24 Are There Any Other Scrambling Systems?
Description
This article is from the Satellite TV FAQ, by Gary Bourgois flash@lopez.marquette.mi.us with numerous contributions by others.
24 Are There Any Other Scrambling Systems?
There is another line renumbering system like Leitch, used for some sporting
events, but it does not recompute the line numbers, nor does it invert
the phase, so the colors are all there, and you can see things moving
quite well. This is a much simpler system, but still very secure, and
impossible to watch.
TDF1 on the 27.5 degree Intelsat has the strangest scrambling system I have
ever seen. They take a big box out of the center of the screen, and then
turn it UPSIDE DOWN and also BACKWARDS. You can see everything, but you
have to turn your TV upside down or stand on your head. Or watch a mirror
on the Ceiling! The signal is also in PAL.
(No I am not kidding, this transmission began in July of 1994)
OK I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT VCII+RS+BS+LSMFT STUFF... BUT WHAT THE HECK IS
D I G I C I P H E R AND WILL THIS CAUSE THE SKIES TO GO DARK?????????
There are alarmist types with agendas of their own who are jumping all over
the satellite talk programs preaching the gloom and doom of DIGICIPHER. As
with all technology, there is forward motion, and satellite scrambling is no
exception. There have now been THREE "Last Decoders You Will Ever Need" and
DIGICIPHER will be the next. You can't stop it, it is already here. At this
writing of the FAQ, HBO is already testing the technology, and PBS will be
is also using it. However, you should know there are two forms of
DIGICIPHER, namely 1 and 2, which use MPEG1 and MPEG2 respectively.
DIGICIPHER II is not yet available, and won't be til late 1996.
The skies are NOT going to go dark. The programmers are NOT going to stop
offering their programming to subscribers.
However, due to the loss of T402, and the transponder shortage, some channels
are opting to go digicipher. These are primarily new channels, or some like
COURT TV who have traditionally been in the clear (Cable Companies stealing
the OJ trial and not paying COURT TV are responsible for their sudden jump to
DIGICIPHER as of July 1995).
The problem at the moment is that though GI would like to be the standard
for digital encryption, they are NOT. There are at least FIVE different
digital systems being used by various channels. Here are just SOME of the
players:
GI / DIGICIPHER ONE, DIGICIPHER TWO.
PBS is using Digicipher ONE for its KU feeds to affiliates. They
plan to convert to Digicipher TWO when the equipment becomes
available, some time in 1996. At this time we are told there will
be a HOME Digicipher unit. Cost for the receiver will be in the
HIGH end ($2000) range. You must replace your present IRD, Digicipher
is not compatible with current receive technologyes, so there can be
no "Add on" box. Your present receiver does not even pass the
digital information, due to the Modulation Scheme.
SA / Scientific Atlanta
The SA system is used by several players, including Galavision, who
later DID relent and bring back an encrypted analogue feed, because
of VIEWERS. SA is a major corporation, and we expect they will continue
to have a significant penetration. SA is also used by many corporate
uplinkers for private transmissions.
TVCOMM
Though committed to an open technology, this system does not have the
backing of major programmers at this time, but we are very early in
the game.
CLI Compression Labs Incorporated
This system is used in specialty applications, corporate and educational
networks. It is a fairly entrenched system, though not yet used in many
broadcasting applications.
Those who bemoan the new technology have the same mind set that would have us
all listening to shellac phonograph records being played with steel needles.
Rather than cry about it, the smart thing to do is to accept it. And buy
STOCK in G.I. instead of calling them the ENEMY.
Send EMAIL for transcripts of the interviews with Jim Shelton and Peter
Knowles regarding the future of digital TV.
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