Millions of families across the country depend on satellite TV to provide their entertainment needs, but not as many know how satellite TV actually works. For all you curious TV aficionados out there, the team at Sunshine Satellites in Foley, AL, has the answers. Below, they explain this interesting piece of technology that plays such a large role in our lives.

Satellite TV uses many of the same principles that traditional television broadcasting did, by using radio signals to transmit sound and images over the airwaves. While broadcast television had a relatively small range and could be distorted by trees and other objects, satellite TV avoids this problem entirely by using—you guessed it—satellites.

Modern satellite TV relies on a digital broadcast from a digital service provider such as DISH® or DirecTV®. The signal for the various channels provided by one of these satellite TV providers is sent out from a broadcast center to the company’s satellites in space, which then rebroadcasts the signal to consumers and their satellite dishes.

Since satellites are in orbit around the earth, it’s easy for homes to get a clear signal. Households across the United States pick up on this signal using specialized satellite dishes, which then carry the signal onto their television screens. While the dishes need to be pointed in the right direction to pick up the broadcast, it is generally easy to get a strong signal.

It’s also worth noting that satellite TV providers aren’t the ones who create the programming you receive in your TV subscription. Rather, your digital service provider pays another production company (like ESPN or AMC) so they can have the right to transmit that station’s content, making it easier for you to get the programming you want.

Whether you need Satellite TV or a reliable internet provider, Sunshine Satellites has you covered! To learn more about their satellite installation services and other offerings, visit them online or call (334) 794-3727.