Satellite TV providers such as Dish Network use a TV satellite dish to bring customers there services. Here are a few factors involved in pointing a TV satellite dish.

In order to enjoy maximum results from your TV satellite dish, you need to be sure it’s receiving the best possible signal. Where you point your satellite then becomes an all-important step in getting great reception. But how does one point a satellite dish?

In truth, pointing your TV satellite dish isn’t as hard as you might think, but you will need to know a few things:

Azimuth which refers to the horizontal measurement of a direction from North to East. In terms of your TV satellite dish, it tells you how far left or right your satellite should go.

Your altitude or elevation, gives your TV satellite dish its heading, telling it how far above the horizon it needs to go.

And finally, the polarization. Also known as the “skew”, Polarization refers to the adjustment needed for the curvature of the Earth. This rotational adjustment compensates for the Earth’s curvature between the dish and the beam of the satellite.

The good news is that you can usually find this information with the help of your satellite provider. DISH Network for example features a Point Dish/Signal option in their on-screen menu to assist you in the adjustment of your TV satellite dish. Using your zip code, you can determine the azimuth, elevation and skew. Pointing your dish is normally part of the installation process so plan to do your install when you have time to follow through.

Your skew should be set before you mount your dish. Using the adjustment number from your service provider, rotate the dish horn to match the recommended coordinates.

With your azimuth and elevation numbers in hand, grab your compass and go outside. Standing close to your TV satellite dish but at least one foot away, rotate your compass until the needle points North, or zero degrees. Starting from this point, locate the azimuth number on the compass and turn to face that point without moving the compass itself. East is 90 degrees, South is 180 degrees and West is 270 degrees. If your azimuth number is 240 for example, you would face a direction that fell between South and West on your compass.

Now that you’ve found your direction, estimate the angle of elevation. With the ground representing zero, calculate the distance going upwards using the elevation number provided by your provider. Straight up would be 90 degrees so if your elevation number was 45, your elevation would be halfway between the ground and looking straight up into the sky. Got it? Good… There’s your satellite!

For detials, visit dish-network-satellite-tv.ws

Written By: Frank Johnson

It looks like satellite radio is here to stay. With the availability of equipment and the benefits the service has to offer, it seems more and more people are choosing to use satellite radio. If you are wondering how satellite radio works, read on.

Satellite radio offers you commercial free radio. No more static, no more interrupted broadcasts; just hour after hour of uninterrupted music. And you won’t lose your favorite radio station as you cross the state. But you will have to pay for all this convenience.

Your dependable traditional radio won’t work for satellite radio, so you’ll need to purchase a new radio and you will need to have it installed (unless you are purchase a portable system). The price of the new radio varies depending on the model you choose. You’ll also need to pay an activation fee and a monthly fee.

Think of satellite radio as an extension of cable. For your monthly fee you’ll get edgier and less censored programming, innovative programming, more channels, and specialty channels. As an added convenience, while you’re listening to the music you’ll see the name of the song and the artist name displayed which means no more confusion about whose song is playing.

Back in 1992 the FCC allocated the 2.3 GHz or S band for nationwide broadcasting of satellite based DARS. Four companies applied for licensing and two were granted licenses. The two that were granted licenses were Sirius and XM. Both already had satellites in orbit.

They operate by beaming their programming to their satellite, which then transmits the signal to the ground. Your satellite radio then picks up the channel you have selected to listen to.

For listeners that live in urban areas satellite signals can become interrupted, so the satellite providers also beam the signal to ground repeaters to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Sirius was the first to offer commercial free programming on its music channels, but both Siruis and XM now have commercial free programming. Both are competitively priced. Currently, XM offers over 160 commercial free channels. Sirius has over 125 commercial free channels.

The special programming that Siruis and XM carry is the deciding factor of which service to choose for many people. Sirius carries NFL football games; XM carries college games. XM carries NASCAR races; Siruis has a Playboy channel. Sirius carries Howard Stern; XM carries Oprah.

Satellite radio is no longer the radio of the future. It’s the radio of today, and is being chosen over traditional radio programming by more and more people every day.

