If you have Dish Network or thinking about getting it or another satellite TV service, it’s good to know what the future holds for satellite TV. So, here’s a glimpse into the future.

This article may be considered science fiction, just like Arthur C. Clark once had a scientific vision about 3 satellites orbiting the earth in geostationary orbits to make global communications possible. Everything in this article is merely a scientific vision and an extrapolation of current technologies into the future.

What would be the future of Satellite TV? That may seem to be a difficult question, but extrapolating what we know about the past into the future and some educated guesses, we may very well end up with a reasonable picture of what the future of satellite TV looks like. The future of satellite TV will be guided by these properties:

1. Receive and Transmit
2. Equipment Size and Costs
3. Satellite Capacity and Coverage
4. Antenna Size
5. New Technologies

1 Receive and Transmit What would be possible if you could not only receive, but also transmit? And in the same bandwidth as you receive? That would change the whole world. It is possible now to use the satellite for Internet purposes, but in a very simple and inefficient way. You receive via satellite, but transmit via phone. Upload capacity is completely limited by the dial up connection. The idea of being able to transmit to a satellite from your home is new and will probably one day be reality. At the moment companies can use satellites to connect offices all over the country via satellite. Bandwidth is limited, or very expensive. Another problem for home use is the size of the satellite dish. At least 4 foot for small bandwidth and up to 10 feet or even more for higher bandwidths. In point 3 this bandwidth issue is explained in more detail.

2 Equipment Size and Costs Your Dish Network or Satellite TV equipment at home may seem small, but it is small because all it has to do is receive. Transmitting requires different equipment. Not so much in the house, but on the roof at the antenna there is need for a relative big transmitter. Also these are still pretty expensive and for domestic use just not affordable.

In the future this will change. Equipment will get smaller, and cheaper. Eventually when satellites are able to relay much more data than now (see point 3), having 10.000.000 transmitters on the ground won’t be a problem.

3 Satellite Capacity and Coverage This will always be the bottle neck of satellites; how much data can they relay and how small an area can they cover. A satellite has multiple dishes and each dish can cover a part of the earth; small parts like just one state or big parts like the whole continental United States.

In the future satellites will be able to relay much more data, and cover much smaller areas. Especially the smaller coverage areas will be important. Having full capacity available for just a small area means higher bandwidth available for a small amount of people. Especially in urban areas it will be great to have a satellite cover just one neighborhood.

4 Antenna Size This is a very important issue. Small antennas of 18 inches already exist and are used by satellite TV providers such as Dish Network, but these can receive only. The opening angle of an antenna like this is too big to get enough signal power to reach the satellite. In the future however, antennas will get better and eventually small antennas can be used to transmit to the satellite.

5 New Technologies This will be the really interesting part. New technologies may open up possibilities that are never heard of before.

Imagine watching a movie in 3D, you sitting on your couch but watching a show as if you are in the audience when the TV show was recorded. You’re not really having a TV at home anymore, but a 3D entertainment room. (for those of you who like StarTrek, a not so strange idea). Normal Satellite TV will still be available of course.

In the future Satellite TV will open up so many possibilities that it is hard to imagine what our lives will be like in 30, or even just 20 years from now. To give an idea of how fast things are going. 50 years ago, there was nothing in space that was made by humans. Now there are even satellite graveyards (specific orbits where obsolete satellites are “parked”). The possibilities of satellite TV technology are growing faster every year. What took 10 years to develop 30 years ago is now done in 2 years.

Dish Network and Satellite TV is one of the driving forces for satellite technologies because the need to please million of subscribers is much stronger than the need to please the relative limited needs of communications for commercial purposes. The future of satellite TV is so bright, that a supernova would pale in comparison!

If you’re interested in learning more about Dish Network and satellite TV, go to http://www.dish-network-satellite-tv.ws/

Written By: Frank Johnson

The evolution of television has seen dramatic acceleration recently. Satellite TV has truly revolutionized the global viewing experience. You no longer have to rely on awkward rabbit ear antennae to bring viewing pleasure. Satellite dishes have become as ubiquitous as the roof antenna was in the early years. The world can now be accessed through numerous, and diverse channels, and programming.

