Satellite TV FAQ: How Does Satellite TV Work?

How Does Satellite TV Work? That’s the first question over 28 Million Satellite TV Customers (DirecTV has over 15 million and Dish Network has 13 million) asked themselves before they chose satellite TV as an alternative to cable TV. There are many articles giving technical explanations on How Satellite TV works, we’ll take a little different approach. We’ll look at the Basics, and then we’ll look at equipment and finally satellite tv programming. This article will give you a better understanding of How Does Satellite TV Work?

How Does Satellite TV Work? The Basics

Satellite TV is a vast improvement from your fathers’ traditional broadcast television. So how does satellite TV work? A Satellite TV system consists of 5 components; the programming source, the broadcast center, the Satellite, the satellite TV dish and the satellite TV receiver. The programming source (Programming examples: HBO, ESPN) delivers programming to the Broadcast center (usually by satellite transmission). Broadcast center (Dish Network or DIRECTV) compiles all the separate programming sources and re-transmits those signals to a satellite in geosynchronous orbit in outer space. The satellite then sends the radio signal to the satellite dish located at your home and finally to the satellite TV receiver (set-top-box) on your television.

How Does Satellite TV Work? The Satellite TV Dish

You’ve probably noticed that those 8-10 foot satellite TV Dishes that took up a good portion of your yard have gotten a lot smaller. A Satellite TV Dish has a parabolic surface or a surface that is shaped like a bowl that reflects the incoming radio waves onto the central feed horn (both Dish Network and DIRECTV have small foot print dishes approx. 18-24”) The feed horn passes the signal on to the satellite TV receiver and from the receiver to your Television set. The Satellite TV Dish is focused in the direction of the transmitting satellite in outer space. Hopefully we’ve started to answer How Does Satellite TV Work? Next let’s move on to satellite TV Receivers.

How Does Satellite TV Work? Satellite TV Receivers

Both DIRECTV and Dish Network Satellite TV Receivers are an electronic set top box similar to your current cable TV box. The receiver does several things, first it decodes the satellite signal; it then converts that decoded signal into audio and video signals. That signal is then sent to your television set where you can now view programming or change the channel.

In addition to the basic 100% Digital Receiver, both Dish Network and DIRECTV offer DVR’s (Digital Video Recorders) which allows you to record, rewind and replay your favorite programs, HD (High Definition) Receivers allow you to watch HDTV and HD DVR (High Definition Digital Video Recorder).

How Does Satellite TV Work? Programming Sources

Direct Broadcast Providers like Dish Network and DIRECTV buy programming rights from broadcast networks like USA, TBS, ESPN, Disney, HBO and others. The programming source delivers programming to the Broadcast center (usually by satellite transmission) and then the Direct Broadcast Providers retransmit that signal to their satellites for distribution to the dish at your home or business.