| 4:2:0 | digital video signal chrominance sampling standard |
| 4:2:2 | digital video signal chrominance sampling standard – twice that of 4:2:0 |
| 4-wire | studio communication with separate send and return circuits enabling simultaneous bi-directional (two-way) conversations |
| 601 | digital video standard (CCIR 601) |
| acquiring the bird | locating the satellite |
| AGC | automatic gain control |
| AM | amplitude modulation |
| amplitude modulation | a baseband message signal modulates (alters)the amplitude and frequency of a high frequency carrier signal at a nominally fixed frequency, so that the intensity, or amplitude, of the carrier wave varies in accordance with the modulating signal |
| amplitude | magnitude |
| analogue | signal which can take on a continuous range of values between a minimum and a maximum value;method of transmitting information by continuously variable quantities, as opposed to digital transmission,which is characterized by discrete ‘bits’ of information in numerical steps |
| Apstar | Asia-Pacific region satellite system |
| Arabsat | Middle Eastern satellite system |
| artefacts | faults seen in a digital video picture |
| ASI | Asynchronous Standard Interface – a digital connection standard |
| AsiaSat | Asia-Pacific region satellite system |
| auditory masking | where parts of an audio signal not discernible by the human ear can be imperceptibly removed –method of fooling the human brain into hearing what is not present |
| automatic gain control | method of automatically compensating for varying levels in a signal |
| auto-tracking | system used on an antenna to automatically follow the target satellite signal |
| baseband | refers to audio and video signals |
| bays | equipment cabinets |
| beacon | identification signal transmitted by a satellite |
| beam coverage | area of coverage of a particular satellite transponder |
| belt-pack | compact comms unit worn on a waist belt |
| BER | bit error rate |
| bird | satellite |
| bit error rate | indication of digital signal quality |
| bit | the smallest element of a binary number – ‘0’ or ‘1’ |
| bit rate | speed of data transmission, measured in bits per second |
| bits per second | measure of speed of data transmission |
| black line flashing | transmission error seen on analogue transmitted pictures |
| blimp | airship |
| blockiness | see pixellation |
| boresight | strongest focussed signal emitted from a microwave (satellite or terrestrial) antenna |
| bounce signal | signal path achieved by reflecting signals off buildings, large objects, etc. |
| bps | bits per second |
| breaking story | refers to a news story in its beginning phase |
| bring down | finish a satellite transmission |
| bring up | start a satellite transmission |
| broadbeam | type of satellite beam; spotbeam |
| CA | conditional access |
| capture | process of converting video and audio signals into a digital format for manipulation on a PC |
| carrier signal | the base signal on which information is modulated, either in amplitude, frequency or phase |
| C-band | refers to the 4–6 GHz frequency band centre frequency |
| chain | a set of equipment for transmission or reception |
| channel | refers to a transmission channel in a microwave link frequency band or on a satellite transponder |
| check bits | to enable error correction, added to the bit stream in a modulator to enable errors to be detected at the downlink |
| chrominance | colour signal |
| clean carrier | unmodulated carrier |
| cleanfeed | see return audio |
| clear | command from the studio that the remote contribution is complete |
| cliff-edge | characteristic of decoded digital signal – either it is completely present or absent |
| coded orthogonal frequency division multiplex | (COFDM) method of digitally transmitting a terrestrial microwave signal using a large number of narrow information carriers – typically at least 2000 – each carrying a slice of the total compressed data |
| COFDM | coded orthogonal frequency division multiplex |
| collecting area | describes the area of a receiving antenna that has a clear unobstructed view towards the satellite or other microwave transmitter |
| colour difference | in an analogue television signal, the technique of embedding the colour information in along with the luminance signal |
| comms | communications (with the studio) |
| commslink | system of using two separate narrow bandwidth digital satellite carriers to provide bi-directional studio communications |
| composite | analogue TV signal that is transmitted combiningthe luminance, colour and timing signals into one combined signal |
| compressed | the process of digital compression |
| compression | the digital process by which redundant information can be removed from video and audio signals without the viewer perceiving the loss of information |
| conditional access | digital encryption system used to protect unauthorized viewing of the programme |
| contribution | the process of feeding material to a studio for transmission |
