Yeah, that. Obviously everyone knows that a footprint is the print left by a foot. But, when we’re talking about satellite TV, a footprint is something a bit different.
In satellite terms, the footprint is the area of the planet where a particular satellite signal can be received. Take a look at the map below. It shows you a completely different kind of footprint.
This is the footprint of a DIRECTV satellite that serves several cities in the midwest including Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit (courtesy iamanedgecutter.com.) If you’re inside this yellow shape, you can get those signals. If you’re not, you can’t. As you get closer to the center of the pin, the amount of signal you can receive increases. If you look closely you’ll see the numbers listed as dBw, or decibel-watts. That is, a logarithmic number in relation to one watt. (For a deeper dive on decibels, click here.) This isn’t a measure of the signal you’ll receive, it’s a measure of the broadcast power going to that location. The actual signal you’ll receive is much, much weaker.
CONUS vs. spot beams
Some satellite beams have a “CONUS” or continental US footprint while others, like the one in the picture, cover only a certain area and are referred to as “spot beams.” To learn more about spot beams, click here. For those who don’t feel like clicking, here’s the basic stuff to know. A CONUS beam covers the entire US. A spot beam is focused on one spot within the CONUS area. Spot beams make it possible to reuse broadcast frequencies by using the same frequency but pointing the signal at two very different areas. Without spot beams, it really wouldn’t be possible to have local channels. Aside from the frequency issue, there would also be the legality of broadcasting one market’s channels into another market. That’s rather against the law.
Why is this important?
For regular folks in homes and businesses, footprints are used to make sure you can get the signals you want. If you’re in an RV or yacht and you travel outside the satellite footprint for the channel you want, you lose that channel. While satellite signals can be fairly precisely aimed, it’s still hard to be super-precise when you’re aiming from 22,000 miles away. Most spot beam footprints extend out about 150 miles from the center give or take, and national “CONUS” beams extend about 100 miles from the shore. That’s a lot of leeway.
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