Satellite Reception. Since we will be interested in Direct-To-Home reception, we will from now on be focusing on the Ku-Band beams.

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1 Satellite Reception There are various satellites covering South Africa that offers Data, Pay TV and FREE-TO-AIR radio & television. In this document, we will be focusing on the INTELSAT 20 satellite as our reference to receive FREE-TO-AIR channels on almost any decoder. INTELSAT 20 has been launched in late 2012 and replaced two satellites (INTELSAT 7/10, formerly known as PAS 7/10) at the same orbital position. This satellite offers various beams, each with different footprints. Satellite Name: Intelsat 20 (IS20) Position: 68.5 E Beams: C-band Landmass Beam (Picture 1) Ku-band EU/ME/Central Asia Beam Ku-band Europe/Africa Beam (Picture 2) Ku-band Russia Beam Ku-band South Africa Beam (Picture 3) C-BAND vs. KU BAND The C-Band beam provides a huge landmass footprint but in return requires a large antenna for reception. CBAND coverage is useful for signal distribution and is not as easily affected by weather and rain. KU-Band beams in turn provide spot beams with smaller footprints but can be picked up by much smaller antennas making it a lowcost method for signal transmission to many homes. This is called DIRECT-TO-HOME (DTH) transmission. Since we will be interested in Direct-To-Home reception, we will from now on be focusing on the Ku-Band beams.

2 HIGH BAND vs. LOW BAND IS 20 operates on two different frequency ranges (BANDS) since there are two Ku-band beams that covers South Africa at the same time. These bands are called LOW Band and HIGH Band. LOW BAND INTELSAT 20 Ku Band ( GHz) *Used by Multi-choice/DSTV and Free-To-Air channels and covers South Africa and neighbouring countries. HIGH BAND INTELSAT 20 Ku Band ( GHz) *Used by Free-To-Air channels to cover most of the African continent and portions of Europe. VERTICAL vs. HORIZONTAL This satellite (IS 20) also transmit vertical and horizontal beams on the different frequency bands giving us a total 4 signal types to receive. A Universal LNB can be used to receive both frequency BANDs. These LNBs are also known as DUAL-BAND (UNIVERSAL) LNBs. Simply put, these LNBs are capable of receiving four signal types: 1. LOW BAND HORIZONAL 2. LOW BAND VERTICAL 3. HIGH BAND HORIZONAL 4. HIGH BAND VERTICAL It is very important to know that a single LNB can only receive one of the above mentioned signal types at one time and therefore a single cable cannot just be split up to connect to more decoders. Decoders can however share the same LNB signal if they are to receive the same BAND and POLARITY at any given time. During installation, it is important to set the LNB Skew correctly to receive both polarities equally strong. For best results, the LNB can be fine-tuned on a HIGH BAND frequency for best peak values. WHAT IS AN LNB? The abbreviation LNB stands for Low Noise Block down-converter. It is the device on the front of a satellite dish that receives the very low level microwave signal from the satellite, amplifies it, changes the signals to a lower frequency band and sends them down the cable to the indoor receiver. Every LNB contains one or more LOCAL OSCILLATORS (LO), running at certain frequencies. A UNIVERSAL LNB (DUAL BAND) has two local oscillators, one to receive and convert LOW BAND and the other to receive and convert HIGH BAND signals... Understanding these LO frequencies will resolve many questions and help you to install and tune decoders successfully. For this scenario, we focus only on Ku-Band LO frequencies... LOW BAND Local Oscillator (LO) Frequencies (=9.75 GHz) - Default HIGH BAND Local Oscillator (LO) Frequencies (=10.6 GHz) - Depending on LNB Make/Model (=10.7 GHz) - Depending on LNB Make/Model

