Direct to the Consumer
Traditionally, satellites have been used to advantage primarily for the transport of thin route traffic and the distribution of TV to cable head ends and network affiliates. This is due to the ability of one satellite, located at GEO1 in particular to provide communications continuity over one-third of the globe. Fiber, on the other hand, is a point-to-point, wide bandwidth medium that typically requires significant traffic to justify its installation. In the past, the customers of satellite service providers have tended to be large businesses, the telecommunications carriers, and TV program distributors. A major change is occurring to include the end consumer in this customer mix, with direct to the home (DTH), direct broadcast satellite (DBS), mobile telephony, and Internet access as the primary services. This change is accelerating as a result of the insertion of new technology onto satellites; namely increased power, phased array antennas, large diameter antennas, multi-spot beam antennas, and on-board processing and switching. These changes allow satellites to be a cost effective competitor to cable TV, cellular telephony, and the high bandwidth Internet service providers in many parts of the world.
The recently proposed satellite based, high data rate Internet services are aiming at a moving target, as the terrestrial network is embracing new technology at an impressive rate. The effective bandwidth of fiber is increasing many-fold with the introduction of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), and with optical switching and multiplexing approaching commercial viability. In addition, LMDS2, MMDS3, cable modem, and xDSL4 technologies are all vying for this business, to provide high bandwidth services to homes and small businesses, at low cost to the subscriber.
Notes:
1GEO geosynchronous earth orbit .
2LMDS Local Multipoint Distribution Service () (); , , 26 30 .
3MMDS Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (); , 2,5 2,7 .
4xDSL x digital subscriber line xDSL ( DSL).
20. Find the following information in the text:
1) traditional communicational services;
2) changes in the field of communication;
3) the recently proposed satellite based services.
21. What can you add to the text using your own experience in the field of providing satellite based services to the consumer?
UNIT III
SYSTEMS OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION, BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION
Part A
Word List
| blurred | /blE:(r)d/ | , ; , | |
| boost | /bu:st/ | ; | |
| broadcasting | /'brO:dkQ:stIN/ | , ; | |
| cease | /si:s/ | ( -), () | |
| clarity | /'klxrItI/ | , ; | |
| deploy | /dI'plPI/ | , ; | |
| dissemination | /dI'semineIS(q)n/ | , | |
| facilitate | /fq'sIlIteIt/ | ; ; | |
| fading | /'feIdIN/ | ; ; | |
| feeder | /'fi:dq/ | , ; , | |
| flexible | /'fleksqbl/ | ||
| fuzzy | /'fAzI/ | , | |
| hiss | /hIs/ | , | |
| incur | /In'kW/ | , | |
| merge | /mq:dZ/ | , | |
| multiplexed | /'mAltIplekst/ | , ; ; | |
| obstacle | /'Pbstqkl/ | ( ); | |
| overpass | /'quvqpQ:s/ | ||
| pop | /pPp/ | ; | |
| range | /reIndZ/ | ; | |
| ratio | /'reISIqu/ | , | |
| scarce | /skeqs/ | , | |
| set-top converter box | |||
| smooth | /smHD/ | , | |
| sparkle | /'spQ:kl/ | , | |
| static | /'stxtIk/ | ||
| subscriber | /sqb'skraIbq/ | ; | |
| terrestrial | /tI'restrIql/ | ||
| trunk | /trANk/ | ||
| ultimate | /'AltImIt/ | ; | |
| undertake | /"Andq'teIk/ | , | |
| unidirectional | /"jHnidaI'rekS(q)nl/ | ||
| unscramble | /'An'skrxmbl/ | , | |
| upgrade | /ApgreId/ | , , |
1. Define the following words as parts of speech and give the initial words of the following derivatives.
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Computerization, entertainment, television, digital, wider, dissemination, user, available, unidirectional, directly, broadcasting.
2. Translate the following international words.
Transform, antenna, horizon, spectrum, information, service, company, consolidate, programming, transmission, pole, provider, pioneer, compression, analog, channel, local, design, centimeter, adaptable, direct.
3. Give Russian words with similar roots.
Traditional, potential, standard, image, cable, combine, converter, modulation, operator, television, system, diameter.
4. Match the English equivalents among the words given above exercises1 3.
, , , , , , , , , , , , .
