THE DCI GAVE THIS TO ME AND ASKED THAT I PASS IT ON TO YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050023-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2011
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: July 18, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/01 :CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050023-7
Central Intelligence Agency
Office of the Deputy Director for Intelligence
18 July 1986
The DCI gave this to me and asked
that I pass it on to you for your
information and, if you can see anything
actionable here, for part of your program.
If we can help, let me know.
ar err
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Attachment:
As stated
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/01 :CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050023-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/01 :CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050023-7
un~iea dares U/hce of ine uirector
Information X11. O 9 ~ ~`
Agency
L.c~-irTnC~~TTl11
Dear Bill:
I wanted to let you know about an exciting new initiative the USIA has
undertaken to bring a more accurate picture of the United States to the
citizens of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Since October of last
year, we have been broadcasting our two-hour-a-day satellite television
service to Europe, IMOf~!-DIET, to Eastern Europe via the East Spot Beam of
the ECS-1F2 satellite. Transmissions from this satellite can be seen by
anyone in Eastern fiirnpe and in the Western portion of the USSR who has
access to the rieoessary receiving equipment.
When we started these broadcasts, we had only sketchy information about
the availabilit~r of satellite antennae systems behind the Iron Cyrtain,
but we were convinced that, once the service became known, t Yhaw..-~
information-starved citizens of the Eastern Bloc would find a way to
acquire the e~qui~pwerYt they needed. Earlier this year, I directed the
Voice of.Amer~ca to begin broadcasting promotional announcements about
WORLDNET on the fast European language services to stimulate
further interest 3n the program. In a short span of time, hundreds of
letters were recxiMed by the VOA, asking for more information.
Interestingly, easy of the letters asked for more details about how to
actually build equipment necessary to receive satellite broadcasts. Most
of the letters received were from Hungarians, many of whom indicated that
it would be possible for them to purchase the requisite electronic
components in 1Nesttrn Europe. Following are excerpts from some typical
letters:
(From Hungary): "I heard today your broadcast that you have started'
the WORt..OrET TY pzograms towards Eastern Europe. Since...in Hungary
I teach mathemgtics and physics, I am very curious about the
technology oP receiving the WORLDNET programs in Hungary. I would
like to receive any and all technical information on the antenna from
the very basics...."
(From Hungary): "I was pleased to hear on your programs that you
have begun satellite transmissions of TV broadcasts to Hungary. I
would like to receive detailed technical information on the receiving
capabilities. If possible to obtain some of the technical equipment
in West Germany, please let me know the address of some outlets...."
(From Hungary): "...I would like to express my thanks to Congress
for providing increased funds for VOA to continue and increase
broadcasts and to you for your dedicated work which helps our much
suffered countrya+eti to see the real world and receive some true
information on world affairs.... Providing information is a weapon.
The Honorable
William J. t`ssey
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
~l/~{~~r-Tf1r 1.ITT rtl
HU
USIA
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' CONFIDENTIAL
Often it is worth more than the best nuclear or conventional
missile. This is why we are so pleased that the satellite programs
have begun."
(From Poland): "Today I ,just learned from the VOA's Polish Division
broadcast about your television programs...being possible to receive
in Poland. I'm interested in receiving your telecasts but know next
to nothing about them, so I ask you to send me full information about
them and devices necessary in order to receive your programs."
(From Czechoslovakia): "I am your long time listener, and I am
interested in 'life on the other side.' That is why I got excited
about your news of transmission of your television to Europe. I
would be very grateful to you if you could send me instructions on
how to build up an antema which would enable me to receive the
Eurovision and the WORLDNET."
Naturally, we were delighted with the tremendous response to our
~omotional announcements. As you no doubt know, building a satellite
artema is no easy matter, but it is not beyond the ability of a
tectnically competent individual with access to the right equipment. As
a result of the queries we received, we put together a brief pamphlet
intended to guide the home hobbyist with basic engineering skills who
~tnts to try his hand at home satellite reception. (Because of our
concern over possible official reprisals against individuals who receive
this kind of material from the USIA through the international mails, we
are asking our posts in the region to distribute it on a discretionary
brsis.) A copy of this pamphlet is attached for your information, along
Math additional material about our daily European broadcast service.
7'?~e opportunity to reach into the closed societies of Eastern Europe
tfirough satellite television is tremendously exciting for us. There are
even reports that, in the most closed society of all -- the Soviet Union
,-- intrepid electronics hobbyists are finding ways to monitor Western
television broadcasts. Our post in Moscow recently reported contact with
a young Soviet engineer who said that "many people" in Moscow were
building dishes for satellite reception. As our Hungarian correspondent
painted out, information is indeed a "weapon" in the War of Ideas, and I
am confident that, with the help of WORLDNET, this is one war that we are
Miming.
Best regards.
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/01 :CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050023-7
WORLDNET VIA NOME TVRO SYSTEM
1. INTRODUCTION
WORLDNET programs to Europe are currently being transmitted by European
Communications Satellites (ECS) in the Ku frequency band. This
frequency band covers the spectrum from 10950 to 11700 megahertz (MHz)
in the case of the ECS satellites. Reception of these transmissions
may be accomplished via a satellite television receive only (TVRO)
earth station which detects the signal and converts it to lower input
frequencies employed by home television receivers. Pertinent
transmission parameters are given in Table I.
II. TYRO SYSTEM COMPONENTS
All TYRO systems, whether used for commercial or home reception,
consist of three basic subsystem components. The first component is a
parabolic dish shaped antenna reflector, which captures the television
microwaves radiated from the satellite. These waves are focused by the
antenna dish onto an antenna Peed to which is attached the second major
subsystem component known as a low noise block downconvertor (LNB).
The LNB amplifies the weak satellite signal and downconverts it to a
lower frequency for transmission via coaxial cable to the third major
subsystem component - the satellite receiver. The satellite receiver
then further downconverts the microwave signal and demodulates it into
the audio and video signal that serves as the input to a standard
television monitor or VCR. "The television monitor is set for satellite
signal reception and tunning in different satellite programs is
accomplished using a control on the satellite receiver.
The block diagram in figure 1 illustrates the major components of a
TVRO system. System components may be purchased separately or as a kit
in electronics stores in many major cities. Assembly of the system
consists of mounting and aligning the antenna; bolting the LNB to the
teedhorn and the feedhorn to the antenna offset structure generally
Drovided as part of the reflector, connecting the LNB to the satellite
receiver by coaxial cable and a similar connection of the satellite
receiver to the television monitor. If a standard television receiver
is to be used for viewing instead of a monitor, either the tuning
circuit must be bypassed by modifying the television receiver, or the
output of the satellite receiver must be fed through a modulator to
combine the audio and video signals into a radio frequency signal
acceptable in frequency to the television receiver antenna input.
III. SIGNAL ACQUISITION
Antenna alignment may be accomplished using a simple magnetic compus
and protractor to set the elevation and azimuthal angles of the dish.
Since most communication satellites are geostationary, the antenna is
first pointed toward the equator or south if in the Northern
Hemisphere. The precise elevation and azimuthal angles are computed
from the location of the satellite. The ECS 1 F-2 satellite, which
carries WORLDNET, is located over the equator at 7 degrees east
longitude.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/01 :CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050023-7