Satellite internet views. Which satellite internet to choose

There are situations when there is no possibility of connecting a wired Internet, and there are no wireless networks nearby, and traffic via GPRS / 3G channels is either absent or very expensive. For example, you live far from the regional center or in your city the Internet service is poorly developed.

You have the option to connect satellite Internet. To do this, just hang up the "satellite dish", make the appropriate settings and get the coveted access to the worldwide network.

In this article I will tell you what satellite Internet is, what set of equipment you need to purchase and how you can configure the equipment yourself.

The key word, as the name suggests, is Sputnik, which is typically located in the Earth's geostationary orbit. The main function of a satellite is to transmit information from one point on the planet (from a base station) to subscribers located in the satellite coverage area (this is a very large area, which usually includes several countries or the whole European continent).

The coverage area is the main advantage of this technology. For comparison, one tower of a base station of a cellular operator covers an area equal to one block or microdistrict. It is not possible to set up a tower of a cellular operator everywhere, and a signal from a satellite can be received anywhere in the world.

The information broadcast via satellite communication channels is diverse. These are television, Internet data, telephony, and service requests. Each communication standard uses its own data transfer protocols. The Internet, like modern digital satellite television, uses the DVB-S2 format.

Satellite Internet Connection Types

Experts distinguish two types of satellite Internet connection: symmetrical and asymmetric. This difference is primarily associated with the organization of incoming (from the Internet) and outgoing (transmission to the Internet) traffic transmission channels.

1. Symmetric Internet Access implies that data from the satellite and to the satellite are transmitted using one antenna and two (or one) transmitter. The cost of the receiver is about 500-1000 rubles, but for the transmitter the transmitter will have to pay a tidy sum (from 30 thousand rubles). If you buy a complex transceiver at once, then it will cost even more.

It is because of the high cost that this type of connection is not popular with ordinary users.

In this sense, it is much more affordable due to its economy. It implies using only the incoming connection via satellite (i.e. only a cheap receiver is required for the antenna), and the outgoing connection is organized through any terrestrial communication channel.

This can be an old cell phone modem, an analog landline phone (DSL) modem, or a local cable network.

The effectiveness of this type of connection is due to the fact that the user most often uses the Internet to download media content, view email messages or visit social networks. Those. the average user most often sends short requests to the Internet, and downloads large amounts of data from the Internet.

Disadvantages of asymmetric Internet access
  • Due to the low outgoing speed, you will have to refuse online calls via Skype (you can use them, but without video broadcasting).
  • Significant delay in downloading and transferring information (due to the location of the satellite at a considerable distance from the ground), which leads to a decrease in comfort when playing online action games.
  • In heavy rain and snow, the signal quality is insignificant, but decreases.
Organization of satellite Internet

Since the satellite's coverage area is huge, the data is transmitted immediately to all users. In order for a subscriber to select a data channel intended specifically for him, it is necessary to identify his electromagnetic wave (carrier).

The parameters of this carrier are provided by the satellite Internet provider. And they include:

  • carrier frequency (MHz);
  • symbol rate (kbps);
  • type of electromagnetic wave polarization (right / left, vertical / horizontal).

In addition, data from several users is usually present on a single carrier wave. To identify them, special identifiers (PID, LID) and the MAC address of the receiving card (receiver) card are used.

Also, to organize a more reliable connection, special programs (accelerators) are used, which, in addition to encrypting traffic, also compress it, which saves the satellite's frequency resource and helps to increase the data transfer rate.

Equipment selection

A standard set for organizing asymmetric Internet access includes a satellite dish antenna, a feed with a built-in downconverter, a cable and a receiver (DVB card).

The main parameter of the antenna is the diameter of its mirror. The larger it is, the greater the gain, and, therefore, the better signal reception.

Usually the diameter of the antenna mirror is chosen based on the geographic location of the subscriber and the coverage area of \u200b\u200bthe satellite (check with the provider). Most often, antennas with a mirror diameter of 0.6 - 1.5 m are chosen for home use.

