As you are reading this article I can assume you still use cable television with… let me guess – 50 channels? 100 channels? With satellite television you can have access to EVERY channel worldwide for a fair price. One in ten houses use satellite television and the ratio is expected to increase substantially, even double in the next years.

How does it work?
Instead of receiving the signal through miles of cable from somewhere in your town you will get it through a small satellite dish installed in your yard or attached to your apartment exterior wall.

Why satellite television?
Besides the hundreds of channels you can get access to, you will have a much more easier way to zap the channels, see the TV schedule, parental control and much more depending on your provider’s offer. There are a few downsides however: the price is higher compared to cable television and you may have to pay extra to get the local channels (?!). Overall the advantages clearly outrun the downsides.

You can get other services through your satellite dish such as broadband internet and the option of receiving the TV signal in High Definition (HDTV). Also you can pay a monthly charge for parental control on certain channels. Many accessories and services are added constantly so check for the best offer.

The hardware
The eyes and ears of the system is the satellite dish. Usually you can buy it from the provider and you may even get it for free – it mainly depends on the package you choose.
The receiver transforms the raw signal from the dish to something your TV will understand. Most companies will give you for free the first receiver or cheap at least. The bad news is that by using satellite television you will need one receiver for each TV in your house. There is no problem for them to give you more than one receiver but you will have to pay for the extra ones. Make sure your dish knows how to send the signal to multiple receivers.

Install the hardware
IF you buy an expensive enough package you will most likely get free installation or you can pay someone to do this for you. If you feel confident enough in your abilities you can install it yourself.

Mount the dish somewhere outside. The general perception is that it has to be mounted on the roof but you can as well place it on the ground, just make sure it has a clear view to the direction of the satellite. Also, you may consider putting it in a place away from strong rain and wind which can scramble your signal sometimes.

Point the dish using the correct elevation and azimuth. These you can easily get from your provider either by phone or on their website. If you fallow the steps correctly it will take you more to spell “satellite television” than to set up the dish.

Connect the dish to the receiver with a special cable. This shouldn’t be difficult if you have minimum electronics knowledge. If not, hire someone to do this for you or ask a friend who knows how to do it right. Set up your TV according to the instructions and enjoy the hundreds of channels you have one touch of a button away.

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