Tag Archive 'direct tv technology'

May 12 2009

How Do Direct TV Satellite Technology Work?

Published by Jim under Direct TV

First of all, unlike earlier satellite communications which relied on a motorized dish to chase the mobile satellites across the sky, modern satellites are placed into a geosynchronous orbit about 37,000 km (22,300 miles) up. This means that they always remain above the same point on the earth’s surface. That way, all dishes on the earth could be pointed at a fixed location, and the satellite would always be there.

The signal to be broadcast originates at an “uplink center”, which collects nationwide programming from cable television networks and local programming from broadcast networks and encrypts it so that the programming cannot be intercepted by non-paying users. The uplink facility uses a large dish, 9 to 12 meters (or 30 to 40 feet) wide, to accurately send a high-strength signal to the orbiting satellite.

The satellite, in turn, converts the signal to a different microwave frequency band, so that the downlink doesn’t cause interference with the uplink. The two most common frequencies used in United States satellite TV broadcasts are the “C-band” (4 to 6 GHz) and the “Ku band” (12 to 18 GHz).

After traveling more than 50,000 miles, and being converted in between, the signal that arrives at the receiving dish on the outside of the consumer’s home is fairly weak. It is focused by a bowl-shaped parabolic dish onto a device in the center called a “feed horn”, which channels the signal to a “low-noise block downconverter” (LNB) which filters out unpreferred interference, and sometimes converts it to yet another frequency before amplifying it and sending it to the satellite receiver box inside the house through a coaxial cable.

The satellite receiver box converts the signal to an analog television, audio or data signal. The receiver might be equipped to decrypt the coded signal itself, or it may require a separate box or a “smart card” plug-in (either to the receiver box or to the television to perform the decoding. A single receiver could serve only one television or computer; multiple receivers must be purchased to offer signal to multiple devices, including watching one channel and recording on another.

Many receivers also include integrated digital video recorders (DVR), allowing them to rewind and pause live television, and to record and store their favorite shows on a built-in hard drive. There are also increasing numbers of high-definition television (HDTV) satellite receivers and DVRs available.

Newer technologies being integrated into the system include pay-per-view functionality, interactive television channels, and video-on-demand (COD) channels.

The competition for between satellite TV providers, and between satellite and cable providers, is quite fierce. The advantages of being the first to offer new features are driving the pace of invention among satellite technology providers, so we could expect to see much more breakthroughs in the near future.

No responses yet

May 08 2009

Dish Network Versus Direct TV - Same Great Technology

Published by Jim under Dish Network

Anyone who’s paid attention to the rise of satellite TV over the past decade and a half knows that DirecTV and Dish Network are strong companies, but considering all of the similarities between the two, it could be extremely difficult to decide which one to acquire a subscription from. After all, both companies offer many of the same channels, they both offer programming packages of alike sizes, and both have the same great technologies like digital TV and digital video recording (DVR).

When you dig a little bit deeper into the information about the two companies though, you see that there are some pretty substantial differences between what they offer. Perhaps the biggest difference is the fact that, while they both offer High Definition TV channels, Dish Network offers a lot more of them. In many ways, satellite TV is the perfect technology for delivering HDTV to a large number of people. That’s because satellite technology doesn’t have the same kind of bandwidth limitations as cable TV technology and it makes programming available over a much larger geographic area than over the air terrestrial TV broadcasting. Because of these technological advantages, you would think that a satellite TV company would be really aggressive when it comes to translating them into a real advantage over the competition- especially when it comes to delivering a data intensive TV format like HDTV. Despite that though, at Direct TV’s eleven national HDTV channels, DirecTV Satellite TV still offers less HDTV programming than many cable TV providers. Dish Network, on the other hand offers thirty one national HDTV channels. This definitely speaks well for how well the company embraces new technology when it comes to serving its customers.