A feature of the choice of the mounting location is the need for direct visibility between the satellite and the antenna, as well as the orientation of the antenna to the south (for the inhabitants of Russia, the geostationary orbit is located in the south).

2). Irradiator (converter). The feed is the receiving part of the antenna, which includes a polarizer, a low-noise amplifier and a downconverter (frequency converter).

The polarizer is determined by the type of polarization used (circular or linear). Although there are now models on the market that use both types of polarization.

For the feed, the operating frequency range is also an important characteristic. Satellite Internet providers operate in the Ku-band (10.7 - 12.75 GHz).

For home use, it is preferable to purchase illuminators with two outputs. So you can use one antenna to watch digital satellite TV and to access the Internet.

3). Cable. The main characteristics of the cable are characteristic impedance and attenuation coefficient. The characteristic impedance should be 75 ohms. And with attenuation, everything is simple - the smaller it is, the better. For a cable 10-15 meters long, attenuation can be ignored.

4) .DVB card (receiver). The most popular manufacturers of DVB cards are:

  • TwinHan (twinhan.com);
  • TechnoTrend (technotrend.ru);
  • TechniSat (technisat.com).

The main parameters for choosing a DVB card are the supported data processing protocol and the card interface.

But there is no unambiguous opinion about the interface for connecting the card and cannot be. Here everyone decides for himself. I used a PCI card. It was convenient for me - I inserted it into the computer, connected the cable and forgot about the card.

If you use a laptop, it is better to purchase a DVB-card with USB interface. Just pay attention to the presence of external power.

There is another option, a card with a built-in GPRS modem. In this case, as a rule, there is also an external GSM antenna. Option, in principle, is also not bad.

five). Software usually comes bundled with a DVB card. The main function of the software is to configure the connection, and organize direct asymmetric access to the Internet, i.e. combining two different data transmission networks: satellite and, for example, GPRS / 3G.

Also, accelerators are usually included in the software. The most common software is DVB-Data and Tuner4PC.

Conclusion:

In large cities, wired and wireless Internet is booming now, and there is probably no need to install a satellite dish.

But for non-regional centers and rural residents, most often there is simply no other alternative. Since the number of providers is steadily growing from year to year, this leads to lively competition and, as a result, to lower prices for communication services.

The approximate cost of the equipment will be 2000-3000 rubles. Tariffs for communication services will need to be clarified with the provider (by the way, there are unlimited tariffs).

Another nice addition to satellite Internet is the availability of free access to open satellite television channels.

Do you want to bring the Internet to a cottage, but cable providers offer unfavorable conditions or refuse to work at all in the private sector, since it is easier and more convenient for them to serve an apartment building? Switch to modern satellite internet!

How to connect the Internet from Tricolor in a cottage?

  1. Choose a suitable tariff plan. Our experts, if necessary, will advise you and tell you in detail about the conditions for the provision of communication services.
  2. Buy equipment. You can do this at our authorized dealers, in sales and service centers, in Tricolor branded showrooms in your city.
  3. Install equipment. You can take over the editing, but we recommend entrusting it to professionals. Connecting and installing the kit is a rather difficult task, and the signal quality often depends on how it is performed.

  • The ability to access satellite wireless Internet even in remote locations. Mainly this advantage will be appreciated by residents of the suburban private sector, city cottages, remote settlements.
  • High speed. The speed of data reception / transmission is up to 40/10 Mbit / s, depending on the selected tariff plan. You will be able to easily browse sites with a lot of content, movies, upload and download photos. At the same time, a high speed Internet connection is available even to residents of cottages remote from the city.
  • Convenient personal account. Many operations can be performed through the Subscriber's Personal Account: you do not have to go anywhere or contact intermediaries to pay for services.
  • Developed network. In many cities there are Tricolor branded salons, sales and service centers, authorized dealers work, so you can quickly and easily buy, connect equipment or solve any technical problems when they arise.
  • High level of service. Our technical support specialists are ready to answer your questions at any time convenient for you.

