HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: lazlo@triton.unm.edu (Lazlo Nibble)
Subject: Re: Viewer-on-demand storage requirements (was: TCI announces 500 channels)
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 92 08:50:17 GMT
Organization: Usenet Power Elite: Crush-The-Innocent-Newbies Strike Team

cfogg@ole.cdac.com (Chad Fogg) writes:

> All this sounds very expensive for now, unless a 2GB PCMCIA card is
> around the corner for only $99. 

True enough, but I suspect that by the time there's enough bandwidth in the
ground to deliver the signal, the problem of hardware costs at the user end
will have taken care of itself.  And there's certainly no reason why such
a system would have to be quite that sophisticated at first.

If there's a way to pull it off, don't doubt for a second that the cable
companies are going to try it.  There's a fortune to be made in movies-on-
demand, and once the infrastructure is in place, all you have to do is
rake the money into neat little piles.   

--
Lazlo (lazlo@triton.unm.edu)
From: roberts@triton.unm.edu (Robert Smathers)
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: Satcom C3 active -- what I did as far as observing the hot switch
Date: 17 Dec 92 00:17:23 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque


Earlier this morning, Satcom F1R was shut off and Satcom C3 was activated.

I had an early-morning final, so I couldn't stay up to watch the
hot switch, but I did have a VCR running.  I chose a horrible
xponder on F1R (23 - E! TV) in hopes that I would notice the
switch.  I recorded 15 minutes before the event and 30 minutes after
the event. 

I watched the video tape this afternoon.  15 minutes into my tape, the
picture became slightly more sparklie.  About half a minute later, the
sparkles went away and the picture was clear (it was easy to tell
that pic was from Satcom C3).  E! took the video off and on the
channel for a few minutes after that -- I assume the uplinker was doing
some fine tweaking of the signal.  After pulling the feed off and on a few
times, E! video was there to stay.

Even though it wasn't quite as dramatic as the polarity switch movement
of F4 services to F4R a few months ago, the hotswitch was neat.

BTW, when I woke up this morning, I was surprised to see all the changes
on C3.  C3 sure filled up quickly (especially when compared to how long
it took C4 to fill up when it became operational).  CSPAN has moved onto
C3 (Probably dual-illuminated), COURT TV had no problems moving to 
transponder 6, and some other services got on C3.   What a difference
a day and some more transponder power makes.

Robert
roberts@triton.unm.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Date:         Fri, 11 Dec 1992 22:07:00 -0500
From:         Elmer Beachley <etb@CS.PITT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Dish/Pole Alignment Help?

Andy:

I have an arcset and it works as advertised, tho I have no experience with
an out-of-plumb pole.  The levels are like those in a carpenters level and
very sensitive.  Once you learn how to use one, you can re-align your
dish quite quickly, depending how much of a perfectionist you are.
It will work for any dish in your local area so if you know anyone else
with a dish you could maybe split the cost.

Elmer Beachley etb@cs.pitt.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
From: vidarol@dhhalden.no (VIDAR OLSEN)
Subject: Re: satellite list SBC.TXT
Organization: Ostfold College
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 13:51:19 GMT

In article <4564@vidiot.UUCP> brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:
>From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
>Subject: Re: satellite list SBC.TXT
>Date: 13 Dec 92 23:48:41 GMT
>In article <m0n0Thh-0000IyC@mcshh.Hanse.DE> wrs@MCSHH.HANSE.DE (Wolfgang R. Schulz) writes:
><Vidiot writes:
>

>The sbc.exe program was asking for things in German.  I don't know the
>questions, so I couldn't give the answers.  From this posting I can guess that
>is a data file that is supposed to go along with it.  Where was/is it?


Just answer 'JA'(=yes) to the question, and the SBC.EXE will self-
extract to SBC.TXT, which is easy to read even if you don't speak german.


--Vidar
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Mailer: NMail (1.1.0)
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Date:         Thu, 17 Dec 1992 00:54:49 EST
From:         Gary Bourgois <flash@LOPEZ.MARQUETTE.MI.US>
Subject:      Re: G7 Lit up!!!!

>In article <629qvcb@lynx.unm.edu> Robert Smathers, roberts@triton.unm.edu
>writes:
>>G7 is Horizontal Odd polarity (I set up the polarity as best as
>>I could on the G7 colorbar.  It matches up with G3 and G6 xponder
>>19 perfectly.

