How a Satellite Dish Works
Satellite TV is the latest way to enjoy your favorite TV programming. Satellite technology is still evolving, but it can be found in many homes as an alternative to expensive and sometimes “glitch” cable and broadcast TV. The quality of satellite TV rivals even the best cable signals and promises to be a contender in the very competitive market of TV viewing.
What is Satellite TV?
In reality, satellite TV is very much like broadcast TV; it is a wireless system that captures signals being beamed to a viewer’s house and then translated into a picture to watch. Both of these systems use radio signals to accomplish the job. While broadcast TV uses powerful antennas to transmit their signals, satellite uses of course, satellites. These satellites orbit the earth at very high distances. This helps to solve the issues of ground clutter such as buildings and trees that might block or distort the signal of broadcast antenna towers.
How Satellite TV works
The signals that are beamed to earth from orbiting satellites are recovered and processed by satellite dishes. These dishes are mounted on the outside of a home and pointed in the direction of the satellite. The dish then transmits the signal to receiving equipment that is connected to the TV you wish to receive the signal on. The receiving equipment processes the signal to make it a viewable product.
Disadvantages of Satellite TV
There are a number of advantages that satellite TV has over cable TV. Cost is a major factor; satellite TV is less costly than cable. Disadvantages of satellite television include:
- Weather is a major consideration for satellite TV. Bad weather can wipe a satellite signal and it will not recover until the weather has passed.
- Local Channels may not be carried. This may mean you will have to pay additionally to have them included in your lineup.
- Contracts. Satellite TV providers typically offer their services with a one-year contract and much like cell phones if you break the contract early you will have to pay a termination fee.
- Limited areas. Satellite television is available in many major areas, but it might not be available in smaller cities, towns and urban areas.