Spot beam

Spot beam

A spot beam, in telecommunications parlance, is a satellite signal that is specially concentrated in power (i.e. send by a high-gain antenna) so that it will cover only a limited geographic area on earth. Spot beams are used so that only earth stations in a particular intended reception area can properly receive the satellite signal.

One notable example of the use of spot beams is on direct broadcast satellite systems such as DirecTV and DISH Network that deliver local broadcast television via satellite only to viewers in the part of North America from which those terrestrial broadcast stations originate.

Spot beams allow satellites to transmit different data signals using the same frequency. Because satellites have a limited-number of frequencies to use, the ability to re-use a frequency for different geographical locations (without different data interferring with each other at the receiver) allows for more simplified receiver designs.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • spot beam antenna —    Satellite antenna able to concentrate on a limited portion of the earth s surface …   IT glossary of terms, acronyms and abbreviations

  • Beam — 〈[bi:m] m. 6〉 Zielstrahl eines Satelliten [engl.] * * * Beam   [biːm; englisch »Richtstrahl«] der, s/ s, die Strahlungskeule eines Satellitensenders (Transponder); im Querschnitt kreisförmig, elliptisch oder in anderen gezogenen Rundformen,… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • spot|light — «SPOT LYT», noun, verb, light|ed or lit, light|ing. –n. 1. a) a spot or circle of bright light thrown upon a particular person or object, leaving the rest of the stage more or less unilluminated. b) a lamp that gives such a light: »a spotlight in …   Useful english dictionary

  • beam — Synonyms and related words: AM signal, CRT spot, DM display, Doppler signal, FM signal, H beam, I beam, IF signal, IF video signal, IM display, RF amplifier, RF echoes, RF signal, RF stage, TV band, X ray, abutment, actinic ray, actinism,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • Spot — F/A/V On a lensed light, the smallest beam spread. (Lighting) VP The act of adjusting a light’s spot or flood control so the light is at its narrowest, most intense beam. FilmM to a just a light spot/flood control so that the light is at its… …   Audio and video glossary

  • Beam parameter product — In laser science, the beam parameter product (BPP) is the product of a laser beam s divergence angle (half angle) and the radius of the beam at its narrowest point (the beam waist).cite web|url=http://www.rp photonics.com/beam parameter… …   Wikipedia

  • spot — I. noun Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch spotte stain, speck, Old Norse spotti small piece Date: 13th century 1. a taint on character or reputation ; fault < the only spot on the family name > 2. a. a small area visibly different… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Beam compass — A beam compass is a compass with a beam and sliding sockets or cursors for drawing and dividing circles larger than those made by a regular pair of compasses.[1] The instrument can be as a whole, or made on the spot with individual sockets… …   Wikipedia

  • beam — [[t]bi͟ːm[/t]] beams, beaming, beamed 1) VERB If you say that someone is beaming, you mean that they have a big smile on their face because they are happy, pleased, or proud about something. [WRITTEN] [V at/with n] Frances beamed at her friend… …   English dictionary

  • spot — Synonyms and related words: CRT spot, DM display, Doppler signal, IF signal, IM display, RF echoes, abode, ace, acne, aimless, allocate, appointment, arc, arc light, area, ascertain, aspersion, assign, atom, attaint, badge of infamy, band, bar,… …   Moby Thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”