>OK, I tried this last night and today. I searched between the two
>satellites (G3
>and S3) and found nothing on any transponder. Is this bird still lit up?
>Anybody
>check lately? (This is 12/16/92).
>Thanks
>-Owen Rubin-
>rubin@apple.com


Owen...

It comes and goes.  Sometimes you find bars, sometimes SCPC, but most of the
time NOTHING.  I think they are satisfied that the bird is there, but they
have no customers yet.  CBS will be moving there, but not until G4 also goes
up, since they will be cancelling their AT&T contract and going with HUGHES,
and will want to move their whole operations over.

Beyond CBS, there are no other customers "ANXIOUS" to get on the bird.  It is
in a holding pattern right now.  This is not like C3 and C4 where there were
a ton of services ready to go.

--
    /   Gary Bourgois, WB8EOH, The Birdwatcher: Marquette Michigan  USA   \
   ([-o ~ Tune FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE!  S3/21 5.8  Fridays from 9-midnight ~ o-])
    \  Now a snazzy new DOMAIN address!  flash@lopez.marquette.MI.US      /
        GEnie: SIGNALS   FAX: (906) 228-7477    GWN BBS: (906) 228-4399
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Mailer: Mail User's Shell (7.2.3 5/22/91)
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:32:12 MST
From:         Bob Wier <rrw@SUNSET.CSE.NAU.EDU>
Subject:      tunable filters

 From time to time there has been discussion here about tunable filters
 for various aspects of sattv systems. Specifically in reference to
 video bandwidth, and also on audio subcarrier bandwidths.  Below is
 a recent posting to the USENET sci.electronics group which might
 offer a good lead on researching this.  I'm sending it out for
 anyone who might not otherwise be able to access it.

 The techniques which are applied to form notch filters might
 also well work for bandpass filters (although of course for
 TI problems, the notch might work well as-is).

 Since we don't get RF Design, if anyone on the list might be
 able to copy it for me, I'd appreciate a note.

 THANKS

- Bob Wier

  ---------- insert favorite standard disclaimers here ----------
                   College of Engineering
      Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona
  Internet: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu | WB5KXH | fax:602 523 2300

----------
included message...
----------
Path:
 naucse!arizona!noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!saimiri.prim
 ate.wisc.edu!aplcen.apl.jhu.edu!joses-mac.jhuapl.edu!user
From: josemj1@aplmail.jhuapl.edu (Marshall Jose)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Very sharp RF notch filter sought
Date: 16 Dec 92 17:44:34 GMT
Followup-To: sci.electronics
Organization: JHU-Applied Physics Laboratory

In article <1992Dec14.064445.9591@ips.oz.au>, bruce@corona.syd.ips.oz.au
           (Bruce Paterson) wrote:

> I need a VERY sharp notch filter (or actually 3, if sharp enough) to reject
> FM broadcast stations from an antenna signal. The requirements are tough:
> a. VERY sharp - I need to measure spectra of broadband noiselike signals and
> the present LC filters make a far too visible hole.
> b. No other holes (or even ripples) in the pass band - 57 to 180MHz.
> c. Low loss.

I live in a rural area where my distant, favorite FM station is wiped out
by a nearby station. The solution I found most promising was written-up
in the August 1991 issue of RF Design, "VHF Active Bandpass Filters", by
Eugene Mayle, pp. 58-65. I haven't had time to try it out yet.

Mayle discusses the use of a grounded-gate JFET as a "Q multiplier". (This
is almost anachronistic since most of us hams thought Q multipliers died
a peaceful death 30 years ago). At any rate, the performance of circuits he
presents in his article are quite remarkable, with one stage typically
capable of a Q of 1,000; this corresponds to a bandpass filter bandwidth
of 0.1%.
Your requirement should be easily met, since this corresponds to a 100 kHz
notch at 100 MHz.

The notch is obtained by paralleling one of his bandpass filters with a
broadband phase-shifting network. At the center frequency, the two
networks' phases cancel. He claims 50 dB notch depth is routinely
achieved. The 200 MHz notch filter he demonstrates shows a <2 dB insertion
loss in the passband.

My concern is that his filters are operating on the fine edge of
oscillation, and might need to be compensated for changes in temperature.
I haven't tried them, so I don't know.  If they do work, though, they would
be a substantial improvement over the two or three large canisters which
would be necessary for a resonant cavity solution.

