[mythtv-users] Digital technicalities (Was: Obama Recommends Delay in Digital TV Switch)

Brian Wood beww at beww.org
Fri Jan 9 20:25:28 UTC 2009


David Brodbeck wrote:
> On Fri, January 9, 2009 12:00 pm, Simon Hobson wrote:
>> Over here they are called repeaters, which is possibly a more natural
>> name.
> 
> Indeed.  For some reason, in American technical jargon, the term
> "repeater" is widely used for devices that extend the range of two-way
> radio systems, but the term "translator" became attached to the same type
> of device when it's used in broadcasting.

A "repeater" uses two frequencies, one for receive and one for transmit.
Anything the repeater receives on the input side is transmitted on the
transmit frequency. The repeater listens on the same frequency as the
mobile units transmit on, and transmits on the same freq. as the mobile
units listen on. No "translation" occurs.

A "translator" has the sole function of "translating" an input channel
to a completely different output channel. Often the input is a VHF
channel and the output is a UHF channel. Translators are also used for
FM stations as well.

The differing terms make sense, because two totally different functions
are served by the different devices.

beww


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