How Satellite TV Works

 Not many years ago, relay stations were the key to transmit TV signals over a large area. Due to the zeoid shape of Earth, it was necessary to install relay stations at strategic points to ensure uniform coverage of the whole area. At those times, TV signals were broadcast by special towers.
However, with the advent of satellites, the previously used technology of broadcasting is fast getting obsolete. A satellite provides far better and bigger footprint then the previous technology.

DirectTV and Dish Network

           DirectTV and the Dish Network are outstanding examples of satellite television. DirectTV and the Dish Network are providers of Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) TV. Satellites orbiting the planet are used to send TV signals over a pre defined geographical area. The transmitting stations convert the content into digital signals. The signal is then uploaded to satellites. The satellites in turn broadcast it back to Earth. The receivers installed at customer places catch the signal, decode it and reproduce the content originally sent.

           Most of the times the program is produced by a different company. For instance, a film producer will produce the film and then sell the satellite broadcasting rights to a company like DirectTV. Or a regular channel like NBC would sell the satellite rights to Dish Network.

            Consumers which subscribe to a satellite program provider would need to install a small parabolic dish at their end. The dish is installed such that it would receive the signal from the concerned satellite network. A decoder receives signal captured by the dish. The decoder will have the subscription information and the decoding logic. Depending upon your subscription, you can watch the relevant programs.

            Subscribing to a satellite TV provider is not a stressful activity. Direct TV and Dish Network have ample number of outlets and distributors plus the affiliate partners. You can get ample amount of information from them. Plus on internet too, information is available on relevant websites.

            The competition between the conventional cable television providers and satellite television providers is reaching new peaks. Both are aggressive players with huge coffers of money to spend on promotion and marketing. They have tied up with a number of partners to promote themselves. In this slug fight, consumer has proved to be the real winner.

            The trend for satellite TV has grown more and more. The cost of satellite TV is going down. Cost of constructing a satellite and placing it in an orbit has gone down drastically. And in order to bag market share, satellite companies like DirectTV and Dish Network are passing this advantage to the consumers. Hence, satellite TV is getting more affordable as compared to the cable TV.

            A more detailed examination will reveal that cable TV providers charge for installation while satellite TV providers do not. Furthermore, cable TV providers charge for each additional installation or extension after the main subscription. Direct TV and Dish Network, on the other hand, have provisions for free multiple installations.

            Aside from costs, Direct TV and Dish Network broadcast in digital format. Most cable TV programs are broadcast in analogue format. Cable TV subscribers wanting their signals switched to digital from analogue will receive additional charges to their billing statements. But what is the difference between analogue and digital picture formats? To put it in simple terms, digital picture formats are much clearer than analogue formats.

            Cable TV is an older technology. It highly depends on the capacity of the cable which carries the content. With number of channels increasing, the cable is fast running out of capacity. Replacing the existing cable with another high capacity is a mammoth exercise. Compression of signal is not a good solution. Satellite TV on other end doesn't have such limitations. Moreover, you can also record the satellite TV content and watch it later as per your convenience.

           While the trend nowadays points to satellite TV as having the upper-hand over cable TV, constant discoveries, changes and improvements in technology may upset the balance sometime in the future. For now, satellite TV is providing a better alternative for home entertainment