Television programming is distributed via a Satellite that is 22,300 miles in space.  Satellite television satellites are in a geosynchronous orbit that exactly matches the speed that the Earth spins.

A satellite dish receives signals along with a settop box (satellite receiver). In the US, DishNet and DirecTV are the two major companies offering a subscription service. Both offer an extensive selection of channels and services to view high definition television.   (HDTV)

There are several components that are used to receive and watch Satellite TV.

• A Satellite Antenna is a parabolic shaped dish with a feed horn and Low-Noise Block (LNB) attached to it that collects the TV broadcasts from the satellite and passes via a cable line to the receiver in your home.

• A Satellite Receiver receives the signals from the dish, descrambles and outputs the signal to your TV

• A Satellite Remote Control is a hand held device that controls the satellite receiver as well as volume and channel functions and power on a HDTV

• A Satellite Amplifier improves performance from your satellite by boosting the satellite signal when coaxial cable in between the dish and settop box is greater than 150 feet or when connecting multiple settop boxes

• A Multiswitch Connector connects to the satellite dish antenna to distribute satellite TV signals to typically more than 4 receivers.

• A Splitter Connector splits the satellite signal before connecting to one or more multiswitches to send the satellite signal to multiple satellite receivers (settop boxes)

With so many advances in technology, satellite dishes are now very small and don’t require any adjustments by the subscriber.  Now, satellites are fixed in a geosynchronous orbit, which means they move with the Earth and are fixed in a certain part of the sky. As long as your satellite dish stays in the alignment your installer set up (facing the southern sky), you will get a clear, consistent signal.

*Photo Courtesy of the-pc-satellite-tv.com