6 things to know about DTH
If you are considering a DTH connection now, there are certain things that you should know before jumping into the new commitment. You should understand what a DTH connection is and how everything would be set up at your home. The concept of DTH started to become popular in India in 2004. Popular DTH operators started offering their services from 2006. With cable Internet becoming digitised and lots of new regulations coming up, let us understand what DTH is all about.
- DTH means Direct-to-Home - With everyone calling the service as DTH, there is some confusion about what it actually is. DTH stands for Direct-to-Home as the satellite programmes would be received with a personal dish in individual homes. DTH offered stiff competition to local cable operators from the beginning. The consumer comes directly in touch with the broadcaster. Cable operators receive satellite programmes and distribute them to individual homes.
- DTH has a simple working - DTH consists of a broadcasting centre along with DTH receivers, encoders, satellites, multiplexers and modulators. The service provider leases Ku-band transponders from the satellite. The encoder converts video, audio and data signals into digital formats and then the multiplexer sends the signals on the appropriate channel. The user has a small dish antenna and set-top boxes that decode the numerous channels. The receiving dishes on the side of the user are about 45 centimetres in diameter.
- DTH is quite different from cable TV - DTH reaches the address of the consumer very differently compared to cable TV. TV channels are transmitted from the satellite to a small dish antenna in the house of consumers. Thus the broadcaster is directly connected to the user. DTH can be used in the most remote locations as there is no requirement of an intermediate cable operator.
- No need to have multiple connections from two TVs in the same premises - If there are multiple connections in the same place, there does not need to be multiple connections. However, every television would need to have an individual set-top box. Consumers can change the service provider without changing the set-top box. Airtel DTH offers the best connection at present.
- DTH services are superior to cable - DTH offers much better quality compared to cable TV operators. This is because of the fact that cable transmission is analog. You can get stereophonic sound effects from DTH and it can reach remote areas where it is difficult to put up miles of cable wires. DTH also offers interactive TV services.
- DTH has become comparable to cable services in terms of prices - In recent days, DTH services are almost comparable or cheaper than your local cable operators. You can check out Airtel Digital TV plans if you are hoping to get the best services at low costs.
These are the 6 things you need to know about DTH.