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Satellite is often considered one of the biggest improvements in broadcasting since the introduction of the FM band. Satellite radio is also called subscription radio or pay-radio because it is only available trough subscription to one of the satellite radio providing companies.

Satellite follows a concept similar to cable television by providing a very wide range of programs which are not available in the traditional FM or AM format for a fee.

Satellite uses satellites to deliver radio programs to subscribers. The radio signal is broadcasted from Earth based stations to communicational satellites, which then redirect the signal to satellite radio receivers. The radio signal is broadcasted by communication satellites to a much larger area than traditional terrestrial radio antennas.

For example, satellite is available al across the continental area of the United States. Satellite radio is available now in most parts of the world trough services provided by companies like WorldSpace (in Europe, Asia and Africa), Sirius and XM Radio (in North America).

The signal you receive using satellite radio is digital, which means that it is always clear and static-free, which is one of the great advantages of satellite radio. Another great thing about satellite is that it is almost completely commercial-free.

To begin listening to satellite radio you will need the actual satellite (also known as tuner or receiver), a satellite antenna (which is often incorporated in the satellite radio) and a subscription to the service you choose. There are several types of satellite from which you can choose.

One of them is the dedicated car or home radio, which play trough your car or home stereo. A second option is the plug-and-play radio, which can be used in your car, as well as in your home by paying a single subscription. Your third option is the portable radio, which has rechargeable battery, a built-in antenna and you can listen to it wherever you go using headphones.

The signals offered by different satellite radio companies are proprietary, which means that you will need different hardware for receiving, decoding and playback, depending on your subscription. Each satellite receiver has its own serial number called Radio ID.

When you get your subscription, you will also get an activation code for your receiver. Besides the actual radio programs, satellite transmits metadata that contains the name of the artist, the title of the song or program, as well as the name of the channel. This makes it easier for you to decide which channel to listen to and which program to choose.

Satellite radio services provide the subscriber with more than 100 programs that vary in content from rock and jazz to rap and classical music. But satellite utility reaches far beyond listening to your favorite music without the interruption of those annoying commercials.

Satellite also offers exclusive sports programs, cultural and educational shows, news and talk-shows. Some of the celebrities that have moved their shows from free radio to satellite radio include Howard Stern, Opie and Anthony, Bob Edwards and Martha Stewart. Unlike terrestrial radio, satellite is not affected by bad weather or even calamities.

At first, many people wondered why they should pay for radio if they can get it free. However, satellite radio attracts more and more people every year due to its great advantages: no commercials, extensive reach, theme programs and exceptional quality of sound.

http://www.danielmillions.com
Daniel Millions

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 can be pointed at a fixed location, and the satellite will 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 huge 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 unwanted 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 may 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 can serve only one television or computer; multiple receivers must be purchased to provide 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 (VOD) channels.

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

Troy Degarnham is the author and webmaster of http://www.directv-direct-tv.info, an informative website about Direct TV. Extensive help on Directv receivers, DVR, Channels, Internet, Packages, Installation and High Definition TV can be found here - http://www.directv-direct-tv.info

If you’re like me, I can’t seem to do anything just one thing at a time. I have to be able to do multiple things all the time and that includes watching sports events. Watching one sports event at a time just doesn’t work for me, I want to watch multiple sports events and Satellite Sports TV with the right TV makes it easy.

Using either a split screen picture, picture-in-picture (PIP), or multiple televisions you can watch several sports events at the same time. In the world of sports, this is really great because you can watch different sports events at the same time and then be able to switch between the sports events to watch the one with the action at the moment.

Today watching several sports events at the same time is a very simple process. To setup your own sports theater, you need a satellite TV receiver with multiple sports channels and a TV setup to display multiple sports channels. Satellite TV Sports allow you to have multiple sports programs on the same TV or separate TV’s at the same time.

If you want more than two sports programs at once, Sports Satellite TV also has packages where you can add additional TV’s, up to four per dish, onto one satellite system. This means you can be watching four different sports programs at once. Being able to watch four sports events continuously can really make you a sports authority. Being a sports authority means you can talk sports with anybody and having seen the sports event you will know what is actually happening.

Without a huge amount of money, you can watch up to four sports programs at the same time and do it within a reasonable budget. There are several different ways you can watch multiple sports programs.