The number of options available with satellite television is overwhelming. Since the broadcast signals used in satellite television are digital, as compared with old analog, the results are crystal clear audio and visual transmissions. Broadcasts can be done in HDTV, or high definition television, which is the latest television technology. Digital transmissions allow a greater degree of flexibility for broadcasters.

In addition to picture and sound excellence, there is a virtual library of movies, sporting events, and news programs to choose from. More than the basic channels of yesteryear. Satellite receivers, when put together with the properly built and positioned satellite dish, hook up with access to more than 225 digital-quality channels. The receiver can also provide an on-screen program guide that can be customized to suit viewers needs. The receiver also has a built-in “Locks and Limits” feature, which gives control to limit channels or programs.

More recently, a spectacular Digital Video Recording feature, DVR, has emerged. This gives the viewer the ability to record, replay, and splice programming scenes as many times, and in as many ways, as desired. That’s what the combination of HDTV and DVR will give: complete control.

Unlike commercial television, which broadcasts free programming, satellite television is not without cost. To get satellite TV, you need a dish antenna, and a receiver designed to work with the chosen service. You can buy the hardware from the satellite company, an electronics store, or a satellite-system dealer/installer for about $100 and up. There is a monthly subscription fee, in addition to the cost of the hardware; this varies according to the level of service. In the past, bad weather could adversely effect the signals, however new technology and improvements have made this a rare issue.

All considered, satellite television is an investment well worth it. Satellite service can include you in a world revolution that is changing the face of how information and entertainment is done in this world. The sky is the limit with satellite services, literally, when it comes to speed, features, and innovation.
About the Author

Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for Direct Satellite TV Network Visit http://satellite-tv-usa.net/ for more information.

Written By: Jay Stockman

No, the title is not a typo. This is a biased review of satellite TV versus cable. This has to do with the fact that I am a happy satellite TV subscriber, and must admit, it was a smart move on my part. After spending exorbitant amounts of money on cable, one day I decided I would give it up and start looking for alternatives. I admit, I was seduced into getting cable by their low introductory price which was only $29 per month, including the premium channels.

Of course, this lasted only 3 months, after which I was expected to pay the full price of $89 per month. Like everyone else, I put up with this and quickly realized what I had gotten myself into. I knew that with my tight budget, this luxury couldn’t last. I knew I would have to give up my HBO (I love HBO–”Sopranos” anyone?).

However, even after I got rid of the premium channels I was still paying $69 per month!

There had to be another way. Unfortunately, cable companies tend to monopolize whatever area they get their grubby hands on, and I knew it would be difficult to find an alternative. The only other option for me was whipping out that old TV antenna, and getting my wife to stand next to the TV while moving the antenna around until we got a good signal. I can tell you right now, my wife wasn’t going to go for that one.

I knew that even joking about it would lead to the single life.

The alternative came to me when I heard from a friend who just happened to have satellite TV. He told me about how much he loved his Dish Network, and that the TV commercials where they show the people losing the signal all the time, and having to go to the roof to adjust the antenna was a bunch of “hog wash.”

In the year that he had his Dish Network, he hadn’t had one problem with it. He loved his Dish Network, and he was only paying $42.99 per month for it while getting over 100 channels, including HBO.

I wanted in. I inquired about how I could get my own Dish Network system, but was a bit hesitant. Although the monthly price was cheap, what about all the equipment I would have to buy?

My friend just laughed at me. He told me that all the equipment was free.

How could hundreds of dollars worth of equipment be free? That included a satellite antenna, receivers for up to 4 rooms, a Digital Video Recorder, and even a High Definition receiver. It couldn’t all be free. There had to be some sort of catch.

I decided to investigate this a bit further. After all, I was about to give up a reliable, albeit expensive, source of entertainment–my cable.

I checked out the website my friend recommended, www.vmcDishNetwork.net, and it turns out that Dish Network was indeed offering free installation, free equipment, and to top it off, even the first month free. That’s a lot of free stuff and I love free stuff.

I jumped on it. I cancelled my cable, and scheduled my install. I couldn’t get the installer in here fast enough.

Out of all the programs offered by vmcDishNetwork, decided on the 120 channels, including HBO (YAY!) and Cinemax, plus local channels and even includes 65 channels of SIRIUS satellite radio (I just happen to have a SIRIUS radio receiver–go Howard Stern!).