In addition to differences in how both companies offer High Definition Television, there are also much more subtle differences. For example, while both companies offer Locals Package in their programming packages, Direct TV includes them in every programming package, while Dish Network offers them as optional channels. There are numerous advantages to acquiring local channels over a satellite TV signal rather than over the air. For example, all of the channels would come in with the incredible clarity of picture and sound that are hallmarks of digital TV and impossible with analog TV. A satellite transmission also makes it possible to acquire local channels in areas where it’s impossible to receive over the air transmissions of the same channels- no matter how big the antenna is. While having local channels as part of your satellite TV package is convenient in many ways, it’s also nice to have the option of saving a little bit of money either by forgoing them completely or setting up an antenna to acquire them over the air if you live close enough to the TV station. hence, purely in terms of flexibility, being able to subscribe to them separately might be the better option when it comes to how you acquire local channels.

Of course there are also differences when it comes to which channels are offered in which programming packages. Because of this it might be possible to acquire the channels that you prefer from one satellite TV company more cheaply than you could from the other. For example, if all of the channels that you prefer are in one programming package from one company, but you’d have to upgrade to a significantly larger programming package in order to acquire all of the channels that you prefer from the second company, you would probably save money by going with the first company. This would even be true if the first company happens to be more expensive overall than the second company. In general though, Dish Network programming packages tend to be smaller and hence cheaper than the equivalent Direct TV packages.

Either way, you are sure to acquire great service from either company. It’s time to threw of Cable TV. Switch now.

No responses yet

Apr 02 2009

Latest Technology Of Direct TV

Published by Jim under Direct TV

Many television service providers claim to be the best, but only Direct TV has the great combination of television programming, cutting edge technology, and superior customer service to back it up.

The programming is what everyone notices first because it’s really what everyone prefers, and Direct TV in could offer more of it than any other television service providers. There are over eight hundred channels available that are divided up into a plethora of programming packages. A wide variety of programming packages are available so that anyone could check one that would suit her or his needs.

Once a subscriber checks a programming package that fits the needs of his or her family, that programming package could be further customized by adding optional channels. For example if someone prefers to turn her or his home entertainment system into a home theater with the use of high definition television, he or she could acquire a variety of high definition television (HDTV) channels from Direct TV . There are twenty total high definition television (HDTV) channels to choose from that span a wide range of programming. While movies and sports are the obvious options for what to watch in high def, you could also acquire a variety of programming including dramas, documentaries, special events, and reruns from HDNet. You could also acquire a lot of mainstream major network programming in high def by subscribing to FOX HDTV, NBC HDTV, ABC HDTV, or CBS HDTV. You could also acquire additional channels from Direct TV that offer foreign language programming and adult programming.

Of course the actual programming packages that Direct TV offers are impressive even on their own. For example, DirecTV Total option offers over one hundred and fifty five channels which makes it the biggest entry level programming package available anywhere. DirecTV Total option Plus brings the total number of channels offered up above one hundred and eighty five, and DirecTV Total option Premier adds a variety of sports channels and movie packages from HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and Starz! for a total of over two hundred and fifty channels.

Another way that Direct TV Satellite allows you to acquire exactly what you prefer from your programming package is by letting you add your option of the movie packages to Total option or Total option Plus. The sports channels that are added to Total option Plus to make Total option Premier are also available for addition to another package in the form of Direct TV’s Sports Pack. These options give you a tremendous amount of flexibility when it comes to what you acquire with your programming package.

Direct TV ’s technology also makes it a superior satellite TV service. For example, every channel features one hundred percent digital television programming which offers excellent picture and sound quality. Lots of user friendly software comes with every subscription and makes managing hundreds of channels a breeze.

With great programming and superior technology, it’s no wonder that Direct TV in has attracted a following of so many loyal subscribers. The current DirecTV Offers are are superior to anything offered by Dish Network or any of the Cable TV providers. Start Now. Switch to the best home entertainment value. Join all the other happy DirecTV Satellite customers.

No responses yet

DIRECTV