How Does Satellite TV Work

Satellite TV is a buzzword among the techno-buff community as well as the television viewers. How does satellite television work? How do satellites facilitate television-viewing? An understanding of the technology behind the working of a satellite TV can provide us with the answers. Let's find them.

What is Satellite TV

Satellite TV is the television system wherein communication satellites orbiting the Earth bring about the transmission of television signals. It is a wireless system that facilitates the relay of TV programs by means of satellite communication. In many countries around the world, satellite television services are used for providing the consumers with more number of TV channels and a wider range of services. Do you know when the first satellite TV signal was relayed? It was way back in 1962 that the first satellite television signal went from Europe to the Telstar satellite over North America. Anik 1, a domestic geostationary satellite of Canada was the first of its kind to carry television signals. From then, there was no looking back and the popularity of satellite television continues to rise.

How does Satellite TV work?

The satellites that aid the transmission of television signals have elliptical or geostationary orbits. The satellite television setup consists of a transmitting antenna or uplink satellite dishes pointed towards specific satellites. The dishes have large diameters, which help in increasing the signal strength and enable accurate aiming at the satellite.

The satellite houses transponders, which receive signals from the antenna. The uplinked signals are tuned to a frequency range that corresponds to that of the transponders. The transponders retransmit the signals back to Earth. Before they are retransmitted, the signals undergo a process of translation wherein they are transmitted at a different frequency band in order to avoid interference with the uplink signal.

Dish Network TV Guide

The Dish Network TV guide allows you to install the service by entering the zip code and selecting the satellite. The Dish Network program guide has a calendar-like interface and shows channel number and channel name. It also shows the start and end time of a show, and the time left for the current show to end.

With Dish Network, the viewer can browse through the schedule while seeing a show. The Dish Network TV guide shows the MPAA rating of the movie, which can be G, PG, PG-13 or R. It also shows the names of the actors and actresses in the movie. It also indicates whether the TV show is close captioned or not. Close captioning means the viewer sees subtitles on screen. The viewer also sees the names of the characters on screen, and other information such as whether the character is screaming or whispering. The Dish Network programming guide also indicates whether the sound is in stereo or not. If it is in stereo, the sounds coming from the left and right speakers are different, unlike in mono in which the sounds coming from both the speakers are same.

The viewer can plan ahead with the Dish Network TV guide, because it shows what's on TV tomorrow and even the day after tomorrow. With Dish Network guide, it is possible to group shows together, according to the theme or the type of show. For example, the guide groups all news shows or sports shows together. Other categories are movies, family, education, series, music and religious. The viewer can also search for a TV show or movie, by using keywords such as title or name of actor.

The viewer can make a custom guide, which is a list of all his favorite channels. The viewer can also be notified when a TV show or movie is on by setting the timer. The viewer can also use the event timer as an alarm clock. The auto-tune feature automatically changes to a particular channel at a specific time. The Dish Network program guide also shows the news and weather and allows users to play games.

Home Theater Projectors

With the advent of home theaters the craze of watching movies in a real theater has faded out to a considerable extent. More and more people are looking forward to watch the much awaited and most favorite movies in the cozy comfort of their homes. Therefore the new buzzword is Home Theater. Home Theater consists of a projector and a screen.

Home Theater Projector
The projector is the device that helps in displaying the image as a response to an image output signal from the image supply apparatus like the computer or the DVD player. Initially projectors were used for conferences and meetings, presentations, exhibitions and demonstrations and those projectors were known as data projectors since they only displayed statistical graphs, surveys and documents but now they are being used for the purpose of entertainment.

Home theater projectors refer to the Front Projectors, which are ceiling mounted or placed on a shelf or in the most common cases placed on a table. It can also be used in a rear screen arrangement but then space poses a problem for rear screen arrangement. Most of the home theaters are widescreen-producing images. They are designed to operate in a dark room to facilitate clear picture, if that is not possible you a more powerful projector should be chosen. Modern Home Theater projectors use technology like The LCD, DLP and LCOS. Each technology is being tried and each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Most of the projectors are networked essentially with a receiver, a Home theater PC, speakers, screen, DVD player, cable box and a satellite box. Built-in or All-in-one home theaters are also available in the market. The rear projector consists of an image generator, which generates a projection image, a case that accommodates the generator, a reflection mirror and a transmissive screen. The reflection mirror reflects the projected image.