One is using several TV’s and the correct satellite TV receiver to watch two to four sports channels at the same time. Satellite TV providers have receivers that will do either two TV’s or split screen of two channels on the same TV. Using this kind of satellite receiver, you can use a big screen TV to do side-by-side split screen or use multiple smaller TV’s to watch different receiver channels at the same time.

So, if you really want to be “The Sports Authority” and get all the sports events that you can handle, then going with satellite and multiple TV images is really the way to go. The two main things to look at are the TV’s and satellite TV receiver being used. Dish network provides several options including a high-definition DVR system that allows you to do split-screen automatically from the unit itself. This means using your existing TV, you can watch different sports events right on the screen at the same time.

If you want to have more sports, you can use separate receivers and multiple TV’s to get up to four sports events from one satellite dish. TV’s like the Mitsubishi 65 inch big-screen allow you to have split screen right on the television in a native mode. This means you can have multiple satellite inputs viewed on two screens and switch between sports events on the two sides. By setting up favorites on your satellite remote, you can then quickly flip between different sports events on each one of the split-screen sides.

To get even more events you can either add additional TV’s or get a different kind of TV that handles what is known as picture-in-picture. This will allow you to have multiple sports events on the screen at the same time. These TV’s tend to cost a bit more money and some models are a little problematic. So be careful with which TV’s you select for this particular methodology, but it can be great for watching multiple sports events.

The lesser expensive method is to simply pick up some low-end TV’s to use as side monitors and have your main television showing the sports program you want to watch at the moment. Use the side TV’s to monitor other sports programs on different receivers and switch to the sports event with action on the main TV when you see it happening on one of the monitors.

Using satellite TV receivers and a few TV’s, you can have a home Sports Theater that will make you “The Sports Authority”. So put your Sports Theater together now and start having those sports parties with all your friends.

Click the following link to get a free diagram showing how to configure a Satellite TV Sports Theater http://www.justaboutsatellite.com/satellite-tv-dish-network-101.php

The date has been set for the first Digital TV switchover in the UK. The analogue TV signal will be turned off from 17 October in Whitehaven area of western Cumbria. First to go will be BBC2 before being followed by the remaining analogue channels on November 14. The move means that the 25,000 residents of Whitehaven will have to switch to Digital TV by those dates in order to keep receiving TV.

In order to receive Digital TV people will need to purchase a Freeview set-top box or subscribe to satellite, cable or broadband TV in order to keep viewing TV. New equipment, installation and support will be given to people over 75, those with significant disabilities and the blind. The assistance will cost 40 pounds, or will be free for eligible people who are also on pension credit, job seeker’s allowance or income support.

Letters are being sent to everyone in the area explaining how the Digital TV switchover will work and what they need to do to keep viewing TV. On screen messages will also appear on analogue channels from May warning viewers that the analogue signal will be turned off in the next few months.

The Digital TV switchover will then be carried out region by region, with the rest of the Borders the next to have its analogue signal switched off, beginning at the end of 2008. By the end of 2012 the analogue signal will have been turned off across the whole of the country meaning everyone must have switched over to Digital TV in order to keep viewing TV.

Broadcasting minister Shaun Woodward said: “We’ve been fully engaged with preparing Whitehaven for a long time and it will - I underline that - be a success. Nobody in Whitehaven will be left behind because it is critical everybody understands it is happening.”

However, concerns have been raised as only 27% of households in the affected area, almost 7,000 homes, have yet to switch to digital. This is largely because Whitehaven cannot yet receive Freeview and so satellite has been the only option for residents.

There have also been concerns that many people, particularly pensioners, do not know enough about the Digital TV switchover and that more needs to be done for them. Age Concern’s director general Gordon Lishman said: “We will continue to champion the need for additional support for all older people who need it, not just the over 75s, and for a range of technology to be made available through the scheme. Measures must also be put in place so that vulnerable people are not exploited by rogue traders during the switchover.”

Guide to TV discusses television options for residential customers, primarily for the UK market. Find out more about getting the best option for your home at http://www.guide-to-tv.com

Digital TV is a means of transmitting picture and sound to your TV set. It is done by converting the pictures and sound into computerised bits of information and compressing it, then transmitting it from as transmitter to your aerial. The signal is then converted back into pictures and sound by your TV using a decoder. Digital TV provides the potential for hundreds of channels and services via a TV. This is because the digital signal is compressed, meaning it takes up less space in the airwaves, unlike the analogue system.

