Types of Satellite TV Systems

Types of satellite TV systems

There are 2 types of satellite TV systems in the United States namely, TVRO (TeleVision Receive Only) and the other named DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite).

Let's look at the two main types of satellite TV systems:

TVRO (TeleVision Receive Only)

TVRO was the first satellite system available for home viewing of satellite TV and required a relatively large dish of 3 to 6 feet in diameter and worked in C-Band. Frequencies of around 4 G Hertz are called C-Band and require bigger dishes because the wave length of these frequencies is longer than in Ku-Band (12 to 14 G Hertz) which requires a much smaller dish of about 18 inches.

TVRO systems also require a movable dish because it needs to receive all the channels of many satellites. C-Band satellites have much less channels available than Ku-Band satellites and therefore more satellites are needed to provide enough channels. With TVRO systems you can also receive free channels and independent feeds from instant news companies, which include receiving the unedited material that is broadcasted from a news crew somewhere in the coverage area of the satellite.

They transmit their materials to their headquarters using a C-Band satellite. Many of these types of feeds are not scrambled and are available to everyone with the proper equipment. TVRO systems are often referred to as Big Dish TV, C-Band Satellite TV and BUD (Big Ugly Dish).

DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite)

Satellite TV via DBS is done in the Ku-Band. These satellites work on higher frequencies and can transmit higher power signals. The upside of this is that it requires a much smaller dish that can be used to receive the signal. A small dish of 18 inches is already enough to receive all satellite TV. This makes it possible to have satellite TV from an apartment on the 12th floor, if you have a clear line of sight to the south.

The satellite dish is so small that it is not an obstacle like with for instance the TVRO dishes of 3 to 6 feet. Once installed the dish needs no maintenance since it is aimed at just one satellite. Some dishes actually have 2 or more feeds which makes it possible to receive the signals from more than 1 satellite.