Satellite TV- A Short History

A Short History of Satellite TV

When the satellite was invented, the idea of being able to receive Television broadcasts from it was not even considered. The first satellite in orbit was developed by the Russians and it was named sputnik. This satellite didn't even have the ability to communicate to the earth. Therefore a communications satellite was invented in 1963 and it transmitted a message from a US navy ship in the Lagos harbor, in Nigeria. This message was transmitted all the way to a navy base in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

In the following article you will know what certain services use the satellite especially the television.

Telephone

Telephone companies began using the satellite communication method as land based message services became overloaded. This allowed people to communicate faster than the old style of sending a letter through the mail.

Satellite TV

Satellite TV began on March first 1978. The first broadcaster, the public broadcasting service introduced public television via a satellite. Television networks adopted the satellite TV method of distribution from 1978 all the way through 1984. As the uses for satellite communications increased it was inevitable that people would have the potential to be able to receive satellite TV signals for free. Direct to home satellite TV receivers were developed in the early1980's. Rural areas in the country thus gained the capacity to receive these satellite TV broadcasts without using the standard method. With the development of the TV receive only, broadcasters complained that there broadcasts could be picked up illegally without paying. The FCC responded to this with the free airspace act. Saying receivers could receive it, if broadcasters could send it.

Why can't I get certain channels for free

When broadcasters realized there signals could be picked up free, they developed a scrambler that would filter the broadcast so only certain people could see the image. You would have to purchase a certain filter that would unscramble the signals in order for you to view them. These devices made it possible for the broadcasters to receive money for their broadcasting so it may be funded and continued. This lead to a potential market in the satellite TV industry seeing as there is money to be made in it.

So next time you are watching satellite TV think about how the signal gets from outer space where the satellite is located all the way to your living room TV set. That little decoder you pay for every month that brings the signal to you.

Tim is the webmaster of TVCableSatellite.com an website specializing in satellite tv information

Purchasing Satellite TV Equipment

Each day more people make the decision to get their television programming through a satellite. Satellite TV is increasing in popularity and that rise in popularity is expected to continue on into the future.

When it comes to satellite TV, there are many individuals who focus solely on the cost of getting the channels that they want. The price of a service is important, but so is the equipment that you plan on receiving that service with.

Satellite TV equipment can come from two different sources. It can come directly from a satellite TV provider or it can be purchased from another location. Where you get your satellite TV equipment will all depend on your personal preferences. Before you make a finial decision it is important that you educate yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of acquiring satellite TV equipment from certain locations.

Many satellite TV subscribers make the decision to get their equipment through their satellite provider. The biggest advantage of doing so is that the equipment can often be obtained for little or no cost. It is not uncommon for a provider to offer valuable deals and discounts on satellite receivers and dishes. This means that it is possible to become a customer without having to pay equipment fees.

The biggest disadvantage of getting satellite TV equipment through a provider is one that many individuals are not even aware of. The majority of satellite TV providers are not giving you their equipment; in fact, they are leasing it you. This means that if you decide to switch television providers you will have to return the equipment. This is something that many individuals do not have a problem with, but a problem may arise if the equipment is damaged. Damaged equipment or missing remotes may result in being charged the full retail price for each item.

The alternative to leasing satellite equipment from a satellite TV provider is to outright purchase the equipment. The most common place to purchase satellite equipment is from a traditional storefront retail location or online. Most traditional department stores and media stores carry a selection of satellite dishes and receivers.

There are a number of advantages to purchasing satellite equipment from a retail store. The biggest advantage is that the equipment is yours to keep. This means that you can take your dish and receiver with you on camping trips and other family outings without having to worry about being penalized should the equipment become damaged.

When a satellite TV provider leases equipment to their subscribers they tend to offer only the standard equipment. Buying the equipment from a retail store gives shoppers a larger selection to choose from.

Having a choice when it comes to purchasing satellite TV equipment is nice, but it can also result in errors. Not all satellite receivers are compatible with every satellite TV provider. That is why it is important to ensure that the two are compatible before paying for the equipment.