Join Tricolor and enjoy high quality satellite internet at an affordable price!

"Satellite Internet" is a joint project of Tricolor and Eutelsat Networks. Communication services to subscribers are provided by Eutelsat Networks LLC. You can read the terms of service


Internet in a country house

Until recently, the Internet was not available to residents of country houses and remote settlements with an insufficiently developed telecommunications infrastructure, because it is unprofitable for cable providers to lay a network to provide communication with only a few buildings. Such expenses are considered unjustified, and the price of the service may be too high for a person with an average income. Fortunately, today, thanks to the widespread development of satellite communications, it is possible to connect the Internet to a country house, even if your cottage or summer house is located a hundred kilometers from a big city.

How to connect satellite Internet from Tricolor?

First you need to choose the most profitable tariff plan. If you cannot decide on your own, consult our specialists, they will tell you which options are more suitable for you, depending on your needs. Then you need to purchase a relatively inexpensive set of equipment, which includes an antenna system, a transceiver and additional components. This can be done in the sales and service centers, the Tricolor branded showroom or through an authorized dealer.

The next step is connection and installation. You can install the equipment yourself, following the instructions that come with the kit, or you can use the services of specialists. We do not recommend performing the installation yourself if you do not have the appropriate experience, since the quality of communication depends, among other things, on the qualifications of specialists.

What is the advantage of satellite Internet from Tricolor?

The main advantage of satellite Internet is availability even far from the city, in settlements where there are no cable providers. At the same time, we pay special attention to the cost and quality of services so that subscribers are satisfied with cooperation with us. Tricolor also provides a high level of service, round-the-clock technical support and a wide range of tariffs depending on the needs of customers.

With Tricolor, you can easily bring fast wireless and stable internet to your country house!


Internet in a private house

Many residents of private houses face certain difficulties when connecting the Internet: not every provider will agree to lay a cable not to an apartment building, but to a building for one or two families. This is very expensive, and sometimes just impossible, especially if the settlement is located far from the city. Satellite Internet in a private home is a simple, affordable and convenient way to solve the problem. Connect to Tricolor and evaluate this service yourself!

Satellite Internet in a private house from Tricolor

Connecting Tricolor satellite Internet is quite simple: you need to purchase a special set of equipment, which is sold in sales offices, company stores or from Tricolor dealers.

Our advantages:

  1. Availability even in remote areas. Connecting to a satellite is possible even where no cable provider will agree to host the Internet. This is especially true for the private sector remote from the city center.
  2. Good call quality. We offer stable, fast internet, available at any time of the day or night. You can easily not only upload and download photos, view social networks and read texts on sites, but also watch movies in online cinemas.
  3. Reliability. We justify the trust of our subscribers and prove that their needs and wishes are most important to us.
  4. High level of service. If you have any questions regarding the operation of satellite Internet and any other Tricolor service, you can contact the specialists of our Customer Support Service at any time by phone, Skype, e-mail, via social networks or in another way convenient for you.
  5. Acceptable price. The cost of the service depends on the selected tariff.

Find out about all the advantages of the offer in dealerships or by phone and join Tricolor!

"Satellite Internet" is a joint project of Tricolor and Eutelsat Networks. Communication services to subscribers are provided by Eutelsat Networks LLC. You can familiarize yourself with the rules for the provision of communication services by Eutelsat Networks LLC.


Internet outside the city

Connecting the Internet outside the city is always a difficult task, because usually providers refuse to work in the private sector, as it is unprofitable. But outside the city limits there are a large number of gardening associations, cottage settlements, villages, industrial facilities, and a stable high-speed Internet is simply necessary there. If you are familiar with this, contact Tricolor.