| cross-polar discrimination | the property of a receive antenna to reject signals on the opposite polarization so that any interference from a signal on the same frequency but opposite polarization is minimized |
| crosstalk | interference between different but adjacent signals |
| cue | signal to begin speaking on air |
| cut, cut-piece | an edited story |
| cutting together | editing a story from raw material (rushes) |
| dangerous goods | IATA definition of goods considered hazardous for carriage on commercial aircraft |
| dB | decibel |
| dBi | unit of measurement of gain of an antenna |
| decibel | (dB) – expression of ratios of two power levels in logarithmic form |
| decoder | a device that decodes a compressed MPEG-2 video and audio signal stream |
| dedicated capacity | capacity on a satellite that has been specifically set a side for a particular purpose |
| demodulation, demodulator | the process of recovering information from a modulated signal, using a demodulator |
| DENG | Digital ENG |
| desk | control console, typically audio mixer |
| digital ENG | typically refers to COFDM digital microwave transmission |
| direct-to-home | satellite distribution of programmes directly to the consumer via a dish on the viewers home |
| difference signals | see colour difference; the colour elements in a composite TV signal |
| digital | information expressed as data for transmission; signal state expressed as on (1) andoff (0) states; a binary signal |
| dish | colloquial term for a satellite antenna; also generic term for an SNG uplink operation |
| distribution | the process of distributing signals via a terrestrial or satellite network to audiences |
| down-the-line | a two-way interview between the presenter in the studio, and the reporter or a guest on location |
| downconverter | unit for translating frequencies from one frequency band down to another |
| drive | term used for the low power signal applied to the input of a high power amplifier |
| dropouts | picture flashing and rolling due to disturbances in the received signal |
| DTH | direct-to-home |
| dual purpose | vehicles that have both a satellite uplink and a terrestrial microwave link – see hybrid |
| dual band | refers to equipment that covers both C and Ku frequency bands |
| ducting | effect where radio signal paths are altered due to atmospheric effects; see also layering |
| dumping | process of allowing air to rapidly escape from a pneumatic mast, hence allowing it to descend much more quickly |
| DVB compliant; DVB standard | complies to the digital video broadcasting standard |
| Eb/No | measurement of quality of the received digital signal |
| effective aperture | area of the antenna that contributes toreceiving a signal |
| effects | normal background sound; see natural sound |
| electromagnetic interference | interference due to electromagnetic fields, both natural and artificial |
| electromagnetic spectrum embedded | the range of frequencies from nothing to light refers to where a journalist is placed within a military unit at or near the front line of aconflict |
| EMI | electromagnetic interference |
| encoder | device that translates base band video and audio signals into a compressed signal |
| end of life | final stage of a satellite’s life before it is taken out of service |
| end-fire antenna | a helix or rod antenna used in terrestrial ENG microwave, and is circularly polarized |
| ENG | electronic news gathering |
| error correction | process of adding data in transmission to improve reliability of recovering received decoded data |
| Eurobeam | particular type of beam shaped to cover the European continent |
| Europe*Star | European satellite system |
| fade margin | difference between the calculated or actual performance of a link and the threshold of operation |
| feed | a circuit providing a supplementary element e.g. return audio from the studio; to send an edited package over a link |
| feed arm | on an antenna, the arm which holds the feedhorn at the correct distance from the focus of the parabola |
| feedhorn; feed | device which emits the microwave signal |
| field | describes part of the television signal, where there are 2 fields to every frame, and 50/60 fields per second depending on the TV standard |
| firewire | standard cable for connecting DV camcorders to PCs |
| fixer | someone who has a good deal of local knowledge, and be able to ‘fix’ things from finding and making the contacts to make sure the whole operation runs as smoothly as possible. May also act as local translator |
| flange | term for the opening or port on the feed or on the output of a high power amplifier |
| flown | where cables are suspended above ground level for safety and logistical reasons |
| flux-gate | type of sophisticated and accurate electromagnetic compass |
| flyaway | boxed transportable SNG terminal |
| FM | frequency modulation |
| focus | on a parabolic antenna, the point at which the signal is at its maximum |
