lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (12/31/84)
WTBS is on U.S. domestic satellites. For all practical purposes, it is only available in the continental U.S., parts of Canada, and parts of Mexico. Locations such as Alaska/Hawaii can receive the signal through the use of much bigger than normal dishes (and consequently more expense). I know that at least one cable company in Honolulu does have WTBS as a basic service. However, once you get beyond this area, the signal can no longer be received, since the transmission "beams" are under careful focus to maximize power in the areas of interest. The people receiving Japanese, etc. transmissions were receiving occasional signals from the Intelsat and other international satellites, which are specifically in place for providing international telephone and occasional television feeds, unlike the U.S. domestic birds we're talking about, many of which are full time television, period. The big advantage to satellite transmission over packet net systems is that the latter charge for each packet and connection to each site for each message. The satellite system reaches all sites simultaneously, via the one continental "broadcast" connection from space.... --Lauren--