Our advantages

  • Various tariffs. You can choose the optimal rate depending on your needs and budget.
  • High signal quality. Satellite Internet from Tricolor will allow you not only to view pages on social networks or purchase goods in online stores, but also watch movies online.
  • Turnkey work. We will help you choose the optimal tariff plan, suggest the addresses of points of sale, and our authorized dealers are always ready to install equipment and conduct satellite Internet.
  • Wide geography. We provide an opportunity to use the available Internet even for residents of Western Siberia. We connect summer cottages, country houses and are ready to work with clients who were refused by cable operators.
  • Customer orientation. Our technical specialists will advise you on various issues at any time of the day. Choose a convenient way to communicate: by phone, Skype, social networks, etc.

How to connect the Internet outside the city from Tricolor

  1. Check out the offered tariff plans and choose the one that suits you. If necessary, contact our specialists, they will advise you, describe the advantages of each tariff and connection features.
  2. Purchase a set of equipment. On our website you can find the addresses of the nearest to you branded showrooms, stores, authorized dealers and sales and service centers of Tricolor, which sell equipment for connecting satellite Internet.
  3. Install and connect the hardware kit yourself or with the help of specialists. Attention: if you do not have the relevant experience, we recommend that you entrust the connection, installation and configuration of the equipment to professionals.

We will be glad to see you among our clients!

"Satellite Internet" is a joint project of Tricolor and Eutelsat Networks. Communication services to subscribers are provided by Eutelsat Networks LLC. You can familiarize yourself with the rules for the provision of communication services by Eutelsat Networks LLC.


Internet to the country house

Satellite Internet at the dacha is not a whim, but rather a necessity, because in the modern world it is important to always stay in touch. But far from the city there are often no power lines, no base stations of mobile operators, and the network coverage is uneven. If you are familiar with this problem, connect satellite Internet from Tricolor.

How to connect the Internet in the country?

The procedure for connecting satellite Internet from Tricolor is the same for the owners of country cottages and for owners of summer cottages. First you need to choose a tariff: contact our specialists, they will suggest the best option, focusing on your needs. The next step is to buy a set of equipment. Choose your nearest company salon, sales and service center or authorized dealership Tricolor and complete your purchase. The third stage is the installation and connection of equipment. You can order this service from specialists or carry out the installation yourself, using the instructions. Please note that in the absence of special skills and experience, it is not recommended to install the kit, since an illiterate connection can negatively affect the quality of the connection.

Benefits of satellite Internet from Tricolor

The main advantage is the ability to provide access to the network even far from the city, where cellular operators do not work. At the same time, satellite Internet has a high speed of data reception and transmission - 40 Mbit / s and 10 Mbit / s, respectively. Tricolor also provides a high level of service: the round-the-clock Customer Support Service is ready to help and answer all questions at any time of the day or night, including on weekends.

Connect the available satellite Internet from Tricolor and follow the news, watch movies in online cinemas, scroll through the feed on social networks, communicate with colleagues without any problems and solve work issues even in the country! We are sure that you will definitely like the price and quality of our services!

"Satellite Internet" is a joint project of Tricolor and Eutelsat Networks. Communication services to subscribers are provided by Eutelsat Networks LLC. You can familiarize yourself with the rules for the provision of communication services by Eutelsat Networks LLC.


Today it is impossible to imagine life without the Internet. But sometimes, due to the difficult terrain, lack of conditions and remoteness of the place of residence, it is difficult to connect to the World Wide Web. In this case, satellite Internet turns out to be irreplaceable. With your own hands, it is enough to simply configure it. If something doesn't work out, you can always call a specialist.

Satellite Internet: what is it

The named type of the Internet is an Internet connection via satellite. In this case, the signal from its terminal is fed to a special antenna, in which the receiver is built, and only then to the computer. It moves across the network at a fairly high speed.

Equipment for setting up satellite Internet is not cheap, but the quality fully justifies all the costs. You can connect satellite Internet with your own hands, for this you just need to buy a set of equipment and follow the instructions.

All necessary programs are installed on the computer. And after the installation of the equipment, it remains only to test the equipment, choose a provider, a tariff and pay for the service.

Types of satellite connection

Satellite Internet is divided into two types: one-way and two-way. You can set up one and the other satellite Internet with your own hands or call a specialist who will do it much faster.

