Ahmed Kurnia Soeriawidjaja

Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu KomunikasiThe London School of Public Relations

Jakarta

Satellite Television• Communications satellites get TV signals from a

station on the ground, amplify them, and relay them back to the Earth over an antenna that covers a specified terrestrial area.

• The satellites circle the Earth in a geosynchronous orbit (orbit with a fixed period of 24 hours).

• That means they stay above the exact same place on the Earth all the time.

• Instead of a conventional aerial antenna, receiving dishes are used to receive the signal and deliver it to the TV set or station.

• The dishes can be moderately small for home use, or large and powerful, such as those used by cable companies and network television stations.

• Satellite television offers the viewer a huge array of programming choices.

• Cable TV viewers are restricted to only a few limited programming alternatives, but satellite TV viewers have a broad range of channels and services to select.

• These range from economical packages featuring a selection of popular programs to more expensive packages offering a large selection of every imaginable variety of programming, including local channels, general entertainment, sports, premium movies, news, shopping channels, children and family programming, religious channels, ethnic programs, music, and various special interest channels.

History of Satellite TV• The roots of what we know as satellite TV can be

found in the works of Arthur C. Clarke (2001, A Space Odyssey).

• In 1945, Clarke suggested that worldwide communication would be possible if three space platforms orbited the Earth.

• After the success of the Soviet launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957, the United States recognized the need to get into the “space race.”

• Thus began one of the greatest technological leaps in the history of mankind.

• 1963: The first communication satellite was developed and launched by a consortium of business and government entities.

• July 26, 1963: The first satellite communication was between a U.S. Navy ship in the harbor of Lagos, Nigeria and the U.S. Army located at the naval station at Lakehurst, New Jersey.

• March 1, 1978: Television began using satellites. • Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) introduced Public

Television Satellite Service.• Broadcast networks adopted satellite communication

as a distribution method form 1978 through 1984.

• Direct to Home (DTH) satellite receivers were developed in the early 1980's.

• 1986 and 1990: Early successful attempts to launch satellites for the mass consumer market were led by Japan and Hong Kong.

• The first successful attempt by the United States was made by a group of major cable companies.

• In 1994,the GM Hughes DIRECTV system was launched using a newly designed high power Ku-band satellite and an 18“ dish.

• Echostar Dish Network entered the market in 1996 and offered cheaper prices forcing all of its competitors to do the same.

DBSDirect Broadcast SatelliteDigital Broadcast Satellite

What does DBS mean?• DBS stands for Direct Broadcast Satellite.• DBS is a term used to describe satellite TV

platforms that broadcast high powered satellite signals directly to the home owner who uses a small dish to receive the signal.

• Another common meaning of DBS is Digital Broadcast Satellite.

What is DISH Network?

• DISH Network is a Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) equipment and satellite TV service provider.

• DISH Network was launched by Echostar corporation in 1995 to provide DBS satellite TV service to American homes.

• Consumers who own a DISH Network compatible satellite dish and receiver can subscribe to DISH Network programming.

Do trees and buildings affect reception?

• Yes. Any blockage of satellite TV signals will reduce system reliability or if significant enough will stop all reception.

• Many Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) systems are installed to close to trees and after the tree grows, the owner begins to experience intermittent signal loss.

• DBS systems including DISH network will provide a clear picture so long as enough signal can be received by the satellite receiver.

• The minimum amount of signal that you should be receiving for trouble free operation is around 70. This holds true for DISH Network satellite TV system.

• Rain and snow will reduce the amount of signal that travels through the airwaves. This is called rain fade.

Dolby Surround vs. Dolby Digital• There are 2 differences between Dolby Surround

and Dolby Digital. • Dolby Surround only has 4 channels; Left, Right,

Center and Surround (rear).• Dolby Digital (AC-3) has 5.1 channels; Left, Right,

Center, Right surround, Left surround, and low frequency effects (Sub Woofer).

• In addition, AC-3 includes a Phase Delay which gives the illusion of a sound reflection which is either closer or further from you than the actual speaker and gives a more realistic sound profile.