| footprint | term for the coverage of a satellite transponder |
| forward error correction | data correction signal added at the uplink to enhance concealment of errors that occur on the passage of the signal via the satellite to the downlink |
| fps | frames per second |
| frame | two fields of a television signal |
| frames per second | speed of display of the television picture |
| frequency | period of cycle of a signal, measured in Hertz (Hz) |
| frequency modulation | process whereby a carrier signal is shifted up and down in frequency from its centre frequency in direct relationship to the amplitude of the baseband signal |
| Fresnel zones | in terrestrial microwave, the group of zones in which there should not be any obstruction, as itis likely that a reflection will cause an ‘opposing’signal to be bounced off the obstruction – onlythe first Fresnel zone is of significance |
| full-time | type of satellite transponder lease |
| gain | refers to the magnification factor of signal |
| Galaxy | US satellite system, part of PanAmSat |
| gallery | production and technical control rooms of TVstation |
| geostationary | where an object such as a satellite appears motionless above the earth |
| geostationary arc | grouping of satellites that sit in a circular orbitabove the Equator at a distance of 35 785 km above the Earth’s surface at any point on theEquator |
| geostationary orbit | describes the orbit of a satellite in the geostationary arc |
| get-away | slang term for look angle |
| ghosting | effect seen on TV pictures where the received analogue signal is made up of both direct line and reflected signals |
| global | type of C-band satellite transponder beam |
| go live | the process of carrying out a live transmission |
| golden rod | see end-fire antenna |
| goodnight | agreed time between the SNG operator and the satellite control centre for the end of transmission |
| guard interval; guard band | space allowed in frequency to protect adjacent channels |
| GVs | general views – pictures shot of the environs of a story to add to the editing of the story |
| hands back | where the reporter finishes a live transmission |
| hazard | anything that can cause harm |
| head load | term for the total package of equipment at the top of a pneumatic mast |
| head unit | in terrestrial microwave, generic term for the power amplifier and associated equipment at the top of a pneumatic mast; in SNG, the feedhorn |
| head-end | cable TV distribution point for an area |
| heading | direction in which the antenna is pointing |
| helix antenna | see end-fire antenna |
| hemi | type of C-band satellite transponder beam |
| Hertz | unit of measurement of frequency |
| high power amplifier | used in both terrestrial microwave and SNG, the unit that boosts the low power signal up to high power for delivery via the antenna |
| Hispasat | European satellite system |
| hop | a single leg of a microwave link path |
| hostile environment | term describing an area which is suffering civilor military conflict – from a riot to a war |
| hot-spare | spare equipment connected and powered, ready for instant use in the event of failure of the main equipment |
| hot spots | areas on a flexible wave guide where there are RF burns |
| HPA | high power amplifier |
| HSD | high speed data – Inmarsat term |
| hub-mount | where the HPA is mounted directly onto the antenna, rather than some distance way and connected by a length of waveguide |
| hybrid | vehicles that have both a satellite uplink and a terrestrial microwave link – see dual-purpose |
| Hz | Hertz – unit of measurement of frequency |
| ident | video or audio signal played out on a circuit to identify the source e.g. location |
| IF | intermediate frequency |
| IFB | interrupted fold back |
| illuminate | term describing the flooding of the parabolic antenna with microwave signal – either intransmit or receive |
| inclined orbit | satellite status near end of its operational life, though this type of capacity is often used for SNG |
| information | term for the video and/or audio signal that is to be conveyed |
| interlaced | in a television frame of two TV fields, whereeach TV field is offset by a line, and each pair of TV fields is sent in alternate sequence of odd- and even-numbered lines in the field |
| intermediate frequency | signal between stages in an uplink or downlink transmission chain – typically at frequencies of 70 or 140 MHz, or in the L-band (at around1000MHz or 1 GHz) |
| International Telecommunications Union | global body that decides on radio frequency usage |
| interrupted fold back | a mix of the studio output without the audio contribution from the remote location but with talkback from the studio gallery superimposed on top |
| interview mode | see low delay mode |
| investigation levels | NRPB definition for non-ionizing radiation, levels below which adverse biological effects are likely to occur |
| ITU | International Telecommunications Union |
| JCSAT | Asia-Pacific satellite system |
