Satellite TV Programming
DIRECTV satellite television provides you with the ultimate variety of
programming options, with access to over 250 channels. To make it even more
appealing, view these channels in 100% digital quality, all the time. Select
from our exciting programming packages, all of which include your local TV
channels and give you what you need for your TV entertainment.
What
is the digital TV (DTV) transition?
The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the
digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, the U.S. Congress authorized the
distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so
that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously
continuing their analog broadcast channel. Later, Congress mandated that
February 17, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to
broadcast in analog. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently
broadcasting in both analog and digital. After February 17, 2009, full-power
television stations will broadcast in digital only.
Digital Satellite TV
Most satellite TV is now encoded digitally. This enables satellite broadcasters
to offer more television channels using the same amount of satellite bandwidth.
Satellite TV is available in both standard resolution and in the new ATSC High
Definition (HDTV) format. The digital data is usually compressed with MPEG-2 or
a variation thereof. MPEG-4 is beginning to replace MPEG-2 in some satellite
networks.
The options
are many. The PC can be directly connected to a satellite dish by using a
product like Hauppauge 3000 or through the Internet cable; or via the satellite
box (run an aerial lead from the RF output socket of the Shy Digibox to the
input aerial socket on a standard PC TV card or USB TV adapter). Direct TV and
Dish TV both recommend using a connection via their proprietary satellite TV
receiver box as ideal.
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