| Many people would be surprised to learn that | | | | made it far more viable as an alternative to cable. |
| satellite TV, positioned at the cutting edge of | | | | The switch to digital from analog signals was |
| televsision technology, has in fact been around for | | | | probably the biggest advance in satellite TV. An |
| more than 4 decades. The first satellite TV signal | | | | analog signal transmits information through |
| was transmitted from Europe to the Telestar | | | | variations in the strength of a signal. A good way |
| satellite, which at the time was positioned over | | | | to think of an analog signal is to imagine a long |
| North America, in 1962. The following year saw | | | | rope with one end tied to a tree and the other |
| the launch of the first geosynchronous | | | | end in your hand. If you snap the rope, you'll see |
| communications satellite. Satellites with | | | | the curved section moving from your hand to the |
| geosynchronous orbits are crucial to the satellite | | | | tree. An analog signal is much like that curved, |
| TV technology. They orbit the Earth at a speed | | | | moving section. Digital signals are comprised of |
| consistent with the Earth's rotation. Because of | | | | ones and zeros. A digital signal is much harder to |
| this, they stay in the same relative part of sky at | | | | corrupt than an analog signal. When used for a |
| all times, meaning that satellite TV customers | | | | technology that transmits signals across over |
| must only position their satellite dishes once, and | | | | 20,000 miles from the satellite to the receiver |
| then need not worry further about finding a signal. | | | | dish on your roof, having a stable signal is crucial. |
| Intelsat I was the first commercial | | | | The Advent of HD Over the past few years, high |
| communications satellite, launched in 1965. The | | | | definition television has proven itself to be the |
| First Provider In 1967, Orbita was created in the | | | | future of viewing. Cable companies have started |
| Soviet Union, officially becoming the world's first | | | | to transmit some of their signals in high definition, |
| satellite television provider. The technology made | | | | however their overall capacity for high definition is |
| it's way to North America in 1972 and further | | | | determined by how much information can |
| spread throughout the world in the following | | | | physically be transmitted along the actual cables. |
| years. While the basic principles of satellite | | | | Because it transmits signals through the air, |
| television have remained unchanged since those | | | | Satellite TV isn't hindered by these restrictions. |
| early days, refinements in the technology have | | | | |