| Ku-band | frequency range from 10.5 to 17 GHz; in SNG, the frequency band 14.0–14.50 GHz for transmission, and 10.7–12.75 GHz for reception |
| laptop editor | portable editing system utilizing two VTR decks with two screens and control software |
| latency | delay through a compression process |
| launcher | slang term for feedhorn |
| layering | effect where radio signal paths are altered due to atmospheric effects; see also ducting |
| levels | see main level; main profile |
| LHCP | left hand circular polarization |
| licence | legal document authorizing transmission, issued by government department |
| line of sight | required to achieve clear transmission; an uninterrupted path between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna |
| lines | method by which a TV frame is divided up into tiny horizontal strips |
| line-up | the period immediately prior to a programme transmission when test signals are transmitted and parameters checked to ensure the transmission is of the highest quality |
| link | generic term for the connection between a remote location and the studio via terrestrial microwave or satellite |
| link budget | theoretical calculation for assessing whether a terrestrial or microwave or satellite link will work |
| ‘live’ | the process of a live transmission |
| live end | slang term for the camera position connected to an ENG microwave truck or an SNG uplink |
| live two-way | where the viewer sees a presentation of the story, switching between the studio and the location, including interaction with the reporter at the scene |
| live updates | regular live two-ways keeping the viewer abreast of the enfolding story |
| lobe | element of the radiation pattern of an antenna |
| look angle | describes the unobstructed visual path required for a terrestrial microwave or satellite link for successful transmission |
| low delay mode | MPEG-2 encoder mode that offers the facility to improve the latency at the expense of movement compensation, reducing the overall processing time of the signal |
| luminance | the parameter of a TV picture which describes its brightness |
| main level; main profile | types of MPEG-2 service |
| man-pack links | small and light battery-powered terrestrial microwave transmitter packs usually mounted onto abackpack, with the antenna projecting above the head of the operator |
| master control room | TV station technical control centre |
| Matrixing | process by which colour systems derive a composite luminance signal from mixing the red, blueand green signals, producing colour differencesignals |
| matting | covering of cables with heavy-duty rubber matting in streets and areas of public access to minimizetrip hazard |
| MCR | master control room |
| meridians | imaginary symmetrical lines of reference that run from the North to the South Poles and are called lines of longitude |
| microwave repeater | see mid-point |
| mid-point | a terrestrial microwave repeater that receives and retransmits the signal on to the next point in the chain |
| mix-minus | a mix of the studio output without the audio contribution from the remote location; see also clean feed, interrupted fold back, reverse audio and return audio |
| modulation; modulator | the process of inserting information into a transmitted carrier signal, using a modulator |
| MPEG | Motion Pictures Expert Group |
| MPEG-2 | standard covering the compression, encoding and decoding of video and audio data for digital television |
| mothballing | storage of equipment at a remote location inpreparation for the next event |
| MSps | mega symbols per second |
| multilateral | point-to-multipoint contribution |
| multipath | interference from reflected signals |
| multiplex; multiplexing | process of combining two or more programme digital streams to provide a single digital datastream to the uplink chain |
| multi-skilling | where technicians, operators and journalists are trained in at least one (and often two) other crafts apart from their primary core skill |
| Nahuelsat | Pan-American satellite system |
| NBC | nuclear, biological and chemical |
| natural sound | normal background sound; see effects |
| Nilesat | North African satellite system |
| No Story Is Worth A Life | mantra of every operator on location |
| noise | unwanted signal |
| non-dedicated | type of satellite capacity |
| NTSC | National Television Standards Committee; US analogue TV standard |
| Nycoil | brand of brightly coloured polyurethane air-brakehose used for carrying cables up a pneumatic mast |
| OB | outside broadcast |
| occasional | type of satellite capacity |
| off-air | TV programme signal received at the location by terrestrial or satellite reception |
| offset prime focus | type of SNG uplink antenna |
| on-line | term for editing VTRs connected directly to the terrestrial microwave or SNG uplink system |
| optimized | term for the accurate pointing of the terrestrial microwave or SNG uplink antenna |
| oscilloscope | measurement instrument for displaying signals |
| out-words | the last half a dozen words at the end of an edited piece which prepare the studio presenter or reporter to pick up the story |
| over-run | in satellite transmissions, state where the transmission has run beyond the booked end time |
| package | edited story |
| packet identifier | MPEG-2 channel identifier containing all the navigation information required to identify and reconstruct a programme stream |
| PAL | Phase Alternate Line; principally European analogue TV standard |
| panned-up | term to describe when the terrestrial microwave transmit and receive antennas are correctly aligned to each other |
| parabolic; paraboloid | mathematical term for the typical shape of aterrestrial microwave or SNG uplink dish |
| Parallels | lines of latitude |
| Path | generic term for the connection between two pointsof a link; in MPEG-2 transmission, a term for aprogramme stream |
| path profile | report generated from topographical map information based on the location of the TX and RX points, which will be translated into a crosssection of the land underneath the signal path |
| peak-to-peak | the maximum distance between upper and lowerpoints of a signal |
| perceptual compression | process of compression that ‘tricks’ the brain intothinking that the material looks and sounds like the original |
| Permission | temporary agreement by a foreign government allowing the importation and operation of an SNG uplink |
| personal protection badges | small badges worn on the body to warn of excessive badges non-ionizing radiation levels |
| petals | segments of an SNG antenna reflector |
| phase-combiner | SNG system where two or more chains are combined to feed via a single antenna |
| picture element | see pixel |
| PID | packet identifier |
| piece-to-camera | where the reporter stands at a strategic point against a background which sets the scene for the storyand recounts the events directly to the camera |
| Pixel | smallest perceptible block of picture (an abbreviation of ‘picture element’) |
| Pixellation | a particular type of digital artefact, where picture elements coalesce momentarily into rectangular areas of picture with distinct boundaries (also referred to as ‘blockiness’) |
| Plumbing | slang term for the microwave waveguide interconnections |
| pneumatic mast | a series of hollow telescopic tube sections eachextended by pumping compressed air into themast base, pushing each of the sections up |
| Polarization | refers to the geometric plane in which the electromagneticwaves are transmitted or received; describing the orientation of the electric field radiated from the antenna |
| polarization skew | rotation of the feedhorn to compensate for the angular difference between the antenna positionon the Earth’s surface and the satellite position |
| Pool | where a group of news gatherers agree to share pictures and/or resources on a story for commonuse |
| prime focus antenna | UoCtype of SNG uplink antenna |
| profiles | see main level; main profile |
| PTC | piece-to-camera |
| rack | equipment cabinet |
| Rack Unit | internationally recognized way of measuring the height and width of equipment – width is defined as 19 inches, and 1RU is equal to 1.75 inches(44.5mm) high |
| radio | electromagnetic radiation |
| radio-cam | a compact low-power short-range microwave link mounted on the camera, powered from the camera battery |
| range pattern | frequency test patterns of the performance of the antenna measured on a test range, defining the performance of the antenna |
| rate card | a standard published price listing for services or facilities, often used as the basis for negotiation |
| RCD | residual current device |
| real time | the actual running time |
| receive frequency | specific centre frequency of the reception channel |
| Redundancy | unnecessary information in an uncompressed signal; a second set of equipment to provide back-up in the event of failure |
| Reed–Solomon | a method of error correction where each block of data of programme signal has an additional check block of data added to compensate for any errors that the signal may suffer on its passage from the transmitter to the receiver |
| reflection | a signal that has taken a non-direct path, causing a slightly time-delayed replica of the direct pathsignal to be received that can (usually) adversely affect the overall link performance |
| reflector | the transmitting/receiving surface of a parabolic antenna |
| residual current device | a safety device that monitors the power supply constantly checking for a fault condition |
| resolution | sharpness |
| return audio | a mix of the studio output without the audio contribution from the remote location |
| return video | video feed either from the studio to the remote location, and/or from the ENG/SNG truck to the camera |
| reverse audio | see return audio |
| reverse talkback | remote location-to-studio talkback |
| reverse video | see return video |
| RF | radio frequency |
