Satellite TV providers offer more than 375 channels of television programming including movie channels, sports packages, pay-per-view movies and events, commercial-free music, adult programming, and international programming. For more information on what's available, click on the links below.

Yes. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer HD (high definition) TV. DISH Network will give you two free HDTV receivers when you order their HDTV programming. DIRECTV receivers are free after a $99 rebate.

Severe storms or very heavy rain to the South-to-Southwest of your location may interrupt satellite reception until the storm clears or moves. Cloudiness or average rain should not interrupt your service.

If the outlet was not connected to a receiver and TV when the DISH Network system was installed, it is most likely not connected to the satellite dish. The additional cable outlet may be added to the system, service call fees may apply. Contact your DISH Network satellite installer for more information.

Satellite TV, obviously, comes from satellite broadcasts of programs. It has changed somewhat from the days when you had to have the huge dish set up in your back yard. Now you can have it anywhere you have a clear view of the southern sky. It is even available in cars. Satellite television offers a wider range of programming than cable in most cases, as well as clearer reception at most times. It is somewhat susceptible to weather, however.

Why is the background music so loud in some of your programs? It's often louder than the actors speaking.

A satellite TV center broadcasts a TV signal to a satellite in the sky. The satellite sends the signal back to earth, where it is picked up by a satellite dish, converted to a TV picture by a receiver, and displayed on a TV screen.

You can get your local channels in most areas of the USA included at no charge. In the few areas where you can't get local channels you can hook up an antenna to your satellite TV receiver to get them.

Yes, DIRECTV offers a satellite dish for TV and the Internet through DirecWay. Click on the links below for more information.

Yes, you really can get a satellite TV system for free. However, you do have to pay for satellite TV programming service in order to get a free system.

You can record satellite TV programs with the DVR (digital video recording) receiver you can get from your satellite TV dealer, or with your VCR. Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer free DVR receivers when you order one of their program packages.

Installation times for DIRECTV and DISH Network vary depending on your location, but you can usually get a satellite TV system installed in your home within one to five days from the time your order your service.

Yes. Many apartment and condo residents install their satellite TV dish on their balcony or patio. You can also install your satellite dish on a movable stand if permanent mounting is not allowed. DISH Network offers Armenian, Asian, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, South Asian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Urdu program channels.

DISH Network and DIRECTV offer parental locks to block your children from viewing programs you feel are unsuitable for them.

Satellites operate in the microwave frequency range. This allows them the bandwidths necessary to handle several television channels and thousands of voice and data transmissions simultaneously. There are two major freq bands allocated for satellite communication; C-Band and KU Band. Section 3 gives broader info about these bands.

The raindrops absorb some of the signals when the number of drops goes beyond 100 mm per hour, a process known as Rain Fade. This kind of heavy rain effects both up link and down link communication of the satellite. Engineer at HEI consulting, Canada has done a test to figure out the signal attenuation loss due to the rain. They measured the rainfall as depth per hour The approximate rainfall attenuation at 12.5 GHz, assuming that one mile or 1.