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Or visit our free satellite receivers page to learn how to get a free satellite system when you start new service from either DirecTV or the Dish Network.

Satellite Receivers: See eBay's satellite receiver listings.

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Satellite TV Receivers

In our opinion, the name satellite receivers is a bit of a misnomer. It is actually the job of the parabolic satellite antenna to receive the signals that satellites in space beam to Earth. And the satellite receiver (which didn't do any of the receiving at all) processes the signal and makes it useful to the television viewer.

The satellite receiver specifically does:

• DBS satellite television providers want to make sure that viewers don't see their programming without subscribing, so they encrypt their signals. Satellite receivers will de-scramble the satellite signal of a particular provider, with the aid of an access card.
• A satellite in space will transmit signals to Earth in a digital MPEG-2 format, and most people's television sets cannot process digital signals at this point (though a growing number of people now have digital-ready televisions). Therefore, the satellite receiver has to convert the signal into an analog format. If you do have a digital-ready TV, though, consider getting HDTV satellite receivers.
• Satellite TV receivers must sort out all of the different signals that the antenna receives. Also, when you change the channel on your TV set, the satellite receiver must extract just that signal from the lump of signals it has to process. This means that every television set in the house needs its own receiver, but this is no big deal. New subscribers can up to five receivers for free from either DirecTV or the Dish Network. Read below to find out more...
• Some satellite receivers are capable of having DVRs (digital video recorders) built in.
• A programming channel guide is displayed by the satellite TV receiver.
• They let parents use lock-out options.
• They'll alert the providers when you watch pay-per-view programs.

If you're in the market for a satellite receiver on its own (say if you are putting your own C-band satellite system together), follow the yellow shopping link at the top of the page.

But if you're not a satellite enthusiast and just want to start new satellite service and get your equipment for free, visit our free satellite TV dish page.

Learn about other pieces of electronic and satellite equipment: