All About TV Satellite Systems

Satellite TV Systems are a way for subscribers to receive TV through a receiver unit known as a satellite dish. The TV signals are relayed through a communications satellite that is in orbit around the earth. The signal is then scrambled so as to prevent unknown or unauthorized people from receiving the transmissions.

So when you subscribe to a satellite TV system, you are given both a receiving dish and a descrambler so that you may receive the original signal. However, the tuning information is still performed through a cable much like the ones used in cable broadcasting.

The benefits of satellite TV systems

TV home viewing has a come quite a long way since the early days. Antennas were originally used (and are still used today) to receive broadcast signals from television stations. Antennas still use the VHF (very high frequency) and UHF (ultra high frequency) radio wave bands to transmit the signal.

However, quality of reception depends on a number of conditions such as the power of the signal, the landscape, and the weather conditions. Cable TV alleviated most of these issues but with the added encumbrance of countless miles of electrical cables. Satellite TV Systems have all the benefits of cable and are virtually wireless. And let's not forget the literally hundreds of channels that are available.

A bit of history

We all remember those big giant dishes in our neighbor's backyard. Early satellite dishes also actually had to turn in different directions to receive transmissions from different television stations relaying from different satellites.

In the early days, illegal descramblers were all the rage as it was easy to obtain free satellite TV signals. New technology and harsher penalties have somewhat curtailed this occurrence over the years.

Modern satellite TV systems

Those ridiculously large backyard dishes have been replaced over the years with smaller, fixed dishes that are easily mounted on rooftops, courtesy of single communication satellites in orbit relaying the signals.

Who's it for?

The easy answer is that just about any consumer could benefit from satellite TV systems. They are very popular in rural areas where antenna reception is poor or where cable is unavailable. Many companies offer incentives such as free DirecTV satellite systems when you sign up.

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