Satellite 101
In America, there are more than 20 million satellite TV subscribers. Approximately 4 million additional customers are project to subscribe for satellite in the coming months. Satellite subscribers are not limited to homeowners alone. Businesses, airlines, airports, and even the US Congress have learned the benefits of satellite TV. All subscribers have found that satellite TV offers a reliable means of attaining a wide variety of programming at a low-cost.

Obviously, the expensive cost of launching and operating a fleet of satellites limits the number of satellite TV providers. Currently, only three providers in the United States offer satellite service: DIRECTV, Dish Network, and VOOM. Dish and DIRECTV have been in business the longest. Both companies offer the best selection of channels. VOOM began operation in 2003. Numerous high definition (HDTV) channels is the marketing niche of VOOM.

For the channel surfer enthusiast, the value of satellite TV is found in its great selection of channels and little-to-no start-up cost.

How Satellite TV Works
In order for satellite TV programming to reach its 20 million+ subscribers' homes, it is housed at a satellite uplink station. DIRECTV, Dish Network and VOOM all operate their own satellite uplink stations. Uplink stations perform two roles.

First, programming is received from affiliated networks like HBO, or CNN. Because video programming stores massive data (like a huge file on a computer), the uplink stations must then compress the data so it can transmitted to a satellite. After the programming has been compressed, the station transmits the data to satellites orbiting high above the earth.

Once the satellites receive a transmission, the programming is relayed back to earth. Then the transmission is received by the satellite dish mounted at the subscriber’s home. Next, the dish amplifies the strength of the signal because it is weakened during its journey back from space. Thus, the satellite receiver on TV decodes the signal and transfers it back into sound and images. The end product is a crystal-clear digital image with sound.

About Satellites, Dishes, Receiver and the Remote
VOOM, Dish Network, and DIRECTV operate their own fleet of satellites. Currently, VOOM has one satellite. Dish Network operates nine satellites. Direct TV operates a fleet of four satellites. Satellites are positioned approximately 22,300 miles above the earth in geosynchronous orbit. In other words, instead of circling the earth, satellites follow the earth’s rotation. Consequently, satellites never change their position relative to the ground. As a result, after a dish is positioned at a satellite, it never has to be adjusted again.
In order to receive signals from a satellite, three pieces of equipment are needed:

• Satellite dish
• Receiver
• Remote control

(When you subscribe to satellite TV service, a satellite dish, receiver and remote control will be provided with the service).
Depending on the programming package, a satellite dish will be either a round 18" dish or an 18" x 20" oval dish. The receiver resembles a cross between a DVD player and a cable box. Normally, it resides on top the television.