With more and more people signing up for satellite TV service it is quite possible that you have digital satellite TV in your home. This new digital age may be confusing to some people. If you are curious about how the satellite TV system works then the following information can explain the basics of how satellites transmit information, how your satellite tv provider gets the correct channels to you and what advantage satellite tv has over using a standard antenna.



The basic process of transmitting satellite signals is a matter of bouncing information off satellites to other satellite. It starts with a satellite orbiting in outer space. These satellites are rotating at the same speed as the earth which enables them to seem as if they are stationary.

This means that on earth we do not have to continually adjust our satellites to pick up information from the satellite in outer space. Each company has its own satellite. The company receives the satellite information at its broadcast facility. Here at the broadcast facility the received information is made secure, the quality is revised and then it is sent back to the outer space satellite. The information is then transmitted from outer space to your home satellite dish. That is the simplified explanation of how you receive the satellite tv service.

There are two parts to your satellite tv system that you have at your home. You have a satellite dish and a receiver. The dish is like an antenna. It has a bowl shaped dish and a central feed horn that sticks out of the dish. The signals are sent to the dish where they are bounced off into a narrow beam to the central feed horn. The central feed horn then sends the information to your receiver. The receiver is the box that you hook up to your tv. It has some simple functions. It de-scrambles the information sent from your satellite dish and converts it into a signal your tv can understand so you can see the picture.

It also is programmed for the stations you elected to receiver. It has other functions also, like tracking pay-per-view orders, parental controls and other function operations. The dish and receiver you have at your home are the last step in transmitting the satellite information so you can view satellite tv at your home.

The advantages of a satellite tv service over your regular antenna are numerous. While the antenna is free and you never have to pay a thing, you do not get very high quality reception and you may have to move your antenna around quite a bit to get in different stations.

The further away you are from the broadcast stations main antenna, the harder it will be for you to get a signal. With satellite the signals are stringer and can pick up clearer signals without much problem. You get high quality images and never have to try to “tune in” a station. Satellite tv is coming down in cost and may actually be worth the cost as compared to the frustrations of getting an antenna to work correctly.

Digital satellite tv has come a long way since it was first introduced. The technology has improved and dish's have went from huge backyard eyesores to tiny dishes mounted easily almost anywhere. They provide high quality images and can make your tv time an enjoyable moment.

There are many deals that allow you to get free equipment and low cost service. Most people love the ability to have many channel choices and a variety of programming options. You chose what kinds of programming you want. You aren't limited to local channels like with an antenna and maintenance is usually included in your monthly costs, so if something goes wrong you call your provider and they'll fix it for you. Many people are finding out that digital satellite tv works for them.