FAQ
Frequently asked questions

Most of the following text-passages are written by Sean Fitzgibbons. This text file lists answers to some Frequently Asked Questions posed regularly to the alt.tv.stargate-sg1 (ATSSG1) newsgroup and posted by the SG-1 fan community at large.

"How Does The Stargate Work?" was edited by Ethan Crumbley. Ethan also corrected english grammar and spelling (Thanks again!).

Information for "Where can I see Stargate SG-1 / UK?" is given by Jen.

The rest of the text is written by me (Isto) and shows the answers to some of the questions which I have received as the webmaster of Chevron 26.


If you have a question which is not listed here, you can send me an email.

  1. What is Stargate SG-1?
  2. Why did the S.G.C. start?
  3. Which actors are playing in Stargate?
    (a) Stargate Movie
    (b) Stargate SG-1
  4. Where can I see Stargate SG-1?
  5. Who is behind Stargate SG-1?
  6. What differences are there between SG-1 and the movie?
    (a) Plot differences
    (b) Devlin & Emmerich's un-involvement
  7. How Does The Stargate Work?
  8. How can I contact the people behind Stargate SG-1?
  9. Where to find online information


1. What is Stargate SG-1?



Stargate SG-1 is a science fiction television series which follows the adventures of a top secret military team, SG-1, as they travel through a portal called the "Stargate". It was first aired in july 1997.

Stargate SG-1 is based upon the feature film "Stargate", created by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich ("Independence Day", "Godzilla"). The series, however, was created by Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright (whose credits include producing and writing on "The Outer Limits") and stars Richard Dean Anderson ("MacGyver").
For more information on the series and the film you can visit imdb.com.

2. Why did the SGC start?



SGC = Stargate Command, the organisation who stands behind the official SG-1 missions.
There was an alien attack in the Cheyenne Mountain Complex throught the Gate. The Stargate was stored there and nobody was interested in it until the attack took place. After this the SGC was built up and General Hammond got the order to find the intruders and to find a solution for the problems with the aliens.

3. Actors

======== a. Stargate Movie



======== b. Stargate SG-1




4. Where can I see Stargate SG-1?





5. Who is behind Stargate SG-1?



The original "Stargate" concept was devised by Dean Devlin and Rolland Emmerich. Devlin was Executive Producer on the "Stargate" movie while Emmerich directed, both wrote the storyline. In the fall of 1996 MGM/UA announced its plans to take the "Stargate" property and turn it into a television series. "Stargate SG-1" is the last of a three series deal Showtime Inc. made with MGM, the previous two series being "The Outer Limits" and "Poltergeist: The Legacy".

For the series MGM brought in the creative talents of Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright, who previously worked on "The Outer Limits" for MGM, to create storylines and producer the show. Both Glassner and Wright are listed as Executive Producers on the series, with Michael Greenburg and Jeff King and Co-Executive Producers, and are responsible for most of the storylines in the show.

6. What differences are there between SG-1 and the movie?



======== a. Plot differences



For the most part the series "Stargate SG-1" has remained faithful to storylines put forth by the 1994 feature film "Stargate". However there are several major plot differences that one should take note of.

In the feature the Stargate only went to one planet, Abydos. In the series the Stargate reaches thousands of planets, explanation in the pilot "Children Of The Gods".

In the feature Stargate the alien Ra is said to be parasitic, inhabiting a human's body, which looks like a short version of the aliens commonly seen by those who say they have been abducted by aliens (Greys). The series plays on the parasitic notion of Ra's species and names Ra's species "Goa'uld" which look like large parasitic worms.

======== b. Devlin & Emmerich's un-involvement



Dean Devlin and Rolland Emmerich, creators of the feature film "Stargate", claim that they had planned a trilogy of films based on "Stargate". MGM however, would not sponsor another "Stargate" film or distribute it which was a problem for Devlin and Emmerich because MGM owned the rights to the "Stargate" franchise. Upon MGM's announcement that they would be making a Stargate television series Devlin and Emmerich refused to be involved. MGM went through with the series anyway and Devlin and Emmerich continue to express their disapproval over the series in many of the interviews they are in.

7. How Does The Stargate Work?



Think of the Stargate as a telephone. Of course, you need more than one to establish a connection, but in this sense, on a much larger scale. The Stargate is made of a quartz-like mineral called Naqquadah, which is capable of handling the large amounts of energy needed to sustain a wormhole, and form an event-horizon.

There are 39 symbols on the Gate's inner ring representing 39 of the major constellations in the Milky Way Galaxy. Six symbols are needed to pinpoint a planet's position in three-dimensional space, and a seventh symbol is needed to plot a course to that point. Over time, the expanding universe model has rendered many Stargates useless as that their coordinates have shifted over time. This kind of planetary shift is calculated by SGC super-computers. Each gate has nine locking Chevrons that glow red when engaged on a symbol. (Although they did not glow in the film, they do in the series.) Although normally only 7 Chevrons are used, the 8th and 9th can be used to dial outside of our galaxy. (Episode: The Fifth Race.)

Gates on other planets usually include what is called a DHD (Dial Home Device): It is a short pedestal with 39 symbols and an orange orb on top (to engage the Chevrons). This device is used to select coordinates, and also plays a large part in powering the Stargate. (Stargates draw in energy from their surroundings naturally, but sometimes a small boost is necessary.)

The Dial Home Device was missing from the Stargate unearthed in Giza Egypt which is why they use computers to dial the Stargate at Stargate Command.

Note: Large bounds have been made in Theoretical Astrophysics, and this makes wormhole/gate technology closer and more accessible than ever.

8. How can I contact the people behind Stargate SG-1?



The creators of Stargate SG-1, Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright, both have access to the internet and check the SG-1 Pages as well as the alt.tv.stargate-sg1 newsgroup regularly. Unfortunately there is no direct way to contact them but more likely than not they will see your comments if you post them to the newsgroup or on a message board.

9. Where to find online information



WORLD
WIDE
WEB

 The web holds dozens of web pages devoted to SG-1; you can find many of them via links in the linkarchive.


Stargate SG-1 has an international and quickly growing fan following. Since Stargate SG-1 airs in the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria and the rest of the World many fans you meet will not be from the same country as yourself. You will meet many fans from around the world but you also must consider where they are in the SG-1 season since every country began showing the series at different times. So SG-1 fans, or Gaters, always have been to extra careful not to give out episode spoilers to those who do not want them.

USENET

 alt.tv.stargate-sg1
The original, and currently only, Stargate SG-1 newsgroup. This group is unmoderated and holds posts from many fans from around the world and usually is a place for episode discussion, reviews, and fan fiction postings.

INTERNET
RELAY
CHAT

As there are a lot of stargate webpages on the net, there are many many chats.

MAILING
LISTS

Now there are many different Stargate SG-1 Mailing Lists, most of them are hosted on Yahoo Groups, for example the SG-1 Spoiler list.

ELEC-
TRONIC
NEWS-
LETTERS

MGM has its own newsletter and every bigger stargate fanpage has an own newsletter too.