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Authorised Worldspace Dealer in AMRITSAR- INDIA
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WORLDSPACE
CORPORATION
Frequently Asked
Questions
Q. What is
WorldSpace?
A. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the WorldSpace business was founded
in 1990 to provide direct satellite delivery of digital radio and multimedia
services to the emerging markets of the world, including Africa, the Middle
East, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The WorldSpace satellite network will consist of three
geostationary satellites, AfriStar™ AsiaStar™, and
AmeriStar™. AfriStar and AsiaStar were successfully launched
October 28, 1998 and March 21, 2000 respectively. AmeriStar launched in 2001.
Each satellite will have three beams with each beam capable of delivering more
than 40 crystal clear audio services and a variety of web content and data
directly to portable receivers. Once complete, this unique global service will
transmit quality information, education and entertainment programming to a
service area that includes 5.2 billion people.
Q. Who is
manufacturing the WorldSpace Receivers?
A. To insure that WorldSpace brought the best possible product to market,
we looked for companies that had an extensive distributor network, strong brand
identity within our target markets, and recognition as leaders in the field of
consumer electronics in emerging market areas. The following companies met those
stringent requirements and have contracted with WorldSpace to mass produce and
distribute the receivers:
 |
JVC - Japan
(Production Stopped) |
|
Matsushita
(Panasonic)- Japan (Production Stopped) |
|
Hitachi - Japan
(Production Stopped) |
| Sanyo- Japan
(Production Stopped) |
|
BPL - India |
| AMI – Korea |
| Joyear- Korea |
| Polytron- Indonesia |
| Tongshi - China |
Q. What is your
launch sequence?
A. WorldSpace debuted its service in Africa, in October of 1999 and Asia
in September of 2000. We are currently making the receivers available in select
electronics retail stores in the following countries: Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire,
Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal,
Singapore, South Africa, Togo, and the UAE. Subsequently, distribution will
expand to other areas.
A. The cost of the infrastructure to have the scale and quality of
coverage provided through the WorldSpace system is significantly less to the
broadcaster, than heretofore-available alternatives. In addition, there are
three other advantages that set the WorldSpace system apart:
 | Choice There is currently no other single medium that provides the variety of programming that can be accessed through our system. Also, the fact that each receiver is equipped with a data port that downloads data at the rate of 128kbps means the WorldSpace receiver has a multimedia capability. No other audio receiver on the market today can make that claim. |
| Clarity The digital signal means no fading or noise. The system can deliver up to near CD quality sound that is consistent anywhere within the coverage area that is within line-of-sight of the satellite. |
| Coverage From a single point of broadcast, minimum coverage is 14 million square kilometers without loss of sound quality. |
Q. Can I use any
receiver/off the shelf system to access the WorldSpace broadcasts?
A. No. Each WorldSpace receiver has a proprietary STARMANÔ Chipset, which demodulates the signal from the
satellite and translates it into what you hear.
The WorldSpace Vision
Q.
What is the WorldSpace vision?
A. "WorldSpace began with the vision of using direct audio broadcast
via satellite to stop the spread of AIDS in Africa, but that horizon quickly
expanded. Clearly the WorldSpace system could be a powerful tool for spreading
knowledge for the sake of making people healthier, better educated, and more
aware of the precious environment in which they live. In addition to making
countless millions more productive on farms, and in factories and offices,
WorldSpace can bring to these people, the gifts of the best music and literature
of their native cultures along with those from the great cultures of faraway
lands."
"WorldSpace is working tirelessly to illuminate
Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean with digital
satellite audio. The system may bring the light of knowledge to four billion
people and may diminish the darkness of ignorance, disease and despair."
—Noah Samara, Chairman and CEO
The Technology
Q. How does the
WorldSpace System work?
A. Broadcasters uplink their signals to the satellite from anywhere
within the global uplink beam of the satellite. The broadcaster may do this
through a centralized hub site, or through an individual feeder link station
located anywhere within the global uplink beam. The satellite transmits the
signal received from the respective broadcaster-uplink stations in all or any
combination of the three downlink beams of
each satellite. Depending on the contract between WorldSpace and the
broadcaster, the broadcaster’s signals will be transmitted in one, two, or all
of the three beams, on each satellite. Any WorldSpace receiver in any of the
downlink beam areas then receives the signal in that beam.
