GLOSSARY OF TERMS
CA - Conditional Access – a coding system used in order to protect transmitted data against
unauthorised access. Access to protected channels is available only to subscribers.
CAM - Conditional Access Module – an electronic device, usually fitted with card slots, that
allows access to coded pay-per-view channels on a receiver equipped with a CI socket.
CI - Common Interface – CI sockets of digital receivers are used for the installation of CAM
conditional access modules, and thus allow you to view coded pay-per-view channels through
these modules.
DVB-S the Digital Video Broadcasting standard that defines modulation and error correction in
satellite transmissions. In DVB-S, both the MCPC and SCPC modes can be used by the
operator to transmit channels. MPEG-2 is used as the transport stream.
Guide - Electronic Programme Guide – a service that displays detailed information about
current and future programmes on the television screen.
FTA - Free-to-air – uuencoded radio and television channels that may be received on any
television set.
LNB - low-noise block converter – a converter - it converts satellite signals, and then
sends them to the tuner through a coaxial cable. The basic parameters are: gain, noise factor
and power consumption.
MCPC - multiple channels per carrier – more than one signal (channel) is transmitted on a
given frequency (transponder). All of these channels comprise a single data stream, which is
transmitted on one frequency following modulation.
Monoblock – a device that comprises two converters and a DiSEqC switch in a single housing,
which receives signals from two satellites on similar orbits.
Pay-TV – Pay-per-view digital television, to which only subscribers have access. The service is
provided by satellite, cable, over the ground or through the network.
SCPC - Single channel per carrier – only one signal (channel) is transmitted over a given
frequency (transponder).
STB - Set-top box – an electronic device connected to the television set, which processes the
signal received from the ground-based, cable or network satellite antenna. It enables the
playback of video and sound.
TP - Transponder – a type of wireless communication device (transmitter), which
automatically receives, modulates, strengthens and responds to a signal coming in real time
over a specific frequency. The term is derived from the words "transmitter" and "responder".
Usually, each transponder transmits numerous compressed digital channels.
DiSEqC - (Digital Satellite Equipment Control) a communication protocol, used between a
satellite receiver and equipment such as switches or positioners, which supports switching
between television signal sources and antenna control.
USALS – (Universal Satellites Automatic Location System) – a communication protocol
used between satellite receivers and positioners, which makes it possible to control the
positioner through the receiver. Used in connection with the DiSEqC 1.2 protocol.
UHD - also called 4K, refers to a display device or content having horizontal resolution on the
order of 4,000 pixels.
h.265 - video compression standard, one of several potential successors to the widely used
AVC (H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10). In comparison to AVC, HEVC offers about double the data
compression ratio at the same level of video quality, or substantially improved video quality at
the same bit rate.
