A c-band dish (often abbreviated to BUD or UGLY) is a colloquial name for a satellite dish used to receive satellite television signals from FSS-type satellites on the C band. A satellite dish is a type of Parabolic antenna that receives or transmits electromagnetic signals to and from another location typically a satellite A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or Paralinguistics. A name ( Etymology: from OE nama akin to OHG namo, Latin Nomen, and Greek όνομα ( A satellite dish is a type of Parabolic antenna that receives or transmits electromagnetic signals to and from another location typically a satellite This article is about artificial satellites For natural satellites also known as moons see Natural satellite. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Fixed Service Satellite (or FSS) is the official classification (used chiefly in North America for Geostationary Communications satellites used for broadcast C band is a name given to certain portions of the Electromagnetic spectrum, as well as a range of Wavelengths of Light, used for communications BUDs are usually about ten feet or three metres in diameter and have been a source of much consternation (even local zoning disputes) to neighbors of those with the dishes. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Geometry, a diameter of a Circle is any straight Line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose Endpoints are on the Zoning is a term used in Urban planning for a system of land-use Regulation in various parts of the world including North America the United Kingdom Although some dishes are made of fiberglass, a common alternative is a metal mesh — such BUDs shed snow and have reduced wind loads; in addition, some critics consider them less unsightly. Fiberglass (also called fibreglass and glass fibre see Spelling differences) is material made from extremely fine Fibers of Glass. "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation.
Recently, DBS services have reduced or eliminated the need for BUDs. Direct broadcast satellite (DBS is a term used to refer to Satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception also referred to more broadly as direct-to-home Signals from DBS satellites (operating in the Ku band) are higher in power and therefore require smaller dishes than C band, and the digital signals now used require far less signal strength at the receiver. The Ku band ( pronounced "kay-yoo") is a portion of the Electromagnetic spectrum in the Microwave range of frequencies A digital system uses discrete (discontinuous values usually but not always Symbolized Numerically (hence called "digital" to represent information for General advancements in noise abatement have also had an effect. For these reasons, significantly smaller dishes are now used for home satellite reception.
A dual-band or Ku band LNB may be retrofitted to some big dishes, however there is a more restrictive maximum mesh size (anything less than the diameter of a pencil) if anything other than a solid dish is used at these shorter wavelengths. A low-noise block converter ( LNB, for low-noise block, or sometimes LNC, for low-noise converter) is the (receiving or Downlink In Physics wavelength is the distance between repeating units of a propagating Wave of a given Frequency. Usually, a solid fiberglass or spun aluminum dish is ideal for dual-band LNB operation. Metal spinning, or spin forming, is a Metal working process by which a disc or tube of Metal is rotated at high speed and formed into an axially
In the 80s and 90s, before the emergence of the DBS system, BUDs were sometimes jokingly referred to with the term "West Virginia state flower" [1] Since West Virginia is very mountainous and rural, reception with aerial antennas was difficult and cable TV systems hadn't been established. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by In a number of countries plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas Therefore, the over-abduance of BUDs seen in the area lead to the short-lived term "West Virginia State Flower", as there was one in pretty much every yard. The expansion of cable TV systems into rural areas and the arrival of the DBS system have reduced the number of BUDs being used in the areas, however, because of their size, they're usually left in place when disconnected. Some have been removed and minidishes placed on the pole, or, in some cases, a newer LNB was retrofitted onto the dish and them the dish aimed at the appropriate service. The term was regional, known mostly to those living in West Virginia and surrounding areas.
Big Ugly Dishes are still popular today. There are many free to air (FTA) channels in both Ku and C-Band. Due to the smaller waves of C-Band frequencies, a much larger dish (4-20 foot) is needed. Some people will ad a KU lnb to the dish to pick up fta on the ku side and also for Dish Network or Directv, since the dish much greater in diameter, the signal will not fade out in heavy rain or snow.
Also some people will subscribe to a satellite tv company, called 4DTV, that mainly transmits in c-band, because of this, people can enjoy satellite tv in any sort of weather. Another advantge is you can pick which channels you want to pay for, called ala-carte. The small dish market has not yet done this.
In the late 70's when Bud's first arived, the were $20,000 to 26,000 new. A ground station permit was also needed. Most channels were in one polarity, dual polarity (H/V) was introduced in the eary 80's. The prices of system have come down, a new one, in 2008 prices, is about $400-$1000 new.
Most Channels were free, until the mid to late 80's when HBO started to scramble its channel and other followed suit. Today there are only a dozen or so channels still free. Wild feeds (channels only on for a limited time, such as a sports game or news feed) are mostly in the clear.
Most People don't realize the popularity of Big Ugly Dishes today, with the small dish market claiming they are long obsolete, though this is a lie. Cable TV relies heavily on C-band for it channels.
Because of this, a person wanting a BUD system can typicaly get them for free, due to the fact some people consider them an eyesore.
References
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic