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Satellite TV – What You Should Know

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:45:43 +0000

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

Satellite Radio: Music and More in Real Time

admin — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 06:31:25 +0000

Millions of radio listeners in the United States and all over the world have become so much happier with the introduction of satellite radio. Now, people can listen to literally hundreds of stations that offer music, news, radio talk shows and more in virtually real-time and at a much higher audio quality than that which FM or AM radio provides.

With conventional radio, land-based stations broadcast their signals to your boom box, computer, or car radio via the earth’s airwaves. With satellite radio however, providers transmit encrypted signals to satellites they launched in outer space; these satellites in turn beam the signals to customers’ listening devices. But you can’t use just any radio; you need a special receiver (which is available at electronics retailers) and a satellite radio set. You can also listen to satellite radio broadcasts in your car since many new cars rolling of the assembly lines have satellite-ready equipment already installed. All you would need to do is pay for your monthly subscription.

In the United States, service is offered by XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Sirius, a company based in New York City, has over 125 channels from which to choose, 67 of them dedicated to commercial-free music and the rest to various other content. XM, on the other hand, offers more than 160 channels, which offer content that is as diverse as that which Sirius extends to its customers. The services are available coast-to-coast, so geographical availability of programs is not an issue. A customer in Los Angeles, for example, can listen to the same talk show that another customer in say, Boston, is listening to at the same time, and with no degradation in audio quality. Remember that satellite radio also means digital radio — sound is crystal-clear. There’s none of the static or hissing you would sometimes hear on FM or AM radio. Non-US residents can also take advantage of the benefits of satellite radio; XM and Sirius offer their services in Canada, while WorldSpace broadcasts its service across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Australia has several providers of its own also.

Factors that attract people to sign up for satellite radio subscriptions are numerous. For one thing, there’s the pleasure of listening to commercial-free music. Since the providers make their money from subscriptions, there is still no pressing need for advertising revenue. Another attractive feature that this service offers is that information about the song being played at the moment is displayed on your radio set — a small convenience for those people who have to know about who is singing what song right-now. The fact that satellite radio programming is completely uncensored at the moment is also a draw for many people. Noteworthy personalities, such as shock jock Howard Stern (who was kicked out of network radio programming) has made satellite radio his new broadcasting home. Whether you want to listen to hip-hop music, stand-up comedy shows, or news programs, satellite radio offers them — all completely uncensored.

Because Sirius, XM, and other providers are the ones who set the channel selections, some people might find it a bit inconvenient that they won’t be able to listen to their local radio stations and get information on local goings-on. However, Sirius and XM do provide traffic and weather data for major cities, so that should be a bit of a relief for city residents. And if you think about it, not getting access to one local radio station wouldn’t seem to be such a bad deal if you compare it to the ability to listen to hundreds of channels of commercial-free music and unregulated non-regulated shows.

Sirius and XM plan to add even more features and functions to offer to their subscribers. Sirius, in particular, is readying the launch of a Windows Media Video 9 service and the company plans to offer several channels dedicated to children. That’s one more thing to keep the kids occupied and not distract their parents on long road trips. XM plans to release a similar video service. The two companies are anticipating that this will add to the number of their subscribers — Sirius has over one million, trailing after XM which has more than three million.

If you’re an avid radio listener and you’re finding yourself becoming fed up with the constant barrage of commercials on regular music stations or if you’re looking for more no-holds-barred commentaries or radio talk shows, you probably wouldn’t mind forking over the $12.95 monthly subscription for satellite radio service charged by Sirius and XM. And with the increases that the two companies see in their subscriber numbers, it’s evident that a lot of people feel the same way.

About The Author

Matt Barstow offers valuable tips and information about satellite radio, players, and services. Read his latest report answering the most popular questions about satellite radio. http://www.satellite-radio-review.net.

Written By: Matt Barstow

Satellite radio guide for Novice Users

admin — Fri, 25 May 2007 06:24:01 +0000

A satellite radio or subscription radio (SR) is a digital radio that receives signals broadcast by communications satellite that covers a much wider geographical range than normal radio signals.

The satellite radios function anywhere there is line of sight between the antenna and the satellite, given there are no major obstructions, such as tunnels or buildings. SR audiences can follow a single channel regardless of location within a given range.

As the technology requires access to a commercial satellite for signal propagation, SR services are commercial business entities (not private parties), which offer a package of channels as part of their service –requiring a subscription from end users to access its channels.

The satellite radios use the 2.3GHz S band in North America, and generally shares the 1.4GHz L band with local Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) stations elsewhere. It is a type of direct broadcast satellite, and is strong enough that it requires no satellite dish to receive. Curvature of the Earth limits the reach of the signal, but due to the high orbit of the satellites, two or three are usually sufficient to provide coverage for an entire continent.

Presently, the main radio satellite service provider in Europe, Asia and Africa is WorldSpace. WorldSpace has its own satellites covering most of Europe, Asia and Africa.

