How Satellite TV Works

Have you ever wondered how satellite TV works? With over 24 Million satellite TV owners who have chosen to get digital satellite TV, there may be some of you who would like to know how the whole process works.

Television satellites travel in a geosynchronous orbit approximately 22000 miles above the Earth. That kind of orbit just means that the satellites are rotating at the same speed as the Earth. This allows the satellites to remain fixed over a certain area and that's the reason your small satellite dish can remain stationary.

Whether you choose DIRECTV, Dish Network or another satellite provider, these companies all operate their own private satellites. DIRECTV currently has six satellites and Dish Network has nine satellites orbiting the Earth right now.

Each satellite provider operates broadcast facilities where they gather all of the programming from content providers. Content providers are companies like HBO, CNN, ESPN, Showtime, other television networks and programming sources. Dish Network has a broadcast facility in Englewood, Colorado and DIRECTV operates two broadcast facilities in Castle Rock, Colorado and Los Angeles, California.

The satellite providers digitize the signals for quality, encrypt the signals for security, and then transmit those signals back up to their orbiting satellites. The satellites receive and rebroadcast the digital signals back down to Earth. So the satellites really act like giant reflectors.

Your satellite dish gathers the signal from the satellites then passes the signal on to your receiver. Your receiver processes the signal to your television and that allows you to get digital satellite TV.

The whole process is what gives you access to hundreds of channels of digital video and audio entertainment at home or at the office. It's also easy to take satellite TV with you in an RV or boat. Just aim your dish to the Southern sky and you are in business.

So the next time you're flipping through the channels or you just want to show off your techie side, you'll know exactly how satellite TV works.

Entertainment Technology: What to Consider Before Buying HDTV

HDTV - or, High Definition Television - is the new generation of TV, and is capable of displaying analog signals as well as those that are digital in nature. While this offers a viewing experience that's unmatched, it also requires external hardware in order to receive the HDTV signals in addition to the monitor. In other words, plan on spending a lot of money. If money isn't the issue, then HDTV is for you. Before you run out and make a purchase, however, there are some things that you'll need to consider.

Even if your TV is "HDTV-ready," that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be capable of displaying the HDTV signal. It has to be compatible, and you'll need to make sure that it is before you make a purchasing commitment. It will need to be able to display the actual HDTV signal, or it isn't really HDTV at all. Another consideration is whether or not the HDTV receiver is compatible with the monitor that you'll be using. Finally, if you're using cable, the whole configuration will need to be compatible with your cable box. You may need to call your local cable company if you're unsure of whether or not it meets the compatibility requirements.

While monitors are available in a wide range of sizes, the wide screen is the most adaptable to HDTV displays. If you're planning on doing most of your viewing using HDTV, then you're going to have to make sure that the screen can accommodate your wide screen needs. Audio needs tend to be rather specific, as well. In fact, in order to enjoy true HDTV surround sound, it's recommended that you use the Dolby H-3 Surround Sound Audio.

While most TV sets and monitors today offer a number of ports, you're going to need several, so opt for the set that's equipped with the highest number of them. Whether they're front or back ports doesn't really matter, as long as there are several that are available on the set.

Before you invest in an HDTV, there are some things that you'll need to research. Among these are whether or not you'll need to buy a special dish for your satellite service; if special cables are needed in order to make the necessary connections; whether or not the cabling that you currently own is compatible with the units that you'll be using; what type of surge protector is recommended; and whether or not delivery and set-up is included. In the case of particularly large sets, such as the wide-screen models, this is important, since you're dealing with a unit that will weigh hundreds of pounds. The actual set-up can also be quite confusing, as well, so set-up would be a real perk, if you can work that into the purchase commitment.

If the price, bulky components and many considerations that need to be made before making a purchase don't intimidate you, then HDTV is well worth the time, effort and money that you'll need to put into it, from the time you begin the research until the unit is finally set up in your home. Once all is said and done, you'll be treated to a visual experience that's unbeatable, by home viewing standards.

By Simon Canfield

Satellite TV

Here is some information about satellite TV.

Satellite television or satellite TV is television delivered by way of orbiting communications satellites located 37,000 km above the earth's surface.

