most European TV satellites.

LNBF
The Low Noise Blockdown Feedhorn amplifies the signal collected on the parabolic antenna(dish). It works on 13V of power which is supplied by the satellite receiver. A single LNBF will feed one receiver, and a dual LNBF will feed two or more receivers.

LNB
The Low Noise Blockdown amplifier performs the same functions as the LNBF.

Magnetic Polarizer
Polarizer controlled by an electrical current from a satellite receiver.

Mechanical Polarizer
A polarizer that is controlled by electrical pulses from the receiver.

MPEG-1
Specific data transmission protocol (format) developed by the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG). MPEG-1 protocol is not as advanced as MPEG-2 protocol.

MPEG-2
Latest specific data transmission protocol (format) developed by the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG). It is a more advanced protocol than MPEG-1 due primarily its all-digital transmission of data at between 4 and 9 megabits/second (Mbit/sec). Several other enhancements over MPEG-1 are also realized. MPEG formating is the specific formating in which data is transmitted to satellites, transmitted back to earth, and interpreted by set-top units.

Multi-satellite reception
Satellite program providers maintain broadcast satellites in multiple orbit locations to provide wider signal coverage and greater programming variety. In order to receive programming that extends beyond the satellite provider's "core" programming — examples include HDTV programs, and local channels in some areas — it's often necessary for consumers to use a multi-satellite-capable dish, along with a compatible satellite receiver.

Multiswitch
To hook up more receivers than the dish can accommodate, a multiswitch to split up the satellite feed without compromising signal quality can be used. Some multiswitches permits the addition over-the-air broadcasts or cable feeds, and send both signals to each viewing area via a single coax cable.

Near Video-On-Demand
Multichannel system broadcasting many copies of a film with staggered start times so a complete film is always available to a viewer with a short waiting period.

Noise Figure
A measure of the performance (noise contribution) of an LNBF in decibels. The lower this figure, the better.

Offset
Type of dish antenna with the focus and feedhorn below the center of the dish antenna.

On-screen Program Guide
This interactive feature allows the user to access and scroll through complete program listings right on his/her television screen, in most cases up to a week in advance.

One-Touch Recording
Wigh the touch of one button on the remote, the user can create multiple time recordings of future programs in the on-screen guide. The satellite receiver will control the VCR, starting and stopping the recording at the proper times.

Orbit
The path a satellite takes around the Earth.

Parental Lockout Control
Allows user to set a password to control access to programming based on channel, rating or content.

Polarmount
Multi-satellite dish antenna mount which enables a satellite dish antenna to track the whole of the Clarke Belt.

Positioner
Unit which either accompanies a multi-satellite receiver or is built-in and controls the movement of motorized dish antennas.

Program Browsing
Allows user to scroll through program guide while still watching current channel.

Rain Fade
Raid fade is the loss of signal from the satellite during a heavy rain, which happens more or less to all DBS systems.

Receiver
Unit which takes signals from a satellite dish antenna and converts them so they can appear on TV.

RF/UHF Universal Remote Control
Controls satellite receiver from distances up to 100 feet, through walls and other obstructions. Also offers infrared control of other A/V components.

RG-6
Coaxial cable recommended for digital satellite TV installations. RG-6 is a larger-size cable than the lower-grade RG-59 cable found in most homes. RG-59 has a small center conductor, a small insulating dielectric, and typically, a single outer shield. By comparison, RG-6 has a larger center conductor, a dual or quad shield, and a much larger insulating dielectric, ensuring greater bandwidth, and lower frequency loss per foot.

Satellite
Equipment in orbit that can transmit signals between station and distributor) or (distributor and homeowner); the signals can be analog or digital; each satellite usually has the capacity to transmit a number of different signals simultaneously.

Satellite Dish
Receives the transmissions being sent from satellites; Distributors have dishes to receive the transmissions from the broadcast stations; Howeowners have dishes to receive transmissions that have been retransmitted by the distributors.

See-through Menu/Guide Displays
Program guide and/or menus can be accessed without the loss of audio or video.

Set-Top Unit
Device that converts the digital signal received by the dish to whatever signals are required by the TV set; the name set-top implies that the device sits atop the television.

Smart Card
The Smart Card identifies the receiver to the network. It authorizes descrambling of the satellite signal, and authorizes purchases using the receiver.

Solar Outage
Solar outages occur when a satellite dish is looking at a satellite, and the sun passes behind the satellite and within the field of view of the dish antenna. Solar outages occur during the spring and fall as the sun moves up and down the sky during the equinox. The outages only last a few minutes for a few days a year.

Transponder
Equipment inside a satellite responsible for receiving a single uplinked channel and rebroadcasting it back to Earth.

Threshold
The measure of sensitivity of a satellite receiver measured in decibels (dB).

Triple LNB
An 18" x 20" dish with three LNBs and four outputs. This dish looks at the 101°, 110°, and 119° satellites. It is required for HD customers, Spanish language services, and locals in some markets because these services are not all available from the 101° satellite.

Uplink
The transmission of a signal from a ground station on Earth to a satellite.

Videocrypt
Encryption system which requires a decoder and Smart Card to be descrambled. Used by Sky and several other UK channels.

Video-On-Demand (VOD)
Multichannel system allowing a video content to be broadcasted immediately when requested by an individual viewer.

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