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U.S. High Power DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) F
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US High Power DBS Frequently Asked Questions
Version 23 April 12, 1995
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NOTICE: This document is Copyright (C) 1995, Richard R. Peterson.
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to duplicate this document
if and only if the following three conditions are met: 1. This
document cannot be modified in any way. 2. This document cannot be
sold for profit nor included as a part of any publication sold for
profit. 3.This notice must be included. Any other use requires the
written consent of the author.
DISCLAIMER: The author makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any
information provided in this document and is not responsible for any
consequences of its use.
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What is High Power DBS?
Hughes Communications and the United States Satellite
Broadcasting Company (USSB) have recently launched a new
television service to the continental United States. This
service allows households to receive television programming
directly from satellites on easily-installable 18 inch
satellite dishes. Programming includes most major cable
services, sports, Pay Per View (PPV) movies, and specialized
"niche" programming aimed at smaller audiences. The FCC
calls this new class of television service Direct Broadcast
Satellite (DBS) and the Hughes/USSB service will likely be
the premier DBS service in the U.S. for some time.
Here's how it works. Hughes has built and launched two Ku-
band satellites each containing 16 120-watt transponders.
The satellites are several times more powerful than the
current generation of satellites and are spaced 9 degrees
from others broadcasting in the same frequency range. This
allows interference-free reception from anywhere within the
continental US and most of Canada using 18 inch diameter
satellite dishes.
Hughes has sold five of the transponders to USSB. (Actually
USSB owns 5/16 of the entire satellite since federal
regulations require DBS broadcasters to own their broadcast
facilities.) The two competing companies both offer
programming receivable with a common dish and decoder.
The system uses digital compression to allow from four to
eight channels per transponder allowing a total of about 180
to 200 channels, depending on what is being shown. Hughes
and USSB say their channels have near laser-disc-quality
pictures and near CD-quality sound.
Hughes calls their programming service DIRECTV(TM). They
have created a subsidiary called DIRECTV Incorporated which
is managing their DBS operation.
What equipment is required and what does it cost?
Thomson Consumer Electronics builds the decoders and the 18
inch antennas under the RCA name. The hardware is called
Digital Satellite System or DSS(TM). Thomson currently sells
two packages of DSS hardware and are expected to soon
announce a second generation product line.
Each package contains decoder, dish, remote, and cables to
connect the decoder to a single TV or VCR. An additional
coaxial cable is required to connect the dish to the decoder
and that must be purchased separately.
The Basic Package (model DS1120RW) retails for $700 and
allows connection to one TV. The receiver in this package
only sends right or left polarity signals into the home so
additional TVs cannot be connected.
The Deluxe Package (model DS2430RW) retails for $900 and
includes a universal remote control, a slightly different
dish, and a design which sends the entire bitstream into the
home which allow multiple TVs or VCRs to be connected. In
addition, the decoder in this package contains an additional
set of audio and video output jacks which are gold plated,
and an additional data port.
Every TV or VCR connected to the DSS system must have a
decoder (assuming viewers want to watch or record different
programs). Thomson also sells the decoder included in its
basic package along with a remote control (but no dish) for
$650. This additional decoder package (model DRD102RW) can
be connected to the dish included in the deluxe package and
used to decode a second signal within one household. This
can be used for a second TV or VCR.
The decoders are MPEG-2 video and MPEG-1 audio compatible
and are fully addressable so DIRECTV and USSB can include
digital codes in the signals which authorize individual
decoders to receive particular programming. The decoders
contain many features of high-end video products such as a
parental lockout feature and the ability of households to
set a maximum dollar amount for pay services.
Thomson has exclusive rights to build and sell the DSS
system until 1 million units have been sold which will be
about June of 1995. Sony has been selected as a secondary
manufacturer and will begin to sell the decoders at that
time. Thomson and Sony will share exclusive rights for a
second six months after Thomson's exclusive period.
Additional manufacturers will then be licensed to sell DSS
units. DIRECTV has licensed Hughes Network Systems (HNS),
Toshiba, and Uniden so far and others including some major
consumer electronics companies are expected to be added.
Units from these vendors are expected in early to mid 1996.
What programming is available and what does it cost?
The FCC has issued USSB five programming frequencies so USSB
broadcasts from five transponders on one of the satellites.
They started with about 20 channels and expect to have about
25 channels by the end of 1995 as the compression technology
improves.
DIRECTV has been issued 27 frequencies and programs about
150 channels.
DIRECTV and USSB offer different programming and compete
vigorously for each customer's programming subscriptions.
They are continuing to negotiate with program providers to
fill additional channel space as it becomes available. The
combined DIRECTV/USSB programming breakdown is approximately
as follows:
70 Channels of major cable services
30 Channels of subscription sports
20 Channels of special interest/niche services
50 Channels of Pay Per View (PPV) movies
170 Total Channels
In general, pricing for the major cable services are about
the same as cable TV companies charge for comparable
services and higher than TVRO (big dish satellite TV)
subscriptions.
