| A satellite dish is an antenna designed to focus on | | | | signal from the satellite to the satellite dish. With |
| a specific broadcast source. The standard dish | | | | no obstructionsyou receive a much clearer signal. |
| consists of a parabolic (bowl-shaped) surface and | | | | Some systems are set up to receive signals from |
| a central feed horn. A controller sends it through | | | | more than one satellite. |
| the horn, and the dish focuses the signal into a | | | | A new dish design uses two or more horns to |
| relatively narrow beam. | | | | pick up different satellite signals. As the |
| A narrow beam is generated as the dish reflects | | | | beamsfrom different satellites hit the curved dish, |
| energy from the feed horn. | | | | they reflect at different angles sothat one beam |
| The dish on the receiving end can only receive | | | | hits one of the horns and another beam hits a |
| information; it cannot transmit information. | | | | different horn. |
| The receiving dish works in the exact opposite | | | | The central element in the feed horn is the LNB |
| way of the transmitter. When abeam hits the | | | | (low noise blockdown converter) |
| curved dish, the parabola shape reflects the radio | | | | The LNB amplifies the radio signal bouncing off the |
| signal inwardonto a particular point, just like a | | | | dish and filters out the noise |
| concave mirror focuses light onto a particular | | | | (radio signals not carrying programming). The LNB |
| point. | | | | passes the amplified, filteredsignal to the satellite |
| The curved dish focuses incoming radio waves | | | | receiver inside the viewer's house. |
| onto the feed horn. | | | | A cable is run from the satellite dish into the |
| The feed horn then passes the signal ontothe | | | | house and then connects to thesatellite TV |
| receiving equipment. Ideally, there will be no | | | | receiver (black box) thus completing the |
| obstructions, such as trees to interferewith the | | | | connection. |