| In this Four Part Series, we will examine: Satellite | | | | Receivers, where the signals get decoded and put |
| TV for PC (PCTV) | | | | in a form that your TV then redistributes as |
| • Part I: This new technology, what it is and | | | | Audio and Video. |
| how it works (briefly), | | | | For more on this subject: |
| • Part II: How to buy this new technology | | | | Just what is Free Satellite TV? |
| Online (in great detail), | | | | This is a matter of some considerable |
| • Part III: What the implications of this new | | | | controversy, depending on your particular |
| technology are (in broad detail) and finally, | | | | situation. |
| • Part IV: What kinds of products are available | | | | So far as marketing Satellite TV goes, the lowest |
| (in serial installations). | | | | common denominator is the 'Free Satellite TV |
| I must explain first, I am neither a novice, nor a | | | | System' which absolutely dominates the American |
| geek when it comes to Satellite TV. In the course | | | | Scene. |
| of the Series, I will be using some technical | | | | In this context, 'Free' refers only to the 'Free' |
| language you may not be familiar with, but I | | | | Equipment and Installation, that you, as a new |
| promise, the technical stuff will be minimal, and | | | | Customer, can later receive when you agree to |
| made as simple as possible. | | | | contract to a monthly programming access plan, |
| I must also qualify myself: I am a fully | | | | by paying a recurring subscription fee. |
| experienced TV Viewer with decades watching | | | | Like 'free' cell phones, 'Free Satellite TV |
| the Tube under my belt, and around my waist. | | | | Equipment' is means to an end for the service |
| Further, it's only fair to tell you that I have been | | | | providers like Dish Network and DirecTV. |
| watching TV since 1952 (not continuously of | | | | While you, as the potential Consumer may be |
| course) when my parents went crazy and bought | | | | disinterested in buying equipment, and paying |
| our first of many TVs… all cash! | | | | directly for its installation; renting equipment |
| Since those days, I also have gotten seriously | | | | (whether the contract is explicit on this subject or |
| involved with nearly all aspects of Satellite TV, | | | | not) is another matter! |
| including selling, installing and servicing Dish Network | | | | So, regardless of how much you may have paid |
| and DirecTV. | | | | upfront (or not paid) for the requisite equipment |
| Currently I am a regular, satisfied subscriber to | | | | and installation, if you want to get programming |
| Dish Network Satellite TV, and Sound & | | | | out of your Free Satellite TV System, you still |
| Vision Magazine (a high-end media monthly). | | | | have an obligation to pick up the monthly |
| For more information: | | | | subscription tab, which ranges from about $20 |
| I am not a professional TV expert, electronics | | | | USD monthly on up; depending your appetite for |
| expert, or software critic. Nor am I here to sell | | | | TV, and of course, what's in your wallet. |
| you anything, except maybe on the wonders of | | | | Another Form of 'Free' |
| modern technology. | | | | Pirating or Hacking of the omnipresent Satellite TV |
| But, after six years in the Satellite TV Business, I | | | | Signal is also considered (by some) Free Satellite |
| do consider myself to be an authority on the | | | | TV. |
| subject of Satellite TV. | | | | This generally implies a first cost ($25 USD, on up) |
| Introducing Satellite TV for PC: Great | | | | which is required for even used equipment |
| Expectations | | | | (Antenna, Receiver and Remote) and maybe |
| Depending on current experience, your age, your | | | | $200 USD more for a required counterfeit Access |
| attitude and relationship to technology (i.e.: going | | | | Card, which the end user can (sometimes |
| steady, engaged, married, divorced, etc.) your | | | | successfully) insert in a Receiver to get 'free' |
| socioeconomic status, your ethnic background, | | | | access to subscription Satellite TV. |
| and where you may presently be living in the | | | | Dish Network has pretty much put a stop to |
| World; when you hear the following | | | | most Signal Piracy by placing their Smart Cards in |
| announcement, well, I expect the range of | | | | an inaccessible spot inside their latest model |
| reaction will be very diverse! | | | | Receivers. |
| So let me just repeat the advertising message | | | | DirecTV prefers another method. They have |
| one more time for effect: | | | | developed a Special Satellite Signal that |
| Introducing Satellite TV for PC! | | | | electronically zaps counterfeit Access Cards from |
| Dateline The North Pole, The Arctic, Planet Earth! | | | | outer space, rendering them useless, at least |
| To someone who has never experienced Live TV | | | | temporarily. |
| before, and I know you're out there, this must | | | | OK. So what is (Free) Satellite Television (TV) for |
| come as very great news indeed! | | | | Personal Computer (PC)? |
| Now, through the magic of the Internet you can | | | | Let me begin by telling you what it's not. It's not |
| watch Live TV, on any Personal Computer (PC) | | | | an uncharacteristic act of kindness on the part of |
| connected to the Internet, at any speed; or we | | | | any one of the major service providers (Dish |
| should say: a form of Live TV via the Internet, | | | | Network or DirecTV) channeling some or all of |
| for maybe the first time in your life, right from | | | | their programming onto the Internet freely, for |
| the comfort of your own igloo! | | | | use on any PC. |
| Dateline Any Town, USA, Planet Earth! To | | | | These huge corporations, and the powerful men |
| someone a bit closer to my own home town, this | | | | behind them, are in the business of making billions |
| may be the most boring thing you've heard this | | | | in profits from millions of subscribers so that they, |
| year! | | | | and their stockholders can reap continuous profits. |
| TV on PC? Why should I bother? I've got Cable. | | | | The “Satellite TV for PC” we are talking |
