Welcome to our support pages, we aim to answer all questions here and give extra information on some of our receivers.
To get you started below is a directory on meanings to some of the commonly used words and abbreviations on this site.
This page was last updated 2nd September 2011
Satellite Dictionary Satellite Dictionary aims to unravel the words we use elsewhere on this and other satellite TV related websites to help you find the definition everything is alphabetical – If we have missed a definition or you think our definition is wrong, please email hisat@hisat.com, we’ve tried to keep this list as basic as possible – giving a basic meaning rather than a technical meaning |
Quick reference - 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 Analogue = Usually a reference to the receiver type but means that the signal is sent on an Analogue wave Astoncrypt (CAM) = This is a CAM which emulates S.E.C.A.’s Mediaguard system Atmel = Maker of a particular processor used in the “Funcard” for example Az/El = Azimuth Elevation = actual angle to a satellite / Az/El mount is used on a dish to set it’s angle to the satellite Beta Digital = an encryption system which is a variant of Irdeto owned by Mindport CAM = Conditional Access Module = A Decoder used in a Digital CI type satellite receiver there are many types of CAMs since different encryptions are used by different Television service providers Card Sharing = Card sharing happens when a receiver is set-up so that the Card can be "seen" across the internet by someone else with the correct IP address of the CARD reader in your receiver this type of sharing is called Peer to Peer other sharing is done when a computer acting as a server connects these receivers through a hub or the computer has the cards to SERVE the objective of card sharing is the same as any other kind of sharing - it means that each users doesn't have to own his own card in order to view an encrypted service - Some service providers don't mind you doing this others frown on it and write caveats in their contract which while not stating "Thou shalt not card share" could mean you can't or you or the person doing it would be in breach of contract Conax = An encryption System owned by Telenor CI = Common Interface = a PCMCIA device as used in Laptop computers but also used in satellite TV receivers – Most CAMs are CI type unless they are embedded or cardless like the original Beta digital CAM supplied with the Nokia D-Box and Nokia 92XX and 95XX range. Clark Belt = Named after Arthur C. Clark it describes the Hoop of space 22,000 Miles above the equator (38,000 Kilometers) where all the geostationary satellites are Cryptoworks = an encryption system owned by Philips CVBS = Composite Video = what most people see but can be bettered using RGB DMAC = Television system now unused (as far as I know) used to be the system used by BSB before merger with SKY D2MAC = Television Standard used on satellite but is a dying system as Analogue dies Digital = data transfer using numbers = allows compression because numbers can be sent faster than the data is needed – thus allowing several channels to be sent at the same time DiSEqC = Digital Satellite Equipment Control = often thought of as a Eutelsat system it was actually STAB Italia www.stab-italia.com that designed the protocol for DiSEqC and have further developed it with USALS Dish = Parabolic Antenna = reflects the signal from a satellite towards the LNB Down converter (See LNB) DS9 = Illicite and Unofficial software used on “PICARD II” “Silver Cards” containing an PIC16F877 and 24C64 Eeprom = Rewritable Memory device found inside Receivers, CAMs, and Cards Elvis (not the king)(Programmer) = Popular programmer we used to sell but support from VX was better - use the VX4FUN Embedded = a Non removable extra – usually used in reference to a CAM Encryption = Scrambling of a signal usually for the purposes of selling a service – but also sometimes just so that service providers can share programming without that programming being eavesdropped on Eurocrypt = Encryption system used within D2MAC, codes are still found on Geronimo’s site www.eurocrypt.net FEC = Forward Error Correction = often given as ¾ for example in this case the 4th bit of data corrects any errors in the first 3 bits Feed Horn = Front section of a modern LNB = Basically a wave Guide which bounces the High frequency signals down to the LNB Poloriser Flash (Memory) = a reprogrammable memory used in Cards CAMs and Satellite receivers FTA = Free To Air = a receiver capable of receiving unencrypted services FTV = Free To View, distinct from free to air a service which is free to view may be encrypted for example BBC1 and ITV on 28.2 East are free to view so long as you are a TV Licence payer in the UK But are actually encrypted in Videoguard - IN MAY 2003 BBC will go Free to air when they move to the new Astra 2D satellite ITV Ch4 and 5 may follow suit Geostationary Satellite(s) = Often referred to as “the TV Satellite(s)” these satellites appear from earth to be stationary because they orbit the earth above the equator and their distance and speed means that they take 24 hours to circumnavigate the planet which is the same time as it takes for the earth to rotate once Ghz = Gigahertz = Note:- 1 Ghz = 1000,000,000 Cycles per second Gold Card = (PIC16F84 + 24LC16) Original Wafer card first designed by HISAT after liason with Michael Stegen www.stegen.com who wrote MultiMac II the most popular D2Mac/Eurocrypt Software H-H (mount) = Horizon to Horizon H/V = Horizontal/Vertical (see poloriser) HISATdotCOM = our youtube channel click here > HISATdotCOM Hobby Card = describes any blank smartcard lick "Gold" "Funcard" or card with a pre-loaded OS like "OPOS" "M2" Irdeto = an encryption system owned by Mindport Khz = KiloHertz = 1 Khz = 1000 Cycles per second Linux = Linux is an open source computer operating system often used in satellite receivers as a basis or building block for Middleware - using Linux means informed novices can right their own software to find out more google Linux LNB = Low Noise Block = device that down converts the High frequency signals from a satellite to a range which can be “seen” by the satellites tuner using a Local Oscilator - Typically an LNB will have two of these a “Universal” LNB will have a Local Oscillator set at 9.75 Ghz and another at 10.6 Ghz (this higher one is activated by the receiver sending a 22Khz Tone - the LNB has developed over the years but C Band, KA Band are much less popular than LNB's for the KU BAND, service providers sometimes make bespoke systems to distract users from using their (the service providers) equipment from multi satellite use LNB Loop = Input and Output for 2Ghz frequency signals (Allows a second receiver to be connected to a dish thus expanding the potential – the second receiver could be an analogue receiver connected to a digital receiver – or a second digital receiver – in the case of the later being a second receiver which has USALS BOTH receivers can control the dish position, but watch out always leave the second receiver on a vertical channel otherwise the first receiver may not be able to select a vertical channel when it is on. Mediaguard = Encryption System owned by S.E.C.A. “Seca” Nagravision = A Kudelski S.A. encryption Null Modem Cable = a Crossed Serial lead with 2 female ends used for two PC’s or two receivers or one PC and one receiver to talk to another – used for upgrading a satellite receiver with new software pin wiring on a serial null modem cable is as follows Pins 1-1, 2-3, 3-2, 4-6, 5-5, 6-4, 7-8, 8-7, 9-9 Offset (Dish) = Most common dish type the dish is actually a cutaway of a Prime focus dish it appears to be almost upright and the signal is reflected down into the LNB OS = Operating system PIC = Progammable Intergrated Circuit = a small computer used in satellite receivers CAMs and Cards PID = Packet Identify = Bits of data joined together = every digital TV channel has a Video, Audio and PCR PID, usually a scan of a transponder will find this automatically many digital receivers allow you to input these if they aren’t automatically found but a Few can’t Pirate Card = No longer sold these cards would replace an official card without any work, more often than not clients now buy a Hobby card and then apply software that is distributed by satellite TV forums using a card programmer sometimes a CAM is used which when reprogrammed requires no card Diablo CAMs are one such type of CAM which has a legal Purpose but for which software has been distributed to open additional channels Polar Mount = Mount which usually fits on a pole and gives the dish the ability to Pivot on a line which is parallel to the two poles of the planet Poloriser = Usually part of a Modern LNB it selects vertical or horizontal polorization of the signal – Circular left and right hand polorization of signals is also possible though rare – usually Polorisation is selected by different voltages sent by the receiver 13Volts = vertical 17v = Horizontal Power Vu = Scientific Atlantic Encryption system used to distribute TV to cable operators and TV service providers Prime Focus (Dish) = a dish which points directly at the satellite and has a center feed (see also Offset (Dish)) Program = General name for a satellite station Programme = act of changing data in a receiver, CAM or Card PPV = Pay Per View = Usually a special event or relatively new film might be transmitted in this way Receiver = Satellite receiver , Satellite Tuner = device which forms the center of the system often controls everything else in the system RF = Radio Frequency RGB = Seperates Red Green Blue colour elements of a picture should give nicer results than CVBS (some people can’t see the difference) SCART = (Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs) connector is used for combined audio and video connections switching and other special purpose Scrambling = Encrypting the satellite signal Service Provider = TV Operator – any company which supplies a TV or Radio service or station Simulcrypt = the action of encrypting in two different types of Scrambling system at the same time - In this case a Client might buy one type of CAM and card where both are encryption Type A or the other where both are Type B Smart Card = a device used to act as a Key for the CAM – the card is interrogated by the CAM to check if the Card has the rights paid for the service you have selected SNAC = Seca Non Active Card = developed by the HISAT Team and sold until May 2000 we only stopped because of changes in the UK Law we that time we sold the support site www.satrade.com to Securitech in the Czech Republic – forecast codes are still available through them although they have stopped supplying the cards Subscription = when used with reference to a TV Station it is usally a payment to the service provider – when used in reference to a Newsgroup the subscription can be free and just means that you get news for that service Symbolrate = like a Baud rate rate at which channel data is sent T & K (Mount) = Type of Mount named after the shape of the mount helps to mount a Pole perfectly vertical Tuner (satellite Tuner) = Receiver UHF Loop = input & output to insert the Satellite TV signal into the normal TV Band USALS = Universal Satellite Equipment Control = An advancement of DiSEqC 1.2 which allows the receiver to communicate it’s operating position on the planet with the Motor Mount which must also be USALS compatible = this enhancement makes fitting a motorized DiSEqC 1.2 system very easy because you only need to enter the Longitude and Latitude of your current position in order for the mount to calculate where every satellite must be Universal (LNB) = Has a Local Oscilator set at 9.75 and another set at 10.60 the higher one is instigated when the receiver sends a 22Khz Tone ViAccess = an encryption system owned by France Telecom Videoguard = an encryption system owned by NDS |
