Satellite television is the latest technology to take over the television broadcasting industry. While satellite TV may sound complicated, it’s really easy to understand.

how the satellite works
Satellite television is a great concept. Television signals are transmitted and sent to satellites that are in Earth orbit. The satellites then transmit the signals back to earth. Regular television broadcasts send signals from tall towers that are transmitted in a straight line. These signals can only travel a short distance due to the curvature of the earth. Satellite signals, on the other hand, can be sent from the earth’s surface so they have a wider range.

Pick up satellite signals using a well positioned dish. The latest satellite dishes are small and compact. The installation technician uses a special detector to find the best location to place the dish, usually on the ceiling. Unlike old satellite dishes, there is no need to move the dish once it is in place. Satellite signals are encrypted. You need a special satellite receiver that is specially programmed to scramble the channels to watch them. The satellite provider will program the satellite box to decode the channels you purchase.

What do you need
When you order satellite television programming, you will be provided with two basic items. These include the satellite dish and the satellite receiver. The satellite dish is a small circular metal object that collects signals from the sky. The dish is connected to your TV through a receiver box via a coaxial cable. Television signals travel from the dish to the receiver on this cable. Your satellite company also provides the receiver. The receiver is a small box that connects to the satellite signal cable and distributes it to televisions. The receiver decodes that signal based on the programming channels you purchased.

what you get
There are many different stations to subscribe to. These are offered as part of a package and cannot be ordered separately. Packages are great because they provide the options you like best. You can usually choose from several package options. You can also add movie show packages that give you access to many movie channels or add sports programming packages that give you access to tons of sports channels.

The receiver is also a DVR – digital video recorder. This allows you to schedule events to record with a simple touch of the remote. It also allows you to pause the TV, rewind and fast-forward. You can record many hours of programming because it is stored digitally on your hard drive. The DVR also allows you to watch two shows at the same time using picture-in-picture.
Satellite also allows you to watch pay-per-view movies and sporting events. The remote control allows you to order the program quickly and easily. The cost of the program will be added to your monthly bill. You can often see new movies very soon after they are in theaters. You can record the shows to watch later.