
How to Buy Satellite Dish and Receiver: A Complete Guide

If you want to enjoy satellite TV at home, you need two essential components: a satellite dish and a receiver. But how do you choose the right ones for your needs and budget? In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about buying satellite dish and receiver, including the types, features, installation, and maintenance of these devices.
What are Satellite Dish and Receiver?
A satellite dish is a device that receives signals from satellites orbiting the Earth. It consists of a parabolic reflector that focuses the signals onto a feed horn, which then sends them to a low-noise block downconverter (LNB). The LNB converts the signals from high-frequency to low-frequency and amplifies them.
A receiver is a device that decodes the signals from the satellite dish and converts them into audio and video signals that can be displayed on your TV. It also allows you to change channels, access electronic program guides (EPG), record programs, and use interactive features. Some receivers also have built-in tuners that can receive over-the-air (OTA) signals from local broadcasters.
What are the Types of Satellite Dish and Receiver?

There are different types of satellite dish and receiver depending on the size, shape, and number of satellites they can receive. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Dish Network: This is a popular satellite TV provider in the US that offers hundreds of channels in standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD). It uses two types of dishes: a 20-inch round dish that can receive signals from one satellite, and a 30-inch oval dish that can receive signals from up to three satellites.
- DirecTV: This is another popular satellite TV provider in the US that offers hundreds of channels in SD, HD, and 4K Ultra HD. It uses three types of dishes: a 18-inch round dish that can receive signals from one satellite, a 20-inch oval dish that can receive signals from up to five satellites, and a 36-inch oval dish that can receive signals from up to seven satellites.
- Free-to-air (FTA): This is a type of satellite TV that does not require a subscription or encryption. It offers a variety of channels from different countries and genres, such as news, sports, movies, music, religion, etc. It uses a 30-inch or larger dish that can receive signals from multiple satellites.
- Multiswitch: This is a device that allows you to connect multiple receivers to one dish. It splits the signals from the LNB into different outputs that can be assigned to different receivers. This way, you can watch different channels on different TVs at the same time.
- DVR: This is a type of receiver that has a built-in hard drive that can record programs from the satellite TV. It also lets you pause, rewind, fast-forward, and skip commercials. Some DVRs also have smart features that can suggest programs based on your preferences, record series automatically, and stream content to other devices.
What are the Features of Satellite Dish and Receiver?

When buying satellite dish and receiver, you should consider the following features:
- Signal quality: This refers to how clear and stable the picture and sound are on your TV. It depends on factors such as the size and alignment of the dish, the weather conditions, the quality of the LNB and cables, and the interference from other sources. You should look for dishes and receivers that have high gain, low noise figure, and good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
- Channel selection: This refers to how many and what kind of channels you can access with your satellite TV. It depends on factors such as the provider, the package, the location, and the type of dish and receiver. You should look for dishes and receivers that can receive signals from multiple satellites and offer a wide range of channels in different languages and genres.
- Installation: This refers to how easy or difficult it is to set up your satellite TV system. It depends on factors such as the type of dish and receiver, the location of the dish, the wiring, and the mounting. You should look
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