How Does DIRECTV Satellite TV Work?

DIRECTV satellites are placed into a geosynchronous orbit about 37,000 km (22,300 miles) above the earth and always remain above the same point on the earth's surface so that all DIRECTV dishes on the earth can be pointed at a fixed satellite location.

DIRECTV shows, movies, music, etc. are broadcast from an "uplink center" where programming from cable television networks and local programming from broadcast networks is collected and encrypted so that the programming cannot be intercepted by non-paying users. The uplink facility uses a dish that is 9 to 12 meters wide to accurately send a high-strength signal to the orbiting DIRECTV satellite.

The DIRECTV satellite converts the signal to a different microwave frequency band to ensure that the downlink to a subscriber's dish is not affected by uplink interference.

After traveling more than 50,000 miles, the DIRECTV signal reaches your dish on the outside of your home, office, or facility. The signal received is focussed by a bowl-shaped parabolic dish onto a device in the center of the dish called a "feed horn", which channels the signal to a "low-noise block downconverter" (LNB) which filters out unwanted interference, and sometimes converts it to another frequency before amplifying it and sending it to the satellite receiver box located inside your house, office, or facility through a coaxial cable.

A DIRECTV satellite receiver box converts the signal to television, audio, and/or data signals and may be may be equipped to decrypt the coded signal itself. You may be supplied with a "smart card" as well to decode the signal.

DIRECTV receivers also include integrated digital video recorders (DVRs) that allow you to rewind and pause live television and to record and store shows on a built-in hard drive. In addition, DIRECTV receivers offer high-definition television (HDTV), pay-per-view events and movies, interactive television channels, and video-on-demand (VOD) channels.

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† National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, 2004.