|
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W X Y Z
|
|
A
|
|
Access
|
The ability to
be on a satellite or part of a network.
|
|
Ad-Hoc
|
Special purpose; as needed;
one time only event.
|
|
Analog
|
Non-Digital
waveform signal most common in satellite videoconferencing
and network backhauls. A device having an output that is
proportional to the input.
|
|
Antenna
|
Electro magnetic
equipment which sends or receives radio signals. Most common
mis-reference is satellite "dish", see: Reflector
|
|
Arc
|
The location of
all satellites above the equator, also known as "Clark
Belt"
|
|
Audio
Bridge
|
A devise that
connects multiple phone lines commonly used in conferencing.
|
|
Audio
Sub-carrier
|
The location of
the audio signal during transmission.
|
|
Audio
Conference
|
A voice only
conference, no video.
|
|
Azimuth
|
The horizon to
horizon location of a satellite from a particular point on
Earth measured in degrees.
|
|
B
|
|
Backhaul
|
Original
transmission sent to a network before re-broadcast
w/commercials.
|
|
Bandwidth
|
The
amount of space required to transmit a signal.
|
|
Baseband
|
A transmission medium through
which digital signals are sent without frequency shifting.
In general, only one communication channel is available at
any time.
|
|
BETA
SP
|
The
common type of recording video for broadcast.
|
|
Bird
|
Slang
term for satellite.
|
|
Bit
Rate
|
The
speed of digital transmission measured in bits per second.
|
|
Broadband
|
General
term for any bandwidth greater than a
voice frequency bandwidth.
|
|
Broadcast
|
Transmissions
that are
intended for reception by the general public.
|
|
BTV
|
Acronym
for "Business Television".
|
|
C
|
|
C-Band
|
Frequency
of signal; transmission ( 5.9-6.4 GHz ) &
reception ( 3.7-4.2 GHz )
|
|
Carrier
|
A
frequency wave that is transmitted from one earth station
through the satellite to another earth station, which is
used for channel distribution.
|
|
CATV
|
Acronym for CAble TeleVision
|
|
Channel
|
A
specified frequency band for the transmission and reception
of signals. As for television signals, it is normally the
final bandwidth stage.
|
|
Chyron
|
Brand-name
for commonly used Character Generator system.
|
|
Closed
Circuit Television (CCTV)
|
A
television channel not broadcast for
general reception.
|
|
CODEC
|
Coder
/ decoder -- a system which converts an analog signal to and
from a digital signal. Often used in reference to ISDN
videoconferencing systems.
|
|
Common
Carrier
|
A
regulated telecom company which transmits signal for the
public at a fee.
|
|
Component
Video
|
Common for video
in it's stage of Red, Green, Blue.
|
|
Composite
Video
|
Common for video prior to
modulation.
|
|
CONUS
|
A
satellite beam that covers the CONtinental US.
|
|
D
|
|
DAMA
|
Demand
Assigned Multiple Access -- Multiple digital channels in a
transponder.
|
|
dBW
|
The
power ratio of decibels relative to one watt. Most common
for signal strength measurement.
|
|
Decoder
|
A
device used to unscramble an encrypted or scrambled
signal.
|
|
Digital
|
Converted information
or video/audio into bits of data. Generally used to allow
smaller bandwidth for transmission.
|
|
Digital
Bridge
|
A connection of
several digital conference sites.
|
|
Dish
|
Common term for
the parabolic or off-sat reflector used to gather signal.
|
|
Domsat
|
Refers
to US domestic
satellite
|
|
Downlink
|
Common
for the equipment used to receive satellite signals. aka,
TVRO
|
|
Dual
Path
|
Redundancy;
The
ability to transmit two signals to a satellite at the same
time.
|
|
Duplex
|
Two-way simultaneous transmission.
|
|
E
|
|
Earth
Station
|
Ground
equipment used to transmit and receive signals to & from
satellites.
|
|
Echo
|
Common problem
in videoconferencing due to improper mix-minus audio.
|
|
Edit
|
To
"cut;" to alter, correct, or revise video.
|
|
EIRP
|
Effective
Isotropic Radiated Power -- The signal strength of the satellite
transmitter RF power and transmitting antenna gain usually
measured in dBW.
|
|
Elevation
|
A satellite's altitude above the horizon, measured in
degrees
|
|
Encoder
|
The device that
digitizes or scrambles a signal.
|
|
Encryption
|
Encoding or "scrambling" television
signals. Used in both business and broadcast television so that
unintended audiences are unable to view the signal.
|
|
ENG
Crews
|
Personnel
used for Electronic News Gathering.