In a one-way connection, the incoming signal comes from the satellite, and the outgoing signal goes through terrestrial telecommunications or through the mobile Internet. The speed of one-way (asymmetric) Internet is not so high compared to two-way, but the cost of tariff plans is democratic. This is due to lower costs for return traffic.

With a symmetric Internet (two-way) or VSAT, the incoming and outgoing channels go through the satellite. Communication is carried out through a modem transmitter tuned to the signal. The satellite dish plays here the role of a teleport, transmitting information at a speed of 1 Mb / s. This kind of Internet is expensive, but the quality is excellent.

Due to its high cost, two-way is rarely used, mainly for organizations located far from large cities. The asymmetric version is more popular and affordable for ordinary subscribers.

Operating principle

If you connect the satellite Internet with your own hands, then the principle of its operation will be as follows. The user uses a proxy server or virtual VPN network to send a signal to the provider, which redirects it to the satellite. The received stream is amplified several times and enters the satellite dish receiver. As a rule, each satellite covers a certain part of the globe, which is equal to an area of \u200b\u200bseveral thousand square kilometers. In this case, the flow rate increases towards the center, and decreases towards the edge.

The receiving head or convector on the plate is connected to the DVB-card located in the PCI slot of the computer. From here the converted signal goes to the user. A satellite can have multiple providers. Before connecting to the Internet, you must select the satellite and the corresponding Internet provider.

Equipment for one-way Internet

To connect one-way satellite Internet with your own hands, you need to purchase a set of equipment. It usually includes:

  1. PCI / USB DVB-S / S2 card. It is distinguished by the fastest possible transmission of the stream from the satellite. Decodes the signal and transmits it to a personal computer.
  2. Satellite antenna. Its choice depends on the provider and the satellite from which the signal is broadcast.
  3. Converter. It is in focus of the satellite dish and receives the signal. Redirects the received stream to a DVB card, where it is further converted. Ku-band converters with linear polarization are often used. In rare cases, a circularly polarized element is used.
  4. Coaxial cable. The converter and DVB-card dock together. To do this, use special connectors with an F-connector.
  5. Modem or telephone. It is used as an outgoing channel with one-way technology. It can be a USB modem with EDGE (GPRS), fiber-optic or ADSL telephone line, dial-up communication.

The complete set of equipment can only be installed according to the instructions. By the way, the device for transmitting the outgoing stream is purchased separately.

Equipment for two-way

When VSAT is connected, data reception and transmission occurs only via satellite channels, and there is no need for additional terrestrial sources. If you install a two-way satellite Internet with your own hands correctly, then weather conditions will not affect its work. To install, you need to purchase:

  1. Ku-band satellite dish. It receives and transmits a signal. The standard diameter is 1.2-1.8 m.
  2. Blocks. Transmitting BUC signal and receiving LNB stream, which are mounted on a satellite dish irradiator. They are universal and suitable for all types of antennas. They are not tied to a satellite terminal.
  3. The terminal responsible for receiving and transmitting a satellite stream.

Two-way Internet allows you to develop high speed data transfer. Works independently of ground equipment. A significant drawback is only its high cost.

Benefits

It is not difficult to install free satellite Internet with your own hands, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the instructions that come with the equipment. The main advantages of such a connection are:

  • low traffic price compared to GPRS and DSL;
  • good speed even with poor performance of the land line;
  • the ability to develop a higher speed than terrestrial connections such as GPRS and DSL;
  • the ability to connect to satellite TV;
  • connection to the Network at any point in the area related to the satellite coverage area;
  • quick commissioning of equipment;
  • ease of use.

You can feel all the positive aspects of using satellite Internet only if you use this service yourself.

Negative sides

Free satellite Internet with your own hands can be connected in a matter of hours. But this type of communication has its drawbacks:

  • the receiving antenna must be strictly oriented to the satellite, otherwise the signal will stop feeding;
  • due to the great distance from the earth (about 36 thousand km), there is a large ping;
  • terrestrial Internet is much cheaper than satellite, especially in big cities. Satellite maintenance costs are quite high, and some of them are borne by subscribers;
  • some satellite companies provide an inappropriate IP address, which causes search engines to malfunction.

