If the decision about the need for satellite television has been made, then first you should determine several key points for yourself. The main ones are: which channels you want to watch, how many TVs you want to connect, where to install the antenna, and how to run the cable.
The final cost of satellite television equipment largely depends on what is included in the kit. Any satellite television kit consists of an antenna with a converter, a receiver (you can choose them, for example, on the page https://satmaster.kiev.ua/category/resivery-dvb-t2), a cable connecting the satellite dish to the TV.
Satellite Antenna
The antenna (satellite dish) can be from 50 to 300 cm in diameter. The larger the diameter, the more stable the signal. But it is worth noting that signal quality depends not only on the antenna diameter but also on other factors – the location of the site, the chosen operator, and others.
In terms of material, antennas can be aluminum offset, plastic, or steel. As a rule, operators offer ordinary consumers aluminum offset antennas, since plastic is unreliable, and steel antennas are heavy and prone to corrosion.
The advantage of an offset antenna is ease of installation and a good signal level with a small diameter. Moreover, the offset antenna does not require cleaning because it is installed vertically, which helps avoid contamination. The antenna can also be perforated. Such an antenna should be chosen if it will be installed on a mast, and due to its lightweight design and lower windage, it can withstand strong gusts of wind.
Of course, before installing satellite television, it would not be superfluous to check the signal availability on a simple antenna (on the page https://satmaster.kiev.ua/category/efirnye-antenny a wide selection of terrestrial antennas is presented). There are situations when terrestrial television works perfectly even in seemingly inaccessible places.
Converter
A converter is a device that converts the high-frequency waves received by the antenna into lower ones and amplifies them. When choosing a converter for a satellite antenna, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
• Number of outputs. One TV is connected via a receiver to a converter with one output, and two TVs to a converter with two outputs. Converters with four or more outputs are mainly used for institutions and organizations and are perfect for eco-hotel owners.
• Polarization. The converter can be circular or linear. If the satellite broadcasts in linear polarization, then the converter should be similar. Check in advance what polarization the satellites broadcast in, the channels of which you want to see on your TV.
• Noise figure. The lower this indicator, the better the signal quality.
• And lastly, pay attention to the design of the converter. To avoid the influence of external factors such as mechanical damage, condensation buildup during temperature changes, etc., the converter must be reliably protected by a housing.
Receiver
Another, no less well-known name for the receiver is a tuner. This is a device that decodes the signal from the satellite antenna. You can even choose a receiver based on your aesthetic preferences, as they are so diverse in design.
Conventionally, all receivers can be divided into three groups:
1. Receivers for watching free-to-air channels, they are designed for the majority of users.
2. Receivers with a slot for cards of a specific provider. They allow you to purchase the desired channel package.
3. Multimedia receivers, whose functionality is practically unlimited and designed for the most demanding user. From recording programs to a built-in hard drive to the ability to connect to various interactive services.
When choosing a receiver, you need to pay attention to its basic characteristics, such as the supported image transmission standard (MPEG2, MPEG4, FullHD support), as well as the availability of necessary connectors and their compatibility with the connectors on your TV.
Cable
To connect the satellite antenna to the receiver, you will need to run a cable indoors. For this purpose, as a rule, a coaxial cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms is used. When choosing, you should pay attention to the rigidity of its sheath, since in winter frosts a too rigid sheath may crack, which can affect the quality of the transmitted signal.
Self-installation and Setup
Many buyers of satellite equipment kits believe that it is impossible to install and configure a satellite antenna on their own. This is not true. The most important tool for setting up a satellite antenna is a compass, which is used to point the antenna in the desired direction. Which direction to point the antenna in your area can be found out from the provider or a specialist of the selling company.
After the direction is chosen, the installation location should be adjusted so that there are no visible obstacles creating interference in the direction of signal reception, such as trees or buildings. Finally, the receiver is connected to the converter using an antenna cable, and fine tuning is performed. The signal level according to the receiver readings should be 60% or more.
It is worth noting that the prices for equipment setup services from the provider are not too high, so to avoid possible difficulties during self-installation, it makes sense to turn to professionals for the service.