satellite tv guide

Satellite Internet Service
For residents of areas where high speed internet is not available via cable or DSL connection, it is now possible to connect to the Internet by satellite. While not quite as fast as a broadband connection, a satellite internet connection offers substantially faster speed that a conventional dial-up connection.
DIRECTV is currently the only satellite TV provider to offer satellite internet access — neither Dish Network nor VOOM can provide customers with this service. Sold under the brand name DIRECWAY, DIRECTV’s internet service is available without a satellite TV subscription, but it does require a dedicated satellite dish, so customers who want a DIRECTV subscription as well will need to purchase a separate dish for their DIRECWAY internet connection. Once installed, DIRECWAY can provide download speeds of up to 500kbps, which is five to ten times faster than most dial-up connections!

Click here for more information on DIRECWAY internet service.

HDTV Made Simple
While many people have heard of High Definition Television (HDTV), relatively few know exactly what it is and how they can get it.
Programs broadcast in HDTV format offer higher resolution and far more detailed images than traditional television signals. HDTV images are so clear that they appear lifelike — high definition images of tropical fish almost look like an aquarium in your home! Most HDTV users would agree: watching pictures of this clarity substantially enhances the enjoyment of watching TV shows and movies.

Unfortunately, standard satellite TV dishes and receivers do not automatically provide you with a high definition picture (unless you subscribe to VOOM, which provides high definition equipment to every subscriber). If you subscribe to DIRECTV or Dish Network and you wish to watch HDTV programming, you will need the following pieces of equipment:

An HDTV-ready television or an integrated HDTV set
An HDTV-compatible satellite dish and receiver
An HDTV broadcast
An HDTV Subscription from DIRECTV or Dish Network
The first thing you will need to enjoy a high definition picture is an HDTV-ready television or an integrated HDTV. HD-ready sets come ready to receive and play standard broadcast signals, but they are also capable of displaying high definition programming with the addition of a specialized receiver. Integrated HDTVs, on the other hand, have a high definition receiver built in and come ready to play HDTV programming right out of the box, but they cost far more money — Satellite TV HQ currently recommends purchasing a more affordable HDTV-ready television and adding the necessary receiver.

You will also need an HD-compatible satellite dish and receiver. Satellite TV providers offer high definition equipment packages that include an HD-compatible dish and receiver, though these packages generally come at a higher price than a standard dish and receiver.

Once you have your HDTV-ready television, satellite dish, and receiver, the last thing you’ll need is a high-definition broadcast to tune in to. DIRECTV and Dish Network both offer a limited lineup of HD channels: As of February of 2004, both services offer less than 10 high definition channels, but promise that this number will grow. For diehard HD fans, the better alternative is VOOM, which offers over 30 high definition channels as of February of 2004, but has fewer channels overall than its competitors. Depending on your area, you may also be able to receive some local network broadcasts in high definition.

Satellites, Satellite Dishes, and other Equipment
DIRECTV, Dish Network, and VOOM each operate their own fleet of satellites. These satellites are positioned approximately 22,300 miles above the earth in geosynchronous orbit, which means that instead of circling the earth, they follow it as it rotates. As a result, these satellites never change their position relative to the ground — once you point your dish at a satellite, you will never again have to adjust it.
Currently, Direct TV operates a fleet of four satellites, Dish Network operates 9 satellites, and VOOM has one satellite. To receive signals from one of these satellites, you will need three pieces of equipment: a satellite dish, a receiver, and a remote control, all of which will be given to you when you subscribe to satellite TV service.

Depending on the programming package you order, your satellite dish will be either a round 18″ dish or an 18″ x 20″ oval dish. The receiver looks like a cross between a cable box and DVD player, and can sit on top of your television. For an extra fee you can choose a receiver with a built-in digital video recorder so that you can record your favorite shows for later playback.

How It Works
While you’re certainly not required to understand how satellite TV works, the ability to explain how your favorite satellite shows end up in your living room can make you very interesting company at a cocktail party! What follows is a very basic rundown of how satellite TV operates:
Before satellite TV programming can reach 20 million+ subscribers’ homes, it must first begin on the ground at a satellite uplink station. DIRECTV, Dish Network and VOOM all operate their own satellite uplink stations.

These stations play two roles: First, they receive programming from affiliated networks like ESPN, CNN, and HBO. Because video programming contains a very large amount of data (think of a huge file on your computer), the uplink stations must then compress the data so that it can be easily transmitted to a satellite. Once the programming has been sufficiently compressed, the station transmits the data to satellites orbiting high above the earth.

When the satellites receive a transmission, they relay it back down to earth, where it is received by the satellite dish mounted on your home. The dish then amplifies the strength of the signal, which has weakened during its journey back from space, and sends it to the satellite receiver on your TV, which decodes the signal and turns it back into images and sound.

The end result? Crystal-clear digital images and audio!

So, before the cast of Friends appears in your living room on Thursday night, you might take a moment to ponder the fact that they have already traveled from NBC to a satellite uplink station, been compressed and sent 22,000 miles into space, relayed back down again to your satellite dish, amplified, and sent to your television!

Introduction to Satellite TV
If you’ve ended up on this site, then you are probably interested in getting satellite TV service. You are not alone: As of January 2004, there were over 20 million satellite TV subscribers in America, and forecasts indicate that approximately 4 million additional customers will subscribe in 2004. It’s not just homeowners who have learned the benefits of satellite TV either: Businesses, airlines, airports, and even the US Congress have found that satellite TV offers a low-cost, reliable means of getting the wide variety of programming they need.
The immense cost of launching and operating a fleet of satellites naturally limits the number of satellite TV providers. As such, there are currently only three providers in the United States: DIRECTV, Dish Network, and VOOM. DIRECTV and Dish Network have been in business the longest, and offer the greatest selection of channels, while VOOM, which began operation in 2003, has carved out a niche for itself by offering the most high definition (HDTV) channels.

Satellite TV offers unbeatable value, a great selection of channels, little-to-no start-up cost, and freedom from the cable company. What more could a dedicated channel surfer ask for?

To find out about all the advantages of satellite TV, read on.

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