The price of satellite equipment is one of the most common reasons why individuals do not outright purchase their equipment. The average cost of a satellite dish and receiver, when purchased together, is between one hundred and two hundred dollars. It is important to note that the cost of a satellite dish and receiver will all depend on where the items are being purchased from.

Leasing satellite TV equipment and purchasing it both have their advantages and disadvantages. When deciding which is the best way to acquire satellite TV equipment you are encouraged to examine each advantage and disadvantage and then apply them to your situation.

D. David Dugan is a support of the computer support forum at http://forum.dugancom.com and recommends purchasing your satellite service from http://www.divinfo.com/dishnetwork.php

My search for reality in TV revealed satellite TV and TV's future, now.

I never dreamed of TV becoming amazing again - I was the guy with 12 o'clock blinking green on his VCR. Yes, I said VCR. So getting the hang of today's TV wasn't a piece of cake.

Recently, during an emergency replace-ectomy of my dying Zenith behemoth, I realized I was in deep trouble. Never mind DVD. Who knew of progressive scan or digital convergence, aspect ratios, digital comb filters, anti-glare coatings and so many lines of resolution? I knew about a tv satellite dish, but...

This was a long way from the TV I was nurtured on?

I remember seeing Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show gyrating inside a black & white-glass-globe-picture-tube about as small as the window on a front-load washer. ...Man did the warm glow of that box-at-the-end-of-a-wire get me excited.

Oh, I watched plenty alright! And you know what? I can't ever remember complaining about getting up from the couch to change the channel... or to adjust the antenna. Then again, Wagon Train on a 19 inch "color set" was as good as it got for a while.

I lost track of television's high technologies after that I suppose. I saw TVs getting bigger and I did get hip to cable and the remote control - but distracted by life and a million other things - today's satellite TV and the whole awesome new experience almost passed me by.

It wasn't until my first trip to a home-electronics super-store - to replace a dinosaur, 25 inch Zenith color console in a polished-wood-cabinet that matched our living-room furniture long ago - that I realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore... but rather, lost.

Lost in a new-world-unknown.

A world where I discovered satellite tv on flat screens square and wide and thin plasmas that hung on the wall. Flat-panel LCDs framed in silver and perched upon slender, tilting pedestals.There were TVs that connect to your computer and one giant-screen, rear-projector that eats digital camera's memory-sticks and can show your photos of grandma on vacation fleecing the casinos - in larger than life - and surround sound.

Oh, TVs are still getting bigger, alright. But now they're also amazing again and I'm excited. And with that "excitement and amazement", comes downright confusion. How do they do that? What of "all this" is right for me?

I like the idea of a tv satellite dish on my roof, but it's a new-tech jungle out there my friend. Prepare if you too are from Kansas.

Those links above will help you get a clue about "what's out there" before you buy "what could become" the most incredible entertainment experience you and your living room - and Elvis could ever dream-up. And for a far better price than you might be thinking.

Keep your eyes on the Planet and I'll fill you in soon on why I don't leave my house anymore.

Danny Planet is author of Danny's Planet, the hippest free zine out there, hundreds of articles, web pages, radio commercials and celebrity ghost scrawling. To see what Danny's up to, visit him at Satellite TV and get your seat on Danny's Planet Ark

DISH Network Satellite TV -- What You Need to Know Before You Order

Launched in 1996 by EchoStar Communications, DISH Network is the second-largest satellite TV provider in the world, with 11 million subscribers and 9 broadcast satellites.

In addition to TV programming, DISH Network satellite TV also offers 50 Sirius Satellite Radio music channels and Starband broadband Internet service.

J.D. Power and Associates recently ranked DISH Network #1 in customer satisfaction among all U.S. satellite TV and cable companies.

DISH Network Satellite TV System

To receive DISH Network programming you need a DISH Network satellite TV system to capture the broadcast signal and transmit it to your TV.