Where as the old analogue system could only provide 5 channels, on digital you can potentially have access to hundreds of channels, as well as extras like a 7-day programme guide and interactivity. The main benefit of Digital TV is the increase in picture quality; digital signals produce a much better picture and higher quality sound. Ghosting images and crackling pictures are a thing of the past, and the best bit is its available to almost everyone.

In order to receive Digital TV on your television you will have to replace or adapt it (unless you have a recently purchased TV). Some brand new TVs come featuring integrated digital Freeview (IDTV), which means they are able to display Digital signals without the use of a separate box. If your TV doesnt have this feature then you will need to attach a set top box to any TVs you wish to adapt using a SCART lead.

Set Top boxes vary in costs depending on the service you require. Non subscription services such as Freeview require a one off payment to purchase the equipment in order to receive more than 30 free channels and other features. Subscription services vary in cost depending on the level you wish to subscribe to, Top up TV provides limited additional channels for a small charge which can paid flexibly each month. Others such as SKY and NTL can provide a much wider selection of services but the charges are much greater and often require a 12 month subscription.

The Digital Switchover is the process by which all television in the UK switches to a digital signal. Analogue signals are inferior to their Digital counterparts and as a result are going to be phased out. In order to make sure that everyone in the UK can receive a digital signal it has to be available for free everywhere. Presently this is possible in only 74% of UK homes, in order for the rest of the country to receive digital signals the existing analogue signal must be switched off.

After switchover at least 98.5% of people will be able to receive digital TV via an aerial. The switchover will begin in 2008 and end in 2012, and will happen one region at a time. In order to make sure that you’re ready for the switchover you will need to make sure your TV can receive and process digital signals, either via an integrated tuner or set top box.

Chris is a former TV salesman with a passion for technology. Confused about HDTVs and the Digital Era? For more information, Reviews and great deals on LCD and Plasma TV’s check out http://www.which-hdtv.co.uk

Satellite TV packages are a collection of television channels that you purchase for a flat monthly fee from a direct broadcast satellite provider. The two main providers in the United States, Dish Network and Direct TV, provide a variety of package to meet the needs of varied households.

Both offer several different packages. The simplest is the “family package”, which provides local programming, plus a limited number of cable network channels. The selection is focused on wholesome, family-friendly programming. These packages don’t offer a great number of sports or lifestyle channels, but do have enough variety of programming to satisfy the average family’s basic television needs.

Next are the tier packages, with increasing numbers of channels for an increasing flat monthly price: Dish Network offers packages with 60, 120, and 180 channels, plus an “Everything Pak”, while DirecTV’s packages have 155, 185 and 250, plus a “Titanium” everything-included package. On top of that, both allow you to add your choice of premium movie channels: HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz.

Packages aimed at family viewing are the least expensive, while premium “everything-included” satellite television packages promise and deliver platinum service with something for everyone. HDTV, satellite radio, video-on-demand, and pay-per-view are just a few of the extra goodies available.

Both services include dozens of satellite radio channels, in addition to the video channels: Dish Network provides programming from Sirius Satellite Radio, while DirecTV provides XM Satellite Radio.

In addition to the standard satellite TV and radio channels that the consumer gets with their monthly subscription, both providers offer certain movies as video-on-demand (VOD) selections. This means you don’t have to wait until the movie you want to watch is ready to start- frustrating even when the movie is being played multiple times a day on a premium network- you just go to your VOD channel, select the movie you want and press “play” when you’re ready to begin.

Dish Network and DirecTV also provide pay-per-view channels that allow you to spend a few extra dollars to view first-run movies, or special events like major boxing matches or broadcast rock concerts.

Dish Network’s packages are a less expensive, but contain fewer standard channels, although they have a greater selection of high definition channels. It remains to be seen whether DirecTV’s customers will continue to consider the wide selection of channels and the noted customer service to be worth the higher price.

Troy Degarnham is the author and webmaster of http://www.directv-direct-tv.info, an informative website about Direct TV. Extensive help and comparisons on receivers, DVR, Channels, Internet, Packages, and HDTV.