Home theater projectors generate a big picture that is not appropriate for small rooms. The other disadvantage is that the light has to be minimum since the pictures are projected with the help of a light source and any other light coming from any other source interferes with it. To have the best results the home theater has to be dedicated with a separate room, which is dark and is big enough for all the paraphernalia of the projector and the home theater.The cost of a projector can cost more than the television or the screen to be precise. The projectors can cost around $3000.

Best HDTV for Gaming

The latest trend in the international market is HDTV. People everywhere are opting for it and searching for the best deals available in it. HDTV (High Definition Television) has changed the look and technology of our standard TV sets and given us a new vision that defines the meaning of clarity. If you want to know the difference between HDTV and standard TV sets, just keep them adjacent to each other and you will notice the difference of the picture. You will obviously feel that HDTV is a better purchase. Now people all over the world like to view their favorite movies and TV shows on the latest HDTV for the better picture quality. In this large group of people, there exist gamers who like to see their games played on a clear screen which offers a better resolution and the search for best HDTV for gaming is an important task for a dedicated gamer.

Display is everything when you play games, so it's quite obvious that you need to know about the best HDTV for gaming. Never be under the impression that a big monitor is enough for perfect gaming, it's also very important that you have the best HDTV brand that offers you a much better picture and brightness than a standard television set.

Best LCD HDTV for Gaming

Gamers are always advised to purchase LCD TVs as they don't suffer from common heating or burning problems, they are available in many screen sizes and recently have become very affordable. When you think of buying the best HDTV for gaming, it's recommended that you purchase a model which has a PC input and minimum 3 HDMI inputs so that you can play your various game consoles like PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii game console. Many new models of HDTV come with a game mode that reduces lag, which is a major concern for many gamers. For more understanding about HDTV, I advise you to read this article on how and which HDTV works to make your gaming experience even better.

Sharp Aquos LCD Gaming TV
The Sharp Aquos for gamers comes with a full 1080p resolution for improved picture quality and 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio which offers you the clearest and a wide range of colors. It also comes with an added feature which is known as the 'Vyper Drive'. This technology eliminates game lag which is a major concern for hardcore gamers the world over. It's also equipped with six side terminals so that you can easily plug in or plug out devices without reaching for the back.

Sony Bravia KDL-42XBR6
Critics call Sony Bravia KDL-32XBR6 a world leader when it comes to picture quality and it stands up to its reputation. It's one of the most preferred brand when it comes to LCD gaming with 1080p and a fairly low input lag. It's loaded with 4 HDMI inputs and has a PC input for connecting all of your HD equipment. The Bravia XBR comes with enhanced features like Xross Media Bar with 3D graphics and an integrated TV guide program which makes it the best 42 inch LCD TV in its class.

Vizio VO32LF SRS
Another LCD which is ideal for gaming is the Vizio VO32LF SRS. It's got surround sound and a high-definition resolution and side terminals for easy access. Vizio TV reviews state that this impressive gaming TV set boasts of a 178 degree viewing angle, so it's a great buy for people who like having friends while playing games. For great sound quality, include an SRS Labs TruSurround XTTM.

Closed Captioning For Movie Theaters

Have you ever been to a crowded movie and been distracted by the audience? Between the whispering and laughing, popcorn crunching, and sometimes even cell phones ringing, outside noise can really ruin your movie-watching experience. Closed captioning would certainly solve this problem. As of right now, closed captioning is mandatory for virtually all television programs, as required by the FCC. Can movie theaters be far behind?

Consider all the benefits of closed captioning. Most importantly, closed captioning makes TV accessible for the deaf community. It can also be a helpful tool for those who don't have a good grasp on the English language. Finally, closed captioning is beneficial for any person who just wants to watch their favorite TV show among the distractions of everyday life. Now how would this translate to the big screen?

