34 — THE CITIZEN, Prince George — Friday, March 4, 1983 Satellite dishes probably obsolete this year Southam News VANCOUVER (CP) - The president of a Canadian hotel chain says people are shortening their holiday planning time, thus causing problems for the tourism industry. William Pattison, president of Delta Hotels, told the annual meeting of Tourism struggles the Tourism Industry Association of Canada that vacationers who once made their plans six months in advance now make them an average of three weeks in advance. "This changing behaviour has put extra pressures on the hotel indus- try,” he said "We can’t move our product to the latest hot spot.” At last week’s meeting, Pattison was elected chairman of the association, succeeding Dick Huisman, vice-president marketing services for CP Air. Rupert Tingley of Moncton, N.B., becomes first vice-chairman. Tingley is president and general manager of CN Marine. Edwin Cooper-man of Toronto was elected second vice-chairman. Cooperman is vice-president of American Express. OTTAWA - As rich and trendy consumers rush to buy satellite dishes in the wake of the government’s announcement to let U.S. satellite signals into Canadian living rooms, communications experts warn that the $5,000 dishes may soon be obsolete. Satellite technology is changing so fast, they say, the dishes that can eavesdrop on 50 satellites today will be picking up a lot of garble tomorrow. Worse still, much of the Canadian programming the average satellite pirate might want to tune in can not be picked up by the standard backyard dishes now selling for between $4,000 and $6,000. A different, but equally costly, dish is needed to grab signals from Telesat Canada’s Anik-C satellites, which carry Canada’s pay-TV channels, the Ontario and British Columbia education service and a special French service. Such a dish would be needed also to pick up the American direct-to-home satellite services which begin this fall and are expected to take off with the launch of new U.S. satellites in 1986. "The difference in the two types of satellite signals is much like that between AM and FM radio,” says Department of Communications official Bob Bennett. Since there isn’t an all-purpose receiving dish on the market, consumers would need two dishes to tune in the two breeds of satellites. Then there is the problem of signals scrambled to deter freeloaders not paying for pay-TV services. A number of U.S. firms, such as Home Box Office, have vowed to use military-type encoding to garble their signals by the end of this year. Viewers would then have to buy or rent a descrambler rrom Home-Box Office. With other broadcasters promising to follow suit, a satellite-TV fan would soon need shelves of electronic "So it’s really not all that rosy," says Bennett, who has opted personally for cable television, which will be allowed to add some new U.S. signals to its offerings, according to the new broadcasting policy announced Tuesday. The cable companies’ plans, however, will have to be approved by the Canadian Radio-Tel-evision and Telecommunications Commission, which has also been giv-en the job of reining in the hotel and apartment owners who have been snatching signals from American satellites and distributing them to clients' rooms and upartments. Bar owners, commercial establishments and individuals, with no plans to distribute the signals they haul off the satellites, are the only ones free to pick from the satellites at will. But even manufacturers admit most consumers would be wise to hold on to their money. I'urrently-available dishes, which must be carefully aimed with an unobstructed view of the satellites, “are definitely not for everyone," says Cecile Prevost, of Andrews Antenna Co. Ltd., of Whitney, Ont., one of the largest dish makers in the country. “They can't see through trees or houses and you need a lot of room to get a clear view of the satellites,” said Prevost. "So if you live in a city, you’re probably sunk.’’ For those who don’t want to bother with trips to the backyard to reorient the dish to lock on to a different satellite, deluxe models that can tune in different satel-lites on demand are available — for about $20,000. J l^Dson'sUay, Company, ABY WEEK Oh! Baby -have we got a sale for you! s50 off a colonial crib Standard size, with single drop side and posture board. White or maple. Our reg. S240 Sale 189.99 $ 12 off a crib mattress With quilted vinyl cover and 133 coils. Bay-B-Bears print in brown/almond. Fits standard size crib. Our reg. $54 Sale 41.99 $6 off a deluxe playpen With washable vinyl cover and mesh sides. In brown/almond Bay-B-Bears pattern. Folds for easy storage. 26” x 40". Our reg $72 Sale 65.99 *12 off a dressing table Baby's change table with bath, two storage shelves, metal legs and vinyl cover. In almond/brown Bay-B-Bears pattern. Our reg. $82 SaIe 59 99 Every little thing they need Fantasy plaid blanket Pastels. Our reg. 10.49 sa|e 7 39 $8 off an umbrella stroller A lightweight, umbrella style stroller with vinyl cover. Easy-fold, in blue. Our re«S35 sale 26.99 Stretch terry sleeper Made of cotton/nylon for easy-care comfort. With novelty squeaker insert. In white, with pink, blue or gold color. Sizes newborn. Sand M. Only 9.99 $5 off a Luv car seat For use in the car. or as a carrier. With washable vinyl cover, in beige/tan. Our sale 54.99 Curity Stretch Weave Diapers Pre folded. Reg. $11.40 Sale 9.49 Plastic pants 5 in a package. Sizes S, M, 1, XL. Our Reg. $2.79^pkg. Sale 2.09 Fancy cardigan sweater For boys and girls, in assorted styles and colors Sizes 12. 18 and 24 mos. Only 5.99 Quilted changing pad Moisture resistant top. 100% polyester fiber filled. 21 x 27". In white Our re6 3 98 Sale 3.19 (Why Stiop Prices m effect till Saturday. March 12. while quantities last. T-shirt and overalls Assorted colors and styles in sizes 12, 18 and 24 mos. Qnjy 7.49 T-shirt in assorted patterns. Only 4.99 Infants' terry bibs "Days of the week" nursery decal. 7 in a pack. Our reg. $7 Sale 3.99 Hooded towel set White with yellow trim Our reg 6.79 Sale 5.19 Save on stretch sleepers Q 80% cotton/20% nylon stretch terry sleepers. In white or yellow with contrast trim Sizes M L. XL Our reg 8 49 , nn Sale 6.99 Fitted sheet Bottom crib sheet with elasticized reinforced corners. Our reg 8.79 Sale 6.99 Receiving blanket 100% cotton flannelette in Baycrest nursery print. 30 x 40". Our reg 3.89 Sale 2.99 Infants' coveralls Made of cozy, machine washable brushed fleece. Sizes S and M Only 10.99