Customers with more than one DSS decoder in a household pay
an additional $1 per month for the second USSB subscription
and an additional $2 for a second DIRECTV subscription.
What programming does USSB have and what does it cost?
USSB currently broadcasts about 20 channels. They feature
HBO and Showtime premium services and that is the foundation
upon which they are basing their business. Their packages
are:
Basic $8 per Month All News Channel, MTV, VH-1,
Lifetime, Nickelodeon, Comedy
Central.
HBO $11 per Month
HBO East, HBO West, HBO2 East, HBO2
West, and HBO3.
Showtime $11 per Month Showtime East, Showtime West,
Showtime 2, and Flix
Select One Plus $18 per Month Choice of Multichannel HBO or
Multichannel Showtime or Multichannel
The Movie Channel or Multichannel
Cinemax plus the six basics.
HBO Plus $25 per Month HBO East, HBO West, HBO2 East, HBO2
West, HBO3, Cinemax East, Cinemax
West, Cinemax 2, and the six basics.
Showtime Plus $25 per Month Showtime East, Showtime West,
Showtime 2, Movie Channel East, Movie
Channel West, Flix, and the six basics.
Premium Plus $35 per Month All programming from the above
packages.
USSB says they will also sell their basic channels on an ala
carte basis for $3 per month. They also give all new DSS
customers a free one month subscription to their Premium
Plus package.
When additional channel capacity is available, USSB plans to
carry at least one totally free (advertiser-supported)
channel. They also plan to carry a few niche programming
channels aimed at small markets. They call their niche
services MiniMass(TM). No MiniMass services have yet been
announced.
USSB says they will not carry any adult oriented
programming.
What programming does DIRECTV have?
DIRECTV programming can be broken down into five areas:
cable programming, subscription sports, music services, Pay
Per View (PPV) movies, and special interest/niche services.
There is no free DIRECTV programming.
DIRECTV sells programming packages based on popular cable
services which range in price from $6 for a single channel
package to $30 for about 40 channels. In addition, they
sell several other services ala carte. Viewers must
subscribe to a basic tier of cable programming before they
can purchase any ala carte services including Pay Per View
Movies.
DIRECTV offers professional and college sporting events on a
Pay Per Subscription package or PPV basis. They can use the
addressable nature of the decoders to allow reception only
in certain geographic locations such as outside the local
broadcast coverage areas. They are currently carrying
several packages and are continuing to negotiate sports
deals with other leagues.
DIRECTV sells the Digital Cable Radio (DCR) Music Choice
which is a commercial-free 24 hour CD-quality audio service
featuring narrowcast music in a wide range of categories.
Unlike most cable systems, this service does not require an
additional set-top box beyond the DSS decoder.
DIRECTV offers Pay Per View (PPV) movies from all major
Hollywood studios time-shifted on about 50 channels with
many starting at intervals of at most 30 minutes. Their PPV
service is called Direct Ticket. Direct Ticket broadcasts
the movies about the same time they are available on cable
PPV which is just after the video store window. Prices for
PPV movies are currently $3 when ordered through the DSS
remote control and $5 if you call DIRECTV and place the
order.
The DSS system has built in copy protection technology which
can control whether or not a PPV movie can be recorded.
DIRECTV says they do not plan to use it for the first couple
of years of service if ever. USSB says they have no plans to
use it.
DIRECTV also delivers GALAXY Classroom to elementary schools
nationwide. This is an elementary education satellite
learning network which they say provides students with a new
interactive global learning environment.
Special Interest or niche programming (programming aimed at
small target markets) is expected to be very important for
DBS. Because DBS services can be received in 100 million
households, the economics make sense. Services to which
only one out of a thousand households are willing to
subscribe still can generate over a million dollars in
annual revenue. Only a few niche services have been
announced to date but more are expected in the coming months
as more channel space becomes available.
DIRECTV says they will temporarily shut off service for a
customer and enable it at a later date to save subscription
fees when their customers are out of town.
What are DIRECTVM-^Rs packages and prices?
DIRECTV sells three cable packages. The first is the
Limited Package for $6 per month which includes only
Bloomberg Direct plus one World League of American Football
(WLAF) game per week.
The second is Direct Choice which has about 20 channels for
about $22 per month. It includes:
Bloomberg Direct
C-Span
C-SPAN 2
Cartoon Network
CMT
CNBC
CNN
CNN Headline News
Court TV
Discovery Channel
Disney (East)
E! Entertainment TV
Encore
ESPN
Learning Channel
MuchMusic
Superstation TBS
TNN
TNT
Weather Channel
WLAF weekly game
USA
In addition, subscribers get a $2.50 credit which can be
used towards the first purchased PPV movie per month and the
DIRECTV preview channel.