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio are the two radio satellite gains in the United States and entire North America. A monthly fee is charged for both services. Sirius offers a one time fee plan of nearly $500 valid for the lifetime of the equipment. These offer the news, weather, sports, and several music channels.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) commenced the Canada’s first satellite radio operations on November 1, 2004.

About the author:

About Author: The author is a writer for a Technology and Gadgets website http://www.nextforum.net You can even ask questions and find quick answers on forums for technology here http://forums.nextforum.net

Written By: Gagandeep Dhaliwal

Important Steps in Installing a Satellite Dish

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:52:45 +0000

Important Steps in Installing a Satellite Dish
With the recent breakthroughs in the communication world, DSL connection has already become a household term. It has already been launched in various areas across the world; however, obtaining a high-speed access to the Internet via satellite is a technology that is still unavailable to many television users because of lack of facilities. At present, the solution to this limitation can now be achieved through the satellite dish network. Whether you live in an area with DSL access or not, you can now utilize DSL technology to the extreme.
If you intend to use satellite dish for your homes or offices, you must receive transmitted signals through a clear view of the southern hemisphere. You must ensure that your chosen location is free from any obstruction like trees, buildings and other structures that can alter your signal and in effect, cause poor reception. If your site is free from any obstruction, it is not necessary to locate the co-ordinates until later when you decide to install the dish system. When you live within these areas, you can install your dish on a galvanized pole that is cemented in the ground or by positioning it no further than 100 ft. from your area.
To give you a better idea regarding this, here are some steps to install a satellite dish successfully and get it authorized:
First, you must know the satellite service in your location. Say, if you live in Europe, you can choose between AFN and Direct to Sailor (DTS). The former has a greater number of channels available but doesnt have worldwide service while the latter has worldwide coverage but has fewer program channels.

Next, you must find the technical information on the satellite that will be used in the whole process. Then, you have to search for the look angle this is the direction in which the satellite dish has to be pointed to get the signal.

Finally, set up the system all together by assembling and pointing the satellite dish, connecting and programming the decoder. After selecting the proper location, you have to distinguish where to mount the dish. To get the best reception possible, it is advisable that you mount the dish outside your home or office such as in surfaces like roofs, decks, chimneys, etc. Most areas will be pre-wired with the correct RG-6 coaxial cable used in both satellite TV and cable services. You must also pre-install external outlets in each room where the televisions are situated. Take note that you must always install RG-6 cable and not any other type of cable.
In addition, you can also place a satellite receiver at the vicinity of the cable outlet in your home or office depending on the number of televisions connected to the satellite system. The said receivers are like a smaller version of a VCR that actually processes the signal from the satellite dish to your TV for sharp, stunning, digital quality pictures.
If the location that you have chosen is questionable and you are planning to install the satellite dish yourself, you might need a compass and position yourself towards the southern hemisphere. You will first need to know the correct azimuth the horizontal direction of your dish and the direction of the communications satellites in orbit and your elevation co-ordinance. You have to expect these elements to differ by geographical location.
Furthermore, major satellite TV providers namely: DirecTV and Dish Network have satellite dish pointing basics on their sites that are established by your zip code. And if you intend to make use of terrestrial DSL, the variant via satellite will perfectly suit you. With it, you will benefit both by saving your charges and valuable time. While you pay the low fees for the channels you receive, you can also find service providers that provide you with hundreds of dollars of satellite TV equipment including dish, receivers, etc. for free.
chris Joseph is the founder of http://www.satellite-tv-choice.com and informational web site that teaches you all about getting a free satellite tv

Written By: Chris Joseph

DirecTV – Satellite TV

admin — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 04:14:29 +0000

If you are currently receiving television from any service provider besides Direct TV, you are either paying too much, or not getting the best service available. With DirecTV you have your choice of over 250 channels. If you are a sports fan, Direct TV is definitely the way to go. The programs offered include NFL Sunday ticket, Mega March Madness, Europe game tracker, Fantasy Fours, Highlights on Demand and much more.

DirecTV is #1 in the nation in providing digital satellite entertainment. There are currently more than 14 million customers who choose Direct TV over the competition, and I would highly recommend this provider to anyone looking into getting the best television entertainment available.

DirecTV also offers TiVo. This is a great program for anyone interested in never missing a favorite television program. With TiVo you are able to record up to 70 hours of television programming. You simply set it up by telling it which shows you enjoy, and it will do the rest. Many people refer to it as the smart box. It is possible to receive a free TiVo DVR when you order Direct TV. If you are a first time user of Direct TV, you have your choice of which free options you want. You can get up to 4 rooms of free Satellite TV equipment. There are also offers of free movies for up to 3 months, and free installation.

Click here to learn more about DirecTV and what it offers. If you are looking for more information about Satellite Television click here.

About the author:

Tina Porter is the writer and product researcher for http://www.hdtvtome.com/. She has extensive experience with consumer electronic products including satellite TV’s and home entertainment theaters.

Written By: Tina Porter