A computer is one heck of a tool for working on. It can launch ships. Run incredibly complicated calculations and it can even help organize almost endless amounts of data. But, where a computer at home really shines is in the fact it’s one heck of an entertainment device. Now, as the power of the computer is tapped into more readily, the PC TV is stepping forward to offer new entertainment solutions.

The PC TV offers some advantages over regular television that were previously only imagined. These advantages include such things as:

* On-demand capabilities. A Personal computer TV that’s hooked into a good service for finding and playing different shows can give users almost unlimited abilities to watch shows when they want and how they want. Rather than having to wait for a set time, a PC TV can locate a program on different stations and play it when users are ready to view. Depending on the services chosen, the video ability can be downloaded, streaming or both.

* Selection. Most personal computer television programs on the computer give their users a level of selection that covers more channels than most people even knew existed. Depending on the service that’s used to create a PC TV set up, stations can be piped directly onto a computer from anywhere in the world or shows can be chosen for download.

* Pricing. The actual fees involved in computer TV service are a lot less than most people would think. Depending on the program in question, a set up that’s reliable can cost as little as a one-time fee. Other services might charge by the month or year, but overall the selection versus the price of regular cable pretty much defies comparison.

* Reliability. As computer TV set ups become more widely accepted and embraced by television companies, Internet providers and computer users themselves, the reliability and quality is getting better and better.

As PC Television services moves forward in complexity, the set ups behind these systems are becoming better. More companies are starting to introduce services that enable a wireless link between regular computers and larger screen televisions. This means fans can download or stream their favorite shows on their computer, send them to wireless boxes and watch the actual shows on their television sets.

Technological advances in computer television seem to be growing in leaps and bounds every day. The biggest upcoming trend involves the ability to use a PC Television setup and pipe signals to any portable device that’s hooked into a homeowner’s network. This means a show can be sent from a PC to a portable device or any television in a home at the flick of a switch or darn near close to it.

Computer TV wasn’t much to look at a few years ago, but as online viewing gains in popularity and demand, the programming options for viewers are becoming incredible. Viewers who choose to go this route can watch what they want, when they want it almost without exception thanks to today’s technology.

Explore today’s best options for PC TV technology

http://www.tvshowdirect.com

Virgin Media (VM) has taken Sky to court in the latest step in the ongoing public row between the two companies.

Sky and Virgin Media fell out at the beginning of March over the price to be charged for the carriage of the Sky Basic Channels by the cable TV provider. The two sides failed to reach an agreement before the previous contract expired and as a result VM customers lost the Sky Basic Channels, including Sky One, Sky News and Sky Sports News.

The very public fall-out and subsequent channel loss led to customers of Virgin Media both criticising and supporting their own digital TV provider. Some of those who ended up disappointed at losing such channels immediately cancelled their contracts and switched to Sky, whilst others who showed their loyalty to VM were rewarded with discounted contracts and extra services.

However, despite no agreement being reached between the two companies, Virgin Media threatened to take Sky to the High Court to resolve the row and now has done so claiming Sky was abusing its dominant market position. Sky has denied doing so and has said that the action was “without foundation” and called on Virgin to resume negotiations. VM claims that Sky tried to double its prices for the Basic Sky Channels. However, Sky says the increase would have cost VM just 3 pence per customer per day.

It is not just the price of the Sky Channels which is being challenged. Virgin Media is also challenging the rates imposed by Sky for carrying Virgin’s TV channels. It is believed that Sky recently renegotiated the price it would pay for carrying channels such as LivingTV, Challenge and Bravo, before it announced that the price for its own channels to VM would be rising. Virgin Media is hoping that it will be able to get the Sky Channels at a lower price than is being asked for and at the same time increase the price it charges Sky for its own channels to bring them more in line with current market trends.

Virgin Media brought the action under the UK Competition Act 1998 and Article 82 of the EC Treaty.

“Sky, which accounts for almost 70% of the country’s pay TV subscribers, is dominant in the UK Pay TV market and has engaged in a strategy to stifle competition by using its dominance against Virgin Media,” the company said in a statement.