Of course, all the above benefits would still remain, but with the added element of the crowd. Movie theaters are crowded places. Closed captioning would alleviate those issues and make the experience a better one for everyone. Not to mention the benefits for the deaf community. In fact, ever since silent movies gave rise to the "talkies", the deaf and hard of hearing community have been excluded from a pastime that almost all Americans enjoy. With the integration of closed captioning, the deaf community would for the first time in their lives be able to enjoy an outing to the movies just as others have done for decades.

How to Watch Live TV on Your Computer

Learn why and how to watch live TV on your computer. Driving through evening, home-bound, traffic can be a nightmare. When you reach home from work, it is most likely that the muscles of your forearms, palms and fingers are too tensed from gripping the steering wheel tightly. With the ears still ringing from the blaring horns, you open the door, with hunched shoulders, search the remote to put on your favorite TV show or radio channel. Are you still depending on the Cable TV or Dish networks satellite TV provider for your entertainment? What these entities offer you is limited entertainment, because, once you hire their services you cannot go beyond the TV channels they offer. Wake up man, it is time to know, how to watch live TV on your computer. It is an option that can release you from the being tied down to Dish and cable TV providers. Surely, you must have heard about Internet TV, which is also referred to as satellite Internet or PC satellite TV. If you are not too versatile with computers and Internet technology and want to know, "Is it possible to watch live TV on your computer?", go ahead and read about it.

Internet TV

Because of the advent in the Internet technology, you are now on the verge of being free to choose and watch any one of the 3,500 live TV channels that can be accessed through your desktop computer. The increased speed at which the information, now, flows across the Internet and the availability of the much bigger bandwidth than before, has made this thing possible. There are some website that are allowing the Internet users to access and view live TV show. Most of these website channels, unlike cable and dish TV providers, are not charging any fee to their user. The users can choose from not only American TV channels but can also search and view the channels that are transmitted for individuals living in the far away places like Asia, South Africa, Middle East, Europe and Australia. This facility gives a broad minded person, who is willing to devote time for learning about different cultures, customs and traditions, not only for more avenues of entertainment but also, a wide range of possibilities to explore. The information ranging from the archeology to zoology is transmitted on these channels which a person, with special interests at his heart, can find useful in satisfying his quest for the knowledge. This mode of watching the live TV channels is dubbed as the Internet TV and is considered as the prominent example of how Internet is a far more powerful tool of entertainment. In addition, the Internet TV allows you to listen to more than 13,000 radio channels.

Game Shows Online

Family Feud, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Sound familiar? Yes folks, these are some of the most talked about and popular game shows. Even though some of the game shows have gone off the air, they are still one of the favorite shows for many. I remember when I was little, I used to watch Family Feud with my grandmother. She used to try so hard to get the first word on the board. Seeing that game on television, I would always cry in front of my parents and ask them to take me on it someday. But, as luck would have it, it didn't really go as I had planned. Even some of my childhood friends were crazy about it, and that gave us an idea of making our own Family Feud version. We would play that game for hours together and win pretend prizes. Well, all that was in the past and those games are long gone. But the other day, as I was searching for some online games to play on the computer, guess what? I actually found some online game shows.

I really couldn't believe my eyes that these long-forgotten games are available to play on the Internet. So what I did after that is probably not a mystery to anyone (considering I was rambling here about how I always wanted to play them for real). I turned my laptop on, searched for these online game shows, and immediately started playing them. It was probably like more than 2 hours later that I got up from my place and (tried) to get back to work. But it was the most fun I had in a very long time, and these games brought back some forgotten memories from my past. Perhaps you too loved these actual game shows and are searching the online versions of them. Well, in this article, we will tell you which games are available online, what are they all about, how it is played, and where to find these online game shows.

Play Game Shows Online

The best thing about these free online games, some are free trials and some you have to purchase, is that you get to play them and not just watch. These online game shows are extremely fun, great for passing time when bored, and very, very addictive (trust me). So turn your laptops/computers and prdpare yourselves for some fun.