If someone were to ask me whether or not switching to satellite TV was a good move on my part, I’d have to say, “Absolutely, YES!”

If they were to ask me if they should give up their cable for satellite TV, I would tell them, “Do it as soon as you can, and stop paying ungodly amounts of money per month when satellite TV offer so much more, for so much less.”
About the Author

About the author: Erick Charles is a proud owner of a new satellite TV system from Dish Network. He endorses http://vmcDishNewtork.net for their great customer service, low prices, and all the free stuff they offer.

Written By: Erick Charles

Well, there are several options available to viewers, depending on your requirements. You have the choice of Sky Digital, Fixed European Satellite & Motorised Satellite Systems. But in this article, were going to cover Sky Digital and the benefits it provides the viewer compared to the old analogue.

So, Why Sky Digital:
As opposed to the old analogue system, where you had to have a 60cm satellite dish installed, Sky Digital is now available through what is called a mini-dish, which is much less of an eyesore as the conventional system.

Furthermore, Sky digital will cater for all audiences, from entertainment channels with comedy and dramas, movies including latest releases, music channels for you to keep up to date with the latest chart releases, or listen to your favourite genre, then theres the radio stations, cartoon channels and news/documentary stations. There is a whole list of channels, available on different packages ranging from 15 to 42.50 (not including additional premium channels) per month.

What else can Sky do? Well, theres

The Interactive Services:
The interactive services provided by Sky (telephone connection required and charged at a per minute rate) give the viewer the option to purchase goods through their Sky Digital Receiver.

By pressing a button on their controller, you will access the interactive services page, and then can choose whether to go shopping for goods, from a range of stores you can find on the high street and online, so youll never have to leave your sofa again!

If your not interested in shopping but after entertainment, there are a range of games available to play, as well as competitions to participate in, a friends & dating section, and also a health and lifestyle section providing information on a wide range of related issues. You can also check availability and whats on at your local cinema!

The Sky+ & Multi Room Systems:
Ever wanted to watch a film when another film you wanted is being shown at the same time on a separate channel? We all have, and it is frustrating, having to choose which of the two your going to watch.

Well, with Sky+, youll have that problem no more. You can keep up-to-date with your favourite soap, and record another programme at the same time, and it will be stored in your Sky+ receivers Hard Drive for viewing later. No more will you and your partner have to argue on who is going to miss their programme this week!

Sky+ also gives the viewer the ability to pause what youre watching. No, not just the recording, but what your watching in real time can be stopped. So, when you receive those annoying sales calls in the middle of the night, and your just getting into your film and dont want to miss any of it, you can now hit pause, answer the call then get back to film and carry on where you left of! Then when the film is ended, switch back to real-time to carry on viewing as normal.

With Sky+, an upgrade to your dish will have to me made, and a new receiver will have to be installed, which will have an integrated hard drive to record your programmes.

With the dish upgraded, you will also be able to have your existing box moved to another room in your property, so if your family want to watch cartoons, and your more interested in a film or the news, you can watch both, at the same time, in separate rooms (additional monthly fees will apply). This is called Sky Multiroom.

This can be extended as much as you want, providing you have the correct equipment installed.

Freesat From Sky:
Not want to pay a subscription, but still want Digital TV channels? Why not opt for the Freesat service available from Sky.

Very similar to a normal Sky system, but you dont have to pay a monthly subscription, and will get a number of free digital channels (approximately 200) for your viewing pleasure.

Sky HD:
Sky HD is High Definition Television broadcast from Sky. Not familiar with HD?

HD or HDTV is the latest generation of digital TV, providing life-like picture quality, at least four times superior to current standards. It will provide extremely clear and fine picture detail with richer colours, improving the visual experience.

At launch, HDTV is thought to be available from Sky. In order to view programmes broadcast in ‘High Definition’, a soon to be released HDTV Sky Receiver with Sky+ technology will be required. In addition, the benefit of High Definition will only be apparent through a HDTV television (ideally plasma or LCD).

Please note, not all Plasma & LCD televisions currently available are HDTV compatible. It is expected to become available in the first quarter of 2006.