The first satellite TV signal was relayed from Europe to the Telstar satellite over North America in 1962. The first domestic North American satellite to carry television was Canada's Anik 1, which was launched in 1973.

Satellite TV, like other communications relayed by satellite, starts with a transmitting satellite antenna located at an uplink facility. Uplink satellite dishes are directed toward the satellite that its signals will be transmitted to, and are very large, as much as 9 to 12 meters (30 to 40 feet) in diameter. The larger the satellite dish, the more accurate positioning and improved signal reception at the satellite. The satellite TV signals is transmitted to devices located on-board the satellite called transponders, which retransmit the satellite signal back towards the Earth at a different frequency.

The satellite signal, quite weak after traveling through space, is collected by a parabolic receiving dish, which reflects the weak signal to the dish's focal point and is received, down-converted to a lower frequency band and amplified by a device called a low-noise block down converter, or LNB.

A new form of satellite antenna, which does not use a directed parabolic dish and can be used on a mobile platform such as a vehicle, was recently announced by the University of Waterloo. On commonly known as car satellite system.

The satellite TV signal, now amplified, travels to a satellite TV receiver box through coaxial cable (RG-6 or RG-10; cannot be standard RG-59) and is converted by a local oscillator to the L-band range of frequencies (approximately). Special on-board electronics in the receiver box help tune the signal and then convert it to a frequency that a standard television can use.

As you known, satellite TV business in United States are mainly dominated by two companies, Dish Network and DirecTV. If you would like to have a satellite TV in your home, your choices are mostly limited to the free satellite TV packages that offered by either one Dish Network or DirecTV.

Here's a quick view on United States satellite TV industry: Hughes's DirecTV, the first high-powered DBS system, went online in 1994 and was the first North American DBS service. In 1996, Echostar's Dish Network went online in the United States and has gone on to similar success.

By Teddy Low

The Plus Point of Free Satellite TV Deals

If you still have not subscribe to DirecTV or Dish Network deals, maybe you should take a look on this as satellite TV becomes the fastest selling products in U.S. history.

The plus point of free satellite TV deals offered by Dish Network or DirecTV:

More alternatives:

Lots of satellite TV dealers are promoting their satellite TV deals aggressively. High competition leads to better quality and more options. You can always compare satellite packages offered from different retailers to find the finest satellite systems set up and service for your needs.

Programming:

A basic 256 channels from Dish Network satellite or 255 channels from DirecTV satellite are commonly subscribed by satellite TV users. TV channels received might differ between Dish Network and DirecTV, but the major channels provided by them are almost the same. Regardless on the satellite TV dealers you pick, the subscription fees are fixed. Thus, subscription fees shouldn't be an issue when you are selecting your satellite dealers.

Satellite TV systems:

When you control your satellite TV systems, you control your TV service. Satellite TV systems are commonly provided by branded names such as Hughes, RCA, Philips, Panasonic and Sony. The same type of satellite systems is also available at local retailers, like Best Buy and Circuit City. The differences are only the price tag and the brand name.

Upgrades & Add-Ons:

Both Dish Network and DirecTV enable you to upgrade the satellite TV systems to include features like high definition (HD), digital video recorder (DVR, for DirecTV TiVo.), interactive TV, and more. Currently, some of the satellite TV dealers are offering HD systems and DVR upgrading are free currently for some of the satellite TV dealers.

Subscriber Promotions:

These promotions vary from time to time. Dish Network and DirecTV are normally rewarding their customers by waiving subscription fees for a few months. For example, DirecTV regularly offers 3 to 4 months of premium channels like HBO and Cinemax channels for free; while Dish Network normally credit back certain amount on your first bill, which equal roughly to two months subscription fees.

Satellite TV Installation:

Satellite TV systems are all installed by certified professionals (unless you insist to do it by your own). Most satellite TV dealers offered free installations where they will set up the satellite dish, satellite signals encoder, and satellite TV program card. Most installations of satellite TV systems are done after 3-5 days you placed your order.

Looking at all the good points listed above, you can see that satellite TV deals clearly are quite some bargains. If you feel that a satellite TV will fit your entertainments-needs, I highly recommend this site: http://www.satellitetvissue.com cause I am seeing them offering great satellite TV deals for Dish Network and DirecTV.

