Want more channels? Satellite TV offers more options than you'll know what to do with and more than cable provides! From favorites like CNN, HBO, and ESPN, to more obscure options like the Speed Channel, Discovery Wings, and the Love Stories network, there is a satellite TV channel to suit almost any and every imaginable interest. Whether you're into history, science discoveries, sports, fashion, travel, or romance, you will find it all, and much, much more, on satellite TV.

As you are researching the pros and cons about satellite TV, you should know that you need the proper equipment. No matter if you switch from another TV satellite service, you need their dish since it is programmed to receive and recognize that particular signal.

A satellite TV receiver first receives the signal from the satellite dish on your roof via a coaxial cable. The receiver then decodes the information packets and sends it along to your TV via coaxial cable.

The video signal starts out from a broadcast that is encrypted and sent to an orbiting satellite via a MPEG-4 compressed signal. The dish on your roof captures that signal and sends it to your receiver along a coaxial cable. The receiver than unscrambles the coded signal with the proper algorithm so that only those with proper access get to view it.

The geostationary orbit is the type of orbit telecommunication and TV transmission satellites use. A perfect balance between the gravitational forces, the velocity of the satellite and the rotation of the earth keep it seemingly stationary.

If you’re looking for the top of the line in reception, there is the SuperDish. It is oval in shape and slightly larger than the normal small dish you see on top of roofs. It’s enhanced signal gathering capabilities allow signals from 3 different satellites which means you get more programming.

High definition transmission like arrives as either 1080i - 1920x1080 pixels interlaced or 720p - 1280x720 pixels progressive. The 1080i is a sharper image for slow action and not a lot of movement pictures. Whereas, 720p allows more distinction for fast action video such as sports or animals in flight.

There are a lot of options when it comes to digital television reception. Cable companies have been known to raise rates while the satellite companies generally don’t raise rates. Also, satellite allows for more diversified programming and channel selection.

When you are looking for a competitive deal, there may only be one or two cable companies you can choose from in your area. But for satellite companies, there are only two.