Satellite TV On Your PC - The 5 Facts You Should Know

There is a big buzz in the satellite television and entertainment arena at the moment, and that buzz is all about being able to watch free satellite TV on your PC, did you know that you can access this free satellite technology right from the convenience of your computer or laptop, and even record any of the shows and come back and watch them later? Not only that but you can easily connect the satellite TV on your PC signal to your plasma TV or entertainment Centre!
What hardware is required?
To watch satellite TV on your computer, you need either a PCTV card or Specific Satellite TV Software. There are two types of PC TV cards for internet satellite TV. One type has a built in processor that allows you to watch satellite TV on your PC in a designated window, while the PC continues to run other programs. Other PCTV cards use the PC's infrastructure to decode satellite signals, allowing you to enjoy free-to-air digital TV and radio. Both kinds of PCTV cards are compatible with broadband internet via satellite.
To watch satellite TV on your PC, you will need a relatively new computer. At worst, you'll need a Pentium II 333 MHz processor, and you will need to be running at least Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. For satellite TV on PC, you'll also need a sound card, a spare USB port and a CD-ROM drive.
How do I connect to a satellite network?
You can access PC satellite TV in a few ways. First, you can directly connect your PC to a satellite dish using a designated product, such as Hauppauge 3000, or directly through your internet cable. It's also possible to connect via the satellite box of your network provider. Several satellite TV companies recommend that you use their proprietary satellite TV receiver box when setting up satellite TV for PC.
One important factor you must be aware of when choosing a satellite TV for your PC provider, is that there are no free lunches! It seems nowadays everywhere we look people are advertising " free satellite TV on PC". But, is it really free? And in short the answer is yes and no! What I mean by that is that some PC satellite TV vendors to provide software that streams satellite TV over the Internet to your computer and gives you a selection of hundreds of channels. This software is not free, but he is very inexpensive and typically costs less than one months subscription fee to the likes of DirecTV. The best part is the top satellite TV on your PC vendors do not charge any monthly fees at all, and the very best providers offer regular free updates to their service.
What should I look out for?
Some other examples of where you may see " free PC satellite TV" advertised is where a company hacks into a satellite signal from a company such as DirecTV and steal their signal. This is highly illegal of course but many unsuspecting people are using these signals to watch free satellite TV on their PC. The problem is it is not free, the pirate companies that hack into these signals have to buy equipment to gain access to these satellite TV signals, and often require that you purchase and access card. The companies who own these satellite TV signals like DirecTV, often hit these cards and scramble the signals and the only way for you to regain your satellite TV feed is to have your card reprogrammed, which of course can get very expensive if that happens often.
Final Thoughts Satellite TV for PC is a great, straightforward way to access digital television, especially if you a computer geek with great screen and sound on your PC!

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Discover The Dirty Little Secrets About All Those Free Satellite TV Deals

Free satellite TV is considered one of the internet's biggest myths. There are several factors you should review and understand to avoid possible scams. You probably will encounter a few sites which are offering free satellite TV deals. There are also examples where some people are researching information about pirating signals for satellite TV reception.
Free satellite TV offers usually talk about giving you free equipment and a free setup that Dish Network and DirecTV traditionally provide. After the system's free installation, you will find that you're charged a monthly bill as payment for the minimum package on your new programming system. Long ago Dish Network and DirecTV offered 3 to 5 rooms of free equipment and free setup but that's long gone now.
Because of the numerous free satellite offers on the internet, you might accidentally believe some of the scammers since most of them have great sales copy pitching their deal. Most of these pirates claim they have programmed Dishnet cards or DTV enabling buyers to receive every channel. This is what free satellite TV normally means. But next, you'll discover they will charge you for reprogramming your access card whenever you run into a problem. You will then discover that you have to pay the setup and equipment all by yourself.
But if you dig a little deeper, you will learn that "free satellite TV" has never really existed. Police departments are doing considerable work to stop the stealing of satellite signals. Recently, they've raided several companies which provided equipment for pirating Dish Network and DirecTV satellite signals. In the end, this means that the all hassles and costs of stealing these signals will only increase.
Bottom line is that free satellite TV is not real. What's confusing though is that there are different conditions used in describing free satellite TV deals. First is when satellite signals are stolen by pirates. Second is when Dish Network and DirecTV legitimately advertise their free satellite TV deals. What they're really offering just pertains to the initial setup and equipment costs. Many will be shocked when you're charged a 30-dollar monthly fee for programming. And when you add more channels, the monthly costs also increases. However, satellite TV is far better compared to cable TV costs and quality of programming selections.
However, special equipment is utilized to obtain all stolen satellite channels for free; this is what the pirate's mean by free satellite TV which is obviously illegal. But the truth is that it is not really free at all. They are going to buy the dish, receiver, LNB, access card, and other peripherals for you. Then they look for the person who will install what they've called free satellite TV. And when you encounter a continuously messed up satellite signal, you will then be charged high costs (which in reality cover all the supposedly "no cost" equipment expenses they previously made on your "behalf") just for reprogramming your new satellite's access cards.
DirecTV regularly confuses these pirates satellite cards signals. Usually they are jumbling the pirate's satellite cards every Friday evening. Then there goes your supposedly free satellite TV. The person who originally installed your free satellite TV cards will charge you about 25-50 dollars monthly for all this. But then adding in the time for running the free satellite TV will actually cost you at least double that amount.
Other genuine satellite TV providers will mess up pirates satellite signals about 3 times each week. Soon you will end up talking to the person who initially installed your "free satellite TV". However, you'll find many of these individuals have simply left this illegal business just when you start having problems like endless and annoying TV viewing interruptions. You might have enjoyed free satellite TV for a couple of weeks but the rest of your days will be spent talking to the person in charge of installation over and over again.
So don't rush towards these supposedly "free" offers. Like the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

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Satellite Communication The Artificial Satellites Part 2

