How does Satellite TV work?

Satellite TV works by broadcasting video and audio signals from geostationary satellites to satellite dishes on the Earth's surface.

These geostationary satellites orbit the earth in a region of space known as the Clarke Belt, which is approximately 22,300 miles above the equator.

Each of these satellites carries a number of transponders. These transponders each carry a signal back to the Earth.

These signals are typically on C Band, Ku Band, or Ka Band. The band of a signal describes, in broad terms, the frequency of the signal.

After travelling over twenty thousand miles, these signals are received by a satellite dish. This dish can be as small as 18" across, or it can be 9' or larger across. The purpose of the dish is to act as a collector and a reflector. The dish collects the signal and reflects it towards the feedhorn.

The feedhorn receives the reflected signal and sends it to the LNB. The LNB amplifies the signal and converts it to a frequency more suitable for transmission over a cable. In satellite terminology, that cable is known as the IFL.

The LNB transmits the signal over the IFL to the satellite receiver. The satellite receiver then sends the signal to your television set.

Digital Satellite TV

Most satellite TV is now encoded digitally. This enables satellite broadcasters to offer more television channels using the same amount of satellite bandwidth.

Satellite TV is available in both standard resolution and in the new ATSC High Definition (HDTV) format.

The digital data is usually compressed with MPEG-2 or a variation thereof. MPEG-4 is beginning to replace MPEG-2 in some satellite networks.

Satellite TV Options

Dozens of vendors operate satellite television networks across the globe. Your options for satellite TV will differ depending upon what country you live in. In addition, some spot beam services only serve specific large cities.

In the United States, the largest satellite TV vendors are Dish Network and DirecTV. Both DirecTV and Dish Network offer programming on the Ku and Ka bands.

In addition, National Programming Service and Superstar offer programming on C Band.

Some free-to-air satellite TV channels are even available at no cost if you have a Free-to-Air receiver.

Books on Satellite TV

The World of Satellite TV	The World of Satellite TV places you at the vortex of a dazzling world of entertainment. The ninth edition of this indespensable handbook provides everything you need to know about selecting, installing, operating, and maintaining your own satellite TV system. DBS, HDTV, digital video compression, and other innovations are presented in a down-to-earth manner that is accessible to everyone.
Digital Satellite TV Handbook	The Digital Satellite TV Handbook and the accompanying CD-ROM serve as a complete interactive course on the new digital satellite TV technologies. This book provides a comprehensive overview of all the digital satellite TV platforms currently in use world-wide and includes the essential satellite coverage maps and transmission parameters that readers will need to receive digital TV services from any location around the globe. The Digital Satellite TV Handbook presents those aspects of digital video compression and HDTV that are of the highest relevance to installers, technicians, and other satellite professionals working in the global direct-to-home (DTH) satellite TV industry. The Digital Satellite TV Handbook analyzes the hardware requirements of digital DTH receiving systems by comparing and contrasting the new digital TV technologies with earlier analog TV transmission systems, so that readers can easily grasp the details required to make the transition from the analog era of yesterday to the new all-digital world of tomorrow.
Satellite TV: Techniques of Analog and Digital Television	Satellite TV is part of the lives of millions of TV viewers worldwide and its influence is set to increase significantly with the launch of digital satellite TV services. This comprehensive reference book, written by the author of the highly successful 'Digital Television', provides a technical overview of both analog and digital satellite TV. Written concisely and thoroughly, it covers all aspects of satellite TV necessary to understand its operation and installation. It also covers the evolution of satellite TV, and contains a detailed glossary of technical terms. This book will prove invaluable to those working in the telecommunications field, both professionals and undergraduates alike. It will be particularly useful to those who need to evaluate satellite transmission against other methods, such as digital terrestrial broadcasting. A technical overview of both analog and digital satellite TV.Covers all aspects of satellite TV necessary to understand its operation and installation.Contains a detailed glossary of technical terms.