Based on the type of use, the usage of satellite TV can be categorized in three categories. These categories include the reception of local affiliates, direct reception by consumers, as well as the option for distributing through cable systems by head ends.
Direct reception by consumers includes DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) and TVRO (Television receive only) services. Both of these services are suitable for entertainment systems in your home, a hotels, businesses, etc. Direct Broadcast through satellite: This is also commonly referred to as “Direct-to-home”. Direct broadcast through the satellite is the latest development in the field of television distribution. The term ‘Direct Broadcast Satellite’ can be used for denoting both, actual television service as well as communication delivered via satellite service. A ‘mini-dish system’ is also another common name used for referring to the DBS system. Usually, DBS systems use upper portion of K band. However, modified advanced DBS systems may be able to run on C-band satellites. Such modified DBS systems were used by certain networks to get around legislation against K-band transmission’s reception. Generally, DBS systems possess the responsibility of encrypting or transporting stream encoding or a combination of both. Hence the reception equipment must also possess these capabilites. At times, satellite service providers authorize a select number of manufacturers to provide equipments that are capable of receiving these streams. Normally, smart cards are used in this equipment to facilitate conditional access or decrypting. This equipment is designed to ensure that only authorized subscribers get access to content of Pay TV and also facilitate viewing of FTA (free-to-air) channels for the people using standard equipment. TVRO (Television Receive Only): The term is in use since the inception of the satellite TV to denote difference between transmit and receive (commercial uplink and downlink) operations and satellite television reception. This practice was in vogue even prior to induction of DTH satellite television broadcast. During those periods, Satellite TV channels were intended for use by cable television networks instead of being received directly by consumers at home. Initially, Satellite TV receivers were constructed mainly by engineers and hobbyists. TVRO systems of those periods required larger dishes (about 10 feet diameter) and were operated mostly on C-band frequencies and were referred to as ‘big-dish’ satellite TV. Modern day TVRO systems receive digital satellite and analog (audio and television) feeds, both from C-band as well as K-band transponders on satellites. The K-band systems, which have a higher frequency, are considered as Direct to Home type system and can be operated with comparatively smaller and lighter antenna dishes, as it can provide high power transmissions through via greater antenna gain. Televisions receive-only systems generally use larger satellite dish antennas. This is because, normally, owners of TVRO equipment would have C-band setup and not K-band setup. Some systems may have additional receiver boxes inbuilt. These additional boxes facilitate the reception of various types of satellite signals. If a system has a narrow beam width parabolic satellite antenna, it means that your system can receive signals only from a single satellite at a time. Some quasi-parabolic antennas are capable of receiving satellite signals both from C-band and K-band satellites.