Q. How
are the WorldSpace receivers portable?
A.The
WorldSpace receivers are lightweight, ranging from 1.5 kilograms to 3 kilograms
in weight. The receivers access the satellite and provide the same quality of
sound through the detachable antennae anywhere within the respective coverage
areas, within line-of-sight of the satellite.
Q.
Will I need accessories to receive the signal?
A. Each
receiver will come packaged with an extension cable (5 meters) to allow for
optimal positioning of the antenna. Optional accessories will include
interference filters, a Yagi antenna and a 25-meter extension cable.
Q.
How is WorldSpace different from existing broadcast systems?
A. The
WorldSpace system is digital, providing crystal clear, fade-free sound quality
anywhere within the coverage area. The system provides programming versatility
through manipulation of the bit rates used. Through the digital technology, the
broadcaster can choose the quality of transmission depending on the content,
i.e., speech to near CD quality music etc.
Because it is satellite-based the system is also highly
cost effective for broadcasters. Through the WorldSpace system, the broadcaster
covers at minimum an area of about 14 million square kilometers from a single
point of broadcast. The cost of developing the infrastructure required to attain
that kind of coverage with existing terrestrial systems is prohibitive.
Q.
How are you different from conventional radio?
A. The WorldSpace system is digital not analog, therefore the system
provides:
·
Crystal clear
sound quality over the entire coverage area
·
Programming
versatility through manipulation of the bit rates used. Through the digital
technology, the broadcaster can choose the size of the channel, altering the
quality of transmission depending on the content, i.e., speech to near CD
quality music etc.
·
Data
transmission: the WorldSpace system is satellite based not terrestrial.
Therefore, we can broadcast over a broader coverage area, provide a variety of
programming (up to 50+ channels of programming in varied formats and languages
per beam) and a multimedia capability.
WorldSpace Audio
Content
Q. How many broadcasters have already signed on to the WorldSpace System?
A. We
currently have over 40 broadcasters signed on the system. We are also in serious
negotiations with a host of other premiere broadcasters throughout the world.
Q.
What Broadcasters do you anticipate to have on the system in the immediate
future?
A. We
are in negotiations with a number of high-profile broadcasters. For updates on
additional partners joining the WorldSpace content line-up please visit our web
site at http://www.worldspace.com/
Q. Does WorldSpace
have any Audio Subscription Channels?
A. Currently all broadcasters on the WorldSpace system are free-to-air.
WorldSpace has the capability of supporting encryption for audio programming. If
a broadcaster should wish to air their programming on a subscription basis, this
could be accomplished.
The Receivers
Q.
Can I receive broadcasts on the WorldSpace system from anywhere?
A. To
receive the WorldSpace service you must be within one of the three broadcast
beams of a WorldSpace satellite. Also, as this is a satellite-based system, the
antenna must be in line-of-sight with the satellite to receive the signal.
Therefore, each receiver comes with a detachable antenna and extension cable,
which allows the user to place the antenna in a position for optimal reception.
Accessories (such as a Yagi antenna, and a 25 meter extension cable, Low Noise
Amplifiers, Interference Filters, Data Port Interface, etc.) will be available
for use in buildings or areas in which accessing line-of-sight may require
external placement of the antenna, and for multimedia reception.
Q. What Customer
Support channels has WorldSpace put in place for the receiver?
A. Each
WorldSpace receiver comes with a warranty from the manufacturer. In addition,
WorldSpace will have a dedicated customer service hotline in each of the
countries in which we do business to assist with any receiver questions. We will
also have trained installation partners to assist those who may opt for
professional installation of the system.
Q.
What Accessories will come with the receiver?
a.) Standard:
| Patch
Antenna |
| 5
meter cable |
| Operation
Manual |
b.) Optional
| Yagi
Antenna |
| 25
meter cable |
| 10 METER CABLE |
| buffer amplifier |
| interference filters |
Q. What about
Headphones, or amplifiers?
A. Each receiver has a headphone jack that can be used with currently
available earphones for privacy. Also, each receiver has a lineout jack so it
can be hooked up to an amplifier.