When do I need
to place my order to be ready for the school year?
In August of each year there is a very important orientation week just prior
to the beginning of the regular school year. We recommend that you place your
equipment order at least one month in advance of the date you wish to begin
viewing or recording. There is not an actual cut-off date, but ordering any later
could cause you to miss the first few weeks of lessons.
May I sign up at any
time?
Yes, we place no restrictions on the time of year that you may sign up for BJU Press Distance Learning.
However, signing up in the middle of the year would be similar to transferring
into a new school in the middle of the year. You would need to pick up where
the courses were and continue on from there.
Will I still need to
order teacher's editions?
The philosophy of the BJU Press Distance Learning programming is to assist you, not replace you,
as you teach your children. With this in mind, some teachers do not require
the use of teacher's editions since any necessary information is provided in
the printed materials received by registering for the course. Teacher's editions
are recommended for some courses since they provide answer keys and other supplemental
information. Please refer to our Essential Materials List for specific details
of what you might need for each course.
How do I know which grade
level I need?
BJU Press Distance Learning programming uses the BJU Press curriculum. We do not have a placement
test for the programming or curriculum. Unless there are unique circumstances,
we typically suggest moving on to the next grade level and covering any deficiencies
you may find as the material is taught. Most textbooks spend the first part
of the year in review, so you should quickly notice if your student is not yet
ready for a particular level.
If I am using BJU Press Distance Learning,
can I still receive programming from other sources?
Yes, the BJU Press Distance Learning programming does not interfere with or replace the ability
to view other programming, including cable or other satellite services.
Where can I find schedules of BJU Press Distance Learning programming?
Our program schedules are found on the Schedules page.
Where can I find help with installing, troubleshooting, or operating my BJU Press Distance Learning equipment?
You may find your answer at our Tech Support pages or you may contact us by e-mail at hsattech@bjupress.com or by phone at 1.800.845.5731.
How can I receive network updates and broadcast notices?
You may subscribe to a free e-mail service that sends a notice automatically. To find out more information or to subscribe to this service, please go to the E-mail Notification page.
Who do I contact about billing information?
Please e-mail the BJU Press Distance Learning Business Office at homesataccounts@bjup.com or call 1.866.879.2966 (press 2). You may also change your method of payment or update your credit card information by contacting the BJU Press Distance Learning Business Office.
How can I order makeup lessons of a course I missed?
If you are an active BJU Press Distance Learning subscriber, you may order makeup lessons by contacting Customer Service by phone at 1.800.845.5731.
Are the textbooks included with my BJU Press Distance Learning subscription?
No, the textbooks are not included in your BJU Press Distance Learning costs. The Essential Materials List will give you the list of materials needed for each course. The materials are available from BJU Press and may be viewed and ordered online.
When does my subscription start?
The subscription runs from the time of ordering. Your first month subscription fee is paid when you order.
Do you offer a money-back return policy on your equipment and subscription?
Yes, if you are not satisfied with the service you may return the hardware and materials within 30 days of the invoice date for a full refund.
What are the fees involved with BJU Press Distance Learning?
There are three basic components to receiving BJU Press Distance Learning: hardware, subscription, and registration.
The hardware includes the receiver, the satellite dish, and the hardware to install the equipment. Hardware starts at $279.90 (plus shipping and tax) for a basic receiver with dish and installation hardware.
If you are a new BJU Press Distance Learning customer, you may order your hardware and subscription online or send a completed order form by fax or mail.
Please mail or fax your completed order form to:
BJU Press Distance Learning
1700 Wade Hampton Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29614
FAX: 1.888.525.8398
The second cost is the subscription, which allows you to view the BJU Press Distance Learning
content. The subscription is $49.99 (plus tax) per month year round.
The third cost involved with BJU Press Distance Learning is for registration. Registration provides
support for the specific courses you desire to use. The cost for registration
is $10 per course per year for elementary courses, $20 for grades 7-12 prerecorded courses, and $40 for BJ LINC
courses. This will provide Mom's Minutes, Teacher's Tips, and BJ LINC handouts
as well as the opportunity to purchase makeup lessons at a discount should anything
prevent you from recording your courses. The BJ LINC handouts include tests, quizzes,
teacher notes, and student outlines. Check the Essential Materials List to see which BJU Press Distance Learning courses require tests to be purchased.