The first thought of an artificial satellite was to bring about a global communication facility. By that time, transatlantic telephone calls were quite established and telegraph broadcast, through under water cables, existed for the last 50 years. At about this time, a new thought came into the mind, the thought of broadcasting live television pictures. But greater amount of information were required on this technology, with its operation in a much higher frequency than the common radio broadcasts. The first ever radio broadcast was done at 1,020 Kilo Hz. Frequency is the measure of the number of times a signal repetition occurs in one second. If the signal completes one full cycle in one second, the measurement term for that signal is one Hertz, which, in short form, is 1Hz. Therefore, 1,020 Kilo Hz would mean that the signal completes 1,020,000 cycles in one second. As far as television is concerned, a much higher frequency was required to transmit pictures and such a typical transmission would need a frequency of 175 MHz. As a result, television could not be broadcasted with the frequency of that of a radio.
The frequency bands required for radio and television signal transmission can directly propagate from transmitter to receiver. The signal band is quite dependable and more or less limited the line of sight. Hence, you will find the television transmitting antenna is set up on a high tower, so the purpose of the line of sight to the receiving antenna is served. The radio signals, transmitted for thousands of miles, used the charged layer of the atmosphere (ionosphere) to bounce back to Earth. But higher frequencies did not bounce and disappeared into the atmosphere, in a relatively short space.
Therefore, as far as television frequency was concerned, it depended on absolute line of sight and restricted to 30 miles as the crow flies, or perhaps by co-axial cables across continents for live broadcasts. Transatlantic broadcasts were out of question and for example, news was delayed by 12 hours to reach Europe. The appetite for transatlantic radio entertainment and telephone was increasing rapidly. The demand for the new television medium could not take off with the existing communication facilities. The frequency requirement could not match the existing ones, which were simply not able to handle all of the requirements. Towards the end of 1950s, television transmission became hopeful with the newly developed artificial satellites.
In 1960, the first ever communication satellite was launched. It was the simplest kind and was called Echo. It consisted of a large, 1,000 feet diameter aluminised plastic balloon. Radio and television signals transmitted to this satellite would bounce back to Earth and would be received by the earth receiving stations at the line of sight principle.
Echo was launched at low Earth orbit and unfortunately at this orbit, Echo encircled the Earth every 90 minutes. Therefore, it was visible at any single point for only 10 minutes out of its 90 minutes orbital time. In 1958, Score satellite was launched, which carried a tape recorder and would record the transmitting signals, which would be played back when it passed over the destination. However, since it also had a 90 minute orbital time, no real-time communication could be achieved.
In 1962, NASA launched the Telstar satellite for AT&T. This satellite was launched at such a height that it could see Europe and USA simultaneously during one point of its orbit. Therefore, this satellite was able to provide real-time communication between two points for a few minutes during its orbital path.
Continuous real-time communication was not possible with low polar Earth orbital satellites. The solution to the problem was ofcourse use of geosynchronous orbit. In 1963, the rocket booster power to launch such a satellite became available and the first ever geosynchronous orbital satellite, Syncom 2, was launched by NASA. This had an orbital path which scanned the Earth's rotational speed and it stayed constantly visible through 24 hours, and it could view approximately 42% of the Earth's surface. A real-time communication became possible within that area and outside of this viewing area, no communication could be set up.
However, a system of three satellites was set up, where one satellite would relay the communication to the other, which would in turn, either relay it to the third or transmit the signal to the destination it was meant for. The disadvantage with the geosynchronous orbit is that, it took 1/4th of a second to transmit a signal to the satellite from Earth and receive back the signal again, The signal needs to travel 22,000 miles up, and down again by another 22,000 miles to complete the transmit and receive.
For data transmission, this signal delay was not so much significant, but with telephone communication, this delay was indeed annoying. Syncom 2 was put at a height of 22,000 miles above earth. The principle followed the cannon ball example, as illustrated in Part 1 of the article. After the success of Syncom 2, a spurt of launching such satellites took effect, especially with the success of geosynchronous satellite technology.
There are 100 satellites in geosynchronous orbit today out of 150 communication satellites that have been launched. One of the well known satellite development was Intelsat, launched by an internationally-owned corporation. This organisation has launched 8 different satellites of 4 or 5 of each series. The satellites have been launched in a period of 30 years. With such a satellite network, and with relaying signals from one satellite to other, it has been possible to handle large telephone traffic between any two points on the Earth. It was also possible to transmit live television pictures between any two virtual points on the Earth. By 1964, one could watch the Olympics from Tokyo, live. A few years later, live television broadcast became a reality.
Finally it arrived. A reliable toll quality voice communication was made available through satellite communication. Using the state-of-art technology, satellite application gives you the quickest reliable access to your corporate network or to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) system, disregarding where-ever you are. You just need to pick up your telephone receiver and get connected in seconds, no matter where you are calling from and where you are calling to. As for data communication, file transfers, E-mail, access to databases at a much higher speed is now conceivable, to and from any part of the world. With reliable security built-in in these systems, the signals are all digitally coded providing you with a very safe and secured communication. Today, distant learning has become the possibility with those satellites up in the sky.

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Satellite Communication - A General Discussion PART 1

By the terms of the dictionary, a satellite is an object which revolves around another object. For example, the Moon is a satellite of the Earth, and the Earth is one of the Sun. The phenomenon interested mankind to investigate more on this idea and experiment on man-made satellite en-circling the Earth. It was thought that if such a satellite was put in the space, communication could be set up from one part of the world to the other. A communication satellite orbits around the earth and in effect is an artificial satellite, stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunication. These satellites use the geosynchronous orbits, Molniya orbits or low polar Earth orbits.
A geosynchronous orbit is essentially a geocentric orbit, which takes the same time as the Earth to complete one orbit. If this satellite could be seen from ground, it would seem that the satellite is stationary and not moving at all. Satellites in such orbits are useful for telecommunication applications. Satellites in Molniya orbit have a highly elliptical, set at an angle, taking 12 hours to make a complete the orbit. A satellite in a low polar Earth orbit passes right above both the poles, inclined at a certain angle relative to the equator.
How are the objects kept in orbit?
Since man have been able to lift his head towards the sky, he has looked up at the sky and wondered how that Sun is held up high above there, and why does not the Moon fall on us. It has only been about 300 years now, that we have developed the scientific reason as to the things we were wondering about in the past. It was in the late 17th century that Sir Isaac Newton put forth this fundamental law. The first law says that, every object of matter in this universe attracts another, with a force, which is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two. Therefore, with the larger mass having greater power to attract, this attraction gets weaker as the distance between the two objects are increased.
Newton's law of gravity means that the Sun pulls the Earth and the other entire planet in this universe, and the Earth also pulling on the Sun. Since both are quite large masses, the force of attraction must be large. The question comes, if the Sun is pulling all other planets, why don't the planets fall on the Sun?
The explanation to this is, that the planets are moving sideways too at a great velocity. Therefore, taking the example of the Earth, by the time the Earth has fallen the 93,000,000 miles to the Sun, it has moved 93,000,000 miles sideways, far enough to miss the Sun. Likewise, by the time the Moon has fallen 240,000 miles to the Earth, it has moved 240,000 miles sideways, missing the Earth. This process is repeated continually and the Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon the earth, in a never-ending way. If any planet stops moving sideways and finds itself closer to the Sun, it will fall quickly without missing the Sun. This sideways movement, called the "angular velocity" prevents the Earth in falling into the Sun. The same is true for all planets en-circling the Sun. The Moon would fall on to Earth if it had not had that angular velocity.
If the gravity of the Earth were to be turned off, the Earth would leave its circular trajectory and travel straight with a high velocity, reaching 50 billion miles out from the Sun in a century's time. Hence, it is the gravitational forces of both the Sun and the Earth, that holds the Earth in a orbit around the Sun. The orbiting Earth may be compared to a piece of stone tied to a string, which is swung in a circle holding the string at one end. If you were to let go of the string, the stone, tied at the other end of the string, will fly off at a straight trajectory, just as Earth would do, if the gravity were to be turned off. This force is termed as the 'Centrifugal force.'
There can be a question about the time required to complete one orbit. Does that depend upon the distance at which the object is orbiting? After years of experiments, it was found out, that the greater the distance, the more time it takes to complete one orbit. This was deduced from the formula, that the time taken, is directly proportional to the distance of the object around which it is orbiting. Thus, the planet which is at a larger distance from the Sun, takes longer to complete one orbit. This time taken to complete one orbit is termed as 'orbital period.'
Artificial Satellites
Looking at the first law of Newton, it was understood that in principle it should be possible to put up a man-made satellite in the sky, which would orbit the Earth. As has been seen, this satellite would need a sideways velocity, like the earth, so that it does not fall back on Earth. If such a satellite is put up in the sky at a distance of 4,000 miles, it will have an orbital period of approximately 90 minutes. To miss falling on to the Earth, this satellite would have to have a sideways velocity of 17,000 miles per hour.
Let us consider firing of a cannon ball. If the firing is quite weak, the cannon ball describes a parabolic path and lands up few hundred yards away. If we bring a heavier cannon ball, and try and shoot it a bit further with greater force, the ball describes a parabolic path to the earth's surface and lands up a few hundred miles away. This time the cannon ball goes over the Earth's curvature to describe its path. If now, the a super-heavy cannon ball is shot very forcefully to land a few thousand miles away, the ball would travel much further than what it would if the Earth was flat. Clearly it can be deduced that the Earth's curvature had some effect on the distance that this cannon ball traveled. Imagine that the velocity of this cannon ball is 5 miles per second, i.e., 17,000 miles per hour. As it falls to the Earth, it misses the Earth's surface and the Earth's gravitational force makes the ball continuously change its course in its the fall to the Earth. Thus this cannon ball starts orbiting the Earth. Till the concept of rocket came in, such velocity was unthinkable and putting up a satellite in the sky remained a dream. Eventually the technology evolved and the first artificial satellite 'Sputnik,' was launched by the Russians in 1957. This satellite was not much more than a basket ball and had a radio transmitter on board. It made 'Beep. Beep. Beep' sounds and would appear and disappear, again to re-appear in 90 minutes time.
A few years before the Americans put John Glen into the orbit, on-board an artificial satellite, the Russians had already launched Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. All these satellites were launched at the same altitude, give or take a few hundred miles, and both had the orbital time of 90 minutes. If these satellites were launched higher, for example at a height of 22,300 miles, the orbital time would have been orbiting the Earth every 24 hours. The skill required to launch the artificial satellites, so as to achieve a geosynchronous orbit, did not happen till 1963. This required the satellite to be launched at a much higher altitude.
When you, look back to the dawn of space travel, the landing on the Moon by Apollo in 1969, seemed to be a giant step forward in space travel. Since that time, weather forecasting has technologically improved with geostationary meteorological satellites, sending the pictures that we see on television everyday. The television broadcast has taken a leap with these satellites, where live telecasts are being beamed from one side of the world to the other. The satellite aided voice communication has had a remarkable effect in getting help in a remote area, where other communication is not available, delivering the highest speech quality with reliability.
With globalisation, factories and offices have come up in the remote part of the world. These locations are often in those parts where modern communication network does not exist. Despite this, business needs to go on and communication is vital. Satellite communication has virtually brought these places quite close, bringing the communication network virtually to any location around the world. This has been done without the need of an infrastructure of wireless network, fiber optics, or even copper cabling.
End of Part I

