The Equipment for Satellite Television

If you've decided to hook up satellite television, you'll soon be learning to operate a few new pieces of equipment that will make your experience much more enjoyable. None of these devices are difficult to use and, best of all, the most complex of the devices are installed by the satellite company's personnel.

The first, and probably most obvious, piece of equipment you'll be getting is the satellite dish itself. The dishes are small, easily carried by one person, and can mount just about anywhere. The dish will need to have a clear view of the southern sky, however, to get reception. If there isn't such a view from your roof, survey your yard to see where else the dish might be installed. The devices are very inconspicuous once they're mounted, so don't fret too much over aesthetics.

There will be coaxial wiring that will run from the satellite dish to the receivers that will be provided with your subscription. These receivers allow you to access the channels the dish receives as well as the menus and other powerful features that come with satellite television. You'll need one receiver for each television in your home, though you can watch the same channel on multiple televisions with one receiver. Like your dish, the satellite personnel will help hook these devices to your televisions.

The tuners are the electronic equipment that customers most often choose to customize to their needs. The basic models offered with the subscription are very powerful in their own right, typically offering digital video recording, fast forward and rewind features for live television and other popular features. If one truly wants to be on the cutting edge, however, there are very sophisticated receivers available. Some models can even record two programs simultaneously! Some models have outputs for two separate televisions and optical sound outputs for the true connoisseur. If you're not a technophile, don't be afraid to start simple. Even the most basic satellite receivers allow you to access incredible features.

The rest of the equipment for your satellite hookup is up to you. You may want to consider working a high definition television into your plans, if you don't have one already. Satellite offers more high definition content than any of its competitors and the picture is truly incredible. The difference between standard resolution television and high definition television is not a subtle one. It's readily apparent to anyone viewing the program. It's dramatic enough to generally cause those who've never seen it before to be somewhat taken aback.

If you have a stereo system, consider hooking your receiver's sound outputs into it. Satellite has sound quality on par with the video quality. It's well worth it to purchase a good stereo system if you don't have one already or to simply invest in a few new speakers to get a surround sound experience.

The only equipment required for satellite, however, is the receivers, the dish and a desire for better television!