About the Author: http://www.aerial-satellites.co.uk One of the UK’s largest independant TV Aerial & Satellite TV Installation Companies.

Written By: Mark Barnes

In the last 10 years more than 27 million people have switched from cable and over-the-air TV to satellite TV. But is satellite TV really that much better?

Let’s find out …

Satellite TV

Satellite TV is a television system whereby a broadcast center sends a signal containing TV programs to a satellite in orbit above the earth.

The satellite captures the signal and sends it back to earth, where it is picked up by a satellite dish and relayed to a TV set.

In order to receive a satellite TV signal you must have a satellite system — a dish to capture the signal, and a receiver to unscramble the signal and send it to your television.

Satellite TV History

In 1962, the first satellite TV signal was sent from Europe to North America via the Telstar satellite. The first first commercial satellite, Early Bird, was launched in 1965, and Satellite TV reception in the U.S. began in 1980.

Early satellite TV systems were expensive, costing anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. The dishes were large — 10 to 12 feet in diameter — and the receivers and antenna rotators were bulky and complicated.

In 1994 the first DBS (direct broadcast satellite) was put into orbit, issuing in the era of the mini dish and the slim-line receiver, making it possible for anyone, even apartment renters and condo owners, to have satellite TV.

Satellite TV Providers

There are two major satellite TV providers in the U.S.A — DIRECTV and DISH Network.

DIRECTV

With 14.5 million customers, DIRECTV is the oldest and largest satellite TV provider in the USA.

DIRECTV is ranked #2 in customer satisfaction among all satellite and cable TV companies by J.D. Power and Associates.

DIIRECTV offers the following equipment and services:

* A Free satellite TV system — one dish and four receivers.
* Free installation and instruction on using the system.
* 250 channels with digital-quality picture and sound.
* 500 commercial-free movies per month.
* Up to 67 pay-per-view programs and events daily.
* 67 commercial-free XM radio channels.
* Toll-free, 24/7 customer service.

DIRECTV offers the most sports programming of the two satellite TV providers.

DISH Network

With more than 12 million customers, DISH Network is the second-oldest satellite TV provider, and is the fastest-growing provider.

DISH Network is ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among all the satellite and cable TV companies by J.D. Power and Associates.

DISH Network offers the following equipment and services:

* A Free satellite TV system — one dish and four receivers.
* Free installation and satellite TV system instruction.
* 256 channels with digital-quality picture and sound.
* 500 commercial-free movies a month.
* Up to 60 pay-per-view programs and events per day.
* 50 commercial-free Sirius radio channels and 52 music channels.
* Toll-free, 24/7 customer service.

DISH Network has the biggest variety of movies and shows of the two satellite TV providers, and offers the cheapest basic service package.

Satellite TV Dealers

There are more than 80 online dealers and thousands of offline dealers across the U.S.A.

Some dealers are reputable and will give you an honest deal, but a number of dealers will lure you into subscribing to their service, then hit you with hidden fees, provide you with shoddy installation, and give you zero customer service.

Before you subscribe to a satellite TV service, you should read their service agreement carefully and call their customer service to clarify anything that isn’t clear to you.

Note: Click on the links below for information on dealers that are reputable and give the best service at the best price.

Satellite TV Benefits

The main benefit of having satellite TV service is you can access up to 375 channels of TV programming. That gives you a lot more viewing options than cable or over-the-air TV.

In addition to regular TV programming, satellite TV allows you to tune into pay-per-view movies and special events, and to listen to more than 100 channels of commercial-free music on satellite radio.

Another benefit of satellite TV is the quality of the TV picture. Satellite TV is broadcast in digital format which produces a super sharp picture. Additionally, you have the option of ordering HD (high definition) TV for an even more lifelike picture.

Another benefit is the ability to record your favorite programs and to pause or fast-forward live TV using a DVR (digital video recorder).

Last, but not least, you get all the equipment you need to view satellite TV, including installation, absolutely free.

Conclusion

If you have over-the-air TV and don’t watch much television then satellite TV probably isn’t for you.

If, however, you watch a lot of TV or you have cable TV, then I recommend clicking on the links below to see what satellite TV has to offer.

With over 375 channels to choose from plus satellite radio, pay-per-view, movies, and programming packages starting at less than a dollar a day, you can’t go wrong with satellite TV.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV.

