Television Channel in digital transmission technology.
| Satellite name | Loral Skynet - Telestar 5 |
| Channel Number (Transponder) | 26 |
| Position | 97 W |
| Polarization | Horizontal |
| Bandwidth | 27 MHZ |
| Downlink Frequency in GHz (Giga Hertz) | 12.152 MHZ (KU-Band) 1402.5 MHZ (L Band) |
| Encryption Mode | None (Free to Air) |
| Click on above map to get Azimuth (0° = North, 180° = South) and Elevation (0° = horizontal, 90° = vertical) coordinates for this satellite at YOUR location! |
| Channel Number |
| Satellite operators put a numbering system on the frequencies their satellite
transmits down to Earth. However, there is no worldwide standard on how to give numbers to
frequencies, thus each satellite operator invents its own propietary numbering system. In
certain areas, as in North America, a unified numbering system is in use. Also, a
satellite operator will always use identical numbering system for all satellites in its
fleet. A channel number is useful in cases when only identical satellites are received, and satellite receivers can be customized just for the frequencies in use. In such cases it's not necessary to know exact frequencies and restricting to channel number will make life easier. When switching between different satellites is needed, this advantage is lost and the actual frequencies as sent down by satellite are needed. Note: A channel number like "40" might represent a certain downlink frequency at one satellite, a different frequency at another satellite, and another frequency at still another satellite. Channel numbers are unique to each satellite operator. More information on downlink frequencies of satellite systems can be found at http://www.sat-global.com |
| Downlink Frequency in GHz (Giga Hertz) |
| Actual frequency the satellite beams tv, radio and data down to Earth, therefore
"Down"-link frequency, as opposed to the frequency used to "Up"-link
those signals up to satellite in first place. There are two main frequency bands in use: the C-Band with downlink frequencies in the 3 and 4 GHz range, and the Ku-Band with frequencies in the 10, 11 and 12 GHz range. 1 GHz = 1000 MHz = 1000000 kHz = 1000000000 Hz. Hz = Hertz. Example: 3.456 GHz = 3456 MHz More information on the different frequency bands can be found at http://www.sat-global.com |
| Polarization |
| One frequency can be used two times by using two opposing polarizations, so that the
two signals on the two identical frequencies are not affecting each other. This helps to
virtually double the actual number of channels which can be transmitted. One way of transmitting a signal is in linear polarization, the other by rotating polarization. For the latter, imaging the signal to be transmitted like a screw. Therefore, there are two polarization modes: "H" = Horizontal, and "V" = Vertical, for linear polarized signals "R" = Righthand, and "L" = Lefthand, for rotating/turning signals Note: In US sometimes the expression "reversed polarity" is in use Often, rotating signals are used in C-Band, and linear signals in Ku-Band, but there are no rules to this. Mostly - but not always - nominally equal frequencies on different polarizations are a little bit off-set to each other to minimize any remaining influencies. |
| Encryption Mode |
| En-crypted Channels are deliberately scrambled, so that a
special de-cryption device is needed to watch - or listen - to programming. In analogue
technology, en-crypting a television channel is mostly done by putting the video lines
into a different order. Strangely, audio signals are not affected by en-crypting. Digital transmissions can be en-crypted in a wide choice of ways. Usually, a special card (similar to a credit card) has to be inserted into satellite receiver. This card contains the code to de-crypt signal. Those cards are only available from the programmer, in most cases at a price (pay-tv), in some cases at no costs to certain citizens only. In addition, in most cases, those cards are only distributed to viewers in certain geographical regions. enc. = encrypted, or encoded |