Hi I have put this little jargon busting page together to help
you understand a little more about Digital TV and the switch over, as time goes on and your area gets close to the Digital switch over date, you will be hearing a lot of these being mentioned, also take a look at my Information about Digital TV there is loads of information which you will find useful
Amplifier - TV or Radio Signal
Amplifier/booster
Antenna - Term for an aerial used in
European/U.S.
Attenuator - Reduces Signal Strength
BBC
FreeSat - New non subscription
digital satellite system
from BBC & ITV,
Featuring over 80 digital
Channels and estimated
200 by 2009. Broadcast in
HD with no subscription
required
Booster - TV or Radio Signal
amplifier/booster
CAI - Confederation of Aerial
Industries - represents
Manufacturers, installers
& other interested
Parties.
CATV - Community Aerial TV –
covering a set
neighbourhood/Town/City/
County
Chimney
lashing kit - Used to secure an aerial to
a chimney
Coax
coupler - Used to join together 2
coax plugs
Coax plug - Terminates coaxial cable
for insertion to TV etc via
a coax plug
Coaxial
Cable - Aerial lead to appliance
Combiner - Combines two or more
aerial leads into one single
aerial (coaxial) lead
DAB - Digital audio broadcast
DAB Radio - Stereo Digital Radio
offering a wide range of
channels, as an
alternative for FM.
DAB aerial - Enhances DAB reception
Db
Decibel - Signal measurement
Digital
Aerial - Aerial/Antenna capable of
receiving the new digital
signal, providing more
channels and enhanced
services for the UK
Diplexer - Combines two or more
aerial leads into one single
aerial (coaxial) lead
Dipole - This element connects to
the aerial down lead,
receiving signals from the
director and reflector
elements.
Director
Element - Forward of the dipole,
these are a series of tuned
elements.
Dish pack - The satellite dish or
external part of a sky
installation
Distribution
Amplifier - When sending signals to
two or more TV’s or
Radio, this is the signal
booster.
Down Lead - This is the cable which
connects the aerial or
dish to TV, radio or set
top box
DTT - Digital Terrestrial TV
F connector - Terminates coaxial cable
for insertion to
appliance
F coupler - Enables 2 f connectors to
be joined
Fascia
Mount - Used to mount an aerial
to a soffit
FM - Stereo analogue radio
reception, alternative to
DAB, but cannot receive
all radio signals
FM aerial - Boosts FM radio
reception
Free Sat - Sky Broadcasting
subscription free package
Free View - Digital Terrestrial TV,
channels are provided by
the UK’s mainstream
broadcasters
Ghosting - Repeat images on
analogue TV sets, caused
by a reflected signal
Grid aerial - A TV aerial with 2 or
more dipoles and a grid
reflector
Grouped aerial- A TV aerial that will receive
a segment of UHF
(terrestrial TV) channels
High-gain
aerial - Multi-element aerial that
utilises 32 elements, or
more
IRS - Integrated Reception
System: A system providing
UHF, Sky and radio, wich
also enables connection of
individual Sky boxes
LCD - Liquid Crystal Display: A
flat panel TV, alternative to
plasma screens.
LNB – Quad - This is a dish mounted
device, which converts Sky
signals to send the reception
through to multiple (2 - 4)
Sky boxes via the Coaxial
(Aerial) cable.
LNB -
Quattro - This is a dish mounted
device, which converts Sky
signals to send the reception
through to multiple
switches
LNB - Solo - This is a dish mounted
device, which converts Sky
signals to send the reception
through to a single Sky box
via the Coaxial (Aerial)
cable.
Loft mount - Internal aerial mounting.
Magic eye - Device which allows the Sky
box to be controlled from
another room.
MATV - Master Aerial TV: a UHF
(terrestrial TV) reception
distribution system
Multiplexer
- MUX - This is where groups of Free
View channels are broadcast
on a single UHF channel.
This is known as a Multiplexer
Multi-switch - Controls one Sky dish
receiving the signal for
multiple Sky boxes, usually
used in apartment buildings
& hotels.
Outlet plate - Mounted to the backbox or
Patras, this plate is flush to
the mount.
Pixilation - Caused by a defective signal
which produces a mosaic or
frozen image on the
screen.
Plasma - Flat Panel/Screen TV which
is an alternative to LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display)
Polarity - The UHF signal is
transmitted on either
horizontal or vertical
polarities
Pre-amplifier - The signal booster is
installed directly on the
aerial, with a power supply
unit which is required.
PSU –
Power Supply
Unit - This converts the mains
voltage to 12v, and is used
to energise the pre-
amplifier via the down
lead.
Reflector
element - Rear element of an aerial
Set back
amplifier - Sits next to the TV and
boosts TV reception
signal.
Set top box - Sits on top of the TV set –
usually a Sky box, Free
View box, DVD player or
VCR
Sky - Sky digital satellite
system providing access
to hundreds of digital
channels and a vast range
of pay to view movies,
interactive services and
radio stations
Sky+ - Sky digital with
recording facilities.
Provides the viewer to
control what they watch
by pausing, rewinding
and playing live TV! You
can also record and
watch 2 channels at the
same time
Sky HD - Sky HD brings a new
home viewing experience,
providing images in
much greater detail and
vibrant colours, complete
with full recording
facilities as Sky+. HD
compatible TV &
subscription required to
take full advantage of a
Sky HD system
Sky Free Sat - Sky digital system
providing access to a
range of Free To Air
channels, no monthly
subscription required
SMATV - Satellite Master Aerial
TV: Sky/UHF reception
distribution system
Splitter - Splits signal to two or
more TV’s
Tetra - Terrestrial Trunked
Radio. Used by the
Emergency Services.
Tetra filter - Blocks interference from
Tetra transmissions
Top-Up TV - Pay as you view Digital
TV
UHF - Terrestrial TV
reception
VHF - Redundant frequency
bands 1, 2 & 3. Part of
band 3 is now used for
DAB.
Wall bracket - Secures an LCD or
Plasma screen TV to
the mounting surface.
Wideband
aerial - A TV aerial used to
receive UHF channels
21-68
Yagi - A TV aerial that has a
dipole, director and
reflector elements