The third package is the Total Choice Package which has
about 40 channels for about $30 per month. It includes all
of the above channels plus:
A&E
AmericaM-^Rs Talking
CNN International
Disney (West)
Encore: Action
Encore: Drama
Encore: Love Stories
Encore: Mystery
Encore: WAM
Encore: Westerns
ESPN 2
Family Channel
Newsworld International
Sci-Fi Channel
TRIO
Travel Channel
Turner Classic Movies
In addition, customers get the 28 audio Music Choice
channels, a $2.50 credit which can be used towards the first
purchased PPV movie per month, the DIRECTV Preview Channel,
and each subscriberM-^Rs local regional sports channel.
What other services does DIRECTV sell and what do they cost?
After purchasing a basic tier service, subscribers can add
several ala carte services.
STARZ is available for an additional $3 per month for Total
Choice subscribers or for Direct Choice subscribers STARZ is
part of an $11 package which includes all the Encore
channels.
Music Choice is free with the Total Choice package or $3 per
month otherwise.
The Playboy channel is available for $10 a month or nightly
for $5 per night.
The Golf Channel is available for $7 per month.
The PhysicianM-^Rs Television Network (PTN) will soon be
available for an as-yet unnamed price. This service will
carry medical information and computer based educational
programming to doctors and hospitals in the U.S.
The ESPN/ABC College Football package was available for $10
per week or $50 for the 12 week 1994 season. Similar
pricing is expected for the 1995 season.
A sports package of eight regional sports channels can be
purchased for $8 per month. Each Total Choice package
subscriber gets their local channel free. Home team
blackout restrictions apply.
PrimeTime 24 (described below) is available for $4 per month
or $1.50 for each channel individually.
The NFL Sunday Ticket package will be available for the 1995
season. Prices are expected to be the same as the 1994
season which was about $120-$140 for about 200 games.
The NBA League Pass is currently available for $150 for the
1995 season. This includes about 400 regular season NBA
games.
A package of 200 to 300 out of market NHL games was
available for $70 for the 1995 season.
Where can I buy my hardware and programming?
DSS hardware and programming is being sold through both TVRO
dealers and consumer electronics retailers including Best
Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, Sears, Wards Electric
Avenue, and RCA dealers nationwide. DIRECTV says they
expect to have 8000 retailers by the end of 1995.
In addition, a group called the National Rural
Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) has bought exclusive
rights to distribute 20 top cable and broadcast services to
their rural customers in selected areas. They are marketing
DIRECTV through rural electric cooperatives and telephone
firms.
Most if not all DSS retailers also sell both DIRECTV and
USSB subscriptions. However, dealers can only sell DIRECTVM-^Rs
Total Choice Package. In order to purchase other basic
cable tiers such as the Direct Choice Package, subscribers
must call DIRECTV and order the programming directly from
them.
How is the equipment installed?
The DSS hardware was designed to be easy to install with no
professional equipment required. The dish can be installed
anywhere there is a direct line of sight to the South with
no trees or buildings in the way. All DIRECTV/USSB services
are broadcast from one position in the sky so the dish does
not need to move.
Homeowners can install the hardware, but Thomson recommends
professional installation. Thomson says the suggested retail
price of a basic installation is $200 but some installers
charge lower fees. More complex installations may cost
more.
Thomson also sells a self-installation kit which carries a
suggested retail price of $70 and contains seven cables, a
compass, a grounding block, a telephone T connector, and all
hardware necessary to mount the dish and connect it up.
Also included is a videotape which demonstrates the
installation process. Many users say the installation kit
is not necessary since easy to follow instructions are
included with the DSS units. All the necessary cables can
be purchased at Radio Shack or other similar retailers, but
those who donM-^Rt have easy access to supplies may want to
consider the self-installation kit.
The decoder can display the dish elevation for any area when
a zip code is punched in. Installers level the mount, then
use the elevation scale built into the mount to set the dish
angle above the horizon. The system has a built-in audible
signal meter, so installers pan the horizon listening to the
signal strength tone to position the dish.
A telephone connection is also used for billing and some
authorization purposes. Thomson has developed a wireless
phone jack system to connect the decoder to a phone line
without running additional wiring. The system works by
transmitting telephone signals encoded as FM signals through
a home's AC electrical wiring. The wireless phone system
retails for $100 and can be used as an alternative to
directly connecting to a home's telephone wiring.
With all these channels, how will I find what I want to
watch?
Channels are numbered between 100 and 999. The interface
for selecting a program is menu driven from the remote
control. Users select programs from categories, such as
movies, sports, etc. and then select from sub-menus such as
football, golf, etc. until the desired program is found. An
on-line program guide is also included which lists
programming scheduled up to about four days beyond the date
it is being viewed. The program guide contains a lot of
programming information such as descriptions of upcoming
episodes and scheduled talk-show guests.