Despite the aforementioned disadvantages, satellite Internet remains in demand, and the equipment necessary for its transmission is constantly being improved, which creates a great future for it.

About satellite providers

It is not difficult to set up satellite Internet and TV with your own hands, but at the first stage you should decide on the provider who will provide the service. The most popular are:

  • SatGate;
  • "Rainbow-Internet";
  • "Tricolor-Internet";
  • StarBlazer;
  • Skyds;
  • Lansat;
  • "STV";
  • Gazprom Space Systems;
  • Helios;
  • OpenSky;
  • Spectrumsat;
  • GxSat.

All of them work on satellite DVB-S or DVB-S2 sources. This type of connection allows you to carry out the most popular operations - surfing, sending and receiving data, watching video files. For legal entities, there are individual connection schemes, IP addresses are allocated.

Basically, all providers turn to satellites such as HorBird, Sirius 2, Astra 19.2, Eutelsat, Astra - 2C, Yamal-200-2, etc. in their work. There are a variety of rates in terms of speed and price. There are limit and unlimited. To choose the right provider, you need to determine what function the Internet should perform.

How to connect free satellite Internet with your own hands

Setting up satellite Internet with your own hands is carried out in several stages. First, fix the satellite dish on the wall or roof of the building. The antenna mirror is oriented towards the satellite. The compass will help you choose the desired position, and the satellite coordinates are determined using the Satellite Antenna Alignment program.

The service is installed free of charge and well in advance of equipment installation. The exact coordinates of their location and the location of the satellite are entered into the program. The service provides the angle, azimuth and other data necessary for the correct orientation of the antenna.

Then the DVB-card is inserted into the PCI-slot of the computer. It acts as a satellite modem, receives, converts and transmits a signal.

After the equipment is installed in the system unit, they begin to debug it. This is a complex and time-consuming process. To do this, one person is in front of the computer and monitors the signal from the satellite, which the program will show when it is detected, and the other adjusts the position of the dish.

If the setting is carried out by one person, then in the program he can select the function of sound notification, and he himself will adjust the antenna. Instead of a DVB card, an external card is installed in a laptop, connected via a USB connector. After installing all the components, the equipment is tested.

To completely resolve the issue of how to make satellite Internet with your own hands, it takes a professional about two hours.

Free Internet via a satellite dish with your own hands: myth or reality?

You can set up free Internet via a satellite dish yourself if you have certain knowledge. But for these purposes, you will need special equipment.

The satellite does not transmit a signal to any one device, but sends a stream to all devices capable of receiving it. Subscribers paying for the service receive already filtered information corresponding to the client's request. Foreign traffic bypasses it.

Those who want to use satellite Internet for free should take into account that this type of connection will have a very specific format. There will be a lot of haphazard traffic, which will cause certain difficulties. And although there are filters that can select the necessary files in this situation, this type of communication is unlikely to give pleasure and will allow you to enjoy all the possibilities of the Internet.

About tariffs

After you have connected the Internet via a satellite dish with your own hands, you should decide on the provider and tariffs. All tariffs are divided into the following types:

  • with payment for the amount of used traffic;
  • conditionally unlimited, where a certain amount of traffic is already included (exceeding the norm is paid additionally);
  • unlimited, with a fixed subscription rate;
  • for legal entities.

The Internet is cheaper at night than during the day, and can be unlimited. Each subscriber in his personal account is given the opportunity to independently manage services, increase the speed, and switch to another tariff plan.

For one-way connections, additional upstream charges may apply. The cost of incoming traffic for 1 MB fluctuates around 0.5-1.5 rubles. The price for an unlimited tariff, depending on the speed (from 500 Kb / s to 4 Mb / s), varies from 500 to 1200 rubles.

Two-way satellite Internet will cost more, but the data transfer rate is much higher here and reaches 10 Mb / s. The monthly subscription fee ranges from 600 rubles. up to 20 thousand rubles.

