StarChoice
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StarChoice is Canada's second direct broadcast satellite television distributor, majority owned by cable TV operator Shaw Communications Inc. It broadcasts on Ku band from two communications satellites, Anik F1 at 107.3°W and Anik F2 at 111.1°W; these satellites are owned by Telesat Canada and otherwise are used primarily to distribute programming to various Canadian cable TV companies.
A full list of channels carried by these two satellites is available from satellite-related sites such as Lyngsat: Anik F1 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/starchoicef1.html)Anik F2 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/starchoicef2.html). Anik F1 carries most mainstream English-language programming; Anik F2 programming includes French-language and HDTV broadcasts.
The system requires an elliptical antenna of at least 45x60cm in size with a special LNB pair built as one unit to accommodate the narrow 3.8° spacing between satellites; the receiver uses the Motorola-proprietary Digicypher II system which has so far been virtually free of the problems with pirate decryption that have plagued other providers such as rival Bell ExpressVu. The standard 18" DBS antennas used by other providers are not compatible with this system as the signals differ in both frequency and polarisation.
External Link
- Star Choice (http://www.starchoice.com)
- Digital Insurrection Starchoice Information (http://satellitetv.digitalinsurrection.com/starchoice.php)