What about watching the broadcast networks and local
channels?
DIRECTV offers a satellite-delivered package of network
stations to customers in rural areas called PrimeTime 24 for
$4 per month or $1.50 for each channel individually. This
package includes ABC (WABC - New York), CBS (WRAL -
Raleigh), NBC (WXIA - Atlanta), Fox (WFLD - Chicago), and
PBS (KRMA - Denver). These channels are available only to
customers who are not within the terrestrial coverage areas
of network affiliates. Those who can receive network
affiliates will not be able to purchase this package and
therefore must get network programming over the air (or by
some other means). Currently no UPN or Warner Brothers
network affiliate is included in this package.
The DSS hardware was designed with the intention of viewing
local channels over the air as well as channels from the
satellite. There is an RF antenna input on the back of the
decoder which allows viewers to change between local and
satellite channels easily using the DSS remote control when
their TVs are connected to the decoder using the RF antenna
output.
Can I use my existing TVRO system for DSS?
Not directly. If you have Ku Band capability, you may be
able to use your existing dish but you must purchase a DSS
decoder. DSS uses a circular polarized LNB which probably
would need to be replaced as well.
If DIRECTV and USSB are different services, will I get two
bills?
Probably, depending on what services you subscribe to. It is
possible that other services provided through other
companies will eventually require their own billing, as
well.
I live in the city where there are tall buildings. Can I
receive the DIRECTV/USSB DBS service?
You must have a direct view of the satellite to get this
service with no trees or buildings in the way.
Where in the sky are the satellites positioned?
The two satellites operate from 22,300 miles above the
equator at the 101 degree West orbital location. This is
above a North/South line running through western Kansas.
Viewers in the central portion of the U.S. (such as Texas or
North Dakota) see the satellite about straight to the south.
On the East coast it is slightly west of south and on the
West coast it is slightly east of south.
The angle above the horizon depends on the distance north of
the equator. Those in the northern part of the U.S. (such
as Minnesota) see it about 38 degrees above the horizon.
Those in the southern part see it much higher in the sky.
I live in an area that receives lots of rain. Will I lose
my signal during rainstorms?
Outages can occur as a result of severe thunderstorms.
Several users have reported outages and /or digital blocking
artifacts during heavy storms. The satellites are focused
to send more power to rainier areas to help minimize this
problem, but it does exist. DIRECTV claims the signal will
be receivable 99.7% of the time everywhere within the
coverage area.
What is impulse Pay Per View?
Viewers can subscribe to PPV services such as movies and
special event programming simply by pressing a few buttons
on the remote control. The billing information is saved in
the decoder which automatically calls the billing service
center and downloads the billing information once or twice a
month. The first five minutes of each movie are broadcast
unscrambled so viewers can check out a movie before buying
it.
In order to use impulse PPV, decoders must be connected to a
telephone line.
Why is the number of channels so vague?
Thomson and several other companies have jointly created a
proprietary MPEG2-based compression system whereby multiple
channels can be broadcast from a single transponder. The
number of channels which can be compressed into a single
transponder depends on a lot of things such as desired image
quality (i.e. resolution), frame rate of the source
material, amount of movement in the source material, degree
of allowable visible artifacts, etc.
Programming containing frames with many fast-moving small
objects such as a basketball game can be compressed about 3
or 4 to a transponder before significant digital artifacts
appear. Programming containing mostly large still images
(such as soap operas with their close-ups) can be compressed
at a higher rate, perhaps 5 or 6 to 1 transponder. Movies
are filmed at 24 frames per second rather than 30 for video
so they contain less source material. In addition, film is
not interlaced and is in general fairly constant from frame
to frame. As a result, film can be compressed more, perhaps
7 or 8 to 1 transponder for near laser disc quality.
Determining what programs to combine with what others on
which transponder is no doubt quite a challenge at the head-
end, especially with special event, subscription sports, and
other infrequent programming.
For the first few months of operation, the encryption system
has used the MPEG-1 syntax rather than MPEG-2 so the number
of channels per transponder is lower than the eventual
target. Both DIRECTV and USSB will begin converting their
encoders to use MPEG-2 video compression sometime in 1995
with complete conversion to MPEG-2 expected by the end of
1995 or perhaps sooner. The decoders are MPEG-2 video
compatible and will not need to be upgraded. Use of MPEG-2
syntax is expected to increase channel capacity by about 15%
to 30%.
Does the DSS compression system really work ?
Yes, digital broadcasting works. However, the resulting
quality seems to be open to debate. The vast majority of
DSS customers report that the video and audio quality are
excellent and the system works extremely well. Others
report poor quality images and lots of digital artifacts on
at least some channels. The artifacts have been a problem,
but are occurring less frequently as the compression
technology improves. Nearly everyone thinks the DSS sound
quality is excellent.
