 
Technology Notes Fall 1999 | Return to PROGRAMMING RESOURCES
URGENT! Information needed on your technical point of contact
Information needed on your technical point of contact Please fill out and submit the technical point of contact form or fax it to 703-739-8495. The PBS Adult Learning Service broadcasts all of its programming via a digital signal. Live programming from ALS is also broadcast via an analog signal in both C-band and Ku-band. To receive the encoded digital transmissions, you need an Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD), specifically a General Instruments DSR-4000 or DSR4200V To find out what kind of equipment your organization has, call your learning resources center or continuing education department. In addition to the dish and receiver, the only other equipment you really need is a VCR and blank tapes. Refer to the links below for more specific details about the Digital DSR-4200V IRD: If your organization has not converted to digital reception you can obtain information from the following sources:
ALS has again teamed with Group W Network Services to make available to all ALS digital customers a digital receiver service program. Should your DSR-4200V or DSR-4000 IRD fail to function properly, subscribers to the plan can obtain help desk service for troubleshooting assistance. If normal IRD operation cannot be restored through help desk support, the plan provides for second business day replacement of the failed IRD. The help desk feature of the plan may also be useful to steerable antenna users where "re-peaking" to an optimum signal level can be a recurring requirement. This plan is designed to be simple, easy, fast and affordable. The annual service agreement fee for ALS members is $175; for others, $275. If you missed our July 23, 1999 mailing, e-mail Bob Brown for a copy. This topic was discussed during the FREE live satellite event called ALS Live: Digital Update on August 26, 1999. If you missed this important update, call ALS Customer Support and ask for a free tape.
For the 1999-2000 academic year, ALS will continue to offer most live events in analog as well as digital formats. If yours is an analog receive site, call us early, after you have made the licensing decision, and ask for satellite coordinates. Then check your analog receiver to determine if the satellite being used is programmed into your receiver's memory. If you need to re-program and do not have the instructions for your receiver, check to see if the receiver manufacturer has a Web site and look there for instructions. For example, for Monterey Chaparral receiver users, check www.chaparral.net. Look under Frequently Asked Questions for programming instructions. Preview Room | More Resources | Publications | To Order | Search | CONTACT US |
