4DTV Totally Explained

Everything about 4dtv totally explained

4DTV is the name of the digital TVRO communications satellite receiver technology manufactured by Motorola for use with large-diameter parabolic dish antennas on the C and K_u frequency bands.

History

Since 4DTV technology was originally developed in 1997 by General Instrument, now the broadband division of Motorola, it predates DVB-based digital television compression and is incompatible with the DVB standard. The DigiCipher II encryption system replaced the VideoCipher and VideoCipher II systems.

Usage

In big dish satellite television viewing circles, 4DTV is essentially synonymous with signals that use the DigiCipher 2 standard of signal encryption and compression, also owned by Motorola, although the receivers are also capable of handling analog channels.
DigiCipher 2 was originally intended to be the digital signal compression standard for digital television and audio signals beamed to North America, but can't be considered a de facto standard, due to the large number of DVB satellite signals available in North America.
About 70% of newer first-generation digital cable networks in North America use the 4DTV/DigiCipher 2 format.

Channel coding

4DTV digital channels use a "An nnn" format, where "An" is the special two-character satellite abbreviation and "nnn" is an arbitrary three-digit channel number assigned to a specific channel on a particular satellite.

Decoders

4DTV receivers are also designed to receive any remaining analog TVRO satellite channels and feeds. Three models are available, either new or refurbished:

DSR-920 (discontinued as of 2003)
DSR-922
DSR-905 sidecar, slaved to an analog satellite receiver and only able to receive digital 4DTV channels; requires the use of an additional receiver to be used as a dish mover. The high cost of these receivers, typically in the US$300-US$700 range, may be a factor that has contributed to rapidly falling subscriber numbers using 4DTV equipment.

High definition access

The HDD200 receiver interfaces with the 4DTV receiver via the Multi-Media Access Port (MMAP). allowing access to several high definition channels available on the 4DTV system. This unit is no longer in production.

Programming providers

In the United States, National Programming Service, LLC (NPS) is the primary provider of subscription programming to 4DTV and C band/K_u band users. The second-largest is Satellite Receivers, Ltd. (SRL). NPS is the only programmer that uplinks any content for its subscribers, whereas SRL only makes use of existing channels.

Advantages

The 4DTV system's main selling point was that it makes use of first-generation master feeds of channels. Therefore, a higher quality signal is achieved, compared other programming options that typically are re-uplinked.

Technological obsolescence

As DVB technology gradually replaces older, proprietary MPEG transmission systems globally, it's likely that 4DTV will become obsolete by about 2010. There is no industry-wide timetable in North America for the conversion from 4DTV to DVB.

Further Information

Get more info on '4dtv'.

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