Commonly, a one camera, two to three person video team.
|
|
F
|
|
FEC
|
Forward
Error Correction codes -- Codes added to the digital signal
to monitor and correct errors.
|
|
Feedback
|
Squeal caused by a microphone being too close to an operating
loudspeaker.
|
|
Fiber
Optics
|
Mode
of transporting signals which uses laser beams through
strands of glass.
|
|
Footprint
|
The
are of earth covered by a satellite beam,
usually given in EIRP.
|
|
Format
|
Types
of machines and tapes that store video and audio
information. Commonly used include VHS, Beta, Beta SP, SX,
DV, DVCPRO, and 3/4."
|
|
Frequency
|
The
number of times an alternating current goes through a
complete cycle in one second of time. RF means Radio
Frequency.
|
|
Full
Duplex
|
A
circuit which carries information in both directions at the
same time.
|
|
Full
Time
|
Dedicated
facilities for a client's exclusive use.
|
|
G
|
|
G/T
|
Gain
to Noise-Temperature ratio -- the measurement of
gain-to-noise temperature ratio of a receiving system; its
sensitivity or "figure of merit."
|
|
Geosynchronous
Orbit
|
An
orbit around the Earth, with an average distance from the
equator of about 22,310 miles, in which a
satellite would have a period equal to the rotation period
of the Earth. These satellites are in what's called the
"Clark Belt".
|
|
Gigahertz
|
A
measurement of frequency equal to one billion cycles per second.
|
|
H
|
|
HDTV
|
Abbreviation
for High
Definition Television. Much sharper image and a higher quality stereo
sound than regular TV signals. Requires much more bandwidth.
|
|
Headend
|
Receiving
and distribution equipment from satellite to CATV.
|
|
HUB
|
Master
station through which all information flows in and out.
|
|
I
|
|
IFB
|
Interruptible
Feed Back or Internal Feed Back. Normally an ear piece
that allows producer, director, etc. to
communicate with the talent during a program.
|
|
Intelstat
|
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization -- a
governing body that taffifs international telecommunications
traffic.
|
|
IP
|
Acronym for
Internet Protocol
|
|
IRD
|
Integrated
Receiver Decoder -- A receiver which contains a decoder for
the reception of a transmission of voice, video and data.
|
|
ISDN
|
Acronym for
Integrated Service Digital Network- Used for digital
networks & videoconferencing. ISDN lines are combined
for data speeds up to 784Kbps
|
|
K
|
|
Ku-band
|
Pronounced
Kay You. Downlink Frequencies of 11.7 -12.2 GHz range and
uplink frequency of 14.0 -14.5 GHz dedicated to use for satellite
transmissions.
|
|
L
|
|
Latitude
|
The
angular distance north or south of the earth's equator,
measured in degrees along a meridian.
|
|
Longitude
|
Angular distance on the earth's
surface, measured east or west from the prime meridian at
Greenwich, England, in degrees (or hours), minutes,
and seconds.
|
|
M
|
|
MCPC
|
Multiple
Channel Per Carrier -- digital services used for
transmission
of multiple channels of audio, video, and data information
over a single wideband carrier.
|
|
Microwave
|
Terrestrial
method of transmission which travels from point to point.
|
|
Modulator
|
A device which converts the video signal and audio signal onto a
viewable TV channel; "RF Modulator", meaning
"Radio Frequency Modulator".
|
|
N
|
|
Net
Return
|
Downlink
used by networks so they can view their final transmission.
|
|
NPR
|
Noise
to Power Ratio -- a measure of inter-mode noise in a
multiplexed communications channel.
|
|
NTSC
|
Color TV system established by the US National Television
Standards Committee and used in North America, Latin
America, parts of South America, Japan, Korea and the
Philippines. NTSC produces interlaced 525-line 30
frame/second picture.
|
|
O
|
|
Occasional
Satellite Time
|
Satellite
services provided in increments of 15 minutes or more.