How do I connect the decoder to my home audio/video system?
On the back of the first generation DSS decoder, there is a
Satellite input F-connector, a phone jack, composite audio
and video output jacks, an S-video output jack, RF in and
out connectors, and a channel 3/4 modulator for the RF
output. In addition there is a wideband high-speed data port
on all decoder models. The Deluxe decoder includes an
additional set of composite output jacks as well as a 9600
bit per second two-way data port similar to an RS-232 port.
There are plenty of options for hooking the decoder into a
home A/V system. However, on the first generation DSS
decoders, there is no RGB output connector for monitors
which have an RGB input. TV sets with S-video inputs can
use the S-video output jack on the decoder allowing the
display of pure component (Y/C) video as it was uplinked to
the satellite. This appears to be most advantageous on
those channels which are broadcast using digital tape or
fiber optic cable as the source. On those channels, use of
the Y/C port can avoid the conversion from the digital
component signal to NTSC making very high quality images
possible.
Viewers who choose to use the composite or S-video output
jacks to connect to their TV sets must use the TVM-^Rs
video/antenna switch to watch local programming. The DSS
remoteM-^Rs mode selector only applies to its RF output.
Viewers who choose to use the RF output to connect their TV
sets do not get stereo or surround sound audio to their TV
speakers. Stereo sound is available only through the direct
audio output jacks from the DSS decoder.
What if I want to connect more than two TVs?
The DSS dishes connect to the decoders with coaxial cable.
The dish electronics have two coaxial connections so at most
two decoders can be connected to one dish. Channel Master
and perhaps other companies are selling a MultiSwitch which
takes both coaxial outputs from the dish and allows up to
four decoders to be connected to it. Note that the base DSS
unit can only be connected to one decoder, so the Deluxe
unit is necessary in this configuration.
DIRECTV and USSB say in order to authorize more than one
decoder at a location, there must be a telephone connection
at each decoder.
Is the telephone connection really necessary?
Yes if you want to take advantage of all services available
from DIRECTV. The phone line is used to verify the location
of the DSS unit and manage the blackout restrictions imposed
by the professional sports leagues.
You must be connected to a phone line to be authorized to
receive regional sports networks or pro sports packages. It
is also required to purchase impulse PPV movies and other
special events.
Many viewers have never connected their systems to a phone
line and donM-^Rt feel they need it. Some recreational vehicle
owners take the DSS system with them when they travel and
others take systems to cabins or other remote locations
occasionally where no phone line is available.
How does the conditional access system work?
The News Datacom division of Rupert Murdoch's News
Corporation is managing a conditional access and encryption
system they developed for the DSS system. The decoder
accepts a credit-card sized processor board called a
SmartCard which plugs into the front and allows the decoder
to receive authorized programming.
The authorization stream is sent on each transponder along
with the video and audio information. The SmartCard is very
difficult to reverse-engineer, and can be inexpensively and
easily replaced by the owner if necessary.
Viewers who buy a used decoder must purchase a new SmartCard
from DIRECTV at a cost of about $50.
What about High Definition TV?
There is little doubt that DBS will be the first means in
which most Americans have access to broadcast High
Definition Television programming. Terrestrial broadcasters
are balking at the investment necessary to move to
terrestrial HDTV which will still leave them with one
channel in an increasingly multi-channel world. DBS will no
doubt prove to be the most cost-effective means of
delivering HDTV to homes in the U.S. for years to come.
All DSS decoder models contain a 20 mega bit per second data
port which RCA says can be directly connected to an HDTV
decoder. Whether or not DIRECTV or USSB plan to use it
remains to be seen.
Significant HDTV broadcasts will likely be many years away.
Within the next year or two, however, it is expected that
widescreen NTSC broadcasts will be available occasionally on
the DIRECTV/USSB service.
What is widescreen NTSC?
The DSS system is capable of broadcasting 16:9 screen ratio
video to widescreen sets such as RCA's CinemaScreen TVs.
Sony's latest professional digital video equipment can store
an enhanced 525-line widescreen image in a format they call
525 Widescreen. Movies are filmed (and therefore archived)
in widescreen formats as well. There is a lot of widescreen
source video available, and it is expected that DIRECTV and
possibly USSB will eventually do some widescreen broadcasts
using the decoderM-^Rs built-in pan and scanning capability.
However, DIRECTV says it will be many months before they do
any widescreen broadcasts.
The DSS system processes and broadcasts component video
signals allowing video recorded in widescreen component
formats such as Sony's 525 Widescreen to be passed straight
through to 16:9 widescreen sets without ever being processed
as NTSC video. The results of this are said to be of very
high quality and could be a short-term substitute for HDTV.