By Teddy L.Cc.

No More DirecWay? I Believe the writing is on the wall...

As one who has been directly involved in selling DirecWay satellite internet products, sold competitive Enterprise Satellite internet products, has a background in financial analysis and business information reporting.... and studied HNS for over 4 years, I've come to the conclusion that the end might be near for DirecWay satellite internet in the U.S. Bear with me now......this ownership stuff gets a bit convoluted....keep in mind, this in no way affects DirecTV customers.

Last December DirecTV Group (Part of News Corporation - a Rupert Murdock company) which is the parent of HNS (Hughes Network Systems)-which, in turn owns DirecWay, decided to sell 50% of the operation to Sky Terra, which is owned by Apollo Management Group, a New York based private investment company with holdings in chemical, furniture and real estate companies in addition to it's Satellite holdings. DirectTV Group cited the main reason for the sale of HNS/DirecWay was to focus on the core satellite TV business, DirecTV. DirecTV Group will treat the 50% they retain as an investment on their books and hand over the day to day management of the operations of HNS/DirecWay to Sky Terra-a VERY important revelation.

My bet is that Sky Terra will utilize the HNS/DirecWay assets in Europe to further Cable TV and internet operations they control there and systematically dismantle the U.S. operations ....ie DirecWay U.S. But who will buy a company losing 10's of millions a year and sells a product that doesn't work very well all too often? Nobody....but they will buy the leasees on transponders DirecWay has control of. And that is part of how they will make this highly leveraged transaction work. I believe Sky Terra is laying the groundwork for dismantling DirecWay in this report filed with the SEC on April 5th: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/756502/000119312505069877/dex991.htm

In the report they speak of one potential event after another that could easily undermine the inferred plans to continue to operate HNS?as if to tell the investing world, new plans are on the horizon. The point of this opinion piece is to put DirecWay consumer and even commercial internet customers on notice.......seriously consider a change while the "gettin's good". As soon as they contractually can, I believe Sky Terra will put the assets of HNS to work in profitable niches like vsat commercial applications, sell Ku bandwidth to the highest bidder and try to get in on the balance of Homeland Security business still out there. Up to the present time DirecWay has been poorly directed and a complete financial disaster - just ask Rupert Murdock! If you work for HNS and don't have your resume' on the street.......you might want to start typing!

If WildBlue and the others in the Ka Band internet business are remotely successful it will bring this to fruition even faster. Why? Sky Terra has control of a Ka band satellite under construction for launch in 2007(SpaceWay 3) - too far out for DirecWay/Sky Terra to have any impact on the market. They have the rights to another DirecWay Ka band satellite which is still on the drawing boards and I believe they are betting they can sell both of them for a handsome profit to one of the four active major Ka players: Telesat, WildBlue, SES Americom or EchoStar. This could be a very interesting year for the satellite internet business.


By Randy Scott

LCD vs. DLP TVs

Two new technologies in the world of TV, DLP and LCD, are now in a tight competition. Not long ago, everyone was talking about Plasma and LCD - which one would win? It became clear to most that Plasma, with its short lifespan of just 3-4 years, was simply not the best choice. In fact, the LCD screen has several benefits over plasma. For instance, LCD screens run much cooler than the average plasma TV, and thus require less power to operate. Plasma TVs run so hot, in fact, that they require a fan to cool them down - which can be noisy. In addition, plasma screens have a tendency to degrade over time, slowly becoming dimmer. LCD screens, on the other hand, run relatively cool, and do not degrade over time. Some Plasma owners, who have used their TVs for a few years now, have already witnessed the dimming of their screens. Also, LCD screens tend to have overall better picture quality, and are typically 10 to 15 percent lighter than plasma.

Now the choice is mainly between LCD and DLP - two distinct technologies that offer slight differences in display, price, and performance. If you are looking to buy a new flatscreen TV this year, you are probably wondering which one is right for you.

What are DLP, LCD TV Screens?