3 Since there is mainly one LO frequency used for the LOW BAND in South Africa, it is easy to setup a decoder for IS 10 LOW BAND (South African Beam) reception. To receive the IS 20 HIGH BAND (Africa Beam), we need to determine on what LO frequency our LNB is running for HIGH BAND. This frequency should be entered into the receiving decoder in order for the decoder to calculate the frequencies correctly on L-BAND. Finally, the decoder does the rest of the work to switch the LNB to the correct signal type. By switching between 13 and 18 Volts, the decoder tells the LNB to receive Vertical or Horizontal polarities and generates a 22 khz tone to switch from LOW to HIGH band as shown below: 1. LOW BAND HORIZONAL (Requires 18V and 22kHz OFF) 2. LOW BAND VERTICAL (Requires 13V and 22kHz OFF) 3. HIGH BAND HORIZONAL (Requires 18V and 22kHz ON) 4. HIGH BAND VERTICAL (Requires 13V and 22kHz ON) A single LNB can only see a single polarity and band at a time. This is fine as long as you only have a single receiver. It has full control as to what polarity it tunes. However, once you have two decoders you will need a different type of LNB and might even need a multi-switch. MORE ON LNB TYPES There are more types of LNBs available for different purposes. By selecting the correct configuration, you will get the best results in order to receive more channels from both satellites. HD PVR and Dual View decoders require at least two cables from a TWIN LNB. Note the word twin This means that the LNB actually contains two physical LNB outputs, each able to receive one of the four signal types simultaneously. This is useful for decoders that that offer multi-view options. QUAD LNB types have four physical outputs offering more decoder connections. A QUATTRO LNB looks similar to the QUAD LNB but only offers one signal type per output. These LNBs needs to be carefully wired to multi-switches in order to provide distribution to more decoders (Usually more than 4 decoders). Even some Twin LNBs have fixed type outputs for vertical and horizontal polarities and also must be used through a multi-switch or connected straight to a PVR type decoder. WHAT IS A MULTI-SWITCH In short, a multi-switch makes it possible to connect more decoders to a dish or, in some cases, more dishes to a decoder. There are many configurations that differ depending on the application. Each decoder connected to a multi-switch requests a band and polarity with a 13/18V and 22KHz tone. The multi-switch then makes a connection to the correct source from a Twin/Quad/Quattro LNB. You can see a multi-switch as a telephone switchboard. WHAT SIZE DISH? There are some important things to note about the correct dish sizes. IS 20 HIGH BAND has a much larger footprint and therefore it requires a larger dish by default. IS 20 Ku Band South Africa Beam can be received with a 30cm 60cm dish depending on LNB type. IS 20 Ku Band Africa Beam can be received with Dish Size - 60cm with Single LNB ( % Quality) Dish Size 80cm 100cm with Single LNB (100% Quality - Recommended) Note: Twin or Quad LNBs has an added signal quality loss and therefore it is not recommended to use it with a 60cm dish since it will result in poor HIGH BAND quality reception.

4 Let s look at some configurations: Picture 1 (Single LNB & Decoder) This picture indicates a normal single LNB configuration where the LNB switches automatically to the desired band and polarity depending on a single decoder s 13/18V and 22 khz tone. Picture 2 (Twin LNB + Multi-Switch) Here, a Twin-LNB connects to a multi-switch (LOW BAND HORIZONTAL + LOW BAND VERTICAL). Note on the output side multiple receivers can be connected. The multi-switch will monitor each receiver and connect it to a specific polarity. Since the LNB only provides LOW BAND input, the receivers will not be able to receive HIGH BAND channels. Picture 3 (Quattro LNB + Multi-Switch) In order for multiple receivers to receive all 4 signal types, a Quattro-LNB with fixed types can be connected to a multi-switch. Now receivers can request HIGH and LOW BAND signals on both Horizontal and Vertical polarities. This is the best configuration for 4 or more receivers. Note: A Quad LNB has 4 independent outputs and can be used for 4 or less decoders without a multi-switch

