Top Dish Network Retailer
800-916-3121
Code: 1004 *
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Top DIRECTV® Retailer
1-800-580-5494
Code: CD316*
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Satellite TV
Satellite and conventional television have many differences. The first and most
obvious difference is the way the broadcasts are delivered to the viewer. Broadcast
television uses very large powerful antennas to deliver the radio signals to a smaller
antenna used by the viewer. The receiving antenna has to have a direct line of sight
with the broadcasting antenna. Because of curvature of the earth the range of this
type of broadcasting is limited.
Satellite television overcomes the range limitations of broadcast television by using
satellites. A satellite is an object that orbits around another object in space. The
satellites we are concerned with send the radio signals/digital signals containing the
satellite TV programming directly to the consumer. The satellites are in geosynchronous
orbit, meaning that the satellite appears to be stationary when viewed from the ground.
This is accomplished by having the satellite orbit the earth at the same rate the earth
rotates. The satellite must be directly over the equator and about 22,300 miles from
the earth. This distance has implications if you are considering using satellite
Internet. For every request you issue over the Internet it has to travel this 22,300
miles. If you do real time work with dumb terminals and such you should consider an
alternative to satellite Internet.
The second difference between conventional and satellite television is the radio
signals that are broadcast. Satellite TV is transmitted by microwaves. Microwaves
operate at a higher frequency than the radio waves of broadcast TV. The difference
in frequencies creates different behavior. Broadcast TV radio waves can bounce off
obstructions, clouds, etc. Microwaves are not cable of doing this. They are strictly
line of site. This means that no obstructions can exist between the transmitting and
receiving satellites. Microwaves are highly directional which means that your satellite
dish must be properly aligned.
The two main DBS satellite providers (Dish Network and DIRECTV®) compress their signal into MPEG-2.
Using the MPEG-2 compression technology more than 200 channels can be sent to the receiver.
If this technology where not available roughly 30 channels would be able to be delivered.
Types of Satellite TV
Two major types of satellite TV exist in the United States, TVRO and DBS. TVRO was
the first satellite television system available to consumers. It was made available
in the late 1970’s. TVRO satellite systems have big dishes that move allowing them
to receive signals from different C-band satellites. C-band satellites have 24
channels on each satellite and more than 20 satellites are available in the
United States. Some terms that are used to describe TVRO are Big Dish TV, C
Band Satellite TV and my favorite BUD (Big Ugly Dish).
Most advertising today focuses on DBS systems (see below), but BUDs are alive and well
offering their customers more programming options than DBS. The paid programming on
TVRO is scrambled. To view these scrambled channels you must have a descrambler and
a subscription to the channel. Many free channels are available on TVRO.
DBS systems have a small dish (18 inches to 3 feet across) that does not move. In the US
there are currently 2 major types of DBS satellite systems. Each DBS system requires
it's own special receiving equipment and has it's own programming line up. The 2 major
types of DBS systems are DIRECTV® and DISH Network.
DBS stands for Direct Broadcast Satellite. DBS is broadcast by medium and high powered
satellites operating in the microwave Ku band. These high powered, high frequency
satellites make it possible for the signals to be picked up on a small dish. Digital
compression makes it possible to have many channels on a single satellite. The current
major DBS systems that are operating in the USA are DIRECTV® and DISH Network. The
DIRECTV® and DISH Network systems both have 18 inch satellite dishes. One of the big
advantages of DBS systems is that the small dish does not have to move.
All current DBS systems in the U.S. have nothing but scrambled channels and require
descrambling with their own special receivers. For example a DIRECTV® system can't
pick up DISH Network or TVRO signals. A typical TVRO system can't pick up DIRECTV®
or DISH Network signals. The consumer can only receive programs intended for their
type of Dish.
Top Dish Network Retailer
Call iDishNetwork at 1-800-916-3121 and
mention Promotion Code "1004" to receive
Dish Network special offers.
iDishNetwork
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Top DIRECTV® Retailer
Call USDIRECT at 1-800-580-5494 and
mention Promotion Code "CD316" to receive
DIRECTV® special offers.
USDIRECT
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