Satellite dish - Definition and Overview

A satellite dish is a type of parabolic reflector antenna designed with the specific purpose of transmitting signals to and/or receiving from satellites. A satellite dish is a particular type of microwave antenna. Satellite dishes come in varying sizes and designs, and are most commonly used to receive satellite television.

Modern dishes intended for home television use are generally 45.72 centimeter (18") in diameter, and are fixed in one position. This type of system is referred to as direct broadcast satellite or DBS. Systems commonly used with communications satellites for Ku band free-to-air and ethnic broadcast reception use a slightly larger antenna, typically about one metre in size. Older types of home satellite dishes, called television receive-only or TVRO, were several feet in diameter and had motors which could position the dish to receive signals from several different satellites.

Types

• Individual dishes serving one dwelling: Direct To Home (DTH).
• Collective dishes, shared by several dwellings: Satellite Master Antenna Television (SMATV).

See also: footprint, mount, gyratory, converter (LNB), mixer, receiver, HPA, DVB, HDTV.

External Links

• European Commission: The right to use a satellite dish (http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/01/913&format=HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en).