Family Feud
If you have seen this game on television, then you know what kind of questions are asked. For example, the questions could be like "Name the loudest animal in the zoo", "Name something a woman might leave a lipstick mark on", or "Name a country that begins with the letter S."

Of course, there are many possible answers to these questions and to find the top response will get you the maximum points. So to play this game online, all you have to do is go to any website that caters these online game shows, register (only if you're 18 and over), and play for free, without any downloads. The only downfall is that there are too many casino ads coming in-between games that ruins the mood.

TV Commercials Tied to Childhood Obesity

It probably won't surprise parents that the amount of TV their children watch can impact the ability to maintain a healthy weight. After all, watching TV is a sedentary activity, so the more TV a kid watches, the less exercise he or she gets. However, parents must also be aware that the type of TV children watch can have an enormous effect on childhood obesity.

In February 2010, the UCLA School of Public Health issued a press release titled "Childhood Obesity: It's not the amount of TV, it's the number of junk food commercials." Researchers Frederick J. Zimmerman and Janice F. Bell found that children who watch commercial TV programming with junk food commercials are more likely to be overweight than children who watch other types of TV.

Everyone has experienced the siren call of the refrigerator after a commercial for a popular snack chip. The viewer sees the ad, feels a pang of hunger, and checks the pantry. Children have less impulse control than adults, and less awareness of the consequences of their actions.

And children are bombarded with junk food commercials.

For every half-hour television program, there are about eight minutes of commercials. Adult programs come with ads for cars and life insurance and all sorts of things that won't make anyone gain weight, but commercials during children's programs advertise toys and food, and that's about it. This wouldn't matter so much if the food ads touted the benefits of leafy green vegetables and smaller portion sizes. But no, the food commercials advertise high sugar, high fat, high salt, high calorie foods with little to no nutritional value. Junk.

The ads are loud, bright, and entertaining, and they feature attractive people singing catchy little songs that kids hear over and over again in their heads. At the grocery store, many kids sing jingles or re-enact commercials when they see a heavily promoted product. That's a good sign that the children are being brainwashed by junk food companies, and it's the parents' job to put a stop to it.

Biography of Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts is the teen star who earned fame after the success of her popular TV series, Unfabulous, on Nickelodeon. Coming from the family of film stars, Emma wanted to work in movies from the time she was a little girl. She is not only famous for her acting skills, but also for her musical talents. Although Emma started her acting career at the tender age of 10, she attaches lot of importance to education. She has a private tutor who teaches her for three hours everyday, and is also planning to attend college, to pursue higher education.

Background and Education
Emma Roberts was born on February 10, 1991 in Rhinebeck, New York, to film actor Eric Roberts and Kelly Cunningham. Her parents where not married when she was born and separated soon after her birth due to problems in their relationships. Emma lived with her mother most of her life and attended the Archer School for Girls, till the seventh grade.

Film and Music Career
Emma is known to be very close to her aunt, Academy Award Winner Julia Roberts, since she was a little girl, and used to accompany her to shooting locations. This triggered in her a wish to become an actress, but her mother opposed this as she was just a child. However, her debut movie Blow was released in 2001, where she starred as the daughter of the talented actor, Johnny Depp. Later, Robert acted in a short film and also did minor roles in some films.

In 2003, Emma was offered the role as a lead character, 'Addie Singer' in the show Unfabulous, in Nickelodeon. This television show became a great hit among teenagers and made Emma, a teen idol. She also gained a Teen Choice Award nomination for her role in this television series. Her character, in this TV sitcom, encouraged her to begin her music career. On September 27, 2005 her first music album, 'Unfabulous and More: Emma Roberts' was released.

After her successful stint in television, Emma returned to movies with the movie, Aquamarine, in 2006. The same year, she also acted in the movie, Nancy Drew, as the main character. January 2009, saw the release of her film, Hotel For Dogs, which collected a whooping 114 million dollars at the box office. Her movie, Lymelife, was premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. Emma's future projects include Nancy Drew Sequel and Rodeo Gal.