Behind Satellite TV

It is with no doubt that technology has become an integral part of your living. The sights and sounds of your everyday activities are remarkably enhanced due to the contributions of the different innovations and inventions. But do you ever wonder how these magnificent developments come into being? Come with and venture behind the scenes of the globally encompassing science of satellite television.

Satellite television or simply satellite TV is brought right at the very center of your living room via communication satellites situated around the planet. The feed from these satellites are received by a satellite dish and a set-top box. Viewing entertainment and information means are made possible because of this technology especially in areas around the globe that are not reached by your known cable TV providers. Take a step back and look at how this technological breakthrough came into life. It all started on that fateful year of 1962 when Telstar satellite of Europe gave North America its first satellite television signal. 

Then things started to pick up. 1963 saw the launching of Syncom 2. It was considered the first geosynchronous communication satellite. Commercial satellite communication made its way through the Intelstat I on April 6, 1965. It was tagged as the Early Bird. The Soviet Union which was s technological power during this time sent the Orbita flying to the skies in 1967. This marked the beginning of satellite TV in a national network. Its technology worked on the concept of Molniya satellite which delivered TV signals towards stationed links on the ground. 

The Canadian Anik 1 which took off in 1972 was recognized as the first carrier of television in North American homes. Two years later the ATS-6 became the first direct broadcast satellite. In this year the Soviet struck again by boosting a geostationary satellite that can direct-to-home television. Its name was Ekran.

After browsing the history pages let’s move forward to how things rack up in satellite television. Television signals are powered through your homes by utilizing satellites that are either highly elliptical or in geostationary orbit. These satellites are situated on top of the equator of the Earth. Transmission is made possible by uplink facilities. These facilities have antenna that carry the transmissions. 

There are uplink satellite dishes that can have diameters as huge as 30 to 40 feet. The large size is necessary in order to facilitate precise aiming and stronger signal to the satellite. A certain satellite and an uplink dish are oriented face-to-face. A specific frequency range is then set and it is up to the transponders placed on the satellite to make communication possible. 

The transponders function by redirecting signals back to the earth this time using a different set of frequency band. This method is called as translation. It is used in order to prevent interference with an uplink signal. The downlink that you may be familiar of is known as the path of signal received by the planet from the roaming satellite. Basically there are about 32 transponders for your typical satellite. These transponders work in bandwidths ranging from 27 to 50 megahertz. 

Technology comes in different shapes and sizes that is why it is important for you to somehow have familiarity in how things work. Don’ just be contented on knowing what’s behind satellite television go on and explore more. 
