From The Satellite-Tv Desk

FROM THE SATELLITE-TV DESK with a contribution by P.N.P. Wintergreen In line with this month"s theme, Satellite and Cable TV, sundry matters are discussed that relate to our recent publications in the increasingly popular field of satellite-TV reception. Astra on the Indoor Unit The numerous constructors of the Indoor Unit for Satellite TV Reception (Ref. 1) will be pleased to learn that it is fairly simple to modify this receiver to accomo- date the channel bandwidth used by the 16 transponders on the Astra-lA me- dium-power TV satellite at 19.2 degrees East. The IF amplifier, composed of active elements T2, ICi and T3, provides about 42 dB gain at a centre frequency of 610 MHz and a 3 dB bandwidth of about 36 MHz, as required for communication satellites in the ECS and Intelsat series. The Astra-1A, however, uses a channel bandwidth of 27 MHz. Since the receiver is 36 MHz wide, reception of Astra-lA often gives rise to interference between adjacent channels. Fortunately, the pro...