In regard to the "open-stub" notch that someone else suggested, I suppose
it is something inexpensively verified, although my calculations told me
that the notch width will be too broad for the application. It will remove
a TV channel but will obliterate a large portion of the FM broadcast band

Marshall Jose
josemj1@aplmail.jhuapl.edu
From: terry.walter@outlan.ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Terry Walter) 
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: RE: WHAT CHANNELS ARE THE
Date: 11 Dec 92 02:41:00 GMT
Reply-To: terry.walter@outlan.ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Terry Walter) 
Distribution: world
Organization: Outland BBS  UUPCB  403-475-9588

subscribing.   I noticed you made a note of an adult channel, now do the
rules of the USA change the rating of the adult channels in europe?  I
know that there are no more adult XXX channels because (too many
lobbyists to shut it down).  but in europe are there?

and is it true that the vcii rs (european version) has been broken for
the past 3 years.  and with data compression coming in, all I have to
say is that GI is using the same data compression as some other
companies, but I think that when GI 5 years is up, and the contracts for
the programmers to use the VCII series is over, I think we the dish
owners will have to purchase alot of decoders.
                                                                                                               
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
From: roberts@triton.unm.edu (Robert Smathers)
Subject: Reminder about IRC chat
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 92 06:45:41 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque


This is just a reminder that there will be an IRC chat session
about Satellite TV on Sunday December 13 at 11am EST.  The
channel name will be "#SATTV".

To join in, type "IRC" at a prompt.  If your system supports IRC,
you wilget an opening screen.  After the opening screen stuff,
type "/join #SATTV" (pound sign is important) and you should 
be in the #SATTV channel and ready to chat TVRO or anything else.
I'll be in there to chat, dispense info, or answer questions.  I
think it will be fun.

BTW, if you don't have IRC on your system (but you have TELNET
ability) I am going to investigate something this week that will
allow you to TELNET a site and get to IRC via the TELNET site.  
More details next week on the TELNET to use IRC possibilities.

See you tomorrow morning at 11am ET!

Robert
roberts@triton.unm.edu

Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
From: burton@halcyon.com (Mike Burton)
Subject: Re: vc2 trade -- another question...
Organization: The 23:00 News and Mail Service
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 03:02:56 GMT

In the December 5 Satellite TV week, there is a letter they answered
that asked the same question.  Supposedly, if you can prove it has been
validated before, they will consider your application for an upgrade
exception.  It is being done on a case by case basis.  Write to
UPGRADE MAILBOX
P.O. BOX 910448
San Diego, Calif 92191-0448.

And good luck, with all the words in the article about making sure it is
documented and case by case business, it does not sound easy to convince
them.

Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Mailer: NMail (1.1.0)
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Date:         Tue, 15 Dec 1992 23:41:48 EST
From:         Gary Bourgois <flash@LOPEZ.MARQUETTE.MI.US>
Subject:      Re: FOOTPRINT, British Newsletter 1 (long)

>FOOTPRINT - the satellite newsletter of The European Satellite User Group.



>           ****  FACT SHEET FILE  ****
>           For  those that have  asked
>           here is a run down;
>           Type of Information      No
>           2nd dish installation     1
>           Add Telecom band          2
>           Scarts & 'D's             3
>           LNBs explained            4
>           VCR problems?             6
>           Rumanian dish guide       7
>           Amstrad 48 upgrade        8


While a new source of info is ALWAYS welcome, is it possible to explain why
this text (over 2600 lines of it) was in such a narrow format?  If it was
read in with a hand scanner, it could have been reformatted to a more
standard 75 chars wide.  The present format is very difficult to read,
especially for someone like myself who is visually impaired.


--
    /   Gary Bourgois, WB8EOH, The Birdwatcher: Marquette Michigan  USA   \
   ([-o ~ Tune FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE!  S3/21 5.8  Fridays from 9-midnight ~ o-])
    \  Now a snazzy new DOMAIN address!  flash@lopez.marquette.MI.US      /
        GEnie: SIGNALS   FAX: (906) 228-7477    GWN BBS: (906) 228-4399
From: alh@cypress.com (Andy Hawkins)
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: Mon. Night Football
Date: 15 Dec 92 17:24:35 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Cypress Semiconductor Southeast Design Center

Did anyone have trouble with the sound on Monday
Night Footballs feed on G1 tr14?  The stadium sound
at 6.2 sounded OK but the announcers at 6.8 sounded
as though "somebody's" audio circuitry was being
severly overdriven .(lots of clipping ...)
--
Andrew L. Hawkins, (Andy), alh@cypress.com
Cypress Southeast Design Center, Starkville, Mississippi
Ph:(601)324-4634                       Fax:(601)324-4614
"The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful."
--        J.B.-- "COCOANUT TELEGRAPH"
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Date:         Sun, 20 Dec 1992 02:37:32 -0500
From:         Monty Solomon <monty@PROPONENT.COM>
Subject:      Re: C3/C4 Bleedover

> (the flame part follows:)
>

> >Brampton, Ontario                     |             adammot@ltrnativ.UUCP
>

>   This is *NOT* an internet address, and is impossible for many of
> us to reply to.  It would help if your system administrator would
> come out of the early '80s UUCP era and at least give a compatable
> path from a well known host.

