Satellite TV - What You Should Know
By admin | September 10, 2008
In the last 10 years more than 27 million people have switched from cable and over-the-air TV to satellite TV. But is satellite TV really that much better?
Let’s find out …
Satellite TV
Satellite TV is a television system whereby a broadcast center sends a signal containing TV programs to a satellite in orbit above the earth.
The satellite captures the signal and sends it back to earth, where it is picked up by a satellite dish and relayed to a TV set.
In order to receive a satellite TV signal you must have a satellite system — a dish to capture the signal, and a receiver to unscramble the signal and send it to your television.
Satellite TV History
In 1962, the first satellite TV signal was sent from Europe to North America via the Telstar satellite. The first first commercial satellite, Early Bird, was launched in 1965, and Satellite TV reception in the U.S. began in 1980.
Early satellite TV systems were expensive, costing anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. The dishes were large — 10 to 12 feet in diameter — and the receivers and antenna rotators were bulky and complicated.
In 1994 the first DBS (direct broadcast satellite) was put into orbit, issuing in the era of the mini dish and the slim-line receiver, making it possible for anyone, even apartment renters and condo owners, to have satellite TV.
Satellite TV Providers
There are two major satellite TV providers in the U.S.A — DIRECTV and DISH Network.
DIRECTV
With 14.5 million customers, DIRECTV is the oldest and largest satellite TV provider in the USA.
DIRECTV is ranked #2 in customer satisfaction among all satellite and cable TV companies by J.D. Power and Associates.
DIIRECTV offers the following equipment and services:
* A Free satellite TV system — one dish and four receivers.
* Free installation and instruction on using the system.
* 250 channels with digital-quality picture and sound.
* 500 commercial-free movies per month.
* Up to 67 pay-per-view programs and events daily.
* 67 commercial-free XM radio channels.
* Toll-free, 24/7 customer service.
DIRECTV offers the most sports programming of the two satellite TV providers.
DISH Network
With more than 12 million customers, DISH Network is the second-oldest satellite TV provider, and is the fastest-growing provider.
DISH Network is ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among all the satellite and cable TV companies by J.D. Power and Associates.
DISH Network offers the following equipment and services:
* A Free satellite TV system — one dish and four receivers.
* Free installation and satellite TV system instruction.
* 256 channels with digital-quality picture and sound.
* 500 commercial-free movies a month.
* Up to 60 pay-per-view programs and events per day.
* 50 commercial-free Sirius radio channels and 52 music channels.
* Toll-free, 24/7 customer service.
DISH Network has the biggest variety of movies and shows of the two satellite TV providers, and offers the cheapest basic service package.
Satellite TV Dealers
There are more than 80 online dealers and thousands of offline dealers across the U.S.A.
Some dealers are reputable and will give you an honest deal, but a number of dealers will lure you into subscribing to their service, then hit you with hidden fees, provide you with shoddy installation, and give you zero customer service.
Before you subscribe to a satellite TV service, you should read their service agreement carefully and call their customer service to clarify anything that isn’t clear to you.
Note: Click on the links below for information on dealers that are reputable and give the best service at the best price.
Satellite TV Benefits
The main benefit of having satellite TV service is you can access up to 375 channels of TV programming. That gives you a lot more viewing options than cable or over-the-air TV.
In addition to regular TV programming, satellite TV allows you to tune into pay-per-view movies and special events, and to listen to more than 100 channels of commercial-free music on satellite radio.
Another benefit of satellite TV is the quality of the TV picture. Satellite TV is broadcast in digital format which produces a super sharp picture. Additionally, you have the option of ordering HD (high definition) TV for an even more lifelike picture.
Another benefit is the ability to record your favorite programs and to pause or fast-forward live TV using a DVR (digital video recorder).
Last, but not least, you get all the equipment you need to view satellite TV, including installation, absolutely free.
Conclusion
If you have over-the-air TV and don’t watch much television then satellite TV probably isn’t for you.
If, however, you watch a lot of TV or you have cable TV, then I recommend clicking on the links below to see what satellite TV has to offer.
With over 375 channels to choose from plus satellite radio, pay-per-view, movies, and programming packages starting at less than a dollar a day, you can’t go wrong with satellite TV.
Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network
satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV.
Brian Stevens is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written extensively on satellite TV.
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The Evolving Technology Satellite TV Broadcasting by SBC Dish Network and DirecTV
By admin | August 15, 2008
With more than 20 millions subscribers in United States, satellite TV broadcasting surely is a big business. The growth of satellite TV business is so fast and we believe even the big players - Dish Network and DirecTV (Direct TV) did not expect this much at start.
Since satellite TV was invented, there were few types of satellite systems commercialized in the U.S. market. The first type has been around since the late 1970s and early 1980s. These satellite dishes are about six to 12 feet across and require a lot of yard space. These devices are called TVRO satellite systems. These systems are still available today.
People who own TVRO systems are required to have a descrambler. Descramblers are either purchased as separate hardware or they are sometimes inside of the receiver. In addition to having a descrambler, an owner of one of these systems must subscribe to the channels he or she wishes to view. TVRO systems also provide a variety of free channels. These satellites are required to move to locations where various satellites are in space so the signal can be received.