Brian Stevens is the senior editor for The Satellite TV Guide and has written extensively on satellite TV.

Written By: Brian Stevens

Dish Network, and other satellite TV providers didn’t just appear over night. The development of satellite television took years and its origins can be traced back to the 1950s and the space race.

The original concept of satellite television is often attributed to writer Arthur C. Clarke, who was the first to suggest a worldwide satellite communications system. Funding for satellite technology in the U.S. began in the 1950s, amidst the space race, and the Russian launching of the satellite Sputnik in 1957.

The first communication satellite was developed by a group of businesses and government entities in 1963. Syncom II orbited at 22,300 miles over the Atlantic; the first satellite communication was on July 26, 1963, between a U.S. Navy ship in Lagos, Nigeria and the U.S. Army naval station in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Overloaded land based distribution methods had the telephone companies utilizing satellite communication way before the television industry even came into the picture. In fact, it was not until 1978 that satellite communication was officially used by the television industry.

In 1975, RWT’s co-founder and BBC transmitter engineer Stephen Birkill built an experimental system for receiving Satellite Instructional Television Experiment TV (SITE) transmissions, beamed to Indian villages, from a NASA geostationary satellite.

Birkill extended his system, receiving TV pictures from Intelsat, Raduga, Molniya and others. In 1978, Birkill met up with Bob Cooper, a cable TV technical journalist and amateur radio enthusiast in the U.S., who invited him to a cable TV operators’ conference and trade show, the CCOS-78. It was there that Birkill met with other satellite TV enthusiasts, who were interested, and ready to help develop, Birkill’s experiments.

Interest in Television Receive Only (TVRO) satellite technology burst forward. The American TVRO boom caught the attention of premium cable programmers, who began to realize the potential of satellite TV. Back in the mid-1970s, TV reception was the under the control of international operators, Intelsat and Intersputnik.

On March 1, 1978, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) introduced Public Television Satellite Service. Satellite communication technology caught on, and was used as a distribution method with the broadcasters from 1978 through 1984, with early signals broadcast from HBO, TBS, and CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network, later The Family Channel). TVRO system prices dropped, and the trade organization, Society for Private Commercial Earth Stations (SPACE), and the first dealerships were established.

Broadcasters realized that everyone had the potential to receive satellite signals for free, and they were not happy. But the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was governed by its open skies’ policy, believing that users had as much right to receive satellite signals as broadcasters had the right to transmit them.

In 1980, the FCC established the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), a new service that consisted of a broadcast satellite in geostationary orbit, facilities for transmitting signals to the satellite, and the equipment needed for people to access the signals. In turn, broadcasters developed methods of scrambling their signals, forcing consumers to purchase a decoder, or a direct to home (DTH) satellite receiver, from a satellite program provider.

From 1981 to 1985, the big dish satellite market soared. Rural areas gained the capacity to receive television programming that was not capable of being received by standard methods.

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association of America (SBCA) was founded in 1986 as a merger between SPACE and the Direct Broadcast Satellite Association. But by this point, American communication companies had soured on the prospect of satellite TV. Broadcast cable was very successful at this time, and the satellite industry received a lot of negative press coverage. Fifty percent of all satellite retailers closed their businesses.

Business eventually recovered, but the illegal theft of pay television signals was still a problem. Ultimately, encryption has proven to be the ultimate salvation of the satellite industry as it has made the transition from a hardware to software entertainment-driven business.

Early successful attempts to launch satellites for the mass consumer market were led by Japan and Hong Kong in 1986 and 1990, respectively. In 1994, the first successful attempts in America were led by a group of major cable companies, known collectively as Primestar.

Later that year, Direct TV was established, and in 1996, the DISH Network, a subsidiary of Echostar, also entered the satellite TV industry. DISH Network’s low prices forced competing DBS providers to also lower their prices. And an explosion in the popularity of digital satellite TV ensued.

About the author:

I am first and foremost an observer of life. I enjoy analyzing and exploring all aspects of life on planet Earth, and expressing my personal perspective on the nitty gritty of it all. As a result of my observations, I have become a freelance writer. http://www.dish-network-satellite-tv.ws/

Written By: Frank Johnson