| Fast becoming the leader in television technologyl, | | | | equipment that is used to take pictures of space |
| satellite TV has actually been around for decades. | | | | without the atmospheric interference experienced |
| Most people know that a signal is relayed from | | | | at land-based observatories. For the purpose of |
| the main distribution center up to the satellite and | | | | this article however, the satellites in which we are |
| then bounced back to the dish on your roof in | | | | most interested are communication satellites. |
| order to deliver TV to your home. However, not | | | | Communications Satellites Inside communications |
| many people actually know how a satellite works | | | | satellites are a number of important systems. For |
| and what is involved in creating a network of | | | | satellite TV customers, it is vital that the satellite |
| satellites that can provide coverage to an entire | | | | stay in a geosynchronous orbit, meaning that it is |
| country, or many different countries. Here, we'll | | | | in the same patch of sky at all times, so the |
| explore a bit of the behind the scenes work that | | | | satellite has guidance systems built in to maintain |
| occurs while delivering satellite television to your | | | | position. The transponder is, however, the most |
| home. Up In Space By definition, a satellite is | | | | important component of the equipment. A |
| anything that orbits the Earth in a circular or | | | | transponder is a device that receives a signal at |
| elliptical path. The Moon is, by this definition, a | | | | one frequency and then retransmits it at another |
| satellite of the Earth. The Earth, as well, is actually | | | | frequency to avoid any interference with the |
| a satellite of the Sun. As far as modern | | | | source signal. Inside each communications satellite |
| technology is concerned, a satellite is a piece of | | | | are thousands of transponders. The TV provider's |
| equipment that orbits the Earth and performs a | | | | transmission center will emit a signal straight to |
| certain function. Satellites are not | | | | the satellite. The satellite's transponders will |
| factory-produced, one size-fits all. Each is | | | | analyze that signal and then retransmit it on a |
| specifically designed to perform a certain task, | | | | different frequency. The satellite dish mounted on |
| and this makes for a lot of variety. Some | | | | your roof is designed to pick up signals on that |
| satellites form triangulation for GPS purposes, | | | | frequency and acts like an antenna. The signal |
| others are used to track weather patters, and | | | | then travels to the set-top receiver box, where it |
| some have very specific scientific objectives. For | | | | is decoded and you can watch your favorite |
| example, the Hubble Space Telescope is a satellite | | | | programming. |
| affixed with an array of lenses and photography | | | | |