Cost of equipment

You can also connect satellite Internet to a private house with your own hands. The price of equipment based on asymmetric technology, together with a modem for the outgoing signal, will be about 5 thousand rubles. Ready-made kits are more expensive. The price of finished equipment for two-way reaches 30-70 thousand rubles. Each kit contains a subscription to a specific provider.

Due to the large number of wireless networks, satellite Internet is losing its popularity. However, in those regions where it is not possible to use the services of terrestrial operators, it remains the only alternative.

Today we can see more and more satellite dishes. This type of television and the Internet has been gaining momentum lately due to its ease of installation, its availability and image quality. Thanks to satellite television (STV), now even remote settlements can receive good quality television and a decent number of channels. At one time, I was carried away by satellites, but then it was hard, since the information had to be collected bit by bit, and the scientific method of "typing", trial and error, was the most progressive.

Imagine there is a transmitter on the ground that transmits a high-frequency (television, Internet) signal into space in the direction of a satellite located in a geostationary orbit located above the equator at an altitude of 35786 km. A feature of this orbit is that the satellites located on it move at a speed equal to the speed of the Earth itself, i.e. one revolution in 24 hours, and for a person on Earth, they seem motionless relative to the surface of the earth. Therefore, the antennas aimed at these satellites are also stationary.

The signal received by the satellite is amplified and transmitted by its transmitters (transponders) to a certain territory of the Earth, called coverage area... Due to the fact that the satellite is located at a high altitude above the surface of the planet, the signal transmitted by it is received over an area reaching several thousand square kilometers. But its signal strength (power) is not the same everywhere, in the center it will be maximum, and closer to the edge it will gradually weaken, since in its shape and properties it resembles a ray of light. Usually transponders are directed to a specific part of the land. Here is an example of a map of the coverage area of \u200b\u200bthe EutelsatW4 satellite transmitting television channels "TricolorTV" and "NTV-PLUS" to the European part of Russia.

The figure shows the maximum signal in single color, or reliable reception area... The lines indicate the boundaries of the reception areas, and the numbers (52 dBW, 48 dBW, 42 dBW) indicate the signal strength. Therefore, the further from the zone of reliable reception, the weaker it is, which means that a satellite dish is needed with a larger diameter. The table gives approximate ratios of the received signal power level and the antenna diameter required for this; in any case, it is advisable to take the dish with a margin so that the signal deterioration caused, for example, by atmospheric precipitation, does not lead to a deterioration of the picture. This is especially true for satellite Internet.

The frequencies on which satellite programs are transmitted are much higher than the frequencies of terrestrial television, so special antennas resembling the shape of a "dish" are used to receive them. A receiving head (converter) is installed on it, which is connected with a cable to the receiver, and he, in turn, to the TV. Those. the signal from the satellite, falling on the surface of the dish, is reflected and focused on the head (feed) of the converter, which additionally irradiates the surface of the antenna (mirror) for more complete removal and amplification of the received signal. At the output of the converter, the amplified and converted into a lower frequency signal is fed through the cable to the input of the receiver, and from its output, already processed into a conventional television format, is fed to the input of the TV.

For the Internet, everything is the same, only instead of the receiver, a DVB card is used, installed in the PCI slot of the computer. It performs the same functions as the receiver, only the received data from the satellite transmits to the computer, which already processes them at the software level. Satellite TV channels are also received on the DVB card.

It must be said that signals are transmitted from satellites both in the public domain and in encrypted ones. Publicly available television channels are called “ open»(Free To Air - FTA) or free. They are on almost any satellite, but among them there are few Russian-speaking ones, and they, as a rule, are not constant and do not carry useful information. These channels can be received by any satellite receiver.