Due to the competition between DISH Network dealers, you can now get a complete DISH Network satellite TV system free when you subscribe to their programming service.

Here's what you get when you subscribe to DISH Network's satellite TV service:

* A free DISH Network satellite TV dish and stand.

* Up to four free receivers plus universal remotes.

* Free DISH Network HDTV (high definition TV) receivers.

* Free installation in up to four rooms of your home.

* Free gifts such as a free DVD player and home theater system (click on the links below for current offers).

DISH Network Satellite TV Service

Here's what you get with DISH Network service:

* All-digital programming for the clearest picture and sound available.

* More than 256 program program channels.

* Up to 500 commercial-free movies per month.

* DVR (digital video recording) so you can record your favorite programs.

* Up to 60 pay-per-view programs per day.

* Your local channels broadcast in digital format.

* Fifty commercial-free Sirius Radio music channels with CD-quality sound.

* Toll-free, 24-hour, 7-days-a-week customer service.

DISH Network Satellite TV Programming

Here are the DISH Network programming packages currently available:

* America's Top 60 ? 60 program channels for $31.99 per month.

* America's Top 120 --120 program channels plus 32 channels of Sirius satellite radio for $42.99 per month.

* America's Top 180--180 program channels plus 50 channels of Sirius satellite radio for $52.99 per month. * America's "Everything" Pak--230 program channels, Showtime, Starz!, HBO, Cinemax, 50 channels of Sirius satellite radio, and DISH Network HDTV programming for $86.99 per month..

Note: For more information on DISH Network programming packages, current offers, and free gifts, click on the links at the bottom of this article.

Ordering DISH Network Satellite TV Service

You can place your order online, or you can call toll-free and order through a DISH Network representative.

The representative will take your order, schedule your installation, and answer any questions you may have. Installation time is usually one to five days after you place your order.

A certified Direct TV installer will install your system, test it to make sure it works, then show you how to use all the functions and controls.

Bottom Line

With DISH Network satellite TV service starting at a dollar a day, plus the fact that you can get a complete satellite TV system for free, DISH Network satellite TV is a bargain.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV.

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on DISH Network satellite TV.

Satellite TV Systems -- Which One is Best?

Satellite TV System

A satellite TV system consists of a dish that captures the TV signal broadcast from a satellite, and a receiver that amplifies the signal and sends it to a television.

Less than 10 years ago, satellite TV systems consisted of a huge satellite dish, about the size of a flying saucer, and an array of black boxes that required an electronic technician to set up. Not only that, they were expensive, costing anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.

We've come a long way since then. Now, satellite dishes are the size of a large Frizbee, the receiver is the size of a notebook, and using the system is as easy as operating a microwave.

And the best news of all is that today's systems won't cost you a penny. Thanks to the ongoing competition between satellite TV dealers, they'll give you a complete satellite TV system for free when you subscribe to their satellite TV service.

Benefits of a Satellite TV System

Here are the benefits of having a satellite TV system:

* You have the option of viewing up to 256 channels of programming.

* Satellite TV is broadcast in an all-digital format for the clearest picture and sound available. * Satellite TV systems include DVR (digital video recording) so you can record your favorite shows.

* You can get HD (high definition) receivers that allow you to watch your shows in HD format.

* Satellite TV is the more reliable than cable or over-the-air TV, with less blackouts and fewer picture problems.

* Customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

DISH Network Satellite TV System

Here's what you get when you order DISH Network satellite TV service:

* A free satellite TV dish with mounting hardware.

* Up to four free receivers plus universal remotes.

* Free DVR (digital video recording) receivers.

* Free HD satellite TV receivers (optional).

* Free professional installation in up to four rooms of your home.

* A one-year warranty on your satellite TV system.

DIRECTV Satellite TV System

Here's what you get when you order DIRECTV satellite TV service:

* A free satellite TV dish with mounting hardware.

