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.
For more free and helpful information on Satellite TV, how to
find the best deal, and how to set it up, visit http://www.dish-n
etwork-satellite-tv.ws/