Glossary

LNB The amplifier located in the front-end of the satellite system. C band is measured in degrees Kelvin and Ku band is measured in decibles. With a little fancy math, the measurements can be converted back and forth. Point of reference: whether C band or Ku band, the lower the measurement in decibles or Kelvin, the better the picture.

Feed Horn The part between the dish and the LNB that gathers and channels the signal to the LNB.

Actuator or Positioner The motorized assembly that positions the antenna to the selected satellite.

IRD (Integrated Receiver Descrambler) The box on top of the TV that selects the channels, controls the dish movement and houses the VC descrambler.

Ribbon Cable The cable needed to receive the signal from the dish, control the feed horn and control the dish position.

Coax Cable The round wire used by the cable company to deliver their services to your TV set.

Servo Motor The small motor that mounts to the feed horn to select the polarity of the satellite signal.

Polarity Satellite signals are broadcast in a couple different ways. The most common signal is a horizontal polarity or a vertical polarity. The signal may also be broadcast in a clockwise or a counterclockwise format. For example: C band broadcasts 12 channels on vertical polarity and 12 channels on horizontal polarity totaling 24 channels.

C band A 4 GHz frequency that satellites broadcast on. Most commonly used for broadcasting network programming and popular cable services.

Ku band A 12 GHz frequency that satellites broadcast on. More commonly used for broadcasts that are live and unedited.

DBS Ku band DBS frequency that Direct TV and USS Hubbard broadcast on to the RCA, SONY, Uniden and Toshebia satellite antennas. EchoStar will soon be broadcasting on this same frequency.

Inclinometer Tool that measures the elevation of an object in degrees.

Infrared remote The remote control that works the IRD if it is in the line of sight.

UHF remote The remote control that works the IRD from up to 150' away and through walls. Example: if you have a second television located in the bedroom and it is connected to the IRD, then you can control the IRD from that bedroom.

VCRS Descrambler The defacto standard descrambler for residential C band services available in the USA. This unit is exclusively manufactured by General Instruments.

Diplexer The special signal combiner/spliter that brings together and separates the satellite signal and the local

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