A.....
ADSL - Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line - high speed internet connectivity via the twisted pair copper cable that also connects your main telephone.
Aerial/Antenna - Physical means by which transmitted television or radio signals are received. Most commonly roof or chimney mounted they point in the direction of the most suitable transmitter. In the Worcester area for example aerials will point towards Malvern, Bromsgrove or Sutton Coldfield.
Amplifier - An electronic device that increases the level or "size" of an electronic signal that is presented to it from and aerial
AV - Audio Visual - the input and output signals from a VCR/DVD/TV/Set Top Box etc.
B.....
Broadband - A method of providing high speed internet connectivity into the home or business. Typically provided via ADSL over the telephone network or via a Cable Modem over a Cable TV (CATV) network.
C.....
CAI - Confederation of Aerial Industries: Industry body that provides training, guidance and certification of products to the industry and advice to customers.
CAI Website
CATV - Community Antennae Television: A means by which multi-channel TV programming is distributed to thousands of homes and businesses. As opposed to the traditional terrestrial TV or SKY method which utilises an aerialor satellite dish respectively, CATV delivers broadcast TV via an underground coaxial cable. Virgin Media is the only CATV in the UK today.
CCTV - Closed Circuit Television: A system of cameras and TV monitors used to provide security surveillance for homes or businesses
Coaxial Cable - Quite simply the piece of cable that is connected to your TV aerial and into the back of your TV
D.....
DAB - Digital Audio Broadcast: Radio programmes transmitted in a digital format as opposed to an analogue format such as FM radio.
Digital TV - The new method for transmitting televison and radio programmes. It permits more content to be transmitted (upto 200 channels) over the airwaves at a higher quality.
DSO - Digital Switch Over: All television transmissions will be coverted to this new digital format in the UK by 2012. As a result of this change some existing TV aerials may not function sufficiently to provide an adequate TV picture. A Digital aerial upgade may be required as well as a Digital capable TV or Set Top Box (STB).
E.....
Ethernet - A physical method for connecting multiple computers and devices (printers for example) together. Typically called Ethernet Networks that can transfer data at rates of 10Mbits,100Mbits or 1Gbit/s. If you have Broadband into your home your PC will probably be connected to the Broadband Router or Modem via an Ethernet Cable.
F.....
FM - Frequency Modulation
Freesat - A digital satellite television service supported by the BBC and ITV that provides multi-channel programming (about 200 channels). Freesat can deliver some programmes in High Definition and can also be connected to your Broadband network to enable viewing of the BBC iPlayer service. This differs from SKY in that the service is free once the initail installation is paid for.
Freeview - Similar to Freesat but via a Digital Aerial. Most TVs today have Digital Tuners built in so that they are compatible with Freeview and will work on completion of the DSO programme.
FTA - Free to Air: Freeview and Freesat are examples of FTA systems.
H.....
HD - High Definition: relating to the quality of the TV or PC picture that you can visually see. A TV picture is made up from a number of picture elements called pixels. The more pixels displayed the higher the definition of the picture and the more detail you will see as well as intensity of colour. To get more pixels though you need more lines hence you will see numbers such as 720p and 1080p. Most TV channels are broadcast today in Standard Definition (SD) format and will be displayed as such regardless of the capabilities of your TV. Of course, we are now starting to see TV channels broadcast in HD format - BBC HD, SKY HD etc.
I....
IRS - Integrated Reception System. A system designed for multi-tenant buildings such as apartment blocks, hotels, residential homes etc that facilitates to viewing of satellite, digital TV, FM and DAB radio services in each room/apartment.
L....
LNB - Low Noise Block (down-convertor). Device attached to the boom arm of a satellite dish that acts as an antennae and also converts the received satellite signals into a frequency that can transmitted via co-axial cable. This can come in single port or multi port configurations - single port means that the satellite dish can be connected to on Set Top Box only. If you want to connect to more Set Top Boxes or to receive SKY or Freesat + then you will need a Quad LNB.