* Up to four free receivers plus universal remotes. * Free professional installation in up to four rooms of your home.

* DVR receivers -- free after a $99 rebate.

* HDTV satellite TV receivers (optional), $199 per receiver.

* A one-year warranty on your satellite TV system.

Satellite TV Service

In order to get a free satellite TV system you have to subscribe to a satellite TV service:

DISH Network offers four program packages. Prices start at $31.99 per month for their basic package which has 60 channels, and go up to $86.99 for their top-of-the-line package which has 230 channels.

DIRECTV offers three program packages. Prices start at $41.99 per month for their basic package which has 135 channels, including 31 music channels, and go up to $93.99 for their top-of-the-line package which has 185 channels.

Both services also have movie channels, sports packages, foreign language programming, adult programming, HDTV packages, and pay-per-view channels.

Bottom Line

When it comes to which satellite TV system is the best, it's six-of-one, a half-dozen-of the other. Both systems are state-of-the-art and have enough features to please even the most fanatical electronics buff.

But when it comes to additional features such as DVR and HD receivers, or different dishes to accommodate HD receivers and specialized TV channels, price differences can be significant.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV.

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on satellite TV systems.

Free Satellite TV -- Is It Really Free?

You've seen the online and offline ads advertising "Free satellite TV!"

You've seen the online and offline ads advertising "Free satellite TV!"

But is satellite TV really free? This article answers that question.

You've seen the online and offline ads -- "Free satellite TV!" "Get a 4-room Satellite TV System Free!" and "Satellite TV Dish and Receivers Absolutely Free!"

But is satellite TV really free?

The answer to that question is yes ... and no.

Yes, the equipment you get -- the satellite TV dish and satellite TV receiver -- is free. But no, the programming service will cost you money.

Let's examine the facts.

Due to the demise of Pegasus and Voom, there are only two major satellite TV providers in the USA -- Dish Network and DirecTV.

Dish Network Satellite TV Service

When you order a free satellite TV system from Dish Network, you will be asked to pay a $49.99 activation fee. This fee will be credited to your programming bill, so in essence, your satellite TV system is free. Installation of your satellite TV system is also free.

With Dish Network you have the option to upgrade to a DVR (digital video recording) receiver, or an HDTV (high definition TV) receiver at no charge.

Dish Network programming starts at $31.99 per month for 60 program channels, and goes up to $86.00 for 230 channels including Showtime, Starz!, HBO, Cinemax, and Sirius radio.

Dish Network offers more movies, shows, and HDTV than cable or DirecTV, and with one of their free DVR receivers you can record, pause, and fast forward live TV with a click of your remote. All Dish Network programs are broadcast in digital format for crystal-clear picture and sound.

DirecTV Satellite TV Service

Depending on your credit rating, when you order a free satellite TV system from DirecTV you may be required to pay a deposit or prepayment. Because the deposit is refunded to you and the prepayment goes toward your programming fees, the DirecTV satellite dish and receivers are free. Installation is also free.

If you want a DVR receiver you will be charged an additional $49.99. The charge for HDTV receivers is $299.99.

DirecTV programming packages start at $41.99 per month for 115 channels (including 31 music channels), and go up to $93.99 per month for 185 program channels, including Showtime, Starz!, HBO, Cinemax, and 31 music channels.

DirecTV offers more sports programs than you can get with cable or Dish Network, including the popular NFL Sunday Ticket, and is broadcast in all-digital format.

The Bottom Line

Both Dish Network and DirecTV's basic satellite TV dishes and receivers are free ... but the service will cost you anywhere from $32 to $94 a month.

So if you watch just a few television programs a week and have access to over-the-air TV, or if you have cable TV and are happy with your service, then satellite TV probably isn't for you.

If, on the other hand, TV is one of your primary forms of entertainment and you want the biggest variety of shows, movies, sports, and new -- or if your cable bill is beginning to equal your mortgage payment -- then satellite TV may be just the ticket.

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on free satellite TV systems. Click the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service.