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Digital Entertainment from Space Satellite

What is a satellite?
Satellite is an object that orbits another object. There are many kind of satellites used for many purposes. For communication and entertainment artificial communication satellites are used. The orbits that are in use for satellites are geosynchronous orbits, low Earth orbits, and Molniya orbits.
What is comsat?
It is an artificial communication satellite. When compared to the other two orbits the geosynchronous orbits are best suited as it can hold a ground-based antenna, which face the satellites. For television ground antenna are essential. Arthur Clarke first founded this method in 1929.
There are different satellite reception modes. To name a few there are Direct broadcast satellite and Television receive only satellite. Direct to home or direct broadcast satellite or mini dish system, is a recent development in the world of communication satellite. The direct broadcast satellite is a completely closed system and it uses proprietary reception equipment. Direct broadcast satellite uses the Ku band and sometimes it can run in C-band satellites. For the functioning of direct broadcast satellite system, encryption based on proprietary reception equipment and proprietary transport stream encoding is required. Direct broadcast satellite uses a smart card as part of the decryption system, which keeps a check on the authorization of subscribers.
Television receive-only, or TVRO, is open standard equipment and referred to as big dish satellite. Television receive-only is a well designed to receive for both television and radio as analog and digital satellite. Television receive-only uses both C-band and Ku-band transponders on the same level. Television receive-only or big dish satellite, as the name suggests uses larger satellite dish antennas. Additional receiver boxes are also used for receiving different types of digital satellite signal reception.
The digital revolution from space is altering the way that we receive information. The more advanced form of digital broadcast system is set-top box. Set-top box is a device, which receives signals, decode digital broadcast, and makes the television user interface friendly to the Internet. Its one of the main feature is to enable analog television to receive digital broadcasts.
Overall, there is a large improvement in the evolution of television relay system. That is from broadcasting through cable to broadcasting via satellites. There was again an evolution in the satellite system itself. For broad casting via satellite system, large dish were in use. Then came the mini dish to receive signal. The mini dish is sophisticated and easy to use system where tuning and maintenance was lot more easy than the traditional dish.

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RV Satellite TV Systems - Get the Best System and Service

RV Satellite TV Systems
In the good ol' days, before DISH Network and DIRECTV made satellite TV available everywhere in the U.S., RVers had to find an RV park that had satellite hook ups, then spend time hooking up their systems.
Today, RV satellite TV systems are totally self contained. You can watch satellite TV anywhere, and setting up a satellite system is a piece of cake. All you have to do is aim your dish toward the area of the southern sky where you get the best reception and your done.
In addition to the hundreds of entertainment, news, and sports channels you get with satellite TV, you can also get Internet service so you can check your email or surf the web while you're on the road.
RV satellite TV equipment
The satellite TV equipment you'll need for your RV is the same as the equipment you have in your home - a satellite TV dish and receiver. You can even use the dish and receiver you have in your home, but for convenience sake most people end up getting a second dish and receiver for their RV.
Because you'll be on the move you'll need a movable stand so you can aim your dish at the satellite. The least expensive stands allow you to manually align your dish whenever you stop for the day. There are also dishes that automatically align your dish, and even "in-motion" systems that track a satellite as you drive so passengers can watch satellite TV while on the move.
To locate a dealer for RV satellite TV stands do an Internet search for "rv satellite tv dish mounts," call you local RV dealer, or check eBay for used equipment.
Satellite TV Providers
There are three major satellite TV providers - DIRECTV, DISH Network, and Sky Angel.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is the largest satellite TV provider and is ranked second in customer satisfaction among satellite TV providers by J.D Power. They offer 250 channels of satellite TV programming including sports packages, movie channels, pay-per-view programs, and XM satellite radio channels.
DIRECT Programming starts at $41.99 per month for 155 satellite TV channels and goes up to $96.99 per month for 250 channels. You get a free satellite TV dish and up to four free receivers when you subscribe to their service.
DISH Network
DISH Network is the fastest-growing satellite TV provider and is ranked first in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power. They offer 350 channels, including movie channels, sports packages, Sirius satellite radio channels, and pay-per-view programs.
DISH Network programming starts at $19.99 per month for 40 satellite TV channels, and goes up to $74.99 for 350 channels. When you subscribe to their service you get a free satellite TV dish and up to four free receivers.
Sky Angel
Sky Angel is a Christian-oriented satellite TV provider offering Christian TV shows, special events, conferences, children's shows, inspirational programming, and radio programs.
Sky Angel's programming package is $14.99 per month and includes 20 TV program channels plus 15 satellite radio channels. Their equipment costs $149 for one satellite TV dish and one receiver.
Satellite Internet Service
With satellite Internet service you can surf the web and get your email anywhere in the world. Satellite Internet service offers and always-on connection, a connection speed that's 10 times faster than dialup service, and multiple email addresses.
Bottom line
If you want all the comforts of home while you travel the open road, then satellite TV is a must. The equipment's free and you can get programming for as little as $19.99 a month. If you spend much time on the Internet, consider including satellite Internet service with your satellite TV service.

Visit http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com/ for more information, ordering information, plus the latest offers and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV Click on the following link for information on DISH Network Internet service The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written extensively on RV satellite TV systems. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brian_Stevens

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Types Of Satellite TV Systems - TVRO And DBS

You may think that there is only one type of satellite TV system...but you're incorrect. There is, in fact, two different formats of satellite TV: TeleVision Receive Only (TVRO) and Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS). Each satellite TV system is built differently and functions in its own fashion. Dish Network, for example, is a DBS system. However, not all satellite TV systems are DBS.
Below is a break down of each system. Read through it and gain a better understanding of the TVRO and DBS satellite TV systems.
TVRO - TeleVision Receive Only
TVRO was the first satellite system available for home viewing of satellite TV. It required a relatively big dish of 3 to 6 feet in diameter and worked in C-Band. Frequencies of around 4 G Hertz are called C-Band and require bigger dishes because the wave length of these frequencies is longer than in Ku-Band which requires a much smaller dish of about 18 inches. Ku-Band is at 12 to 14 G Hertz.
TVRO systems also need a movable dish because it needs to get all the channels of many satellites. C-Band satellites have much less channels available than Ku-Band satellites and therefore more satellites are needed to provide enough channels. Possibilities that exist with TVRO systems is that you can also receive free channels and independent feeds from for instance news companies. You could for instance receive the unedited material that is broadcasted from a news crew somewhere in the coverage area of the satellite. They transmit their materials to their headquarters using a C-Band satellite. Many of these types of feeds are not scrambled and are available to everyone with the proper equipment.
TVRO systems are often referred to as Big Dish TV, C-Band Satellite TV and BUD (Big Ugly Dish).
DBS - Direct Broadcast Satellite
Satellite TV via DBS is done in the Ku-Band. These satellites work on higher frequencies and can transmit higher power signals. This means that much smaller dishes can be used to receive the signal. A small dish of 18 inches is already enough to receive all satellite TV by Satellite TV. This makes it possible to have satellite TV from an apartment on the 10th floor, if you have a clear line of sight to the south. This is the system used by Dish Network and other satellite TV providers.
DBS is for everyone. The satellite dish is so small that it is not an obstacle like with for instance the TVRO dishes of 3 to 6 feet. Once installed the dish needs no maintenance since it is aimed at just one satellite. Some dishes actually have 2 or more feeds which makes it possible to receive the signals from more than 1 satellite.
There are no free channels available on DBS satellites as these are often owned and used by the satellite TV provider it self, such as Dish Network, while TVRO satellites often are used by those who rent space on the satellite for a limited time. TVRO systems are meant for, for instance, transport of unedited materials between continents, but also within one continent.
DBS is meant for everyone with a simple, low cost installation of the system. Often the installation is for free as it really is very easy to do. The only thing that is needed is a bit of knowledge of where to find the satellite and the tools that make this even easier. A qualified installer will find the satellite and point it to maximum reception within minutes.

