Analogue terrestrial television - TV channels that are delivered to households via a conventional aerial. The UK currently only has five analogue terrestrial channels - BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and five. [These channels are also available on Digital Terrestrial Television]
DAB radio - Digital Audio Broadcast will eventually replace the existing analogue radio service. Digital Radio brings more choice, improved sound quality, no re-tuning and extra information on broadcasts such as track names and sports results.
Digital television - is a different method of broadcasting signals than the existing analogue method. It allows broadcasters to deliver more programs and added functionality. The three most prominent methods of delivery are, digital satellite, digital terrestrial and digital cable.
Digital satellite - TV broadcasting service that delivers signals to households via a satellite/s, and converted through a digibox or integrated digital satellite TV (IDSTV).
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) - TV channels using digital signals delivered to homes through a conventional aerial, and converted through a set top box or integrated digital TV (IDTV).
DISEqC switching - Digital Satellite Equipment Control - Using commands from the receiver to a diseqc switch mounted at the dish up to four LNB's can automatically be selected needing only one antenna cable
Cable TV - TV broadcasting service that delivers signals to households via a fibre optic cable rather than a conventional aerial or a satellite dish. Like satellite and DTT it also requires a set top box.
CCTV - Closed Circuit Television
CT100 - To look at it may seem like ordinary coax cable but is in fact double screened and is the most popular. This has a gold coloured outer screen.
Encryption - Sky uses VideoGuard, a proprietary conditional access technology, to control viewers' access to encrypted free-to-air channels and encrypted Pay TV and audio channels broadcast on digital satellite for reception in the UK and Ireland.
E.P.G - The Electronic Program Guide is your main source of navigating through the world of digital televison schedules
Ethnic channels - channels that cater for ethnic minority groups e.g. Zee TV, Chinese News Network, Start TV.
Freeview - Freeview is a service through which you could receive up to 30 free digital TV channels, plus radio and interactive services, through your normal TV aerial. There is no contract. Just a one-off payment for equipment.
Free-to-view channels - television or radio channels that are broadcast without a subscription charge
Interactivity - Interactivity turns television into a two-way communication device. Instead of remaining passive, the viewer becomes an active participant. An interactive service may allow viewers to shop, vote, bet, play games, conduct financial transactions, send and receive emails, book holidays and cinema tickets and respond to advertising - all through the television. It can also enable viewers to choose which camera angles to watch at sports events, to view event statistics, to take part in quizzes, participate in tv voting, download ringtones, and give access to a host of other services.
Interactive services on Digital Satellite - Digital satellite allows innovative interactive services from both Sky and other broadcasters, such as the BBC, Disney and Channel 4.
IRS - Integrated Reception System, is a type of television distribution system, combining digital satellite (including Sky digital), digital terrestrial (including Freeview), and analogue terrestrial signals. These signals are distributed to points in each flat or home enabling residents to receive the television service of their choice (the system also distributes radio signals and CCTV as required)
Ku band - The 10.7 to 18.4 GHz region is known as the Ku band
The section up to 12.75 GHz is widely used across Europe for direct to home broadcasting.
LCD Screen - Liquid Crystal Display screen
LNB - The Low Noise Block does several things: its horn focuses the reflected beam from the dish down onto a tiny aerial inside the LNB. In the modern "voltage switching" LNB there are two aerials - one for Horizontal and one for Vertical signals. The signals go right through the thin plastic rain cap on the horn and are received by the two aerials inside. These weak signals are amplified by an electronic amplifier. As these very high microwave frequencies are used the LNB then converts them into lower frequencies which will go down coax cable.
MPEG2 - An alternative digital audio system to Dolby Digital. It is available on some DVD discs.
NTSC - American and Japanese broadcast standard.
PAL - Broadcast standard used in Britain, Australia and some other countries.
Pay-per-view (PPV) - Some one-off programmes, films and events (e.g. the Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson fight) are not covered by the Sky digital subscription, but viewers can receive them if they pay a fee per event either over the phone or by selecting the required item on Sky Guide, Sky's electronic programme guide.
Red button - If you have Digital TV (cable, Sky or Freeview) then a red dot appears on the screen if the programme has additional, interactive content about it. Hit the red button on your remote control to access it.
RS232 Interface - This is used for downloading software updates from your PC. This can also be done over the satellites via the installation menu
Scart sockets - used for plugging your TV into a video recorder other appliances, for instance a hi-fi or a satellite system.
Scart leads - used for connecting your TV to a VCR, DVD player or satellite system.
Screened from electrical interference - external sources, such as electrical appliances can interfere with a television or radio signal, but screening the cables and out let sockets will minimise this happening.
SECAM - Broadcast standard used in France and some other countries.
Spectrum (electromagnetic) - TV signals are transmitted on certain frequencies within the electromagnetic spectrum. Allocation of these frequencies is managed and regulated in the UK by the Radio Communications Agency.
| 