What other services might be available?
The potential for data services is perhaps the most exciting
aspect of the DIRECTV/USSB service. Because the DSS signal
is a digital packet-based system, it can send video, audio,
and computer data in any combination to the decoder. All of
the decoders contain a high-speed data port which can be
connected to a computer or another external decoder. The
24 MHz bandwidth of each transponder can send an enormous
amount of information (23 MBits of data per second). The
applications of this are difficult to imagine.
Picture, for example, the (imaginary) hotel channel, which
is not really a TV channel at all but instead is a circular
data services channel capable of downloading room
availability and pricing of participating hotels around the
country. Travelers enter a command at their computer which
instructs it to watch for all hotels in a particular city
with availability on a particular date in a particular price
range. After some time the computer reports back on all
appropriate hotels showing a full-motion video picture of
the hotel, its rooms, restaurants, and even a short video
sequence showing the entertainment planned for the lounge
with stereo sound. All this is possible with the
DIRECTV/USSB DBS service.
Both DIRECTV and USSB say they are exploring data delivery
and plan to do something in the near future, but neither
company has announced any specific services yet.
What are some of the disadvantages of the DSS system?
Heavy thunderstorms in the path between the satellite and
the dish can cause a total service outage. Some viewers
have reported spending a couple of hours watching a movie
and then losing the picture for the last few minutes because
of a rain outage.
There are visible digital artifacts which some viewers find
objectionable. Some claim this is very distracting while
others hardly notice it. It appears to be quite subjective.
Nevertheless digital artifacts are a part of the DSS system.
Some cable TV customers with cable-ready VCRs and TVs are
used to being able to watch one channel and record another
or set their VCR to record two different cable channels
while they are out. The DSS system, like any system which
requires a decoder, can only decode one channel at a time.
There is no way to watch one channel while recording another
or to use the VCRM-^Rs programming capability to record
programs on more than one channel at a time. A separate
decoder must be purchased for each TV or VCR which are to be
used at the same time.
It appears that VCR Plus units donM-^Rt work with the DSS
system.
Many on the west coast are disappointed that programs appear
very early since the programmers use east coast feeds for
most of their programming.
There seems to be an ongoing problem with audio and video
getting out of sync occasionally. The companies involved
say they are working on the problem, but some viewers find
this very annoying.
No channels carry any of the Star Trek series programming.
Where are the uplinks located?
DIRECTV has constructed a state-of-the-art all digital
facility in Castle Rock, Colorado where they uplink all
programming to the DIRECTV satellite. The center includes
several receiving stations and four 13-meter uplink dishes.
Programming is provided to the uplink facility via
satellite, over fiber optic cable, and through the use of
digital tape.
Equipment going into DIRECTV's broadcast center includes
more than 300 Sony digital Betacam video recorders, a
digital routing system that includes more than 800 inputs
and outputs, and 50 automated playback and recording
systems.
USSB has built a new 20,000+ square foot all-digital uplink
facility in Oakdale, Minnesota which is near Saint Paul.
They call it the National Broadcast Center. They are using
two 9-meter Ka-band uplink dishes which are inside a
specially constructed microwave-transparent atrium which
shields them from exposure to the weather.
Can you tell me more about the satellites and DSS system?
The two satellites are called DBS-1 and DBS-2. A third
satellite called DBS-3 is scheduled for launch in June of
1995. Each has 16 transponders powered by 120-watt
traveling-wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) suitable for both
digital and analog transmissions. They operate in the
Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS) portion of the Ku-band
spectrum (12.2-12.7 GHz) and employ circular polarization.
They can deliver 58 to 53 dBW radiated power over the
contiguous U.S. and southern Canada.
Each spacecraft weighs 3800 pounds and measures 7.1 meters
across and 26 meters long with antennas and solar panels
deployed. The solar panels generate 4300 watts of
electrical power.
The DSS system employs Quadrature Phase Shift Key (QPSK)
modulation to encode digital data on the RF carriers. The
audio is MPEG-1 Layer II encoded. Surround sound can be
achieved by encoding the audio with Dolby Pro-Logic before
MPEG encoding. The video will eventually be MPEG-2 with up
to CCIR 601-1 sampling rates which is capable of up to 720 x
480 images.
The system uses a statistical multi-program encoder called a
StatMux that varies the bit rate according to video content
taking into consideration other programs multiplexed on the
same transponder.
What about the third satellite?
DIRECTV has built a third satellite scheduled for launch in
June of 1995 which will operate as part of the constellation
at 101 degrees W. They hope to have it operational by
summer or fall of 1995.
Each of the DBS satellites can be configured for either 16
120 Watt transmissions or eight 240 Watt. This is based on
the DC power generating capability of their solar panels.
The DSS architecture can broadcast 40Mbits/sec per
transponder in either of two error control modes. In High
mode, 30Mbps is allocated to information and 10Mbps to error
control. In Low mode, 23Mbps is allocated to information
and 17Mbps is allocated to error control.
The two-satellite configuration is running in Low mode.
High mode requires about 3dB more signal power to achieve an
end-to-end availability equivalent to the Low mode.
Therefore by adding a third satellite, DIRECTV and USSB will
end up broadcasting 16 transponders at 240 Watts in High
mode which would give them about a 30% increase in
throughput. The remaining 16 transponders would apparently
need to continue to run at 120 watts unless a 4th satellite
was added. DIRECTV says there are no plans for a fourth
satellite at this time.
How many of these systems have sold and how many do they
expect to sell?
DIRECTV and USSB claim over half a million customers to date
with that number climbing by thousands every day. RCA says
they have built and delivered over 900,000 DSS systems.
DIRECTV has forecasted 1 million units sold the first year
and 10 to 12 million within six years. USSB says that is
conservative and they have forecasted 2 million by the end
of 1995 and 15 to 20 million after five years. USSB also
expects to sell 40 million units within 10 years.
Thomson considers their first generation DSS decoder the
largest first-year introduction of a consumer electronics
product in the history of the business. They have recently
opened a manufacturing line in Mexico which allows them to
assemble over 120,000 units per month or about 4000 units
per day. They are currently expanding the plant to a
capacity of 200,000 per month.
DIRECTV believes it will break even in its second year of
operation when they expect to have 3 million subscribers.
USSB says their break-even point is closer to 2 million
subscribers.
The market plan is to first concentrate on the 10 million or
so rural homes which do not have access to cable TV and then
move to more populated urban areas as the cost of the
equipment goes down. Both USSB and DIRECTV plan to compete
with cable by stressing higher quality pictures and sound
with more choice at a lower price.
DIRECTV, USSB, RCA, and Sony plan to spend a combined $150
million on advertising in 1995.
Will DSS hardware prices drop in the near future?
USSB says the price of the DSS hardware will drop
significantly, perhaps to half the initial price within a
couple of years after its introduction. DIRECTV says they
expect the price to be in the $500 to $600 range for the
basic unit by the end of 1995.
The wholesale prices will be set exclusively by Thomson
until 1 million units have been sold which will occur about
mid 1995. After that time, Sony and Thomson will share
exclusivity for another 6 months. At the time Sony is
allowed to enter the market, they will compete head-to-head
with Thomson on both price and features. This is expected
to move the prices down.
After the two exclusive periods expire, additional
manufacturers will be entering the market increasing
competition for price and features.
Can you tell me about the Sony decoders?
Sony cannot yet publicly discuss their DSS product line, but
information about them is slowly becoming available. They
have developed their own unique program guide which will
help them differentiate their product line from Thomson.
Their products are expected to be retail priced the same or
slightly higher than RCAM-^Rs units.
Sony is expected to sell three DSS packages. The basic
package will allow connection to only one TV. The next
package is expected to use the same decoder with an LNB
which will allow multiple (separately purchased) decoders to
be connected. The top package includes a different, more
feature-rich decoder and remote control with the more
advanced LNB.
What is the service called PRIMESTAR?
A group of major Cable Multi System Operators (MSOs) have
joined together and formed Primestar Partners, Limited which
also offers a fully digital 80 channel Direct-To-Home
service to North America. Primestar and the DIRECTV/USSB
service are competitors and are the only two DBS services
available at this time.
The Primestar system currently uses the medium power Satcom
K1 satellite to broadcast to a three foot dish using General
InstrumentsM-^R DigiCipher 1 digital broadcasting system.
Primestar differs from the DIRECTV/USSB service in several
ways. Most notably, they do not require customers to buy the
decoder or dish. Instead, they lease it and include the
lease cost in the monthly subscription fees. They use a
larger dish which is about 3 feet in diameter which must be
professionally installed. They use General InstrumentM-^Rs
DigiCipher decoders which are not compatible with the DSS
system.
Primestar currently has over 400,000 subscribers. Sometime
in 1995 Primestar will begin to distribute update modules
for their customersM-^R decoders (at PrimestarM-^Rs expense)
which will support the DigiCipher 2 system. DC2 uses the
standard MPEG-2 syntax. It is expected they will move to
the DC2 system sometime in 1996.
Primestar currently does not broadcast in the BSS portion of
the spectrum which the FCC has designated for DBS services.
This has prompted some to claim they are not true DBS.
However, that will be changing soon.
Primestar controls 27 frequencies from the 110 degree
orbital location to which they are planning to migrate their
medium power DBS service sometime in 1996. This will make
Primestar a major player in the High Power DBS industry.
How much does the Primestar service cost?