| RHCP | right hand circularly polarized |
| Risk | the chance, whether high or low, that somebody will be harmed by a hazard |
| rod antenna | helix or end-fire antenna used in terrestrial ENG microwave |
| RU | Rack Unit |
| running order | list generated for a news bulletin showing order and timings of stories |
| rushes | raw unedited shot footage |
| RX | receive |
| safety zone | area cordoned off in front of a terrestrial microwaveor SNG antenna to prevent the risk of exposure to high levels of non-ionizing radiation |
| sample | an instantaneous measured value of an analogue signal |
| satellite telephone | typically an Inmarsat terminal that enables voice or high-speed data connections from remote locations |
| satphone | slang term for satellite telephone |
| SDI | serial digital interface |
| security key | used in conditional access systems to protect content |
| SHF | super high frequency |
| shooting | colloquial term for the transmission of a microwavesignal |
| side lobes | see lobe |
| site survey; site test | site test a test carried out to see if a link will work prior to the actual event |
| SNG | satellite news gathering |
| SNV | satellite newsgathering vehicle |
| Solidaridad | South American satellite system |
| space segment | that part of the signal path between the satellite uplink and downlink |
| spatial redundancy | the removal of redundant information carried out in two dimensions within each frame of picture |
| spectral redundancy | the removal of redundant information carried out between colour values at any one point in the picture |
| spectrum analyser | measurement instrument for displaying signal frequencies across a spectrum |
| Stabilizers | retractable legs fitted so that the inevitable rock in avehicle’s suspension is minimized |
| starter link | the originating link in a terrestrial microwave link path |
| stand-up | term for a camera position and shot as a backdrop to enable a reporter to convey the sense of the story for straight forward pieces-to-camera |
| sub-carrier | an extra narrow FM audio carrier that is mixed with the main FM video carrier signal |
| SUV | sports utility vehicle |
| switched talkback | talkback from the studio gallery that is only active when the studio wish to speak to the remote location (as opposed to open talkback, which allows the remote location to hear everything going on in the studio gallery) |
| synchronously switch | switch between video sources with no picture roll orglitch |
| talent | the reporter or correspondent who stands infront of the camera |
| talkback | communication circuit between the studio gallery and the remote location that carries purely technical conversations |
| talked-in | the process of the MCR operator guiding the ENG microwave operator to achieve bestsignal quality |
| Telecom | European satellite system |
| teleport | a downlink facility, usually consisting of a number of antennas pointing at different satellites and connected to a network for interconnectingwith TV stations |
| temporal redundancy | the removal of redundant information carried out between one frame of picture and the next frame usually due to lack of movement |
| TES | transportable earth station |
| Thor | European satellite system |
| thread | commonly used term to describe mode of operation in terms of RF system on an SNG uplink e.g. single thread is a single RF path; dual thread is two RF signal paths |
| topography | the detailed description of the surfaces of the land |
| track | the voice commentary from the reporter |
| traffic | refers to the number of active signals on a satellite |
| transceiver | transmitter/receiver |
| transmission chain | the complete equipment path between source and destination |
| transmit frequency | specific centre frequency of the transmission channel |
| transponder | group of satellite channels |
| transport stream | MPEG-2 programme stream |
| transportable earth station | portable satellite uplink e.g. SNG uplink |
| travelling wave tube | power amplifying device used in an HPA |
| TS | transport stream |
| Turksat | Eurasian satellite system |
| two-way | transmission where the studio and the remote location have an on-air dialogue to inform the audience |
| TX | transmission |
| unilateral | point-to-point contribution |
| upconverter | unit for translating frequencies from one bandup to another |
| uplink | transportable satellite earth station |
| video journalist | a reporter who can also edit tape and/or shoot video and sound |
| Viterbi | the process of decoding forward error correction in the decoder |
| VJ | video journalist |
| VTR | video tape recorder |
| W | Watts |
| Watt | unit of measurement of power |
| waveform | signal shape |
| Waveguide | a specially formed hollow metal tube, usually rectangular in shape in cross section, used to connect the HPA to the antenna |
| wavelength | a specific frequency in the spectrum |
| widebeam | type of Ku-band satellite beam |
| Z | transmission start time |