Recurring services are available at discounted rates.
|
|
Orbit
|
The
path of a satellite as it revolves around earth primarily to
the force of gravity.
|
|
P
|
|
PAL
|
Phase
Alteration Line -- The color television broadcast
standard used in the UK, most
of Europe, Africa, Australia and South America. PAL produces
interlaced 625-line, 25 frame per second pictures.
|
|
Pay-Per-View
|
A
system whereby a cable or DBS customer can order individual
programs, such as films or sporting events.
|
|
Playback
|
Playing
pre-recorded video material in any format.
|
|
Polarity
|
Satellites can
deliver 2 transponders on approximately the same frequency
by sending alternating horizontal and vertical
polarization.
|
|
POTS
|
Plain Old Telephone Service
|
|
PTT
|
Post,
Telephone, and Telegraph Authority -- Operating agencies
controlled by governments and in charge of
telecommunications for the country (eg: in the USA, we have
the FCC).
|
|
Q
|
|
Quantum
Physics
|
Unit of
measurement especially a discrete quantity of
electromagnetic radiation
|
|
R
|
|
Real
Time
|
A
term used to describe any system which operates such that
input, processing, and output take place over a short period
of time and without any long delays or storage of input or
of intermediate or final results.
|
|
Reflector
|
Commonly a
parabolic dish used to gather signal for the antenna.
|
|
RF
|
Radio Frequency; All radio, TV, satellite and similar signals occupy
positions on the radio frequency band.
|
|
RF
Modulator
|
Radio Frequency Modulator. A device which converts the video signal and audio signal onto a
viewable TV channel.
|
|
RSS
|
(short for really simple
syndication) is an XML-based format for news distribution
that includes headlines, summaries and links back to a
publisher website for the full article. You load RSS news
feeds into a reader or visit them on a personalized web
page. RSS keeps you up-to-the-moment on your favorite news
sources, providing an indicator when news breaks. You may
use any of the popular RSS readers to organize your own
feeds |
|
S
|
|
Satellite
Link
Satellite Hop
|
A
radio link between a transmitting earth station and
receiving earth station through one satellite. A link consists of
1 uplink and a min. of 1 downlink.
|
|
SCPC
|
Single
Channel Per Carrier -- a narrowband transmission mode used
to relay a single channel of audio, video and data
information over a single carrier.
|
|
SFD
|
Saturation
Flux Density -- power required to achieve saturation of a
single repeater channel on the satellite.
|
|
Simplex
|
Transmission
in one direction only.
|
|
Skyswitch
|
A
TIW Systems, Inc. product which provides voice and data
communications via satellite -- used in some SNG vehicles.
|
|
SNG
|
Satellite
News Gathering (vehicle); Also referred to as SNV and
satellite truck.
|
|
Space
Segments
|
Service
availability for occasional or full-time use on satellite
transponders.
|
|
Spot
Beam
|
A
focused high-power satellite signal that covers only a small
region.
|
|
Standard
Conversions
|
The
process used to convert one video standard to another (eg:
NTSC to PAL).
|
|
Syndication |
To sell (a television series,
for example) directly to independent stations |
|
T
|
|
Tariff
|
The
established rate for and specifications of a
telecommunication service.
|
|
Teleport
|
A
complex of earth stations used for satellite transmissions,
receptions, and turnarounds.
|
|
TI
|
TERRESTRIAL INTERFERENCE - Microwave or electrical interference from a
terrestrial (earth) source which creates problems in receiving a clear program
signal at the downlink.
|
|
Transponder
|
The
part of a satellite which picks up signals from earth,
translates them into a new frequency, amplifies them, and
transmits them back to earth; A single repeater channel
on-board a satellite.
|
|
Turnaround
|
The
act of downlink a satellite signal, altering it, and uplink it again right away. Often used to change the
signal from Ku-band to C-band and vice-versa.
|
|
TVRO
|
Acronym
for TeleVision
Receive Only -- A receive only C or Ku-band downlink.
|
|
U
|
|
Uplink
|
The
satellite dish and electronics which transmit the signal;
can be fixed or portable; Fixed uplinks are frequently
called earth stations; Also used to refer to the act of
transmitting a signal to a satellite.
|
|
V
|
|
Video
Conference
|
The
connection of two or more groups via satellite or codec
technology.
|
|
Video
Switching
|
Process
of electronically switching a video/ audio signal between
locations.
|
|
VSAT
|
Very
Small Aperture Terminal; One/two way earth station 0.5- 3 meters in size.
|
|
W
|
|
Webcast
|
Broadcast of an
event or a recording of an event over the World Wide Web
|