As DirecTV stepped in to the satellite TV business, 18-inch satellite dishes were introduced. DirecTV was the first company to provide 18-inch satellite dishes with all digital quality to their customers. It was also the first company to provide a national system with an interactive on-screen program guide. Later as Dish Network, who also uses the same systems, 18-inch dish became very popular and you can see them everywhere in the country. The 18-inch satellite dishes are operating using DBS, which stands for Direct Broadcast Satellite. Broadcasts are received from high frequency satellites that allow signals to be picked up on small dishes. The dishes used by DirecTV and Dish Network is not required to move.
As the technology evolves, programming and equipment continue to improve. Thanks to the ever-improving tech and fierce market competition between Dish Network and DirecTV; new satellite TV customers now receive wide choices of programming selection, topnotch picture quality, and unbelievable free-bargains from satellite service providers. You can compare satellite TV systems and find the one that provides the service you need. DirecTV and Dish Network are both popular services.
If you are interested in finding out what a satellite service provider or retailer has to offer, you can find a lot of satellite TV information online. These companies provide people with the opportunity to explore all of their options. They will be delighted to answer any questions a potential customer may have about satellite dish services. To get more consumer info on satellite TV deals, visit this site: http://www.satellitetvissue.com
Teddy LC., expert writter on consumer products reviews. Check out his latest satellite TV related website and get recommendations best Dish Network deals.
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Learn About the Satellite TV Systems in Your Free Satellite TV Deals
By admin | June 18, 2008
Even if you watch your satellite television 5 hours a day, I bet you can’t tell what a satellite TV system really is.
Satellite television is TV broadcast delivered by way of orbiting communications satellites located 22,300 miles above the earth’s surface. Satellite TV system, like other communications relayed by satellite, starts with a transmitting satellite antenna located at an uplink facility. Uplink satellite dishes are directed toward the satellite that its signals will be transmitted to, and are very large, as much as 9 to 12 meters (30 to 40 feet) in diameter.
There are mainly two types of satellite TV systems: TVRO and DBS. TVRO system, aka Television Receive Only, is the first satellite system available for home satellite viewing system. While the DBS system, Direct Broadcast Satellite is available later. These two satellite systems work in different band (C-band and Ku-band) and their working system specifications are quite a different.
Television Receive Only (TVRO) systems
TVRO systems in United States are often referred as Big Dish TV, C-Band Satellite TV or BUD (Big Ugly Dish). It was the first satellite TV system being commercialized and brought into the U.S. families.
Viewing TVRO broadcast requires a big and movable dish - which is why it is well known as big dish TV. The TVRO dish’s diameter ranged from 3 to 6 feet. It works in C-Band with frequencies of around 4 GHz. As news companies normally transmit their materials to their headquarters using a C-Band satellite; and as many of these types of feeds are not scrambled, chances to unedited news are great. Besides with TVRO systems, you can also receive free channels and independent feeds from for instance news companies.
Ever wonder why do we need such a big dish to receive TVRO signals? It’s because of TVRO’s wave length of these frequencies is longer than in Ku-Band which requires a much smaller dish of about 18 inches. Ku-Band, which is used by DBS, is at 12 to 14 G Hertz.
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) system
Satellite TV services were popular only after Direct Broadcast Satellite system is introduced. DBS is meant for everyone with a simple, low cost installation of the system. Small dish, maintenance-free, and stable signals receptions — all these makes the satellite TV system a good commercial product.
Satellite broadcast via DBS system is done in the Ku-Band. These satellites work on higher frequencies and can transmit higher power signals. This is why smaller dishes can be used to receive satellite signal for DBS systems.
As you might know, a small TV dish of 18 inches is already good enough to receive all satellite TV signals by Satellite companies. This makes it possible to have satellite TV from an apartment on the 10th floor, if you have a clear line of sight to the south. Once installed the dish needs no maintenance since it is aimed at just one satellite. Some dishes actually have 2 or more feeds, which makes it possible to receive the signals from more than 1 satellite.
Unfortunately, there are no free channels available on DBS satellites broadcast. DBS broadcasting are often owned and used by the satellite TV provider (for example, Dish Network and DirecTV) it self. Often the installation is for free as it really is very easy to do. The only thing that is needed is a bit of knowledge of where to find the satellite thus a qualified installer will find the satellite and point it to maximum reception within minutes.
Currently in United States, Dish Network and DirecTV are the major DBS systems provides. As satellite TV services are the latecomer in home TV broadcasting services, they are now fighting hard to win the market segments with extremely low prices. Free satellite TV systems, free DVR systems, free DVD players, free shipping, free installations, free HD upgrades, free home protection plans they give free things as much as possible! All you need to be to qualify the deals condition is you must commit on the satellite TV deals for one year and you must be a first-time customer. With extremely low start up cost, online satellite TV retailers are now offering some very lucrative offers. To review more about these online satellite TV retailers: http://www.satellitetvissue.com/FreeSatelliteTV/SatelliteTVDealers.htm
and if you would like to compare Dish Network and DirecTV, this page is suggested:
http://www.satellitetvissue.com/DirecTVvsDISH%20Network.htm
Teddy LC., expert writter on consumer products reviews. Check out his latest satellite TV related website and get recommendations on DirecTV or Dish Network deals, compare Dish Network with DirecTV’s and other issues on free satellite TV promotions.
Tags: directv, dish network system, dish systems, dish tv, free satellite deals, satellite tv systemsTopics: Satellite_TV | No Comments »