Unlock More Channels With A TV Satellite Dish For Your Home Setup

A satellite dish, as you might have guessed from the name, picks up on radio signals bounced around by satellites orbiting Earth. There are thousands of satellite channels available, some which are free to watch and some which are encrypted. In order to watch these channels, you must get a decoder box which turns those encrypted signals into a watchable picture on your TV. While these decoder boxes can be bought separately, if you want to watch specific channels, for example through the broadcaster Sky, then you usually have to pay a monthly subscription fee. Rental of your decoder box will be included in this fee.

Installing your dish

This is best done by a professional as satellite dishes can be pretty heavy, and need to be set up correctly. If you are subscribing to a provider then this is usually included in the cost. If you decide to install the dish yourself then you should take safety precautions, as you need to install it in a high place such as a roof so the signal isn’t blocked. You must also make sure all cables are protected from the weather – if they get damaged your viewing quality could be affected.

Provider choices

There are two main providers in the US; DirecTV and Dish Network. These providers have a number of exclusive channels as well as local channels. Satellite actually offers more channels than its alternative, cable!

Why a satellite dish?

A satellite dish is a good alternative if you live in an area where cable is unavailable, and offers many of the same channels. Though a dish is sensitive to changes in the weather, for example the signal can be blocked by snowfall, the monthly charge often includes maintenance or damage costs.

What sort of dish should I buy?

It’s important to choose the right type and size. Larger dishes can pick up more signals and therefore more channels. A stationary dish must be set up facing the right direction as it can’t be moved. A motorized dish can move, and thereby pick up more channels – those sized 90 cm to 1 meter will be best. There are also different types of LNB (the arm connected to the dish that amplifies the radio signals) with a multi-LNB being best for a house with more than one TV and/or indoor receiver.