| Satellite Television Has Come a Long Way | | | | receive signals from the programming centers |
| Long gone are the days of enormous homemade | | | | which are then sent on or rebroadcast to the |
| satellite receiver dishes taking up precious yard or | | | | Earth. Back on Earth are the millions of home |
| garden space. Visit Here | | | | based satellite systems, where satellite dishes pick |
| Today's satellite dishes are small, discreet units | | | | up the various signals and pass them on to the |
| that can be mounted on the exterior of a home | | | | receiver boxes that are either purchased or |
| or roof. Unlike old broadcast television, where | | | | rented by a satellite subscriber. |
| signals can be blurred due to interference with the | | | | There are some wonderful advantages to the |
| signal, satellite television is a wireless system | | | | installation of a satellite system on a home or |
| designed to receive perfectly clear signals from | | | | office. Satellite service offers movie-quality audio |
| satellites orbiting the Earth. The satellite dish | | | | and picture display across hundreds of channels. |
| receives the digital signal and transfers it to the | | | | Programming sources are able to refine FM and |
| owner's receiver, which is plugged into a television | | | | radio signals, so many individuals with advanced |
| or appropriate electronic device. | | | | home theaters are able to broadcast the |
| There are five mandatory items to any direct to | | | | high-quality music through their home equipment |
| home satellite system. The first is the | | | | instead of a traditional radio set. Satellite service is |
| programming source which broadcasts the | | | | readily available in both rural and urban areas and |
| numerous programs or channels. Programming is | | | | requires only a clear view of the sky. |
| provided by two direct sources - national and local | | | | Many satellite installation companies will bring the |
| channels. National channels are able to broadcast | | | | appropriate equipment to a potential customer's |
| directly to programming centers while local | | | | property in order to test for the strongest |
| channels traditionally use a fiber-optic cable or | | | | installation site, so there is no mystery about |
| antenna to send their signal to the programming | | | | where to place a satellite dish. Currently the |
| source. The programming source will never create | | | | satellite television industry is able to offer access |
| the programming; just purchase the rights to | | | | to a staggering amount of digital and high definition |
| broadcast it to its own programming center, | | | | programming. All satellite providers are also able to |
| which is the next item needed. | | | | offer their customers completely customized |
| The programming center serves as the central | | | | services, consumers are never forced to choose |
| location for all programs to be received then | | | | among pre-set packages. The receivers of most |
| broadcast to the various satellites. Satellites are | | | | satellite television systems will provide many |
| the third requirement in a satellite television | | | | interactive features, from on demand or pay per |
| system, orbiting the planet they are able to | | | | view programming to digital recording devices. |