Channels transmitted in encrypted access are commercial and protected from unauthorized viewing, that is, “ encoding". To view them, you need receivers with built-in decoders that are compatible with the selected coding system, since each satellite provider uses its own signal coding system. For example, "NTV-PLUS" broadcasts encoded Viaccess, "TricolorTV" in DRE-Crypt, and the package "RadugaTV" broadcasts from the ABC-1 satellite encoded Irdeto... Therefore, to view these packages, a subscription is made with a Pay TV provider.

In general, at the moment there are a lot of encodings, here are the most common: Conax, Nagravision, Seca, Alphacrypt.

As for the Internet, here you also choose a satellite provider and conclude an agreement with him, having previously determined which providers are available in your region, and how confidently the signal from the selected satellite is received. Since there can be several Internet providers on one satellite, for more information, refer to the website of the provider itself, or to the forums dedicated to satellite Internet.

How to connect and configure satellite Internet, read in one of the upcoming posts.

Currently, satellite antennas of two types are widely used, these are direct focus and offset, but offset antennas are the most widespread for individual reception of satellite television and the Internet.

An offset antenna is like a cut out segment of a parabola, and has an oval shape. Thanks to this shape, the signal is focused below the center of the antenna, and the installed converter does not cover part of the mirror with its shadow, as in direct focus ones, thereby increasing the efficiency of the antenna. Again, due to their shape and signal reception, they are installed almost vertically, which allows them to be mounted on any vertical surface, and also have the ability to install several converters, depending on the diameter of the dish, to receive several satellites located nearby.

For a direct focus antenna, the converter is located in the center, shading some part of the mirror, and therefore they are made initially with a larger diameter, which makes it possible not to take into account the area of \u200b\u200bthe mirror covered by the converter. Due to the large angle of inclination to the horizon, when tuning to the same satellite, it will stand more “horizontally” than offset. It is inconvenient to mount such an antenna on the wall of the building, for which you will have to make a long outboard bracket. But, since it is absolutely round, it allows the most efficient use of the area of \u200b\u200bits mirror, and about 10% of the area of \u200b\u200ban offset plate is not used due to its shape. For these reasons, direct focus antennas are manufactured in large sizes and are used in professional reception, where quality is most important.

Antennas are made most often from a thin metal sheet or aluminum with a diameter of 0.6-3.0 m. The most widely used aluminum, which has good reflective properties, does not rust, is lightweight, relatively durable. He has only one drawback - he is soft. When buying, pay attention that it has no mechanical damage, dents, bends of the "propeller" type, because it will be very difficult to set it up, and it may not work at all.

It must also be said about this that signal transmission from satellites is carried out in different polarizations (linear - vertical, horizontal and circular - left, right), therefore, to receive it, it is necessary to use a converter for the desired range and desired polarization.

In total, there are two frequency ranges in which broadcasting from satellites is carried out, this is the C-band, which occupies the region from 3.5 - 4.2 GHz, and the Ku-band from 10.7 to 12.75 GHz. Moreover, the Ku-band is divided into three more sub-bands:

FFS (Fixed Satellite Services) -10.7 - 11.7 GHz;
DBS (Direct Broadcast Services) -11.7 - 12.5 GHz;
BSS (Broadcast Satellite Services) -12.5 - 12.75 GHz.

For example, to receive TricolorTV channels, a converter is used that works only in the upper part of the Ku-band “DBS” in circular polarization. Such a converter only accepts TricolorTV channels, and does not receive channels from satellites broadcasting in linear polarization.

Therefore, when choosing a set of equipment, it is imperative to know in what range and in what polarization the broadcast from the selected satellite is conducted. If we buy a ready-made set of "TricolorTV", "NTV-PLUS", "RadugaTV", then the provider has already taken care of everything for us. But for an independent choice of television or Internet providers, you will have to look for these parameters yourself on the website of the satellite provider in order to choose the right dish and converter.

How to choose the right plate and converter read in subsequent posts.

For more information on which TV channels and Internet providers are on a particular satellite, as well as on which transponder frequencies they are transmitted, please visit www.lyngsat.com.

If you figured out how satellite reception works, feel free to skip to the next article. In it, I describe in detail how to do it myself without the help of specialists.
Good luck!