About The Author:
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for SatelliteCritique. To learn more about satellite radio and satellite TV, visit http://www.satellitecritique.com/ and http://www.satellitecritique.com/satellitetvreview/

Written By: Gray Rollins

How a Satellite Dish Works

By Gary Davis

Dish-Network-Satellite-TV.ws

Webmasters: You may reprint this article in its entirety, providing you leave the Byline and About the Author sections intact, including the links to Dish Network Satellite TV.

A satellite dish is an antenna designed to focus on a specific broadcast source. The standard dish consists of a parabolic (bowl-shaped) surface and a central feed horn. A controller sends it through the horn, and the dish focuses the signal into a relatively narrow beam.

A narrow beam is generated as the dish reflects energy from the feed horn.

The satellite dish on the receiving end can only receive information; it cannot transmit information. The receiving dish works in the exact opposite way of the transmitter. When a beam hits the curved dish, the parabola shape reflects the radio signal inward onto a particular point, just like a concave mirror focuses light onto a particular point.

The curved dish focuses incoming radio waves onto the feed horn.

The feed horn then passes the signal onto the receiving equipment. Ideally, there will be no obstructions, such as trees to interfere with the signal from the satellite to the satellite dish. With no obstructions you receive a much clearer signal.

Some systems are set up to receive signals from more than one satellite. A new dish design uses two or more horns to pick up different satellite signals. As the beams from different satellites hit the curved dish, they reflect at different angles so
that one beam hits one of the horns and another beam hits a different horn.

The central element in the feed horn is the LNB (low noise blockdown converter) The LNB amplifies the radio signal bouncing off the dish and filters out the noise (radio signals not carrying programming). The LNB passes the amplified, filtered signal to the satellite receiver inside the viewer’s house.

A cable is run from the satellite dish into the house and then connects to the satellite TV receiver (black box) thus completing the connection.

About the Author

Gary Davis is owner of Dish Network Satellite TV, has several years experience in the Satellite TV Industry and has written several articles on satellite TV.

Written By: Gary Davis

(ARA) – With over 100 channels of music, news, sports, and entertainment, satellite radio is shaping up to be one of the hottest gifts.

Best Buy, the nations largest electronics retail chain, recently declared that the XM satellite radio was one of the most wanted mobile electronics gifts. Business Week magazine named the Roady satellite radio one of the best products of the year alongside the new $20 bill and the AIDS medicine Fuzeon.

Satellite radio aims to offer programming to satisfy most every taste, from classical music to hip hop, bluegrass to blues, underground rock to contemporary hits. Non-music channels include Fox News, BBC Radio, ESPN Radio, and audio books.

Unlike typical FM and AM radio stations, satellite radio channels play few or no commercials. Listeners can tune into a favorite station in one city and keep listening as they travel from coast to coast without interruption. The sound is static-free and sharper than traditional radio. Satellite radios also have a display screen that shows the name of the artist and song playing on each channel.

XM, the leading provider of satellite radio, can be played on a car radio, home stereo, or computer. It offers a portable boombox that can be carried most places, indoors or outdoors. Listeners pay a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 a month.

When satellite radio was first introduced in 2001, there were plenty of skeptics. Many questioned whether a subscription radio service could compete with free radio.

But with over 1 million subscribers in less than two years of business, XM says the service has struck a chord with the public. Hugh Panero, the company president and CEO, says the primary appeal to shoppers is the variety of programming. Satellite radio has something that appeals to most anyone, whether you like jazz, stand-up comedy, or NASCAR racing, said Panero.

Some of the more unique channels offer childrens music and storytelling, old-time radio shows like The Shadow and The Lone Ranger, and music that gets scant airplay on FM and AM, such as reggae, tejano, and folk music.

There are several kinds of satellite radios at prices ranging from $50 to $300. The newest model for the car and home is the Delphi Roady. It comes with a radio receiver, micro antenna, and car adapters for $119.99.

Another option is the portable SKYFI audio system, which retails for $229.99.

Satellite radios are available at most retail stores that sell consumer electronics. You can also get it as a feature in several models of new cars.

For more information about XM Radio, you can visit its Web site at www.xmradio.com. Fans of XM have their own, independent Web site at www.xmfan.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

The Dish Network satellite dish is only about 2 feet in diameter. Very much a space saver when it comes to mounting the satellite dish on a wall, fence or garage!

Since the satellite dish is small, it is also light and not bulky in size, this also makes it easier to mount.

Satellite dishes have two antennae’s which are pointing back to the dish and shooting off into the blue sky.

