Length: 14 mins.

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Satellite TV Basics

A beginners introduction into the world of C-band satellite television programming and reception.

Direct and to the point, this tape introduces terminology and concepts quickly and to the point. It lays the groundwork for understanding the more in-depth information contained in our other tapes like "The World at 12 GHz" and "The Era of Direct Broadcast Satellites." It also provides a basic framework to pursue the technical side of satellites with our "Satellite Television Technology Overview" and "Satellite Installations."

Satellite TV Basics

Below are sample images from the video along with either a brief description, or the actual audio from the tape. While these images are in continuous order, they represent only a small fraction of the images and information in this 14 minute program.

	"Scores of new television networks have been born, made possible by satellites."
	"Satellites are becoming the backbone for a new, space-age, total communications system that is already delivering hundreds of TV channels, scores of high quality stereo music stations and computer information services to millions of private backyard dishes."
	"Gotta check the LNA on this TVRO for CNR. I dunno, the azimuth and look angle are right and the noise temp is low enough for this footprint, that the baseband should be sparklie free." "This stuff has a jargon all its own!"
	"All this satellite business didn't just start with the launching of Sputnik I in 1957, -- it started long before that. Satellites began in 1945 with the publication of an article in Wireless World magazine by now famous science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke."
	"He conceived a system of satellites placed 22,300 miles above the equator, where the speed at which they traveled would match the speed of the earth's rotation, and the satellite would appear to be stationary in the sky. Thus, he discovered the Geostationary Orbit Belt, also called the Clarke Orbit Belt."
	Spin Stabilized Satellite under construction. "Most satellites carry 24 transponders and each transponder can relay one channel of TV. They are powered by solar cells -- but the power available is very small -- typically only 5 to 10 watts per channel. Not much, but enough to send a studio quality picture to most ten foot dishes."
	"All satellites utilize microwaves to transmit their signals; and like terrestrial microwaves, they are transmitted and received on a line of sight path. Anything that gets in the way, whether it is a tree or a mountain, can degrade or even block the picture."
	"But television viewing is only part of the entertainment your satellite system can bring you. More than 50 exceptionally high quality stereo music stations can be tuned in by most receivers, offering a wide variety of listening pleasure."
	With only one channel of satellite TV, any family might disagree on what to watch. But something called block downconversion allows all 24 channels on any satellite to be tuned by any number of independent receivers.
	"Now, everyone can watch what they want!"
	How does this satellite system work? The basic components of a receiving system are presented. "Dishes can be made of solid materials like fiberglass or molded plastic, or spun or pressed in aluminum or stainless steel. They can also be made of a semi-transparent mesh, supported on a frame."
	"There are two important things about a dish which determine picture quality. First, it must maintain an accurate parabolic shape for many years, and second, it must be large enough to receive high quality video."
	"The antenna is completed by the mount and drive system. Most systems utilize a polar mount which can swing the dish accurately across the entire satellite belt. Motor drives make this task effortless."
	"And when you settle down to watch your own satellite television system, you'll be the envy of your neighborhood."