The evolution of satellite television equipment
From huge “radar” style antennas parked in the center of a lawn or patio to the inconspicuous and incredibly efficient receiving antennas mounted on the roofs and exteriors of today’s homes, satellite equipment has evolved rapidly and dramatically. In fact, the entire industry has very quickly gone from being a technology enthusiast to a mass entertainment market.
Today’s satellite dishes receive clear signals and render perfect images from satellites orbiting the Earth. These signals originate from a variety of places, but components within a satellite television system interpret them into movie-quality pictures and sound.
The necessary elements of a modern satellite television system are the satellite dish and mount, the receiving unit, and the satellite signals broadcast by programming sources and distributed centers. Although this may seem a bit complex at first, the whole system is quite simple and well developed. The programming source is basically a national or local channel. Many people are familiar with traditional national channels and networks, and often look to satellite television specifically for the programs those channels offer. Many people also want to keep up with local news and programming and will also require reception of their local television channels. National channels provide a signal or broadcast directly to a programming center, while a local channel will rely on a fiber optic cable or antenna to send its own signals to a separate programming source, which then forwards them to the programming center.
A programming center is the hub for all programs to be received and transmitted to the various satellites used by the center. There are currently a staggering number of satellites for television programming. These units receive and send the signals from the programming centers, which are then received by millions of satellite dish systems in homes, offices, schools and businesses around the world.
The home equipment used by most satellite television customers consists of the satellite dish and receivers. Consumers can directly purchase all of their own equipment and set up service with a provider, or they can rent the equipment when they request service installation.
Today there is a seemingly limitless amount of programming packages and options for consumers to choose from, including national and local programming, high-quality music and radio shows, HD movies and networks, as well as many international and alternative programs. . In addition to traditional subscription packages, the industry has been able to create an incredible variety of “on-demand” or “pay-per-view” programming options. These can include movies currently playing in theaters, subscriptions to sporting events or entire seasons, special access to entertainment venues, adult entertainment features, and even some multiplayer gaming experiences.
Most satellite TV systems are integrated with a traditional home phone line, and this allows for a seamless flow of information between the provider and the owner, allowing for a host of interactive features and benefits.
With the availability of high-quality televisions, surround sound systems, and various recording devices, an investment in a satellite television system can eliminate the need to leave home for most family entertainment needs.