What Is DTH Service?

DTH stands for “direct to home.” The idea behind DTH is to benefit the homeowner/television viewer because it gives the individual residence the opportunity to receive satellite programming using an individual dish at the home. This is the method for accessing dozens of television channels without using a cable system. In essence, the broadcast source is connecting directly with the viewer in the home.

DTH is possible if all the pieces of a network are operating efficiently. This network includes the broadcast source, which sends program signals to satellites orbiting the earth; various electronic equipment that codes and decodes the signals, modulates signals etc.; and the DTH receivers at the other end of the network. The different signals (audio, video, data) have to be converted and the signals are mixed in equipment called multiplexers. When the homeowner/viewer wants to watch a program, they must have a dish antenna and the equipment in the home that allows the viewer to choose a program.

What separates this system from the traditional cable system is the direct reception of the program signal by the user. In a cable system, the company’s tower’s receive the signals from satellites and then transmit the signal to the homes through physical cables. A DTH system essentially bypasses the cable path.

Because the satellite signal is transmitted directly to a receiving “dish” on the roof or other location belonging to the end user, the weather may be a factor in reception. Satellite signals sent directly to smaller dishes can be affected by inclement weather and other interference problems.

Also known as direct-broadcast satellite systems, this television network had a predecessor in the original DTH system that required much larger reception dishes than the small ones that are used today.

In earlier years, some satellites had less power, making it necessary for receivers to use larger dishes. The expense and bulk made it less likely that a homeowner/end user would have this capability. Changes in technology on both satellites and in the reception dishes have made the use of DTH much more widespread.

An example of the recent developments is the beginning of DBS in Europe only two decades ago. Satellites and other expensive equipment were paid for by national money or large consortiums and few homeowners were involved with private dishes because of size and expense. In conjunction with this limited use, there were fewer channels available.

Today, hundreds of choices are available in DTH viewing. The number of direct-TV homes has exploded in the last few years, right along with the number of programs offered. Some of the early receiving dishes were nearly 2 meters in diameter. Smaller dishes were used just a few years later, with 1.2 meter diameters in many European applications. In many countries around the world today, DTH systems send program signals to highly refined dishes on private property.These dishes are often half the size of those reception dishes mentioned. Some are as small as 60 cm in diameter.

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