Subject: US High Power DBS Frequently Asked Questions
From: rich@ncs.com (Rich Peterson)
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 15:36:32 GMT
Message-ID: <1995Apr12.153632.27541@ncs.com>


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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 DIRECTVs 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
Americas 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 subscribers 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 Physicians 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 DIRECTVs 
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 dont 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 TVs 
video/antenna switch to watch local programming.  The DSS 
remotes 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 dont 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 decoders 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 VCRs 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 dont 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 RCAs 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 
Instruments 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 Instruments 
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 customers decoders  (at  Primestars 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 Primestars 
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&Ts 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:    rich@ncs.com

