Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) -- a satellite designed with sufficient power so that inexpensive earth stations, or downlinks, can be used for direct residential reception
. Ground Earth Station (GES) -- fixed facility where the satellites downlink. Fixed facility with which satellites "up-link or down-link' to exchange information. MATMO frequently uses the GES located in Southbury, Connecticut
Earth Station -- the ground equipment, including a dish and other electronics components needed to receive and/or transmit satellite telecommunications signals. An "uplink" is used for sending information to a satellite for distribution to various earth receiving stations, while a "downlink" is used to receive such information.
Uplink -- the path, or link, from a transmitting earth station to the satellite; frequently applied to a transmitting earth station.
Downlink -- the path, or link, from the satellite to earth stations which receive its signals. The term is frequently applied to a parabolic antenna that receives signals from a satellite. It is often referred to as a dish, a terminal, an earth station, or a TVRO (television receive only).
Television Receive Only (TVRO) -- an earth station capable of receiving satellite TV signals but not of transmitting them; a "downlink."
Dish -- a parabolic antenna that is the primary element of a satellite earth station, or downlink.
Mobile Earth Station (MES) -- a portable satellite dish that communicates with the (INMARSAT) satellite. Nicknamed the 'satellite phone"
INMARSAT -- an international global telecommunications satellite network established by government treaty in 1979, with 79 member countries. Land Earth Stations (fixed or portable, even to suitcase-sized) provide links between rural sites and telecom networks. Can provide low-bandwidth digital services anywhere on the earth's surface for as little as $1/minute.
Geostationary Orbit -- describes the orbit of a satellite whose position relative to the earth's surface is constant so it appears to hover over one spot on the earth's equator.
Low Altitude Satellites -- satellites that orbit the Earth at lower altitudes than the geosynchronous satellites and cannot maintain a constant position above the Earth. Thus, they are only accessible when they come into view of the receiving dish, two or three times a day for a few minutes at a time.
Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) -- a type of satellite dish (1.8-2.4 meters in diameter). Used primarily for data transmissions (low speed to high speed). Can send and receive voice, data and video signals if enhanced. VSATs can transmit over wide areas by relaying to satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
Ku-Band Frequencies -- in the 11 to 14 GHz band used to send and receive signals to and from satellites. Being somewhat more narrow than C-Band transmissions, the dish needed to receive these signals is smaller; Ku-Band tends to be somewhat less expensive than C-Band for this reason.