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, while LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. DLP technology, developed by Texas Instruments, uses a DMD, or Digital Micromirror Device, contructed of 1.3 million microscopic mirrors. Each of these mirrors is essentially a single pixel. When a digital signal enters the DLP system, each mirror is either activated or not, resulting in tapestry of mirrors tilting either towards the DLP light source or away. This process produces different levels of light and dark reflected by each individual mirror. The colors are produced when the DLP light sources run through a red, green, and blue color filter on a moving wheel. Depending on the lightness/ darkness of each mirror, the colors come in an enormous amount of shades, producing vivid color images.

LCD screens are made of several polarized glass panels, between which are liquid crystal molecules. An electric current is run through the crystal molecules, changing their position in respect to the glass. As light passes through the molecules, these changes in angle result in different lightness/ darkness patterns that produce images on the screen. There are usually three polarized glass panels, one with red pixels, blue, and green. This system also produced very accurate, vivid images, but angle is important. You may notice that the best colors in an LCD display are seen straight-on.

Is DLP, LCD TV Screens better than the other?

Simply put, that is a difficult question to answer. Unlike Plasma TV screens DLP and LCD last much are longer, and are considered to both have superior image quality. LCD screens tend to have slightly better contrast, with a larger range of black and white color shades. DLP, however, still has faster refresh rates than LCD (although LCD has been vastly improved in this area over the last two years). This can have implications if you are really into high-action motion (sports, action movies), because movement may seem a little blurred with LCD at times. Also, you'll want to remember that in order for you to get the best color out of your LCD, you have to sit right in front of it. LCD TVs also have a slightly shorter lifespan than DLPs, with only 45,000 to 60,000 hours compared to 75,000 hours or more. As far as price goes, LCD and DLP are still more expensive than Plasma, but like all things in time, their price has been coming down. And right now, DLP is slightly more expensive than LCD, but not by much. DLP, in our eyes, is the best investment, at least for the next few years. Click here for popular DLP TV units and prices.

By Bradley James

Insiders Review on Satellite TV Deals: Must Read For Those Who Are Looking For Free Satellite TV

Nowadays, I am sure that you are seeing ads for free satellite TV everywhere. It is even more significant now as Dish Network and DirecTV, the two satellite TV big-boys, are fighting hard to lead in the market. Most of these satellite TV deals are offering free satellite TV equipments, free satellite TV installation, free HDTV upgrades, free DVD player, first month subscription waived, as well as cash back.

Even though these satellite TV deals often sound tremendously attractive, you are not advised to jump into them recklessly. Satellite TV deals might be, or might be NOT suitable with you; even you are so sure that free satellite TV is the next thing you want to get for your home, choosing the right dealers is also an important issue.

At first glance, a free satellite TV deal seems to be a great bargain and its really simple. Instant, easy, and free! But the first law of our natural tells us that nothing is FREE in this world. Is there a catch behind these free satellite TV deals?

Yes, there's definitely a catch when you subscribe to free satellite TV deals, no matter it's a Dish Network deals or DirecTV deals. Dish Network satellite TV dealers might be giving their equipments for free, while DirecTV dealers might be giving cash back on your subscription fees... no matter how is it, there is ALWAYS a catch! However, we cannot deny that free satellite TV deals have a lot to offer, especially when you compare it to cable TV services.

Is free satellite TV available for anyone?

NO! only first timer can get their free satellite TV. Only new customers having no record of previous satellite subscription service are able to get their free satellite TV. This condition applied to both Dish Network deals and DirecTV deals.

So what's the catch in free satellite TV deals?

The contract that you need to commit! Free satellite TV deal isn't free for the dealers, either. Equipments and installation costs are paid by the satellite TV dealers or service provider. At a minimum, that's a cash outlay of about $200 on your behalf. To make it worthwhile to cover those expenses, service providers usually require a year commitment from new subscribers acquired through a free satellite TV deal. Just like cell phone companies, satellite TV dealers are covering the fees of free satellite TV equipments and other services through your monthly subscription fees.

Yes, as you can see now, free satellite TV may not mean free everything. But it's still the deal I am recommending here, why? Because it is giving a better service in term of picture quality, customer service, programming selections, channel packages flexibility, and a much cheaper cost compare to cable TV deals.

By Teddy L.Cc.