About The Author Frank Johnson I am first and foremost an observer of life. I enjoy analyzing and exploring all aspects of life on planet Earth, and expressing my personal perspective on the nitty gritty of it all. As a result of my observations, I have become a freelance writer. http://www.dish-network-satellite-tv.ws/. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Johnson

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Satellite TV Dealers -- Who's The Best

Satellite TV Dealers
In the world of satellite TV there are satellite TV providers -- the companies who provide satellite TV programming, and satellite TV dealers -- the companies who sell the programming and the equipment you need to watch it.
In the U.S.A. there are currently two satellite TV providers -- DISH Network and DIRECTV -- and hundreds of satellite TV dealers who sell their services and systems.
Due to the recent rise in popularity of satellite TV, satellite TV dealers have sprung up all over the Internet promising the best deals, the best service, and everything else under the sun. But after you sign up for their service they sock you with hidden service fees, provide you with shoddy installation, and offer zero customer service.
So how do you know which satellite TV dealers are the most reputable, will give you the best service, and will sell you DISH Network or DIRECTV's services at the best possible price?
I've spent hundreds of hours researching online satellite TV dealers. Here's a rundown on the top four dealers -- the cream of the crop:
DISH Network Satellite TV Dealers
**** Allsat (Highly Recommended)
Established in 1995, when DISH Network first started broadcasting, Allsat is one of the oldest and most reputable online satellite TV dealers. Allsat began as an offline satellite TV store, then went online in 1997.
Their prices, reputation, and service are second to none.
Allsat currently offers:
* A free DISH Network satellite TV dish
* Up to four free receivers plus remotes
* Free professional installation
* Free DVR (digital video recording) receivers
* Free HD (high definition) receivers
* Free 25 movie channels
* 24/7 customer service
* Lifetime equipment warranty
* Free bonus gifts (click on the link below to view current offers).
*** VMC (Recommended)
VMC is one of the largest and most well known satellite TV dealers in the U.S. They installed the satellite TV system in the U.S. Capitol building.
VMC currently offers:
* A free 4-room satellite TV system
* Free professional installation
* Free digital video recorders
* Free HDTV receivers
* Free 25 movie channels
* 24/7 customer service
* Lifetime equipment warranty
DIRECTV Satellite TV Dealers
**** iSatellite (highly recommended)
iSatellite is one of DIRECTV's top satellite TV dealers. Though relatively new to the satellite TV scene, they are one of the fastest growing, most respected online dealers in the U.S.
iSatellite currently offers:
* A free satellite TV dish
* Up to four free receivers plus remotes
* Free professional installation
* Free DIRECTV DVR receiver (after $99 mail-in rebate)
* Free HDTV receiver (after $199 mail-in rebate)
* Free premium movie packages
* 24/7 customer service
* One-year equipment warranty
* Special offers (click on link below to view current offers).
*** Rapid Satellite (recommended)
In business since 1999, Rapid Satellite is one of DIRECTV's highest rated satellite TV dealers. They have thousands of customers in hundreds of cities across the U.S.A.
Rapid Satellite currently offers:
* Free 4-room system
* Free installation
* Free DIRECTV DVR (after $99 rebate)
* Free HDTV receiver (after $199 rebate)
* Free premium movie packages
* 24-hour customer service
* One-year equipment warranty
* Special offers (click on link below to view current offers).
Note: For more information on current DISH Network or DIRECTV programming and subscription fees, or to order satellite TV service with a free satellite TV system, click on the links below.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV. About the Author Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on satellite TV dealers. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brian_Stevens

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/147471

Satellite TV Systems - Which is Best?

A satellite TV system consists of a dish that captures the TV signal broadcast from a satellite, and a receiver that amplifies the signal and sends it to a television.
Less than 10 years ago, satellite TV systems consisted of a huge satellite dish, about the size of a flying saucer, and an array of black boxes that required an electronic technician to set up. Not only that, they were expensive, costing anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.
We've come a long way since then. Now, satellite dishes are the size of a large Frizbee, the receiver is the size of a notebook, and using the system is as easy as operating a microwave.
And the best news of all is that today's systems won't cost you a penny. Thanks to the ongoing competition between satellite TV dealers, they'll give you a complete satellite TV system for free when you subscribe to their satellite TV service.
Benefits of a Satellite TV System
Here are the benefits of having a satellite TV system:
1. You have the option of viewing up to 256 channels of programming.
2. Satellite TV is broadcast in an all-digital format for the clearest picture and sound available.
3. Satellite TV systems include DVR (digital video recording) so you can record your favorite shows.
4. You can get HD (high definition) receivers that allow you to watch your shows in HD format.
5. Satellite TV is the more reliable than cable or over-the-air TV, with less blackouts and fewer picture problems.
6. Customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
DISH Network Satellite TV System
Here's what you get when you order DISH Network satellite TV service:
1. A free satellite TV dish with mounting hardware.
2. Up to four free receivers plus universal remotes.
3. Free DVR (digital video recording) receivers.
4. Free HD satellite TV receivers (optional).
5. Free professional installation in up to four rooms of your home.
6. A one-year warranty on your satellite TV system.
DIRECTV Satellite TV System
Here's what you get when you order DIRECTV satellite TV service:
1. A free satellite TV dish with mounting hardware.
2. Up to four free receivers plus universal remotes.
3. Free professional installation in up to four rooms of your home.
4. DVR receivers -- free after a $99 rebate.
5. HDTV satellite TV receivers (optional), $199 per receiver.
6. A one-year warranty on your satellite TV system.
Satellite TV Service
In order to get a free satellite TV system you have to subscribe to a satellite TV service:
DISH Network offers four program packages. Prices start at $31.99 per month for their basic package which has 60 channels, and go up to $86.99 for their top-of-the-line package which has 230 channels.
DIRECTV offers three program packages. Prices start at $41.99 per month for their basic package which has 135 channels, including 31 music channels, and go up to $93.99 for their top-of-the-line package which has 185 channels.
Both services also have movie channels, sports packages, foreign language programming, adult programming, HDTV packages, and pay-per-view channels.
Bottom Line
When it comes to which satellite TV system is the best, it's six-of-one, a half-dozen-of the other. Both systems are state-of-the-art and have enough features to please even the most fanatical electronics buff.
But when it comes to additional features such as DVR and HD receivers, or different dishes to accommodate HD receivers and specialized TV channels, price differences can be significant.
Before you order satellite TV service, I recommend clicking on the links below to check out current satellite TV system options and prices.

Click on the following link for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, or these links for ordering information, the latest offers, and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV or DIRECTV satellite TV. About The Author Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on satellite TV systems. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brian_Stevens

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/135493

Possible Entry Strategies For Provision of Satellite Services by Foreign Company/Operator in India