Sky denied the claims and its chief operating officer Mike Darcey said that they had invited VM to return to the negotiating table and that the services Sky was offering for the higher fee would have meant a “bigger and better choice” for customers. Sky say that along with the Sky Basic Channels they had offered to include Sky Three and Sky Arts along with On Demand and High Definition services to VM customers for the increased fee.

“Virgin Media is saving money as a result of this dispute but it hasn’t reduced prices. Millions of customers have lost access to the shows they enjoy and it is clear that many resent paying full prices for fewer channels,” Mr Darcy added.

The case is ongoing.

Guide to TV discusses television options for residential customers, primarily for the UK market. Find out more about getting the best option for your home at http://www.guide-to-tv.com

On the surface, the two big satellite television companies, DirecTV and Dish Network look a lot alike. And in many ways they really are similar. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t great reasons for choosing one company over the other.

The biggest factor overall will probably be the package selections. When it comes right down to it, you want to receive the channels you want to watch, and if one company offers them and the other doesn’t that’s the way you should go.

This can be challenging, however. Sometimes each company will have slightly different channels, and what you would want most is a mixture of the two. In that case you will have to decide based on other factors.

For example, if you love sports, can’t get enough, Dish Network has some great sports packages. But DirecTV offers more basic packages, which gives you greater flexibility on the basics you may want.

Equipment and equipment cost can be a big factor too. It’s not that hard to find offers where you get at least some of your satellite television equipment free. But as a general rule, Dish Network offers more free equipment than DirecTV.

One factor that can be hard to figure out without actually checking with the companies is what exactly is offered in your area. Most areas have local channels available, although you may have to pay an additional fee for these. Available sports channels also vary by location.

Both companies of course offer a variety of addons, such as movie channels, the aforementioned sports channels, and HDTV. If these are the packages you want, their exact composition could be the deciding factor for you.

At the time you are searching, it never hurts to check for ongoing offers. This is especially nice when you come to the conclusion that it doesn’t much matter to you which you get, such as when the offers for your needs are much the same. But don’t make a decision you will regret just to save a little at the start. You want to be happy with your decision.

The differences between these two companies are slight in many ways, but they can be important when it comes down to your overall satisfaction with your satellite television service. Don’t compromise on your overall satisfaction just to save a few dollars; pick the company that closest meets your needs. There are few frustrations like that of not being able to watch something you love because you don’t get the right channel.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.comparesatellite.info/ to allow people to take a good look at which satellite television is right for them. Visit http://www.comparesatellite.info/compare-satellite.php to compare satellite television services.

You see all the comparisons on TV or online. Cable’s better. Satellite’s better. Which is it?

Some of that depends on what you need. Are you after the best channel selection, the best reception, the best combination of the two? Do you want high speed internet? How fast? Do you want to combine all your services into a single package or is getting bills from multiple companies just fine.

Which one works best for you depends on where you live too. Different areas will get different cable packages. Many channels will be available nationwide, of course, just as your local channels will generally only be available locally. These days you should easily be able to get your local channels on both cable and satellite, so this is rarely a consideration.

Your need for digital reception and/or HDTV also matters. If you want these features, take a look at what you can get with the companies you are considering.

The number of televisions you want to watch shows on makes a difference too. This often increases with satellite television, but may not with cable. However, if you get digital or HDTV service you may need more receivers even with cable.

Your local cable company may or may not offer high speed internet access. However, if it is offered it is likely to be faster than satellite broadband service.

You can even get your telephone service combined into what you order. Combining your services can save you quite a bit of money, so it can be very worthwhile.

Satellite TV can on occasion have reception problems If your satellite dish is set up correctly this problem should be minimal, even in poor weather.

Don’t assume that because you’re renting you can’t have a satellite dish installed. Also don’t assume that your homeowner’s association when you own a home can tell you no satellite dishes. In either case, they are not allowed to tell you that you can’t have a satellite dish. In the particular case of renting, the one requirement is that you have an appropriate, exclusive use area, such as a deck or patio, on which the dish can be installed.

I can’t tell you for certain which is the best solution for you. The best thing you can do is compare the companies and consider your particular needs. The solution will depend on your own preferences. Take the time to do your research, particularly in the matter of how much it will really cost you.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.comparesatellite.info/ and keeps an eye on the differences between the two kinds of service. You can compare them yourself at http://www.comparesatellite.info/satellite-cable.php