Please note: You will need to purchase the BJU Press textbooks separately.They are not included in the BJU Press Distance Learning fees. You may view and purchase textbooks and other materials online.
Though it is possible to receive the signal with a temporary mount, we recommend that your mount be stable. If your mount is not stable, it will be difficult to obtain the signal and nearly impossible to retain it.
Yes, you need to ground the dish (even if using pole mount) and the RG-6 COAX cable. This will help prevent damage due to lightning and interference due to nearby frequencies.
Please refer to the Installation Manual pp. 12-18 for step-by-step instructions for acquiring signal quality.
To see a picture you may have to wait up to 2 hours after first downloading your channels. If you have waited more than 2 hours, try scrolling through the channels again. If there is still no picture, we may have to check your entitlement. Call us at 1.800.845.5731 or e-mail hsattech@bjupress.com.
Maybe, if the existing cable is RG-6. Most pre-existing COAX cable in houses is RG-59. You should see writing on the cable itself indicating whether it is RG6 or 6/U.
The satellite is located over the equator south of Houston, Texas. Use Houston as a general reference point. For a more specific compass reading please call our Technical Support at 1.800.845.5731 and provide us with your zip code.
Azimuth is the left/right coordinate, and elevation is the up/down coordinate for your location. See Appendix K in the Installation Guide, or call 1.800.845.5731 for these coordinates.
Your VCR or TV is mono rather than stereo. You have two options of how to connect the RCA cables: (1) Connect the yellow to the video jack and white to the audio jack. The student responses on BJ LINC classes are fed through the left side (white) only. Make sure your receiver is in 1 L/R mode (press R/L button then VOL + to set). (2) Use a Y-adapter (can be purchased at electronics store) to combine the white and red cables into one and connect it to the audio jack.
If you need to hire someone to install your system, here are a few hints for finding a good installer in your area. Remember that not all satellite-receiving systems are the same. When you are looking for an installer, you will want to find someone who has experience with our particular type of system.
1. Before checking in your local directory, call our Technical Support number, 1.800.845.5731, to ask if we can recommend someone for your area.
2. If Technical Support does not have any recommendations, you will need to check your local directory. When searching for a good installer, try to:
- Find an installer who has experience with KU-band satellite systems and maybe has significant commercial satellite experience. Ask him if he is familiar with T-5. Finding someone who has installed our system before is an extra bonus.
- Banks, gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, radio stations, etc., use KU-band for their business. The owners of these businesses may remember who installed for them.
- Call several different installers to compare prices. Some charge a flat fee, and others charge per hour. Also, find out if they will charge you for travel. Get all of the facts.
3. Installer fees are an extra expense not covered by BJU Press, but it may save you a lot of time. Any negotiations of prices are between you and the local installer.
4. If you find a good installer whom you would like to recommend for future BJU Press Distance Learning users in your area, please call our Technical Support number, 1.800.845.5731, or e-mail us at hsattech@bjupress.com. Feel free to have the installer contact us as well.
No, the installation of any dish in the FSS (fixed satellite system) is going to be more difficult than a DBS (direct broadcast satellite) dish like DISH and DirecTV. You can pick up a DBS signal if you are as much as 5? off the satellite. Our signal in the FSS requires more precision. Your pole must be plumb (completely vertical) and stable. You must have a clear view of the sky in the direction of our satellite (Telstar 5). Even a tree limb or leaf may block the signal from reaching your dish. The LNB must be in the proper starting position. (“Up” should be in the 12 o’clock position.) You must be very precise with your azimuth and elevation.
What if my homeowners
association or landlord will not allow me to put up a dish any larger than 18
inches?
The FCC has already addressed this issue with rule 47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000
which has been in effect since October 14, 1996. The rule “prohibits restrictions
that impair a viewer's ability to install, maintain, or use a video antenna.