These 2 receiver antennas help bring in a signal to your dish and display the signals they receive on your television.

If you purchase a satellite dish brand new, you won’t have to worry about mounting it, because your local satellite installation crew will do all the installing for you. They don’t want you trying to climb up a 10 foot ladder to mount their dish, so they’ll do it for you, which is usually free anyways.

But if you do have to mount your dish yourself, make sure you have the Dish Network satellite pointing directly into the sky away from trees, little children and buildings.

By following this step, you will be able to receive the most premium possible signal from your satellite dish. This will also provide quality viewing on your television screen!

If you wish to not mount the dish on your home you can also go another route. Most satellite dish providers have tripod stands for you. This is a great alternative if your apartment or condo complex doesn’t allow you to nail anything to their exterior walls.

One downfall with the tripod is it can be very finicky. Make sure you put the tripod and satellite dish in an area away from people and dogs or any animal of either species for that matter.

I have had some problems with guests bumping and every so gently tapping the tripod and the TV goes blank…”Looking for signal” is what you’ll see on your television. Even the slightest nudge could result in you jumping out of bed in your pajamas and slightly tapping the satellite dish until the signal is received again.

What’s funny about that is the slightest tap can effect the signal its receiving, but rain, snow nor wind won’t usually effect the signal…go figure?

Adam Maywald

For more great information on a satellite dish and providers of the services mentioned, go to http://www.DishNetwork-vs-DirectTv.com for more information.

Written By: Adam Maywald

DirecTV and other satellite TV systems offer more options in daily television viewing. Satellite TV receiver is accompanied by all TV systems required for completed installation. Satellite TV receiver is manufactured by several reputed companies like Phillips etc. A satellite TV receiver has control hub for all the audio and video equipment which is pre-owned by any consumer. It is easily connected to any appliance with the existing cables.

In some cases in order to connect a satellite TV receiver the phone line may need to be split if there is any DSL connection in the house. The rear panel of a satellite TV receiver comes with all important card access, the receiver ID number, AC power input, phone jack, Dolby digital outputs, antenna input (if you wish to connect to an off satellite antenna or analog cable system), TV/VCR output, S-Video Output, and Component Video Output and the Sat In, which connects the coaxial cable from the satellite dish antenna. The instruction manual gives all the information you need for anyone installing it themselves.

The complete system of installing a Satellite TV along with a satellite TV receiver comes with user manual, power supply cord, phone cord, RF Coaxial cable, RCA type Audio/ Video connecting cable, S-Video connecting cable, Telephone Cord, Access card, and the Infrared Universal Remote control with 2 AA batteries. This all is accompanied by the Satellite direct TV dish.

Some times satellite TV receiver may get overheated. This may cause the decoder messages to disappear at times. It may also seem that the satellite TV receiver has gone dead. Since overheating is a main surge in satellite TV receiver it may be overcome by placing two capacitors on the power supply board. These capacitors should be replaced for reliability before the working of satellite TV receiver comes to a total halt.

Satellite TV receiver can be for analogue communication signals or digitally compressed signals. There is only one company that currently manufactures a satellite TV receiver that can process both analogue and digital signals. Analogue satellite TV receiver processes signals in analogue format. For an analogue satellite TV receiver one must need to remember the actual settings required to tune in all the channels and communication. Analogue satellite TV receiver can be stand alone unit. It is usually cheaper but can receive signals from only one satellite. An analogue satellite TV receiver has built in antenna controller which can steer a motorized dish from one satellite to another.

Main job on any satellite TV receiver is to maximize the strength of incoming signals from the satellite. This job is done equally well by an analogue satellite TV receiver or a digital satellite TV receiver. Multi-mode switches allow one satellite TV receiver to provide video to more than one house.

Satellite TV receiver comes with various features such as advanced program guide, parental controls, multi-satellite capabilities, universal remote, etc. Digital satellite TV receiver has digital audio output and can record up to seventy hours. They also have a built in DVR and season pass function, wish list function, etc.

May it be analogue satellite TV receiver or digital satellite TV receiver both work with the satellite TV set up to give the best quality of signals received from the satellite from various channels.

About the Author: James Croydon, Satellite Installation Engineer and DirecTV Search advisor – focusing on DirecTV Search and DirecTV Offer

Written By: James Croydon