the system requires an elliptical antenna of at least 45x60cm in size with a special lnb pair built as one unit to accommodate the narrow 3.8° spacing between satellites; the receiver uses the motorola-proprietary digicipher ii system which has so far been virtually free of the problems with pirate decryption that have plagued other providers such as rival bell tv. the standard 18" dbs antennas used by other providers are not compatible with this system as the signals differ in both frequency and polarization. shaw direct is relayed via fss satellites, anik f1r, g1, and f2.