5 TRANSPONDERS All satellite television channels belong to a transponder (Carrier). Each transponder has a unique frequency and runs on a specific polarity (Horizontal or Vertical). Transponder sizes vary as well and therefore the amount of channels that can be viewed by a single transponder varies as well. The symbol rate represents the size of the carrier and the receiver needs specific information in order to successfully tune to these channels. Some decoders needs the FEC value as well which is related to the transmission modulation. Finally, each channel in a transponder has a PID number for video/audio and PCR. This way, the receiver knows what video & audio streams to display for each channel. Now that we know more about transponders, let s discuss common terminologies that satellite receivers (decoders) have. Once you understand what they mean, you will be able to tune decoders to receive FREE-TO-AIR channels with no hassle. 1.) Satellite/LNB Setup Some decoders will have a satellite setup and others will call it LNB setup. Here, you should be able to enter the LO frequencies of your LNB. Usually it is 9750 for LNB Lo and or for LNB Hi as discussed earlier. These frequencies could also be called LOCAL frequencies since it is the local frequency of the LNB or it could be called LNB Hi and LNB Lo. 2.) Transponder Setup Transponders may be given other names depending on the decoder but basically it is where the channel frequencies are entered. For DSTV decoders, this is called Networks under Advanced Options, Dish Installation. In order to add a transponder, you need to supply the following information: For Example: Frequency: MHz (Could also be called Down Frequency) Symbol Rate: (Size of the carrier) FEC: 5/6 (Some decoders can detect this modulation automatically) Polarity: Vertical (This is the polarity of the carrier) 22 khz: Off (If frequency >11700 MHz, then ON else OFF, Could be Auto) NIT/Network: Yes (This will search for other transponders linked to this one) Decoders might need to rescan after changing the transponder setup in order to receive the extra channels or a search option will be available. TERMINOLOGIES FTA/FREE stands for FREE-TO-AIR. By turning this function on or off before a scan, you will confirm if the decoder should search for free (Non- Encrypted) channels only or if it should include commercial (Encrypted) channels. Note: Encrypted channels can only be viewed with decoders that have Smart Card readers and are usually used for Pay-TV. This function will normally be available in FREE-TO-AIR decoders. DSTV will not have this function since they offer a PAY-TV service by default. Network Search / NIT This function is very useful since it enables the decoder to search for transponders linked to each other when turned on. Without this function enabled, you will need to enter much more frequencies to get all the available free channels. Transponders from the same operator will usually be Knitted together and only one frequency needs to be entered to search for all of their channels available. LNB Lo Frequency This is the LNB Local Oscillator frequency (Sometimes written on the LNB) to receive LOW BAND (INTELSAT 20 South Africa Beam ) signals Default LNB Hi Frequency This is the LNB Local Oscillator frequency (Sometimes written on the LNB) to receive HIGH BAND (INTELSAT 20 Africa Beam ) signals Default Universal LNB or

6 AVAILABLE TRANSPONDERS (IS 20) FREE-TO-AIR # Operator: Frequency MHz: BAND / Polarity Symbol Rate / 22K FEC: 1 Sentech ( GHz) LOW BAND / Vertical OFF 5/6 2 View Africa ( GHz) HIGH BAND / Horizontal ON 1/2 3 Sentech ( GHz) LOW BAND / Vertical OFF 5/6 4 Sentech ( GHz) HIGH BAND/ Vertical ON 1/2 5 View Africa ( GHz) HIGH BAND / Horizontal ON 1/2 6 Botswana TV ( GHz) LOW BAND / Vertical OFF 5/6 7 Sentech ( GHz) HIGH BAND/ Horizontal ON 1/2 8 View Africa ( GHz) HIGH BAND/ Vertical ON 1/2 9 DSTV ( GHz) LOW BAND / Vertical OFF 5/6 AVAILABLE CHANNELS Please note that only the channels that Spirit Word promotes are on this list. There are more available channels... Sort # Name FREQ V/A/PCR PID NIT # 1 SWC 11170/V/ /2320/ SWC 12682/H/ /2320/ Daystar 11674/V/ /0052/ CTV 12722/V/ /0116/ GODCh 11674/V/ /0269/ Kruiskyk 11170/V/ /0047/ HOPE 12722/V/ /0063/ ABN 12682/H/ /5654/ Sonlife 12602/V/ /1033/ Loveworld 12722/V/ /0052/ Omega 12682/H/ /0711/ KICC TV 12562/H/ /0544/ F /V/ /0281/ Press TV 12562/H/ /0517/ BTV 11625/V/ /0256/ Dish 11010/V/ /1627/ Muvi TV Af 12562/H/ /0518/ SEN3 (Learning) 11170/V/ /0521/ SEN5 (Mindset) 11170/V/ /0530/ A TV 12602/V/ /1025/ HBTV 11674/V/ /0562/ EWTN 12602/V/ /1043/ Viewsat Pro 12602/V/ /1048/ Ezekiel TV 11170/V/ /1544/ RTM 12722/V/ /0265/ KLN 12682/H/ /0660/ Chosen TV 12682/H/ /0720/ CVV 12682/H/ /0548/ Messiah 12562/H/ /0516/ ACBN 12682/H/ /0702/ ABN 12562/H/ /0536/ Hosanna 12682/H/ /0066/ CFTV 12682/H/ /0651/ Olive TV 12602/V/ /1028/ El-Shaddai 12602/V/ /1030/ Dove Vision 12602/V/ /1032/ GNF TV 11170/V/ /0700/ Miracle TV 12562/H/ /0514/ Evangel TV 12602/V/ /1044/ Dunamis TV 12602/V/ /1056/ MFM 12602/V/ /1057/ Novo Tempo 12562/H/ /0520/ *If these settings helped you in any way, please let us know and pass it on so that other people can tune in too... Send your questions, comments or suggestions to installation@spiritword.org.za Spirit Word Team-