Satellite receivers are pieces of equipment that are used to capture satellite signals whether for radio or television. Satellite radio and satellite television both use different types of satellite receivers in order to relay the signals to the consumer. A satellite receiver can be a tool, such as a satellite dish, or something as little as a card, such as for a satellite radio, which simply channels in a certain frequency.

Satellite equipment usually includes a satellite dish that is installed outside the home that is visible to everyone. A separate satellite receiver is also necessary per TV. Most satellite receivers come with a PVR (personal video recorder) which the cable company has not yet been able to offer as of now.

Satellite receivers are in demand as the demand for satellite radio and television increases, replacing the traditional AM/FM radios and traditional cable television. The satellite receivers allow for radio that gives more exposure to new artists, bands who are independent and may not have caught on mainstream, but now have a chance to reach audiences without having to get a major record contract first. For digital radio, the satellite receivers work by tapping into the "S band," a bandwidth spectrum that the FCC kept open specifically for satellite based audio radio. The satellites move the signal, and the satellite receivers pick up those signals to provide entertainment.

The Satellite receiver is the end component in the entire satellite TV system. The receiver basically serves four functions: it de-scrambles the encrypted signal, it extracts the individual channels from the larger satellite signal, it keeps track of pay-per-view programs and sends any appropriate billing information to the company. It is the satellite receiver that performs all these functions. Without an appropriate receiver you could not change channels, watch two programs at the same time, or perform any of those functions that each requires its own satellite receiver.

Satellite receivers have a number of other important features, too. They pick up a programming schedule and present this information in an onscreen programming guide. Many receivers have parental lock-out options, which is important for a family with small children, and some even have built-in digital video recorders, which is the new fad of allowing you to pause live television or record it onto a hard drive without the need of tapes or discs. TiVo is the most well known example of this new technology.

As long as a satellite is being used to send signals, receivers will be needed to catch them. This process of signals being sent and received is what allows for the quality television and radio that so many people enjoy. While thinking of dishes and programming, don't forget an appreciation for the satellite receivers, without which none of this is possible.