Where can I learn about transponders & spotbeams?

[daffydoug]

Can someone recommend a URL where I can learn about what transponders and spot beams are?
I only ask because my Dish network signal strength varies wildly on the 110 satellite, and I'm trying to understand why.
(I've spent the last two hours of googling my brains out but I'm just as ignorant as before.)

 

[daffydoug]

oops, just found this link (AT LAST! lol)
www.[B]satellite[/B]one.com/support-files/Spot_Beam_Short.pdf