5. Pick out the equivalents of the following words and word combinations in paragraphs 2, 3 of the text below.
, , , , , , , , , , -, .
6. Fill in the gaps with one of the following words:
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high-speed access broadcasters potential
problems cable operators subscriber
1. There are that could slow the mass deployment of high-definition television.
2. Television will have to replace their entire technological base.
3. The will be allowed to order special programs on a pay-per-view basis.
4. New technologies will make it possible for to increase their maximum offering of channels from around 125 to around 500.
5. The cable promises to the Internet.
6. New communication technologies offer the for a revolution in how everyone on this planet deals with information.
7. Read the following text. Choose the sentences covering the main idea of the text.
Trends in Television
1. Computerization is transforming the world of television news and entertainment. This is evident in the three kinds of television systems available. The first is traditional over-the-air broadcasting, in which analog signals are sent out from land-based towers for reception by antenna of every TV set in area. Now digital television broadcasting is also on horizon. Digital TV has the potential to provide a wider range of channels within the scarce radio frequency spectrum. It also will facilitate the flexible use of that spectrum for delivery of new kinds of services, such as data-casting (the dissemination of data messages to multiple users through airwaves) to TV sets or PCs. A related trend concerns picture clarity. Much effort is going into developing high-definition television (HDTV1), a new, digital standard providing images five times as rich in information as todays TV pictures.
2. A second kind of service is cable television. Cable television is available in many countries as phone service. Cable TV works this way: the cable companys central office consolidates the transmission, which combines some local programming with transmissions received from satellites. From there it is sent in analog form to subscribers over a unidirectional, tree-and-branch network. Amplifiers boost the signals along trunks and local feeders, which, like telephone lines, are suspended from poles or buried in the ground. The drop, usually in the form of coaxial cable, brings the signal to the home, connecting either directly to a cable-ready television set or to a set-top converter box. Modulation technologies introduced in the past few years, however, have allowed fiber optic lines to replace coax in the trunk and feeder portions of the system.
3. The third kind of television service in which rapid progress can be seen involves satellites. Direct-broadcast satellites are a form of television transmission that competes with cable and terrestrial broadcasting. The first satellite-broadcast television images were designed for use by cable- and broadcast-TV service providers, but more recently, a high-powered satellite specifically designed for home TV service was introduced; it calls for a far more modest dish that is only 46 centimeters in diameter and costs no more than a few hundred dollars. Since digital compression technology is more easily adaptable to cable transmission, direct-broadcast satellite operators pioneered its use in TV.
Notes:
1HDTV high-definition television .
8. Read the following statements and say whether they are true or false. Correct the false ones.
1. There are four kinds of television systems available nowadays.
2. The first traditional over-the-air broadcasting is based on transmission of analog signals.
3. Digital TV doesnt give a wider range of channels.
4. HDTV provides images three times as rich as todays TV pictures.
5. The cable companys central office combines some local programming with satellite transmissions.
6. Amplifiers boost signals along copper wires.
7. The first satellite-broadcast television was specifically designed for its home use.
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8. Direct-broadcast satellite operators have begun to use digital compression technology in TV.
9. Match the parts to complete the sentences.
| 1. Computerization is changing 2. In over-the-air broadcasting 3. Digital TV has the potential 4. The cable companys central office sends programming in analog form 5. Due to modulation technologies 6. Satellite television competes with 7. Direct-broadcast satellite operators pioneered the use of digital compression technology because | a) analog signals are sent out from land-based towers. b) to subscribers over a unidirectional, tree-and-branch network. c) the world of television and entertainment. d) cable and terrestrial broadcasting. e) it is easily adaptable to cable transmission. f) to provide a wider range of channels within the scarce radio frequency spectrum. g) fiber optic lines replaced coax in the trunk and feeder portions of the system. |
10. Using information of paragraph 2 speak about the way cable TV works.
11. Make an outline of the text.
12. Make a short summary of the text in written form using your outline.
Part B
13. Study the key words and word combinations of the following text. Guess the topical question of it.
Television system, lines per image, provide, little interference, potentially, picture quality, benefits, smoother motion, richer and more natural colours, prefer high definition to analog, problems, weak signal, double images, picture sparkles, broadcast, upgrade their TVs, switch to, slower undertake.
14. Look at the title. Make your predictions about the contents of the text.
15. Divide the text into logical parts. Entitle each part.