In the present state controlled satellite regulatory environment in India, Foreign Satellite Operators ("Satellite Company") can consider two entry options to establish its business presence in India and provide satellite services in the Indian subcontinent.
A. Providing Services Through ISRO. The Satellite Company can provide bandwidth capacity services to Indian end users (such as DTH and VSAT service providers) through Indian Space Research Organization ("ISRO"). For this purpose, the transponder capacity is canalized through ISRO and ISRO's approval may be forthcoming if alternate capacity is not available on INSAT satellites. As the leasing process involves the Department of Space ("DoS"), the Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing of the Department of Telecommunications ("WPC") and the concerned Ministry (for instance in the case of DTH, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting), the process is definitely time consuming and with no clear assurance of achieving approval. The foreign satellite should be coordinated with INSAT satellites in terms of the International Telecommunication Union's ("ITU") Radio Regulations as a pre-condition for lease of capacity. A short term lease (usually on a yearly basis) is signed by ISRO or by its commercial arm, i.e., Antrix with the Indian customer, and between Antrix and the Satellite Company. There is no privity of contract between the end customer and the Satellite Company though typically the Indian customer and the Satellite Company agree on the commercial terms prior to approaching ISRO. The lease rentals are generally marked up by ISRO for provision of capacity to the end customer. INSAT reserves the option of not extending the capacity lease for subsequent years and require the end customer to migrate to a INSAT satellite, as and when alternate capacity is available. This indirect route of providing capacity to the Indian market has been adopted by several foreign satellite operators in the past including SES Americom, Asiasat, and New Skies.
This model gives the Satellite Company immediate access to Indian market through ISRO with minimal capital investment in India. This route however may not meet the long term business objectives of the Satellite Company due to the instability and indirectness of the access structure (i.e., solely through ISRO); procedural compliances; ISRO's veto on termination or renewal of the lease, etc. Alternatively, collaboration with ISRO to jointly develop, launch and operate a satellite can be also considered by the Satellite Company (similar to the joint development of the Measat system program, proposed to be established under a joint venture company with Antrix).
B. Establishment of an Indian Satellite System. The Satellite Company can alternatively consider to independently set up satellite systems in India. Indian satellite systems ("ISS") are satellite networks which are informed, notified and coordinated by WPC under the relevant ITU's Radio Regulations and procedures.
In the year 1997-1998, the Government of India ("GoI") announced the Satellite Communication Policy Framework ("SatCom Policy") and formulated the norms, guidelines, and procedure for registration of Indian satellite systems by private Indian companies and allowed limited use of foreign satellites (i.e., uplink from India) in special circumstances provided the satellites were coordinated with the INSAT satellites. Pursuant to the SatCom Policy, the GoI authorized ISRO to set up a Committee for Authorizing the establishment and operation of Indian Satellite Systems ("CAISS"), with its Secretariat at the Satellite Communication Programs Office at ISRO Headquarters at Bangalore.
In terms of the SatCom Policy, an Indian company incorporated under the laws of India is permitted to register its satellite systems for establishment, operation and maintenance of satellite systems in the Indian orbital spectrum and to offer communication transponder capacities/bandwidth to service providers. Indian orbit spectrum is the orbit-spectrum for which filings are done by WPC with the ITU and informed, notified and coordinated by WPC under the relevant ITU procedures. Satellite Company can consider establishing an ISS in terms of the SatCom Policy. Foreign equity investment upto 74 percent is permitted in the Indian company subject to obtaining the prior foreign investment approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.
The Satellite Company would need to submit an application to the CAISS for setting up the satellite system together with the technical description of the proposed system including intended services and service area; network description and characteristics; and other details. As a condition for grant of authorization, the satellite control and monitoring facility including the telemetry, tracking and control ("TT&C") facility center for the satellite will need to be located in India and all foreign personnel deployed for installation, operation or maintenance of the TTC facility will need to be cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI. Additionally, the satellite launched or leased would need to be on an orbital slot that is informed, notified and coordinated by WPC under the relevant ITU procedures for which filings will need to be done by WPC with the ITU.
The system established under the authorization will be accorded the status of an Indian Satellite System for providing satellite based services and transponder capacity/bandwidth on a commercial basis in India and will be eligible for all the preferential treatment accorded to such systems in service provisioning in India prescribed under the SatCom Policy. The authorization will be liable to terminated by CAISS, in case of default or contravention of any terms and conditions stipulated in the authorization including on failure to establish the satellite system within the time specified in the authorization or any extensions thereof, and impose any penalty as it may deem fit under the provisions of the agreement.
There is presently only one ISS in India, which is Agrani (Zee Group/Dish TV venture). Agrani has been set up with the objective of establishing, owning and operating a satellite system to provide satellite capacities in and around the Indian sub-continent. Agrani has however so far not been able to set up a satellite system even though it has entered into a long term collaboration with ProtoStar I Ltd. for lease/purchase of transponder capacity. No other application is presently pending before the CAISS for its consideration for setting up an ISS.
In the year 2004, Binariang Satellite Systems ("BSS") of Malaysia, agreed to enter into a joint venture relationship with Antrix for extension of Antrix's marketing and business operations in and to the Asia and Pacific region in the area of satellite communications. No progress has however been made by ISRO in the aforesaid venture as of date.
My next article on the subject will deal with the approvals, registrations and authorizations required for setting up an ISS in India.
Seema Jhingan

Areas of Practice: Infrastructure, Telecommunications, Power, Mergers/Acquisition, Software/Information Technology, Business Process Outsourcing, Media & Entertainment, Private Equity and Venture Capital, General Corporate and Commercial, International Arbitration. Professional Summary: Seema Jhingan's practice spans over fourteen years during which she has acquired substantial expertise in representing developers, sponsors/lenders, venture capital investors, international corporations, financial institutions, and other strategic investors involved in the establishment, development and financing of major infrastructure and IT projects in India. Seema is a Partner with a Delhi Based law firm LexCounsel, Law Offices and regularly contributes to journals and publications and often takes up speaking engagements. Seema can be reached at sjhingan@lexcounsel.in Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Seema_Jhingan

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1842566

History of Satellite TV

Arthur C. Clarke's Vision
Sir Arthur C. Clarke is generally credited with coming up with the concept of
using satellites in geosynchronous orbits to relay communications signals around
the world. In his honor, these are sometimes referred to as Clarke orbits. A
geosynchronous orbit simply means that the satellite is placed at an altitude of
22,300 miles above the earth's equator and travels at the same speed as the earth's rotational
speed. This keeps the satellite in the same spot above the earth at all times.
Clarke wrote an article titled "Extraterrestrial Relays", which was published
in Wireless World Magazine back in 1945. In his article Clarke, envisioned
three 'space platforms' placed at 22,300 miles above the earth and that worldwide
communications could thus be achieved.
Father of Satellite TV
But it is H. Taylor Howard a Stanford University Professor and former NASA scientist
Emeritus, who is generally acknowledged as the 'Father
of Satellite TV'. Howard designed and built the first satellite antenna and receiver
in his San Andreas, California garage in 1976. Howard died in a plane crash in 2002
at the age of 70. Now 32 years after Howards invention, it is doubtful that he
could have envisioned the quantum leap that satellite TV technology has made.
First Satellite - Sputnik
The very first satellite ever placed into earth orbit was Sputnik, which was launched
by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. The launch of Sputnik began what is commonly
referred to as the "space race". The United States answered with the successful
launch of Explorer I on January 1, 1958. Later that same year, NASA was created on Oct. 1, 1958, to perform civilian research related to space flight and aeronautics.
First Communications Satellite - Syncom II
The first communication satellite named Syncom II was developed by a group of businesses and government entities in 1963. Syncom II orbited at 22,300 miles over the Atlantic; the first
actual satellite communication was on July 26, 1963, between a U.S. Navy ship in Lagos,
Nigeria and the U.S. Army naval station in Lakehurst, New Jersey. However it wasn't
until 1978 that the television industry began using satellite communication for the
television industry. In 1975 a BBC engineer by the name of Stephen Birkill
built an experimental system for receiving Satellite Instructional Television.
Over the next three years Birkill continued to work on his system and in 1978 he
met Bob Cooper, a cable TV technical journalist and amateur radio enthusiast in the U.S
and Cooper invited Birkill to a cable TV operator's conference and trade show CC)S-78.
It was at the trade show that several satellite TV enthusiasts decided to help Birkill
with his experiments. Also, on March 1, 1978 the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
introduced the Public Television Satellite Serivce and as satellite technology
improved it was used more and more by broadcasters.
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
In 1980, the FCC established the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), a new service
that consisted of a broadcast satellite in geostationary orbit, facilities for
transmitting signals to the satellite, and receiving equipment (black box) needed for people to access the signals. In turn, broadcasters developed methods of scrambling their signals,
forcing consumers to purchase a decoder, or a direct to home (DTH) satellite receiver,
from a satellite program provider. Before this signals could be receive by anyone
with a dish at no charge. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV are Direct Broadcast Satellite
providers. Soon after from 1981 to the early 1990's the 'big dish' market soared.
You could see these big ugly dishes a mile away. But they were cumbersome and very
hard to install.
As this stage of satellite TV development; it was much easier to
just have cable TV. Also the average cost of pruchasing a satellite dish and system
back in 1980 was a staggering $10,000. By 1985 that cost had dropped to around
$3,000., but still a hefty price to pay. In 1984 the U.S. Congress passed the 1984
Cable Act. This Act allowed for cable providers to scramble their transmission signals
thus bringing an end to the days of free satellite TV. In short, the 1984 Cable Act made
it illegal to steal satellite signals without paying for the programming.
Satellite TV - Enter DIRECTV and DISH Network
In the early 1990's four large cable companies joined together to launch a Direct
Broadcast Satellite company named Primestar. In June of 1994 the Hughes DIRECTV
Satellite System was launched. DIRECTV later purchased Primestar.
DIRECTV pioneered the development of the mini-dish, a small 18" diameter dish.
Today, DIRECTV boasts over 16 million households that have DIRECTV service. In 1996 the DISH Network Company a division of EchoStar Communications Corporation was formed and DISH now boasts over 13 million U.S. households with DISH Network Satellite Service. Both companies now
offer hundreds of programming channels to watch and each offers over 70 national channels
in High-Definition (HD). Both DIRECTV and DISH Network also offer dozens of satellite
radio channels and both have now gotten into providing High Speed Internet service.
Where satellite dishes alone once costs $10,.000., today both the satellite giants
offer complete satellite systems, including the satellite dish for free.
Today satellite TV is broadcast all over the world; making Arthur C. Clarke's dream a reality.

