FAQ
Many have asked us questions. We are also at your service if you have any questions regarding the SIRIUS services. Here is a list of frequently given answers:
Q: Analogue vs. Digital. What are the trends for the future?
A: All channels on SIRIUS are digital. The latest development within digital tv is HDTV (High Definition TV). Viasat offers HDTV channels via SIRIUS from February 2008. Read more about digital tv.
Q: Can I get high-speed Internet access via SIRIUS?
A: SIRIUS transmits high-speed Internet direct to businesses and networks in co-operation with local and international Internet suppliers all over Europe. Together with an Internet supplier (ISP), SIRIUS can offer uplinking with individually tailored agreements for access and capacity. The data is received via a satellite dish and the return path consists of an ordinary modem connection, ISDN, permanent connection or GSM link.
Q: Can I receive more than one programme at a time?
A: With today's satellite receivers you can only receive one programme at a time. This means that you cannot record one programme and watch another at the same time. Development work is in hand to allow more than one programme to be received at the same time. Digibox manufacturers have already demonstrated satellite boxes with dual receivers. This makes it possible to receive two different programmes at the same time (and view them on separate television sets). It will also be possible to view one programme while recording another. For encrypted programmes, the programme provider must make this facility available via the viewing card.
Q: Can I share a dish with my neighbour?
A: Certainly, but the dish must be fitted with a suitable LNB and connections to ensure that your system and your neighbour's are independent. With today's small dishes, the financial saving is insignificant.
Q: Can we have one shared dish for our multi-family building?
A: Yes. You set up an SMATV (satellite-delivered master antenna television) network. This is a form of central antenna system. It may be arranged in various ways. Either each householder has a satellite receiver or the system is set up as a small cable network.
Q: Can you listen to radio via satellite?
A: Yes, you can either listen via your television set or connect the satellite receiver to your stereo system and listen on that. If you are listening to the radio via satellite you cannot view a satellite television channel at the same time. Radio channels on SIRIUS.
Q: Can you have more than one viewing card (or smart card, as they are sometimes called)?
A: Yes, if you are prepared to pay for more than one card. The programme companies pay fees for the programme rights based on how many people can view each television channel. Since they have no control over who uses the viewing cards, they have to charge for each card. A viewing card contains a microprocessor and defines the identity of the subscription. This means that you can use your viewing card at a friend's or neighbour's house provided that they have a suitable satellite receiver.
Viasat uses an encryption technique, which means that the card is matched with the satellite receiver. This means that it will not be possible to use the card in any other receiver. If the household has more than one satellite receiver (and an extra for the summer house), additional cards can be bought at a lower price..
Q: Can I receive programmes from more than one programme company on the same satellite television receiver?
A: Yes, provided you have a card from each operator. The satellite receiver must have dual card readers which handle the different encryption systems. Viasat has changed to NDS Videoguard encryption system which means that the card must be matched with the receiver.
Q: Can you view digital television on a train or a boat?
A: At present this is not possible on trains, but satellite television is available on some passenger ferries. The receiving dishes are gyro-stabilised so that they always point to the right satellite whatever the position of the vessel or in heavy seas.
Q: Can a satellite fall down?
A: The risk is negligible, since there are many safety systems to prevent this. No geostationary satellite has ever fallen down.
Q: Can you use the same box to receive terrestrial digital television and satellite digital television if you change the viewing card?
A: No. Digital television boxes are designed for a specific method of distribution, i.e. for terrestrial, cable or satellite, although they basically use the same standard for reception. The signals are distributed using different modulation methods before they reach the digiboxes. This is because the most robust method of transmission has been chosen for each form of distribution.
Q: Can I use broadband and view television via satellite at the same time?
A: Yes, if the satellite operator offers this. To make this possible, a microwave head (LNB) with dual outputs is fitted to the dish so that members of the same household can independently watch satellite television and access the internet at the same time. A satellite modem (usually an USB box) is used to connect a PC.
Q: Can I take my satellite receiver to a different location, for example a second home or abroad?
A: Yes, you can take your satellite receiver to your second home or elsewhere, provided that you also take a viewing card with a valid subscription, that the location is within the footprint of the satellite, and that there is a dish aligned to the correct satellite. For example, the SIRIUS satellites cover all of Europe, but because of copyright issues, viewing cards are not valid outside the area for which they were purchased.
Q: Does my satellite dish give off radiation?