Local Primestar distributors set packages and prices for
their area based on competition and the cost of doing
business so prices vary nationwide. Primestar installation
prices vary with normal installations ranging from about
$150 to $300 plus about $75 for any desired additional
outlets.
It appears programming subscriptions are priced slightly
higher than those of the DIRECTV/USSB service, but with the
equipment leasing costs included, that is to be expected.
Their subscription fee for a second decoder within a
household is significantly higher than with DIRECTV or USSB.
For about $40 a month, viewers can get
A&E
Cartoon Network
C-SPAN
CNN
CNN Headline News
CMT
Discovery Channel
Disney Channel
ESPN
Family Channel
Learning Channel
Preview Channel
Sci-Fi Channel
TBS
TNN
TNT
Turner Classic Movies
USA
Weather Channel
In addition, viewers get 6 CD-quality music channels and 14
regional sports channels.
Lower priced subscriptions (with fewer channels) may be
available in some areas. Premium services are also available
for the following approximate prices.
HBO, HBO2, and HBO3 are about $10 per month.
Cinemax and Cinemax2 are about $9 per month.
HBO, HBO2, HBO3, Cinemax, and Cinemax2 is about $15 per
month.
A network affiliate package of ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and PBS
is about $5 per month or $1 apiece.
Encore Multiplex is about $5 per month.
TV-Japan featuring Japanese and English broadcasts from
Tokyo is about $20 per month.
Primestar recently added Starz, Playboy TV, CNN
International, QVC, CNBC, and the Golf Channel, but pricing
information is not yet available.
Primestar says customers can optionally purchase their
decoders for about $700 for the first unit and $500 for each
additional unit. They are expected to put more emphasis on
selling vs leasing equipment as time goes on.
What about other high power DBS services?
The FCC has set aside eight orbital positions at the equator
for U.S.-owned DBS satellites of which four are to provide
service over the east coast and four over the west. At each
of these slots the FCC is permitting a maximum of 32
transponders. The FCC assigns DBS frequencies to applicants
in a way that gives them an equal number of orbital
positions from east coast satellites and west coast
satellites. The idea is that each company can provide
service to the entire continental U.S. by broadcasting from
both their east and west satellites.
However, with today's technology, three of the four eastern
positions (101 degrees west longitude, 110 degrees w, and
119 degrees w) are at longitudes which can actually provide
coverage to the entire continental U.S. These are the most
desirable slots and companies assigned these locations are
the only ones who have announced plans to begin a service.
Note that companies at these slots also have licenses for
west coast only slots which at this time they apparently are
not planning to operate from.
The DIRECTV/USSB DBS service operates from what all experts
agree is the best orbital position (101 degrees). It is
interesting that USSB controls 3 frequencies at PrimestarM-^Rs
110 degree orbital slot as well
With DIRECTV/USSB at 101 degrees and Primestar at 110
degrees, what is planned for the 119 degree position?
Echosphere's EchoStar division is now in the process of
planning their DBS service from the 119 degree orbital
position where they have control of 21 transponders. Their
first satellite, called EchoStar I, is being built by Martin
Marietta and is scheduled for launch by China Great Wall
Industry Corporation sometime In mid to late 1995. They are
building a $40 million uplink facility in Cheyenne, Wyoming
and hope to be operational by late in 1995 or early in 1996.
Echostar has reportedly selected the Digital Video Broadcast
(DVB) technology for their digital service which is MPEG-2
based. Their decoders will be incompatible with both DSS and
Primestar. They say their programming and equipment prices
will be lower than the competition and expect to have 3
million customers by the year 2000.
Are any other DBS services planned?
Canadian based Tee-Comm plans to launch a medium-power
service they call Alpha-Star to the U.S. late in 1995 or
early in 1996. They plan to broadcast 100 channels to 24-
inch dishes from AT&TM-^Rs Telstar 402R satellite which is
expected to launch late in 1995. They will use the same DVB
system as EchoStar and hope to have up to 200 channels by
sometime in 1997.
Where can I get more information?
You can get more information using the following phone
numbers:
DIRECTV Consumer Information 1-800-DIRECTV
DIRECTV Dealer Information 1-800-323-1994
USSB Consumer Hotline 1-800-BETTERTV
USSB Dealer Hotline 1-800-898-USSB
Primestar General Information 1-800-966-9615
Where can I find the latest version of this document?
This document is updated and submitted every month or two to
both the rec.video.satellite.dbs Internet news group and the
DBS section of the COMPUSERVE Consumer Electronics Forum
library. An Internet archive is also kept at
ftp://ftp.src.honeywell.com/pub/www/jhodgson/dbs.html.
--
Richard R. Peterson, President Phone: 612-773-8652
The DBS Connection Voice mail: 612-683-6151
1480 Lark Avenue, Maplewood, MN 55109 Fax: 612-683-6287
Internet: [email protected]
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