System, apparatus and method for single-channel or multi-channel terrestrial communication

• US 20020160708A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xanadoo Company
• Original Assignee: Xanadoo Company
• Inventors: Gould, Richard G., Hane, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A terrestrial radio system for delivering to consumers data transmission services, Internet services, two-way capabilities and single-channel or multi-channel video programming, including national, regional and local television broadcast signals, as well as an apparatus and method thereof. The terrestrial radio system transmits terrestrial signals at satellite-allocated frequencies while mitigating interference with satellite signals to reuse satellite-allocated frequencies.

Claims

1. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, which comprises:

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for transmitting terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency selected to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals;

a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna, said antenna being aligned to mitigate interference with the non-terrestrial signals; and

processing means at the subscriber location for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

2. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the satellite-allocated frequency is a satellite-allocated downlink frequency.

3. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the satellite-allocated frequency is less than 12.2 GHz or greater than 12.7 GHz.

4. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the satellite-allocated frequency is 11.7 GHz to 12.2 GHz.

5. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the satellite-allocated frequency is 41.0 GHz to 42.5 GHz.

6. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, further comprising return transmitter means for the subscriber to transmit terrestrial signals to the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site.

7. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 6, wherein the return transmitter means includes a return link using a satellite uplink frequency.

8. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 7, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8 GHz.

9. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 15 dBW.

10. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 10 dBW.

11. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 12.5 dBm.

12. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a main axis of radiation pointed south.

13. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna has a beamwidth of about 120 degrees in the azimuthal plane.

14. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a linear polarization.

15. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

16. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 15, wherein the offset-fed reflector is linearly polarized.

17. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

18. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

19. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial signals provide video programming, data transmission, Internet service, or a combination thereof.

20. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 19, wherein the Internet service is high-speed broadband service.

21. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 20, wherein the high-speed broadband service has an information bit rate from about 1.554 MB/s to about 40 Mb/s per channel.

22. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 1, wherein the non-terrestrial signals are direct broadcast satellite signals.

24. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, further comprising return transmitter means for the subscriber to transmit terrestrial signals to the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site.

25. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 24, wherein the return transmitter means includes a return link using a satellite uplink frequency.

26. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 25, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8 GHz.

27. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 15 dBW.

28. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 10 dBW.

29. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 12.5 dBm.

30. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a main axis of radiation pointed south.

31. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, wherein the terrestrial transmitting antenna has a beamwidth of about 120 degrees in the azimuthal plane.

32. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a linear polarization.

33. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, wherein the subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

34. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 33, wherein the offset-fed reflector is linearly polarized.

35. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

36. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 23, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

38. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, further comprising return transmitter means for the subscriber to transmit terrestrial signals to the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site.

39. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 38, wherein the return transmitter means includes a return link using a satellite uplink frequency.

40. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 39, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8 GHz.

41. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 15 dBW.

42. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 10 dBW.

43. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 12.5 dBm.

44. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a main axis of radiation pointed south.

45. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, wherein the terrestrial transmitting antenna has a beamwidth of about 120 degrees in the azimuthal plane.

46. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a linear polarization.

47. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, wherein the subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

48. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 47, wherein the offset-fed reflector is linearly polarized.

49. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

50. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 37, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

23. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, which comprises:

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for transmitting terrestrial signals to the subscriber at a satellite-allocated frequency;

a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna, said subscriber antenna and said directional terrestrial antenna being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals; and

processing means at the subscriber location for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

37. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, which comprises:

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for transmitting terrestrial signals at a first satellite-allocated frequency;

a first subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna at the first satellite-allocated frequency;

a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location for receiving satellite signals at a second satellite-allocated frequency;

said second satellite allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency;

and processing means at the subscriber location for processing the terrestrial signals and the satellite signals into an output.

51. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, which comprises:

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for transmitting terrestrial signals at a first satellite-allocated frequency;

a first subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna at the first satellite-allocated frequency;

a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location for receiving satellite signals at a second satellite-allocated frequency;

said second satellite-allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency;

processing means at the subscriber location for separately directing the terrestrial signals and the satellite signals to a receiver; and

selection means at the antenna for selecting a channel from the terrestrial signals and the satellite signals to provide an output.

52. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, wherein the first satellite-allocated frequency is in the FSS band and the second satellite-allocated frequency is in the DBS band.

53. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, wherein the first satellite-allocated frequency is 11.7 GHz to 12.2 GHz and the second satellite-allocated frequency is 12.2 GHz to 12.7 GHz.

54. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, wherein the first subscriber antenna is aligned in the northward direction and the second subscriber antenna is aligned in the southward direction.

55. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, wherein the first satellite-allocated frequency is selected to mitigate interference with satellite signals and the directional terrestrial antenna is located to mitigate interference from the satellite signals.

56. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, wherein the first subscriber antenna is aligned to mitigate interference to the satellite signals.

57. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, wherein the first subscriber antenna is aligned in the southward direction to receive terrestrial signals.

58. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, further comprising return transmitter means for the subscriber to transmit terrestrial signals to the directional terrestrial antenna.

59. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 58, wherein the return transmitter means includes a return link using a satellite uplink frequency.

60. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 59, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8 GHz.

61. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 51, wherein the first subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

62. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, which comprises:

a directional terrestrial antenna with a main axis of radiation directed southward at the provider site for transmitting terrestrial signals at a first satellite-allocated frequency and a second satellite allocated frequency, said second satellite-allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency;

a subscriber antenna at the subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna at the first satellite-allocated frequency and the second satellite-allocated frequency; and

processing means at the subscriber location for processing said terrestrial signals into an output.

63. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 62, wherein the terrestrial signals at the first satellite-allocated frequency and the second satellite-allocated frequency provide at least 1 GHz of service.

64. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 62, further comprising return transmitter means for the subscriber to transmit terrestrial signals to the directional terrestrial antenna.

65. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 64, wherein the return transmitter means includes a return link using a satellite uplink frequency.

66. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 65, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8 GHz.

67. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 62, wherein the subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

69. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 68, wherein the disabling means disables a feed from the subscriber antenna or a feed from an antenna receiving signals from a non-terrestrial transmitter.

70. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 68, further comprising return transmitter means for the subscriber to transmit terrestrial signals to the directional terrestrial antenna.

71. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 70, wherein the return transmitter means includes a return link using a satellite uplink frequency.

72. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 71, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8.

73. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 68, wherein the first subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

107. The method of claim 67, wherein the frequency is 41.0 GHz to 42.5 GHz.

68. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, which comprises:

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site with a main axis of radiation directed southward for transmitting terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency;

a first subscriber antenna at the subscriber location aligned in the northward direction for receiving the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna at the satellite-allocated frequency;

a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location aligned in the southward direction for receiving satellite signals transmitted at the satellite-allocated frequency;

disabling means which disables a first feed from the first subscriber antenna or a second feed from the second subscriber antenna in response to selection by the subscriber of a channel from a plurality of channels, said disabling means thereby preventing simultaneous transmission of terrestrial signals and satellite signals to the subscriber; and

processing means at the subscriber location for processing the terrestrial signals or the satellite signals into an output.

74. A single-channel or multi-channel system for receiving terrestrial signals at a provider site from a subscriber, which comprises:

a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for transmitting the terrestrial signals to the provider site at a satellite-allocated frequency selected to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals;

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for receiving the terrestrial signals at the frequency selected to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals; and

processing means at the provider site for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

75. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 74, further comprising means for transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

76. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 74, wherein said single-channel or multi-channel system provides the subscriber with interactive television.

77. A single-channel or multi-channel system for receiving terrestrial signals at a provider site from a subscriber, which comprises:

a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for transmitting the terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency to the provider site;

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for receiving the terrestrial signals from the subscriber at the satellite-allocated frequency;

said subscriber antenna and said directional terrestrial antenna being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals; and

processing means at the provider site for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

78. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 77, further comprising means for transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

79. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 77, wherein said single-channel or multi-channel system provides the subscriber with interactive television.

80. A single-channel or multi-channel system for receiving terrestrial signals at a provider site from a subscriber, which comprises:

a subscriber antenna with a main axis of radiation directed northward at a subscriber location for transmitting terrestrial signals to the provider site at a first satellite-allocated frequency and a second satellite-allocated frequency, said second satellite-allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency;

a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site for receiving terrestrial signals at the first satellite-allocated frequency and the second satellite allocated frequency; and

processing means at the provider site for processing said terrestrial signals into an output.

81. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 80, further comprising means for transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

82. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 80, wherein said single-channel or multi-channel system provides the subscriber with interactive television.

83. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals from a primary provider site to a secondary provider site, which comprises:

a primary directional terrestrial antenna at the primary provider site for transmitting terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency to the secondary provider site; and

a secondary directional terrestrial antenna at the secondary provider site for receiving the terrestrial signals at the satellite-allocated frequency from the primary directional terrestrial antenna, said primary directional terrestrial antenna and said secondary directional terrestrial antenna being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals.

84. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 83, further comprising one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites.

85. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 84, wherein the terrestrial signals are transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites.

86. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 83, further comprising a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

87. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 83, further comprising:

one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites; and

a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location for receiving the terrestrial signals from the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna

88. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 87, wherein the terrestrial signals are received at the subscriber location after being directly or indirectly transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

90. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, further comprising return transmitter means for the subscriber to transmit terrestrial signals to the directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site.

91. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 90, wherein the return transmitter means includes a return link using a satellite uplink frequency.

92. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 91, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8 GHz.

93. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 15 dBW.

94. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 10 dBW.

95. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, wherein the terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 12.5 dBm.

96. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a main axis of radiation pointed south.

97. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, wherein the terrestrial transmitting antenna has a beamwidth of about 120 degrees in the azimuthal plane.

98. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, wherein the terrestrial antenna has a linear polarization.

99. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, wherein the subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

100. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 99, wherein the offset-fed reflector is linearly polarized.

101. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

102. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 89, further comprising interference cancellers, the interference cancellers being provided to each non-subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

89. A single-channel or multi-channel system for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber, which comprises:

means for transmitting the terrestrial signals to the subscriber at a satellite-allocated frequency from a provider site without interfering with satellite signals; and

means for receiving the terrestrial signals at the satellite-allocated frequency at a subscriber location; and

means for processing the terrestrial signals into an output at the subscriber location.

103. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber or a plurality of subscribers from a provider site to provide single-channel or multi-channel programming, comprising:

(a) transmitting terrestrial signals from a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site at a satellite-allocated frequency selected to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals;

(b) receiving at a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna; and

(c) processing at the subscriber location the terrestrial signals into an output.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the frequency is a satellite-allocated downlink frequency.

105. The method of claim 103, wherein the frequency is less than 12.2 GHz or greater than 12.7 GHz.

106. The method of claim 103, wherein the frequency is 11.7 GHz to 12.2 GHz.

108. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

receiving at the directional terrestrial antenna terrestrial signals transmitted by the subscriber.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the terrestrial signals transmitted by the subscriber are transmitted by using a return link on a satellite uplink frequency.

110. The method of claim 103, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 15 dBW.

111. The method of claim 103, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 10 dBW.

112. The method of claim 103, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 12.5 dBm.

113. The method of claim 103, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna has a main axis of radiation pointed south.

114. The method of claim 103, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna is oriented 120 degrees in the azimuthal plane.

115. The method of claim 103, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna has a linear polarization.

116. The method of claim 103, wherein the subscriber antenna includes an offset- fed reflector.

117. The method of claim 116, wherein the offset-fed reflector is linearly polarized.

118. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

119. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

120. The method of claim 103, wherein the terrestrial signals provide video programming, data transmission, Internet service, two-way service or a combination thereof.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein the Internet service is high-speed broadband service.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein the high-speed broadband service has an information bit rate from about 1.554 MB/s to about 40 Mb/s per channel.

123. The method of claim 103, wherein the non-terrestrial signals are direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signals.

124. The method of claim 103, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted by the subscriber to the terrestrial antenna by using a return link on a satellite uplink frequency.

125. The single-channel or multi-channel system of claim 124, wherein the satellite uplink frequency is 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz or 17.3 GHz to 17.8 GHz.

127. The method of claim 126, wherein the subscriber antenna includes an offset-fed reflector.

128. The method of claim 126, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

129. The method of claim 126, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

131. The method of claim 130, wherein the directional terrestrial antenna has an e.i.r.p. no greater than about 15 dBW.

132. The method of claim 130, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

133. The method of claim 130, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

135. The method of claim 134, wherein the first satellite-allocated frequency is in the FSS band and the second satellite-allocated frequency is in the DBS band.

136. The method of claim 134, wherein the first satellite-allocated frequency is 11.7 GHz to 12.2 GHz and the second satellite-allocated frequency is 12.2 GHz to 12.7 GHz.

137. The method of claim 134, wherein the first subscriber antenna is aligned in the northward direction and the second subscriber antenna is aligned in the southward direction.

138. The method of claim 134, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted by the subscriber to the terrestrial antenna by using a return link on a satellite uplink frequency.

139. The method of claim 134, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

140. The method of claim 134, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

142. The method of claim 141, wherein the terrestrial signals at the first satellite-allocated frequency and the second satellite-allocated frequency provide at least 1 GHz of service.

143. The method of claim 141, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted by the subscriber to the terrestrial antenna by using a return link on a satellite uplink frequency.

144. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna.

145. The method of claim 141, further comprising:

placing interference cancellers on each non-subscriber antenna located within sight of the subscriber antenna at each commercial location or each residential location.

147. The method of claim 146, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted by the subscriber to the terrestrial antenna by using a return link on a satellite uplink frequency.

149. The method of claim 148, further comprising transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

150. The method of claim 148, wherein said method provides the subscriber with interactive television.

152. The method of claim 151, further comprising transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

153. The method of claim 151, wherein said method provides the subscriber with interactive television.

155. The method of claim 154, further comprising transmitting terrestrial signals from the directional terrestrial antenna to the subscriber.

156. The method of claim 154, wherein said method provides the subscriber with interactive television.

158. The method of claim 157, further comprising transmitting the terrestrial signals from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites.