One or more of the following should work:
        adammot%ltrnativ.UUCP@uunet.uu.net

        adammot%ltrnativ@r-node.gts.org
        adammot%ltrnativ@r-node.pci.on.ca

        ltrnativ!adammot@r-node.gts.org
        ltrnativ!adammot@r-node.pci.on.ca

---
# Monty Solomon / PO Box 2486 / Framingham, MA  01701-0405
# monty%roscom@think.com
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite,rec.video.cable-tv
From: mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Subject: Re: TCI announces 500 channels on its systems in 2 years?
Reply-To: mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Organization: Shorter Software Solutions
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 13:17:08 GMT

I posted some slight misinformation, which Alan Larson spotted, so I'd
like to post the correct information.  Some of this is from email.

>>>>> On Thu, 10 Dec 92 11:42:59 PST, larson@net.com (Alan Larson) said:

Alan> In article <MBN.92Dec10085759@greyskul.hf.intel.com> you write:

>Scientific-Atlanta and possibly Jerrold also are introducing new cable
>converters at the Western Show (held last week, I think) which act more
>like little computers.  They apparently will be able to store the "hot
>movie" of the week, providing video on demand, at least for that movie.
>In addition, it will have some of the features of a VCR--pause, fast
>forward, etc.--all done with digital technology.

Alan>   They store an entire memory in digital memory in the box?

Alan>   I am pretty skeptical.  That is a *LOT* of memory.

> Reference:  Multichannel News, Western Show edition (possibly Nov 30
> issue).  I may still have it at home, in which case I'll send you more
> details.

I found the reference, Nov 30 Multichannel News.  The boxes are the
Scientific-Atlanta 8600X (the 'X' is a superscript), and the Pioneer
BA-9000 (not Jerrold, as I had first thought).  Here's the quote:

"Both boxes support a 'pause, rewind or fast-forward' capability for near
video-on-demand applications where a group of movies are offered on a
staggered start basis.

'If an operator is offering a 'hits' service, the customer can pause a
movie for, say, 10 to 15 minutes of whenever the next screening of that
movie is scheduled,' said Trimm."

So it looks like it doesn't actually store or record the movie, but merely
has some kind of intelligence to switch to another channel at the
appropriate place in the movie.  Sorry if I implied the wrong thing from
my first reading of the article.

These things also have smart card slots (so they can add memory or processor
power or change security)--the card is said to look like a Nintendo
cartridge.  9600 BPI data communications channel and a serial data port
(for possibly controlling other devices or output to a printer or fax).
--
Mike Northam, Shorter Software Solutions, on contract to Intel Corp.
(h) (503) 324-1831 (intel office) (503) 696-4860 (shorter) (503) 357-1010
mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com
"You ducks are really trying my patience...but you're SOOO cute. --Apu 9F01
From: BUSCHMAN@NDSUVM1.BITNET
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: Computer and Satellite
Date: 10 Dec 92 00:59:20 GMT
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network

Can I receive and programs or information over the satellite via modem?

Can I somehow recieve the info that cnbc/fnn sends down?  I think it's like or
similar to an AP network....

What types of hidden messages/programs are up there?

Greg.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Date:         Sun, 20 Dec 1992 03:18:20 -0500
From:         Monty Solomon <monty@PROPONENT.COM>
Subject:      Re: WILD FEEDS LIST -- Thurs Dec 17 (was already feed by SDTS)

> I also condensed some of the block feeds into one entry.

I found the individual listings to be much more useful, especially for
unattended taping.  At a minimum, please list the total length or ending
times of block feeds.

It would be useful to list the audio subcarriers for unattended taping.


Thanks.

