GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Access
Authorisation to use the coding system to purchase / order TV programmes.
AGC
Automatic Gain Control.
CA
Conditional Access. A system to control subscriber ac- cess to services, programmes and events.
CA module
A device for the decoding of scrambled signals.
Common Interface
Describes a DVB standard hardware and software archi- tecture for Conditional Access systems.
DVB
The Digital Video Broadcast group was created to estab- lish a technical framework for the introduction of digital video broadcasting systems.
EPG
Electronic Programme Guide. A software that enables viewers to navigate easily among the large number of channels provided by digital technology, in order to se- lect the service they desire.
FEC
Forward Error Correction. Correction of faulty bits in the received signal.
GHz
The prefix giga means billion, and Hertz means cycles per second. Signals in the GHz range are often called micro- waves.
LNB (low-noise block converter)
An electronic unit mounted on the satellite dish. It re- ceives the signals reflected by the dish and converts them to signals that can be used by the Mediamaster.
L.O.
Local oscillator part of the LNB. It converts from the sat- ellite frequency down to a frequency acceptable for the Mediamaster.
Mediamaster
A unit that converts the digital satellite signals into audio and video signals. The audio and video signal can be sent to the TV set either via SCART or via RF (modulator out- put).
MHz
The prefix mega means million, and Hertz means cycles per second.
MPEG
Moving Picture Experts Group. Established by the Inter- national Standards Organisation to provide the basis for a picture coding and compression system.
Network
A number of digital channels transmitted from one source. Grouped under separate headings in the channel list.
Parental control
A feature that allows parents to ”lock” programmes that they consider unsuitable for children. A ”locked” chan- nel or programme can only be ”unlocked” with the spe- cial parental access code.
Parental Access code
A
PCMCIA
Personal Computer Memory Card International Associa- tion. The Common Interface slot follows this standard.
PCR
Program Clock Reference.
PIN code
Personal Identification Number. A
Polarization
Polarization allows several programmes to be fit into the same frequency band. The signals from a satellite are transmitted either with linear (vertical or horizontal) po- larization or circular (right or left) polarization.
RF
Radio frequency (known as HF in some countries).
SERIAL RS 232
A serial communication standard data port.
SCART
A
Scrambled satellite TV programme
Some satellite TV programmes are transmitted in scram- bled form. A Smartcard, and possibly a CA module, will be needed to view such programmes.
Service provider
Is a company that collects a number of programms/serv- ices and distributes them to customers.
SNR
Signal to Noice Ratio. Signal quality measure.
S/PDIF
Sony/Philips digital interface format. Digital audio output.
Symbol rate
Speed of the digital transmission
SW
Software. Programme code.
TS
Transport stream.
VCR
Video Cassette Recorder.
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