The rule applies to state or local laws or regulations, including zoning, land-use
or building regulations, private covenants, homeowners' association rules, condominium
or cooperative association restrictions, lease restrictions, or similar restrictions
on property within the exclusive use or control of the antenna user where the
user has an ownership or leasehold interest in the property. A restriction impairs
if it: 1) unreasonably delays or prevents use of, 2) unreasonably increases
the cost of, or 3) precludes a viewer from receiving an acceptable quality signal
from, one of these antennas. The rule does not prohibit legitimate safety restrictions
or restrictions designed to preserve designated or eligible historic or prehistoric
properties, provided the restriction is no more burdensome than necessary to
accomplish the safety or preservation purpose.” For further information
on this ruling please visit the FCC website at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/.
Does your system use
digital or analog technology?
The BJU Press Distance Learning satellite hardware uses Ku-band digital technology. The receiver
is designed specifically to pick up our digital signal off of the Telstar 501
satellite.
Can I receive any other
programming with your hardware?
Our hardware is designed to receive our signal only. The receiver is dedicated
to pick up and convert the direct BJU Press Distance Learning signal. We currently carry 4 video
channels.
What size is your dish
and why is it that size?
The dish we use is 35" in diameter. We use this dish in order to pick up
the highest quality signal, which provides you with a quality picture and clear
audio. This larger dish allows you to find our satellite more easily than with
a smaller dish. We have tested smaller dishes but were not satisfied with the
quality of the signal, so we have chosen to stay with the current dish.
Where does your direct
signal reach?
Our satellite signal from the T-5 satellite reaches the 48 contiguous states
as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and parts of the Caribbean.
However, if you live in one of these areas outside of the 48 contiguous states
and are interested in receiving BJU Press Distance Learning, please call our Technical Support
at 1.800.845.5731 for some important information about receiving our signal.
If I don't have (or don't
want to have) a TV, can I hook up a TV monitor or computer monitor to view BJU Press Distance Learning?
Usually either type of monitor will work; however, there may be some extra cables
and adaptors needed. If you are interested in this type of setup, you will need
to contact a local electronics store for advice on how to use any non-TV type
monitor when viewing BJU Press Distance Learning.
What direction will I
have to point my dish?
The satellite is located over the equator south of Houston, Texas. Use Houston
as a general reference point. For a more specific compass reading please call
our Technical Support at 1.800.845.5731 and provide us with your zip code.
How are the courses broadcast
into my home?
The courses come to you in two different formats. The first format is live.
There are 11 secondary courses that are broadcast live, Monday through Friday, between
8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m ET. These courses are then rebroadcast the following
week in block feed format only. All other courses--elementary
and pre-recorded secondary courses--will be broadcast only in the block-feed format.
Block feeds are broadcast five lessons at a time, which is one week's
worth of course content.
How does the broadcast
week work?
The broadcast week begins at 12:00 a.m. ET. on Sunday morning (midnight
Saturday night) and runs through midnight on the following Saturday night. This
means that the schedule is set up based on the day of the week. So the first
block feed for a particular course may be on Monday and the second may be on
Friday. The current broadcast schedule is available for viewing.
How can I best record the
courses using a VCR?
Our recommendation is to establish a rotation of tapes for each course you are
recording. For example, week one you would use tape A, week two you would use a
second tape, tape B, and week three you might use a third tape, tape C. You
could then start recording over your original tapes, so for week four you would
re-use tape A and so on. This allows you to have 2 or 3 weeks worth of content
available for review, but does not overburden you with a large number of tapes
to store. Consistency is the key to successfully recording courses.
Will I need a second
VCR or receiver?
This will depend on the number of children that will be using BJU Press Distance Learning, as
well as the number of courses you will be trying to record. If you have more than
one child, a second VCR will be helpful but is not required. Unless you are
taping a large number of courses, you should not need to have a 2nd receiver.
We do have them available, but we have found that most people are able to record
all their courses with just one receiver. If you have specific questions, please
feel free to call us at 1.800.845.5731.
How are the BJ LINC
classes numbered, and how can I figure out what date they were broadcast?
The BJ LINC classes are numbered according to the Julian date. For example,
the number B3277P indicates the following:
B - biology
2 - 2003
277 - the 277th day of the year
P - the PM class
The BJ LINC teachers post
a monthly calendar on the course pages
that uses the Julian date as well as the Gregorian date.