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- Since the early 1990s, satellite television has been an alternative to the cable companies for thousands of homeowners across the United States. While satellite is still considered a burgeoning industry, it cannot go without saying that the format for getting your television entertainment certainly holds many advantages over cable. But, as you drive past a home with a little metal disc on its roof, you just may find yourself asking--how does satellite TV work?
- Believe it or not, satellite TV is conceptually similar to broadcast TV. Yes, its nearly identical to the same way our parents watched television way back when, except it uses a far more advanced and powerful system.
Instead of the broadcast networks sending out their programming via radio waves across the land, they send them to a satellite provider, which in turn, shoots the signal into space targeting specific geosynchronous satellites. These satellites remain stationary in our orbit, meaning they follow the planet as it spins, staying in the same position. These satellites are positioned around 22,200 miles from Earth. - In the early days of satellite TV, users were forced to install huge dishes in their yards and they basically had to search around on their own to find programming. But what made satellite interesting was that these users could find programming that wasn't available anywhere else, such as foreign TV programming and video feeds from NASA.
Today, most satellite users get their programming from a direct broadcasting satellite company (DBS) like DirecTV or DISH Network. These companies create viewing packages that are similar in content to that of cable. This makes the transition from cable to satellite easier to manage and more comfortable for the user. - So how do the networks get their signal to your television using satellites? The entire process follows a series using five components--the programming source, the broadcast center, the satellites, the homeowner's dish and the in-home receiver.
- The programming source is basically the individual TV networks, like ABC, CBS, NBC, HBO and hundreds of others. The DBS company pays the network for the right to broadcast their programming. With the deal worked out, the programming source converts the audio/video data into radio waves that get sent to a satellite dish hovering above the Earth. This satellite then bounces the signal down to the DBS company.
- The DBS company is considered the broadcast center part of the equation. This is where all of the signal feeds come in, get organized and packaged into their respective channels. With all of the channels properly set, the signals get encrypted and amplified and sent back up to another satellite.
- Back on Earth, in your back yard, you have to properly align your satellite dish as per the instructions for your area in order to pick up the satellite delivering the feed. Sometimes trees or buildings may block your signal, causing you to find another location for your dish, but as long as you can get your dish aligned to the right coordinates without any blockages, you will be set.
If you look at the satellite dish, it features a concave dish and an arm extending out in front of it. The arm is called the feed horn and the little plastic cap on the end is the low noise blockdown converter (LNB). The dish reflects the satellite signal into a thin beam and the LNB grabs it, filters out radio waves that aren't part of the programming and amplifies the signal before sending it into the home. - Your satellite dish will also have a cable line running from the LNB into your home to your receiver. This is what gets the signal from the dish to your TV. Since the signals sent from the DBS company are scrambled, your receiver is necessary for descrambling them so you can see the programming.
- Lastly, inside the receiver is a card that looks similar to a credit card. This card is programmed to only allow you to watch whatever channels are included in your satellite TV package. If you don't subscribe to HBO, the card instructs the receiver to filter it out. These cards will only work with the receiver they are assigned to, so if you have HBO and your neighbor doesn't, they can't simply borrow your card to watch the fight.
- Satellite TV holds many advantages over cable. Some of the advantages include:
* Higher quality video and audio
* Higher definition programming
* Available even in rural areas
* Cable uses antiquated equipment and as they upgrade, costs increases trickle down to the subscribers
Of course, satellite does have certain disadvantages as well, like having to pay for all of your initial equipment, extra fees for additional rooms and the usual weather-related issues.
Although satellite TV is basically a "newer" television format , it has already taken a large portion of cable's customers. One can only imagine what will happen to the cable companies once satellite TV reaches maturity.
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