G Alan Davis is owner of Digital Dish, has over five years experience in the satellite TV business, selling both DIRECTV and DISH Network and has written numerous articles on the subject. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gary_Alan_Davis

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1092548

How Satellite TV Works

A satellite TV system is a very technical, highly complex system of equipment including
a satellite uplink station, the satellite out in space orbiting in a geosyncronous
orbit 22,300 miles above the earth's equator, the small mini-dish receiving unit
located on a house or business and last the receiver (black box) that connects to
your television and allows you to view the satellite programming. Commercial
satellite TV programming has been around since the 1990's and today it is making
huge gains on the cable TV market as more and more Americans are taking advantage
of better picture and audio quality, lower monthly prices than cable and free
equipment and installation that both major U.S. satellite providers, DISH Network and
DIRECTV provide. But just how does satellite TV work? In this article we'll take
a detailed look at the various steps involved along the way to producing such a
crystal clear and reliable picture on your television set.
Satellite TV - The Basics
Satellite TV uses a wireless system of transmitting radio signals to deliver its
television programming to the viewer's home or business. A radio signal can only
travel in a straight line however. Enter the satellite. By placing an
orbiting satellite at 37,000 km (22,300 miles) above the earth and having it match the earth's rotational speed (7,000 miles per hour) the satellite stays over the same spot above the earth.
This is referred to as being in geosyncronous orbit. These orbits are sometimes
also referred to as Clarke orbits in honor of Arthur C. Clarke who first came up
with the idea in an article he wrote back in 1945 entitled "Extraterrestrial Relays"
published in Wireless World Magazine. The orbiting satellite then retransmits the
radio broadcast signal back down to earth to the receiving satellite dish (mini-dish)
located on your home or business. The signal then travels through coaxial cables
from the dish into the receiver that is connected to your TV, where the signal is
then descrambled into viewable programming for your family to enjoy.
Uplink Station
Satellite TV programming that you watch at home begins with a transmitting satellite
dish or antenna located at what is known as an uplink station. The satellite dish
located on your house is only 18" in diameter and is tiny compared to the huge satellite
dishes used at uplink stations. These satellite dishes can be as large as 9 to 12
meters (30 to 40 feet) in diameter. The great size of these satellite dish transmitters
allows for a much stronger radio signal and for better aiming of the signal at the
orbiting satellite. The uplink dish is pointed toward a specific satellite and the uplinked
signals are transmitted within a specific radio frequency range, so as to be received by
one of the transponders tuned to that frequency range aboard that satellite. The
transponder 'retransmits' the signals back to Earth but at a different frequency
band (to avoid interference with the uplink signal), typically in the C-band (4-8 GHz)
or Ku-band (12-18 GHz) or both. The leg of the satellite signal path that transmits
the signal down to the Earth station is known as the 'downlink'. Satellites can
have up to 32 transponders for Ku-band and up to 24 for C-band only satellites.
Typical transponders each have a bandwidth between 27 MHz and 50 MHz. Geostationary
Kc-band satellites need to be spaced at least 1 degree apart to avoid signal interference.
For C-band satellites the spacing needs to be at least 2 degrees.
Satellite Signal Technology
Original satellite broadcasts are converted into a high-quality, uncompressed digital
stream containing a lot of data, and sends it at a speed of 270 megabits per second (Mbps)
for each channel. All of this data must be compressed however or the satellite
would not be able to receive the information. The system of compression used in the U.S. is the MPEG-2 compressed video format. This is similar to the system used to make DVDs. The provider could now reduce the 270-Mbps stream to about 5 or 10 Mbps, enabling them to transmit about 200 channels, instead of the 30 they could transmit before compression. These signals are scrambled so that only paid subscribers can receive them.
Mini-Dish Technology
Unlike their predesessors, today's satellite dishes are small, only 18" in diameter
and are referred to as a 'mini-dish'.
A typical satellite dish consists of two parts: the reflector and the feedhorn. The reflector
is the concave dish-shaped part of the antenna. This is the part of the antenna that
captures and focuses the satellite signal onto the feed horn. The feed horn is the part
of the antenna that is mounted on an arm that sticks out from the relector dish. It takes the
signal and feeds it through a cable to your satellite receiver (black box).
Newer satellite dish designs feature multiple feed horns. This is
so the dish can pick up signals from several satellites and clearly focus the captured
signal on one of the several feed horns.
Something called a feed horn has a feature known as a low noise
block down converter (LNB). This provides for clear signal. The LNB does two things:
It amplifies the signal received from the satellite provider, and filters out 'signal noise,'
radio signals that do not carry the satellite provider's television programming.
Satellite Receiver
The satellite receiver is simply the black box that is connected to your television
set. It receives the signal from your mini-dish and then de-scrambles the signal into
viewable pictures for your family to watch. The receiver does three main things:
It receives and de-scrambles the signal which contains the programming.
It separates the programming into the individual channels you request by way
of the channel selector button on either your TV or your remote control.
It tracks your Pay Per View usage, and sends your billing information for this
programming to your provider.
Today, there are several different kinds
of receivers: standard receivers, DVR receivers and HD receivers for receiving
high definition (HDTV) television programming. DVR (Digital Video Receiver) players
allow the viewer to actually Pause and Replay live TV and to record up to 70
hours on the DISH Network DVR 311 or 322 players. The DISH Network DVR receiver
is an advanced dual tuner, two TV output satellite receiver and integrated digital
video recorder (DVR). The DISH Network DVR's were designed so that you never have
to miss another favorite TV show again. No matter what your schedule; with the Dish
Network DVR you can simply record your favorite shows with just the click of a button.
DISH Network offers over 500 programming channels to choose from and all
DISH Network satellite programming comes in 100% all-digital video and audio.
So how does satellite TV work? In a word - perfectly.

G Alan Davis is owner of Digital Dish, has over five years experience in the satellite TV business, selling both DIRECTV and DISH Network and has written numerous articles on the subject. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gary_Alan_Davis

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1092472

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Satellite Internet Service Provider

If you are a corporation in search of disaster recovery networking solutions, a first responder who may need connectivity from anywhere at any time, or you simply need broadband internet connectivity from remote locations you have probably considered that satellite may be your only reliable option. In the midst of a disaster many businesses and first responders may find themselves without communications of any kind due to the loss of terrestrial infrastructures, or the lack of it ever existing in the first place.
The problem is that most business professionals and emergency service workers do not have a complete understanding of the satellite business and the idiosyncrasies of communications via satellite, and why should they? Satellite communications is not their profession. In the quest for a satellite internet service provider there are certain questions you should be prepared to ask before you get locked into a contract for services that won't satisfy your needs:
1) Do you have Non pre-emptible satellite space segment?
Satellite operators such as SES Americom, Intelsat among others lease space segment to satellite service providers. There are different levels of protection available in varying price ranges. Many service providers will opt to contract for pre-emptible space segment because it's much less expensive and they can make larger profit margins which they may or may not pass on to their end users. Pre-emptible space segment gives the satellite operator the ability to deny access to the satellite for the service provider in the event of an on board equipment failure, or to make room for a service provider who is willing to pay the Non pre-emptible premium.
During large scale disasters such as the hurricanes in the Gulf States in 2005 many pre-emptible segments of satellite space were cleared to make room for government requests for satellite service leaving other service providers with no access. If you are considering contracting for service for disaster recovery applications it is highly recommended that you find service providers that guarantee that they have contracted for Non pre-emptible space segment. The service provider should be able to provide you with evidence of their service agreement with the operators if you ask. You may pay a little more each month for your non pre-emptible service, but at least it will be available when you most need it.
2) What is your "Over Subscription" or "Contention Ratio"?
Most satellite service providers who are providing Internet services are operating systems that use TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) based systems. A TDMA system is normally controlled by a central hub location which will command the remote units in the field to transmit their data when the hub is ready to receive it. This allows for many remote units to share the same slice of bandwidth improving the overall efficiency of the system. The transmissions from the remote units are sequenced at a very high rate, many times per second, which makes the service appear to be continuous.
However, the more units that are added to the system, the slower the service will be. A true enterprise level operator will never allow their contention ratio to exceed 20:1 or essentially 20 terminals per segment of bandwidth. Many operators that offer lower grade services will over subscribe their systems as high as 40, 80, 120:1 or more. Some operators may not be willing disclose this information to their end users. If a service provider will not tell you their contention ratio, you might consider looking elsewhere as their ratios are likely to be high. This will directly affect the quality of the service you receive. Enterprise level operators with contention ratios of 20:1 or less will charge more for their services since they have fewer users for their contracted space segment. But, you get what you pay for.
3) What is your system Latency, and does your hardware or software include TCP/IP acceleration?
Any IP transport platform will have a certain amount of latency that is inherent to the structure of the system. Latency is normally measured by how long it takes for a TCP/IP "Ping" to be sent to a server on the other side of the transport link and be returned back over the link to the point of origin. Satellite systems, due to the physics involved will have much higher latency figures that any terrestrial link. Data is transmitted to the satellite at the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. The satellite is located 22,223 miles above the equator.
For a ping to make its round trip it must travel up to the satellite, back to earth to the server, up to the satellite again and back to the origination point. This is a round trip is approximately 88,892 miles. When calculated with the speed of light, in a perfect world the round trip will take about 448 milliseconds. When you add in coding delays and processing delays you can increase that figure by 100 to 250 milliseconds. On an efficient system, a round trip ping should take between 550 and 700 milliseconds (225 ms one way in each direction).
Many lower grade systems on the market today will actually return ping times of 1200 milliseconds or greater which is too slow to allow for functionality of certain software applications. Some system operators have added TCP/IP acceleration products to their equipment. This can either be a hardware or software solution. Acceleration of TCP/IP does not speed up the actual transmission as it is already being transmitted at the highest speed possible, the speed of light. The acceleration is achieved by modifying the TCP protocol in ways that allow for more efficient transmission over high latency networks such as satellite. Acceleration can significantly improve the speed of loading web pages, so it is a highly desirable product to have. Most of the products are not capable of accelerating encapsulated data such as VPN's, but the system should still pass that data, however more slowly. Be sure to ask whether or not the system has an acceleration product included.
4) Does your system support VoIP, VPN, and Streaming Video transmissions?
If you have certain applications that you intend to operate, be sure to inquire whether or not these applications are supported on the system. VoIP (Voice over IP) for telephone connectivity is becoming a very common need in satellite communications. All types of users from emergency services to business continuity are asking for telephone connectivity. The biggest concern most prospective users of VoIP over satellite have is that the latency will be too high for effective voice communications. This has largely been proven to not be true. In fact, most cellular telephone systems will experience as much or more delay in their systems than VoIP over satellite. Most satellite providers will support these systems, but if the system latency is more that about 800 milliseconds, you may experience difficulty carrying on a conversation. Some service providers will also sell VoIP equipment. If you choose to purchase from them, or on your own you will want to make sure the equipment includes good voice compression.
Most off the shelf VoIP systems that are not designed for use with satellite will occupy between 40 Kbps and 90 Kbps of bandwidth to complete each call. If you purchase 128K of satellite uplink bandwidth you may consume all of your bandwidth with one or two phone calls leaving none for internet access for your computers. There are compression VoIP systems available that have been designed for use over satellite that will use as little as 8 Kbps per phone call and the call is toll quality. There are even compression systems that will allow for a 1544 Kbps T1/PRI connection over less than 256 Kbps of satellite bandwidth. You will also want to inquire about connectivity to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). When the signal lands at the hub it will need to connect your VoIP traffic to a telephone line. Some service providers will provide this service for a fee; some will not provide it at all, so be sure to ask. If you need to operate a VPN over the system, keep in mind that it will likely not be accelerated over the satellite.
Acceleration of VPNs can be achieved with external hardware; however it is normally up to the customer to provide that equipment. There are some systems, mostly consumer grade, that will not support VPN's at all or there are additional charges so be sure to ask. The same goes for Video transmissions from a streaming device, or a web cam. Video streams are highly bandwidth intensive applications and most service providers will require dedicated bandwidth for these applications. The pricing for dedicated bandwidth will be substantially higher than the shared ratio pricing as it consumes 100% of the bandwidth 100% of the time. If you are planning to stream video to multiple receive sites it is recommended that you stream the video over the satellite to a server, and allow other users to get the stream from the server. This way there is only one active stream over the satellite where the bandwidth is expensive.
5) Do you offer CIR or CRA services?
CIR (Committed Information Rate) and CRA (Committed Rate Assignment) are different acronyms with the same meaning. It is dedicated satellite bandwidth that is usually required by the service provider if you intend to operate high bandwidth applications such as video streaming over the satellite. Most enterprise level service providers offer CIR/CRA packages, most consumer level operators do not. The pricing for these services will be significantly higher than shared ratio services, so be prepared. Some providers also require CIR/CRA services for VoIP. Be sure to inquire if this is something you need as some operators may not volunteer this information until it's too late.
6) How many public IP addresses do I get?
Many consumer level services do not assign public static IP addresses for you to use. This is primarily why they don't support services such as VoIP and VPN. Enterprise level providers usually provide at least one address, some will provide more. Most providers will give you a fixed number of addresses with your service and charge you if you want additional static IPs. The recommended way to avoid the additional charges is by using your own router on the system and natting your own addresses. Some systems will not support natting so be sure to inquire if this is what you need.
7) Do you have a FAP?
A FAP or Fair Access Policy is a set of rules that you agree to abide by when contracting for their services. They also will include certain restrictions on your service. Read this policy very carefully as the providers like to include wording that can seriously restrict your usage. Some service providers will "meter" your throughput on the system. If you reach a certain level of usage, usually recorded in Kbps, or Mbps they may restrict your bandwidth to a low level, or cut off your service entirely until the next billing cycle. It is very difficult to measure your own usage since most people have no Idea how many Kbps are sent or received when loading a web page. The FAP is also where the provider will spell out the rules of usage concerning applications such as streaming video and VoIP. Going over that document with a fine toothed comb will be in your best interest.
8) What will be my actual measured speeds?
The service providers will sell you a specific rate plan that will have an uplink or return data rate, and a downlink or forward data rate. This will usually be expressed in a manner such as "128/512" or sometimes "512/128". The larger number will always be the forward channel which is your downlink as a user. Most providers will not tell you that the speeds include IP overhead. Every internet system whether its satellite or terrestrial uses IP protocols that require a certain amount of bandwidth to process the IP traffic. Because of the overhead you can expect that your actual measured payload speeds will be around 20% lower than what you are paying for. Actual speeds can be measured by running a speed test from a PC over the satellite link.
If the service provider has their own speed test server at the hub location this will give you a more accurate test of the satellite link than an Internet based speed server. The internet based servers have too many variables to obtain accurate results since the data is being transferred over connections that are not under your control, or theirs. Most systems will be similar in their IP overhead usage, but be aware of this when you purchase your service. If you don't think the speeds will be high enough when you factor in the 20% overhead you may want to consider a higher service level plan.
9) What Pricing plans do you offer?
In your search for a service provider you will likely encounter a multitude of pricing plans. Each provider will create pricing structures that meet their business model, and that will give them an edge over their competition. Because of this you may find it difficult to compare price. All providers will offer full time 24x7x365 service plans. Some will also offer plans based on usage, and some will sell daily or hourly plans. There are even providers that will sell service for a fixed number of days each month. These plans can be attractive as you will not likely use a system designed for disaster recovery every day of the month, so why should you pay for full time service? If you are comparing price between providers it is easiest to look at their full time rates to determine the cost. However, keep in mind that operators base their pricing on their cost for the satellite space segment. If they are charging less it may be because they don't have non pre-emptible space or because they operate with high contention ratios, or both.
10) Do you offer other services such as terrestrial connectivity and collocation?
Be sure to inquire about value added services such as collocation space and terrestrial connectivity. Unless you are only buying internet access and have no need for VoIP, streaming, or data backup, you will likely need these services. Some service providers will provide connectivity to the telephone network, and some will not. If you need dial tone you will probably want to contract for that as well. For disaster recovery solutions it is highly recommended that you originate your dial tone from a safe location that is far away from the affected area.
In many disaster scenarios the terrestrial connectivity including cellular phones will not be available. It is important that this is taken into account when designing a backup network. Some of the satellite providers will also offer services to back up corporate or government server data at the satellite hub location. This is highly beneficial to the customer as it provides both off site storage of valuable data, and easy access to that data via the satellite when it is most needed. A satellite hub with a collocation facility can be a powerful tool, and should be highly considered when contracting for satellite services.

This article was written by Bob Exum who is a 24 year veteran in the communications and satellite industries. For comments or questions Bob can be reached at Clear Channel Satellite in Englewood, CO. 303-925-1708 bobexum@clearchannel.com Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bob_Exum

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Watch Satellite TV on Computer - Powerful Tool On The Loose

Satellite TV fans would certainly find it very thrilling to watch satellite TV on computer today. We can understand why as until just recently, TV viewers are only able to watch satellite TV on computer by installing PCTV cards on their computers. What are PCTV cards? They are hardware created to enable you to watch TV on PCs using satellite TV feeds. These cards come in the form of an external device for your CPU or internally fixed onto your motherboard. Now, PCTV cards definitely are not the cheap for the average person and can carry a price tag in the range of hundreds of dollars.
Fortunately, there is a more affordable option in the form of a PC satellite TV software so that one can still watch satellite TV on computer without the exorbitant cost. After installation, your PC would then become just like a satellite television set and broadcast thousands of satellite TV channels. To watch satellite TV on computer has never been such a convenient and affordable option for all.
Many all over the world are catching the bug to watch satellite TV on computer. It appears that TV viewers are beginning to see the many benefits in watching satellite TV on their computers.
1. Reasonable One-time Pricing
Expect to find the PC satellite TV software used to watch satellite TV on computer priced below most satellite TV services you would find on the market. You may argue that the cheapest TV service costs less than $20 while the software costs you perhaps $50 - 100 and therefore is more expensive. What you missed out about using PC satellite TV software is you can do away with monthly subscriptions completely. The moment you have purchased the satellite TV software, you own the rights to watch all the TV programs for as long as you like. At the same time, if you prefer to watch special TV channels may it be Live sports channels or any other program you find, you need not foot any extra charges or surcharges. Using software to watch TV on your PC does have its privileges.
2. Extensive Choice of Satellite TV Programs
Normal satellite TV services broadcast a limited number of channels to their TV subscribers. From the viewpoint as a consumer, the choice of TV programs is important. If you somewhat decide to choose PC satellite TV software to watch TV, be prepared to be so spoilt for choice with thousands of satellite TV stations when you are ready to watch satellite TV on computer. Finding satellite TV channels screening programs like cartoons, videos, news, sports events and games, movies and TV series like Desperate Housewives. You will find a program of your choice.
3. Picture and Sound Quality of Satellite TV Channels
Weather conditions is one major culprit behind poor reception of satellite TV signals when using the satellite dish network. Picture quality can suffer badly as a result and you may experience temporary blackouts in your computer screen when you are watching a TV program. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the disappointment you must be feeling. When you choose PC satellite TV software to watch satellite TV on computer, you do not have to struggle with this issue. The visual and sound quality of the PC satellite TV far exceeds that of the satellite dish when watching satellite TV.
As you can see, these are true merits in using software to watch satellite TV on computer. People who appreciate the low cost and functionality of the software are turning to PC satellite TV software. TV enthusiasts all welcome this technological shift which of course includes me who is able to catch a new movie release or watch world news on our computers. Study my satellite TV blog to get a hold of this proprietary software to watch satellite TV on computer instantly.

Davion is a successful webmaster, author and TV lover. Read more on how you can instantly watch satellite TV on PC [http://watch-satellite-tv-on-pc.blogspot.com], tuning into hundreds of LIVE world channels of news, movies, music and kids program at Watch-Satellite-TV-On-PC.blogspot.com [http://watch-satellite-tv-on-pc.blogspot.com]. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davion_Wong

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Watch Satellite TV on PC - PC Satellite TV Software Works?

Satellite TV viewers think it is really convenient to watch satellite TV on PC today. Up till now, TV viewers can watch satellite TV on PC using the PCTV cards before we ever hear about PC satellite TV software. The PCTV cards are basically hardware cards used to receive satellite TV feeds for display onto our computer screen. They come in 2 forms of devices, and are either plugged as an external device to your CPU or installed directly onto your motherboard in your PC.
These cards are not the cheapest devices and can be priced from $200 onwards for a decent functioning card. Right now, using PC satellite TV software to watch satellite TV on PC has overtaken the conventional satellite dish method. After installation, the PC satellite TV software allows your computer to operate just like a satellite television and you can literally receive thousands of worldwide satellite TV to watch satellite TV on PC.
To watch satellite TV on PC making use of software is fast picking up in the homes of US, UK, Canada and Australia where the people spend more hours on TV. There are several benefits to watch satellite TV on PC.
1. Wide Range of Satellite TV Channels
Satellite TV packages typically offer at least a few hundred channels to their subscribers. From viewer feedback, the quality of the TV programs is not attractive and there are quite a number of program channels which people have little interest in. With PC satellite TV software, the software allows you to tune into thousands of satellite TV stations to watch satellite TV on PC. It is not hard to find TV channels displaying programs like kids programs, videos, news, LIVE games, movies and TV series like Prison Break 2. There is bound to be a suitable channel for you.
2. No Monthly Subscription
The software used to watch satellite TV on PC does not cost you more than $50 in most cases. The clear advantage of using PC satellite TV software is the software cost is a one-off expense. After you have bought the satellite TV software, that is all you are ever going to pay for. This is not the case with satellite TV services if you prefer to watch specific exclusive TV channels. Once you own the software, you need not worry about other charges like pay-per-view. This has to be one major difference when using PC satellite TV software to watch TV on your computer.
3. Picture and Audio Quality of Satellite TV Channels
Everyone knows that the old method of using satellite dish to watch satellite TV can be disruptive especially in locations which are subjected to bad weather conditions like rains. There is a high possibility that the TV reception is disrupted and thus, the TV transmission is poor. Pictures can be wavering and the TV channel could get cut-off when you are watching your TV channel. When you choose to watch satellite TV on PC using software, poor reception is almost unheard of. The picture and audio quality of the PC satellite TV far outdoes the satellite dish system.
Looking at all these, there are real tangible benefits to watch satellite TV on PC with software. TV viewers who appreciate the convenience and the affordability of the software are getting used to watching satellite TV with this method. This is indeed a joy for ordinary folks like us who are able to capture so many TV programs on our computer. Learn more from my blog about this software that allows millions to watch satellite TV on PC from the comfort of their homes.

Davion is a successful webmaster, author and fan of TV shows. Discover how you can instantly watch satellite TV on PC [http://watch-satellite-tv-on-pc.blogspot.com], tuning into hundreds of LIVE world channels of news, movies, music and kids program at Watch-Satellite-TV-On-PC.blogspot.com [http://watch-satellite-tv-on-pc.blogspot.com]. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davion_Wong

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