A: No, a dish used only for reception cannot give off radiation. The dish acts like a lens to gather the signals from the satellite and focus them on the microwave head (low noise block, LNB) where they are amplified and converted to a lower frequency so that the satellite receiver can convert them into pictures, sound, text and data. Dishes designed to transmit as well as receive, ie for two-way communication, do give off some radiation, but it is insignificant. This refers to dishes used by private individuals and small companies. The transmitter power is relatively low, just a few watts.
Q: Does it matter if there is a tree in front of the dish?
A: Yes, there must be no physical obstacles between the dish and the satellite. There must be a clear "line of sight" to the satellite. This means that there must be no objects such as buildings, mountain peaks or trees on the direct line from the satellite to the dish. As an example, a 60 cm dish antenna has an "aperture angle" of about three degrees. Within that narrow area, there must be no obstruction of the signal.
Q: Do interactive services from two programme companies work with the same box?
A: Yes, if they use the same platform for their interactive services (OpenTV or Media Highway). These "operating systems" are comparable to Windows on a computer, for example. This means that each receiver has only one built-in "operating system" (this also applies to boxes for terrestrial networks and cable networks). So you can view programmes from two operators, but the type of satellite receiver determines which operator's interactive services you can use.
Q: How is the software in my receiver updated?
A: Via SIRIUS it is also possible for manufactures of set-top boxes to download new software. Via satellite the software is then distributed to all installed satellite receivers, so called boot loading.
Q: How long can the cable to the dish be?
A: Up to 100 metres with high-quality cable. The length can be increased if a special amplifier ("line driver") is used.
Q: What equipment do I need to get access to the SIRIUS services?
A: Basically all you need is a satellite dish, a digital satellite receiver and then a programme card if you want to gain full access to the vast array of services offered by SIRIUS.
Q: What is SIRIUS?
A: SIRIUS is the name of a leading Nordic satellite system for radio, TV and broadband services. It is owned and operated by SES SIRIUS. Being a member of the SES family, the SIRIUS Satellite System is an important part of the world’s largest global network of satellite operators.
Q: What size should my satellite dish be?
A: The high transmitting power of the SIRIUS satellites means that households can receive the signals using relatively small satellite dishes from 60 cm for reception in most areas of Europe. In the Nordic and Baltic countries transmissions can be received using even smaller dishes.
Q: Which standards does SIRIUS support?
A: SIRIUS supports well-established open standards such as MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) and DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting). Common standards make it simple for our customers to connect to SIRIUS as well as ensuring end-users have easy access via attractively priced equipment.
Q: Will satellite transmission only provide access to TV and radio channels?
A: Satellite transmission encompasses much more than that! SIRIUS has a comprehensive multimedia system based on multicast technology, allowing businesses and service operators to simply and cost-effectively transmit IP-based information to their customers. Some typical services are IP-TV, educational programmes, stock exchange information etc.
Q: Why do some satellite receivers contain a hard disk?
A: The advantage of a satellite receiver with a hard disk is that you can record programmes without having a VCR or a DVD recorder. There is also a feature that lets you press Pause, answer the phone (for example) and then return and continue viewing the programme were you paused it. The hard disk works in basically the same way as in a computer. It usually has a capacity of about 20-30 gigabytes, enough to record about 15 hours of programmes.
Q: Why do I need a dish? Can't I just point my ordinary television aerial at the satellite instead?
A: A dish antenna picks up the satellite signals, which are transmitted in a very high frequency band (about 12 GHz). They are received by the microwave head (low noise block, LNB) where they are amplified and converted to a lower (intermediate) frequency (950-2150 MHz) before they are sent via the aerial cable to the satellite receiver. A conventional television aerial is designed for a far lower frequency band (450 - 900 MHz), so cannot receive satellite signals. Compared with satellite signals, the strength of signals from terrestrial transmitters is very much higher within their coverage area, so no "amplifier" is need to pass the television signals via the aerial cable to the television set.
Q: Where should the dish be located?
A: A dish need not necessarily be mounted on the roof. It could be on the ground, on a wall or in some other location, provided that there is a clear line of sight south to the satellite. The dish must be firmly fixed and accurately aligned for optimum picture quality. The alignment of a dish is usually more sensitive than for a normal television aerial.
Q: Where can I buy a satellite receiver and a dish?
A: From a specialised dealer, a radio/television superstore or an aerial installer.
