SATELLITE ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS by parad0x_i
ALGORITHM: The mathamatical expression which is used to scramble & decode the data stream of satellite transmissions
ALTDVB: DVB-S Viewer software for Pc
ARC:Refers to the Clarke Belt named after Arthur C Clarke the famous scientist & writer. Satellites are located on this ARC in a Geo-Stationary orbit. This mean that they appear stationary to a viewer on the Earth (eg; a satellite dish). The ARC is approx 23400 miles above the Earth. A satellite at the highest point on the ARC has the highest dish Elevation. Moving East or Westof centre has a lower Elevation. Practical views from Earth are 60º East to 60º West
AU:Automatic Update - usually of keys updated automatically
BISS: Basic Interoperable Scrambling System - Type of Encryption
BLIND SCAN: Method for satellite receiver to find the less common s/r channels (eg: Feeds)
C Band: Satellite Band 3.4GHz to 4.8Ghz (Still in use but less common now)
CABO: A channel package
CAM: Conditional Access Module - Smartcard Reader for CAS
CAS: Conditional Access System - Method of providing or denying authorisation to view payTv
Conax: Type of Encryption
DIGITAL+ (D+): A channel package dedicated to the Spanish audience.
DBS: Direct Broadcasting by Satellite
DiSEqC: Digital Satellite Equipment Control - a communication protocol for use between a satellite receiver and a multi-LNB switch or dish motor
DVB: Digital Video Broadcasting
DVBDream: DVB-S Viewer software for Pc
DVB-C: Digital Video Broadcasting by Cable
DVB-S: Digital Video Broadcasting by Satellite signal
DVB-T: Digital Video Broadcasting by Terrestrial signal
ECM: Electronic Counter Measure - Signal sent to update legitimate smartcards or ‘knock-out’ illegal smartcards
ELECARD: Video Codec required to view 4.2.2. feeds
ELEVATION: The angle of the dish in the vertical plane
EMM: Entitlement Management Message - Qualifies your right to view pay Tv
EMU: Emulator - Software or Hardware that imitates a system (eg; a CAM)
ENCRYPTION: Method used to scramble a Tv signal
FEED: Temporary uplink transmission of live events or news items
FEEDHORN: The Waveguide which directs the satellite Microwave signal to the LNB’s receiving elements
FIRMWARE: The satellite receivers operating system
GHz: Frequency range. 1000Mhz = 1GHz
H:Horizontal Polarisation
HD: High Definition Tv picture standard as a result of increased Line Scanning
IRDETO: Type of Encryption
JACK: Motorised arm used to push or pull a Polar Mount to move a satellite dish to a satellites position
KEYS: The 8 or 16 bit Hex number which is the key to unlock the algorithm of the scrambled channel
Ku BAND: Satellite Band 10.700Ghz to 12750GHz (Most used)
LAT/LONG:Lattitude & Longitude - A position on the Earth expressed in degrees. Needed for USALS operation
LNB: Low Noise Block Converter - Downconverter for the satellite signal
LNBf: Low Noise Block Converter with feedhorn - Downconverter for the satellite signal
LOADER: Piece of software which interfaces the STB to the Computer to upload the firmware.
MSS: Mobile Satellite System
MPEG2: Usual method of Video format for domestic satellite Tv
MPEG4: High Definition format for domestic satellite Tv
NAGRAVISION: Type of Encryption
NDS: Type of Encryption
NETWORK SEARCH: Method to scan for new transponders using the satellites Network Allocation Table.. thus finding all available channels
OFFSET DISH: Type of satellite dish which is a section of a larger prime focus dish. The LNB is mounted off-centre and doesn’t obstruct the signal to the dish.
PACKAGE: Group of channels in the providers satellite Tv bouquet
PATCH: A piece of software that Emulates a CAM to decode scrambled channels
PID: Packet Identifier for Audio & Video streams. One channel may have many Audio tracks (APIDS)
POLAR MOUNT: Satellite dish mounting that tracks the Clarke Belt when moved left to right (or vice versa)
PREMIERE: A channel package dedicated to the German audience.
PRIME FOCUS: Type of satellite dish which has a central LNB feed (Usually 1.2M size or greater). The LNB partially obstructs the signal to the dish
ProgDVB: DVB-S Viewer software for Pc
SCAN: Method for a satellite receiver to find satellite channels by looking at all the available transponder frequencies
SECA: Type of Encryption
SKEW:The rotation angle (+/-) that the LNBf needs to be adjusted to match a satellites longitude
SOFTCAM: Collection of 8bit & 16bit keys used to unlock an encryption
SS2: Skystar 2 - Satellite PCI card/USB box to enable a Pc for the reception of satellite Tv
STB: Set Top Box - eg: satellite receiver
S/R (SR): Symbol Rate - speed rate of data transmission bits
TPS: A channel package dedicated to the French audience.
TPS.db: Database files for TPS channels - used in DVB applications
TPS.fns: Files for TPS channels - used in DVB applications
USALS: Universal Satellites Automatic Location System - a satellite motor protocol that automatically creates a list of available satellite positions in a motorised satellite dish setup. By providing the LAT/LONG position of the reciving dish USALS can calculate where each satellite is from the dish
V: Vertical Polarisation
VIACCESS: Type of Encryption
Vplug: Software multiCAS emulator plugin
V_keys: Keys used for Vplug