159. The method of claim 157, further comprising transmitting the terrestrial signals from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location.

160. The method of claim 157, further comprising:

transmitting the terrestrial signals to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna at one or more additional secondary provider sites from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna; and

transmitting to the subscriber location from the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna the terrestrial signals.

161. The method of claim 160, wherein the terrestrial signals are received at the subscriber location after being directly or indirectly transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

162. The method of claim 161, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted from a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location to the secondary directional terrestrial antenna or the one or more additional secondary directional terrestrial antenna.

163. The method of claim 157, wherein terrestrial signals are transmitted from the secondary directional terrestrial antenna to the primary directional terrestrial antenna.

126. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, comprising:

transmitting terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency from a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site;

receiving at a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna, said subscriber antenna and said directional terrestrial antenna being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals; and

processing at the subscriber location the terrestrial signals into an output.

130. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, comprising:

transmitting terrestrial signals from a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site at a first satellite-allocated frequency;

receiving at a first subscriber antenna at a subscriber location the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna at the first satellite-allocated frequency;

receiving at a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location satellite signals at a second satellite-allocated frequency;

said second satellite allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency; and

processing at the subscriber location the terrestrial signals and the satellite signals into an output.

134. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, comprising:

(a) transmitting terrestrial signals from a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site at a first satellite-allocated frequency;

(b) receiving at a first subscriber antenna at a subscriber location the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna at the first satellite-allocated frequency;

(c) receiving at a second subscriber antenna at the subscriber location satellite signals at a second satellite-allocated frequency;

said second satellite-allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency;

(d) separately directing the terrestrial signals and the satellite signals to a receiver; and

(e) selecting at the receiver a channel from the terrestrial signals and the satellite signals to provide an output at the subscriber location.

141. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, comprising:

(a) transmitting terrestrial signals at a first satellite-allocated frequency and a second satellite allocated frequency from a directional terrestrial antenna with a main axis of radiation directed southward from the provider site, said second satellite-allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency;

(b) receiving at a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location the terrestrial signals at the first satellite-allocated frequency and the second satellite-allocate frequency transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna; and

(c) processing at the subscriber location said terrestrial signals into an output.

146. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals to a subscriber from a provider site, comprising:

(a) transmitting terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency from a directional terrestrial antenna with a main axis of radiation directed southward from the provider site to a subscriber location;

(b) receiving at a first subscriber antenna aligned in the northward direction at the subscriber location the terrestrial signals transmitted from the directional terrestrial antenna at the satellite-allocated frequency;

(c) receiving at a second subscriber antenna aligned in the southward direction at the subscriber location satellite signals transmitted at the satellite-allocated frequency;

(d) disabling a first feed from the first subscriber antenna or a second feed from the second subscriber antenna in response to selection by the subscriber of a channel from a plurality of channels, thereby preventing simultaneous transmission of terrestrial signals and satellite signals to the subscriber; and

(e) processing at the subscriber location the terrestrial signals or the satellite signals into an output.

148. A method for receiving terrestrial signals from a subscriber at a provider site, comprising:

transmitting to the provider site from a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location the terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency selected to mitigate interference with non- terrestrial signals;

receiving at a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site the terrestrial signals at the satellite-allocated frequency selected to mitigate interference with non-terrestrial signals; and

processing at the provider site the terrestrial signals into an output.

151. A method for receiving terrestrial signals from a subscriber at a provider site, comprising:

transmitting to the provider site from a subscriber antenna at a subscriber location terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency;

receiving at a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site the terrestrial signals from the subscriber at the satellite-allocated frequency;

said subscriber antenna and said directional terrestrial antenna being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals; and

processing means for processing the terrestrial signals into an output.

154. A method for receiving terrestrial signals from a subscriber at a provider site, comprising:

transmitting from a subscriber antenna with a main axis of radiation directed northward at a subscriber location to a provider site terrestrial signals at a first satellite-allocated frequency and a second satellite-allocated frequency, said second satellite-allocated frequency being different from said first satellite-allocated frequency;

receiving at a directional terrestrial antenna at the provider site terrestrial signals at the first satellite-allocated frequency and the second satellite allocated frequency; and

processing means at the provider site for processing said terrestrial signals into an output.

157. A method for transmitting terrestrial signals from a primary provider site to a secondary provider site, which comprises:

transmitting from a primary directional terrestrial antenna at the primary provider site to the secondary provider site the terrestrial signals at a satellite-allocated frequency; and

receiving from the primary directional terrestrial antenna at a secondary directional terrestrial antenna at the secondary provider site the terrestrial signals at the satellite-allocated frequency, said primary directional terrestrial antenna and said secondary directional terrestrial antenna being aligned to mitigate interference with satellite signals.