| I'm perfectly happy with my TV reception as it is, | | | | about here is also not about connecting a special |
| and I don't even own a computer, much less | | | | internal/external PCTV Card or 'Black Box' to |
| have any desire to want to mess with that awful | | | | your computer in order to decode Satellite Signals. |
| Internet thing! | | | | (That would be the subject of another discussion!) |
| See what I'm getting at? | | | | Non-subscription Satellite TV Service delivered via |
| Regardless of your geographic location in the | | | | the Internet |
| World, your experience with TV, and your | | | | The Satellite TV for PC we are talking about here |
| attitude towards modern technology generally, | | | | is: Non-subscription Satellite TV Service delivered |
| you can now watch Live TV any time of day or | | | | via the Internet, using some inexpensive |
| night, right from your own PC. | | | | Software. |
| Ready to get started? How about that dusty old | | | | 1. This Service, so far as I know 100% legal |
| computer over there? You know, the one that | | | | everywhere in the World! |
| you bought for your husband or wife thinking, | | | | 2. This Service could be considered to be 'free.' |
| next week we'll get on the Internet and… | | | | But wait: Am I claiming here, that you now can |
| Hold the line, folks: Let's back up a bit. There's | | | | legally take your TV experience with you and |
| more to this PCTV business than meets the eye; | | | | literally tune into TV where ever there is Internet |
| far too much to delve into at one sitting! | | | | Service, for only a one-time charge for software |
| We will be covering the how-to-get-started angle | | | | that in effect magically transforms your PC into a |
| in detail, next in Satellite TV Seeker Exclusive | | | | TV, without any further ado? |
| Reports: Part II: Satellite TV for PC: Buying | | | | In a single word: Yes! In two words: It Works! In |
| Satellite TV for PC. | | | | three: Yes, It Works! In four: Yes, It Works, If! |
| So, right now we just want take things kind of | | | | (Stay tuned for more on the “If”.) |
| nice and easy and survey the subject of Satellite | | | | How is this possible? |
| TV and Satellite TV for PC, together, to insure | | | | Some (the exact number is unknown) clever |
| we have a pleasant experience should we decide | | | | computer scientists (and savvy marketers, |
| to go further! | | | | number unknown) figured out how to capture |
| What is Satellite TV? | | | | programming, directly or indirectly, from |
| Emerging in the Post War era of the late 1950s | | | | (presumably old, but still useful) satellites, and |
| and 60s, which included, from my memory, | | | | make that programming available on a worldwide |
| Sputnik (the first artificial satellite) uh Voyager, | | | | basis: For a very modest price. |
| Apollo, Gemini, 1969, Man on the Moon. Let's see, | | | | The rocket science is already in place and orbiting |
| now… | | | | silently. (So, no worries here, legally.) |
| Anyway, all these events proved that a rocket | | | | Currently, there are perhaps hundreds of |
| could successfully carry a payload, such as a | | | | satellites, capable of receiving and transmitting |
| satellite, deposit it in a certain orbit, and the | | | | thousands of programs and returning these signals |
| satellite thing would stay put indefinitely! | | | | right to your home, at no monthly cost, via the |
| Not only that, these events proved we could | | | | Internet! |
| actually launch a satellite, lock it into a certain orbit, | | | | The rest of the required technology (packed |
| say 22,300 miles up, so that it would orbit the | | | | inside your computer) is also well established. (No |
| Earth at precisely the same speed that the World | | | | risk here either!) |
| turns, and get satellites to help us do some | | | | So, dust off the old computer, pay for and |
| spectacular high-tech tricks! | | | | download a bit of inexpensive software, logon to |
| Today probably thousands of very sophisticated, | | | | your ISP, open that new software, and va-voom, |
| geo-stationary Military, Scientific and | | | | you're watching all your favorite TV channels, |
| Communications Satellites circle the Earth. | | | | free for ever more, on the Internet. |
| Basically these satellites act as reflecting stations | | | | Not so fast Pilgrim! We've gotta take a |
| for whatever information we may choose to | | | | commercial break! |
| beam up to them from Earth. | | | | (To be continued in Part II: Satellite TV Seeker |
| Very basically, Satellite TV works like this: | | | | Exclusive Reports: Part II: Satellite TV for PC: |
| Programming is generated from live TV sources | | | | Buying Satellite TV for PC.) |
| at surface networks, piped out through wires to | | | | PS: Can't wait for the next installment? You can |
| Proprietary Service Providers, like Dish Network | | | | get your advanced Exclusive Report free, simply |
| and DirecTV, and bounced up to Proprietary | | | | by requesting it! |
| Satellites, via radio waves. | | | | Best Regards, |
| In turn these signals are reflected back to earth in | | | | Craig Guest |
| the form of huge beams. Some, called | | | | CEO, Satellite TV Seeker |
| “CONUS” Satellites, have a footprint the | | | | Fair Use Policy: This Article may be reprinted or |
| size of the Continental United States! | | | | otherwise reproduced in total, provided that the |
| Although you can't see them, the signals satellites | | | | following resource is cited: |
| reflect back to Earth, are available nearly | | | | Did you find this article useful? For more useful |
| everywhere, waiting to be captured and | | | | tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in |
| converted. | | | | mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to |
| Proprietary Service Antennas (Satellite TV Dishes) | | | | Internet Business, do please browse for more |
| gather the radio wave signals, concentrate them | | | | information at our websites. |
| and feed the raw signals into Satellite TV | | | | |