Monty

---
# Monty Solomon / PO Box 2486 / Framingham, MA  01701-0405
# monty%roscom@think.com
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Date:         Wed, 16 Dec 1992 16:13:36 -0500
From:         Monty Solomon <monty@PROPONENT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Time Base Correction (more)

> From: Bob Vogel <rxv9839@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU>
> Cable TV companies who insert their own advertising spots usually do so off
> video tape decks.  The sync of those decks has no particular relation to the
> sync generated by CNN, Discovery or any other channel.  If your system does
> not use TBC's (some don't) there will usually be a frame or more of roll.
> It usually looks like your TV lost vertical sync.  Since we all grew up
> with the smoothness of network commercials which never did that (as an
> aside they seem to be getting sloppy lately), it tended to be very noticable.
> With the TBC the channel sync is matched to the tape deck sync and you see
> no roll.  You may still see a return to the network in mid-advertisement if
> their overall timing for the spot is off, but at least it doesn't roll.

Local cable companies insert some third-party commercials in place of the
ones on the cable channel.  Is this legal?  Do the original advertisers think
they are reaching more households than they are because of the
substitutions?

These third-party and cable company commercials are of incredibly poor
video and audio quality!  They look and sound like 3rd or 4th generation VHS
tapes!

Monty

---
# Monty Solomon / PO Box 2486 / Framingham, MA  01701-0405
# monty%roscom@think.com
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
From: rxv9839@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Bob Vogel)
Subject: Russian channels??
Reply-To: rxv9839@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 01:09:57 GMT

Not sure this is what Susan & the **##>> Oregonian are looking for, but
SBS 6 KU 99 deg W
Tr 3 Russian-American Radio Network on 1.35
TR 1 Russian American Radio Network 11707.5 and 11708.4 stereo
also on TR 1 are real country and cool gold apparently time shared at
11709.2 /11709.5 stereo
both TR's seem to be both audio and/or data services only
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
From: mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Subject: Re: Dish/Pole Alignment Help?
Reply-To: mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com (Mike Northam)
Organization: Shorter Software Solutions
	<ALH.92Dec9160122@nm.cypress.com>
	<1992Dec10.090002.22411@ncar.ucar.edu>
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 14:06:29 GMT

>>>>> "steve" == Steve Welch <smw@sage.cgd.ucar.edu> writes:

steve> In article <ALH.92Dec9160122@nm.cypress.com>, alh@cypress.com (Andy Hawkins) writes:
|> ::::: Larry Peterson says ...
|> >Andy,
|> >If your Pole is not in PLUMB then you will never be able to read
|> >the entire sat belt clear.  Because it will overshoot the birds
|> >on one end or the other.

steve> Just a second, here.  Isn't the dish mount just like an equatorial
steve> telescope mount?  The ONLY critical thing is that the rotation axis
steve> of the mount be lined up with the rotation axis of the earth,
steve> right?  I realize this may be easier said than done, but you'd need
steve> to look at the geometry of your mount and see if there is anything
steve> preventing this from being possible.  If I recall correctly from my
steve> amatuer astronomer days, having my telescope pole plumb only made
steve> it easier to set up, but as long as I could adjust the elevation
steve> and azimuth of the mount, I could get perfect alignment even when
steve> the ground wasn't level.

Yeah, that's what the ArcSet stuff is supposed to address.  I heard of a
demo at one of the sat shows where they put one leg of a tripod mount on a
box and, using the ArcSet, were able to adjust elevation and azimuth so
the dish would track.  Believe me, that pole was *not* plumb!

|> 3) My reception is satisfacory for eastern sats now.  What I want to 
|> do is "sacrafice" my reception on the eastern sats to improve the reception 
|> on the western sats, mainly F1.  My reception of C4,G1,F3, and G5 is better 
|> then acceptable I just have probelms mainly with F1.

steve> Seems like you probably have enough information here to figure out
steve> exactly what you have to do to line things up.  Surely there are
steve> some experts out there that can help?

I'm in the same boat, since my pole got blown out of plumb during a
violent storm.  Here in Oregon the ground can get *really* wet and if the
wind blows the dish can move, even if you've put yards of concrete around
the pole :-)  (I used block and tackle attached to my pickup to get it
nearly plumb, but it's not perfect).  I get fantastic reception of the
eastern satellites, even S2 which is barely above the horizon at my
location, but the western satellites (which for me are just west of due
south and high in the arc) are relatively poorer.  The problem really only
shows up on C1 and C5 (the two most western birds I see).

I suppose I'll eventually fork out the $50 for the ArcSet.
--
Mike Northam, Shorter Software Solutions, on contract to Intel Corp.
(h) (503) 324-1831 (intel office) (503) 696-4860 (shorter) (503) 357-1010
mbn@greyskul.hf.intel.com
"You ducks are really trying my patience...but you're SOOO cute. --Apu 9F01
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite