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The satellite receiver is a major piece of the TV satellite system

The receiver is the last component in the TV satellite system. It has

four things it has to do:

It has to descramble the encrypted signal. Receivers have a special decoder chip that it use to unlock the signal. The decoder chip is programmed by the TV satellite system via the satellite signal specific to your current programming package.

Remember the broadcast center converted the video to digital MPEG-2

format? Well it's the satellite receiver's job to convert it back into analog so the television can display it. Depending on what model you have, newer receivers can also convert the signal into a high definition format for HDTV.

It separates individual channels from the combined signal from the satellite. Changing channels on a satellite receiver is a little different from changing channels on cable or broadcast TV.

When you change channels on broadcast and cable TV you are actually changing frequencies. Broadcast TV uses parts of the VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) devoted to television stations. Everything in between, or mid-band frequencies is used by cable TV.

If you change stations on your TV or cable receiver you tune into whatever frequency that particular channel is setup to broadcast on. It's not quite the same with a TV satellite system. When you change channels on a satellite receiver it just pulls the signal for that channel from the single signal it receives from the orbiting satellite dish.

Since you're actually tuning frequencies with cable and broadcast, different sets can show different programming. Not so with satellite. If there's only one satellite receiver there's no way to watch different satellite programming on different sets.

Since a satellite system receiver only extracts an individual channel from the satellite signal, it doesn't tune it in, you would need a receiver for each individual set if you want to watch different programming.

So get more than one satellite receiver

More uses TV satellite system receiver

Receivers have more duties than just converting the satellite signal and displaying programming. It also keeps track of billing information. It periodically dials in to the DBS provider to communicate this information. Receivers also gather the programming schedule from the provider and displays it in a very comprehensive onscreen programming guide, which allows you, for example, to block all programming that has a mature ration from your kids with the parental lock out options.

One for the newer, more useful, functions of the TV satellite system receiver is that of digital video recording. DVR's as they are often called, are receivers with special software and hard drives built in that can record programming without a tape.

They can also record one show while you watch another and even pause live TV. Combined with the onscreen programming guide you can easily setup your satellite system receiver to record anything you want, whenever you want.

There are pros and cons to digital broadcast television but the future looks bright. The tried true draw of satellite, the high quality picture, multiple programming options, and national service are still strong.

Plus new technology like DVR's and receivers with dual tuners where you can watch one show and record another are making satellite a major player. Whatever happens between cable and satellite, it's sure to be a win-win for the customers.

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