How does DirecTV or satellite television work?
Like broadcast television, satellite television services such as DirecTV use a wireless, radio-signal system to deliver programming directly into a viewer’s home. In contrast, broadcast television sends out its signal using a powerful antenna on the ground; however, the curvature of the Earth’s surface eventually interferes with the signal, limiting its range. Satellite television programs are delivered using communication satellites orbiting 22,300 miles above the earth. These satellites are in geosynchronous orbit, meaning that they keep pace with the earth’s speed of rotation and therefore remain in the same position in the sky relative to a relative to a point on earth. Most satellite TV customers get their satellite programming from a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) provider who buy the programming from other companies such as HBO or ESPN. The DBS provider offers customers set packages of pre-selected programs which they beam out. These providers will also supply the home dish an
