DirecTV has been associated with satellite dishes throughout the 90s and up until now. That gigantic round antenna hanging on houses turned into a sign of wealth, if one had it installed, he or she could watch more programs than what cable could provide, and in a much clearer picture. However, it is important to note that today, DirecTV comprises much more than satellite and has cable-like service without the dish. Thus, does DirecTV still employ the dish or did they make the entire conversion to cable-style transmission?
The Short Answer
Even today, the service provided by DirecTV is the main dependent on satellite dishes. The dish and the satellite network remain elements of the DirecTV system for the majority of the users. But DirecTV does provide some options for homes that cannot install a dish, for instance, due to a roof. Their latest service, DirecTV Stream provides content through the internet without using satellite devices. However, as technology progresses, there is a variety of food choices that do not require a dish, and, thus, the dish serving is not as popular as it used to be.
The significance of the Satellite Dish of the DirecTV
In general, it can be stated that for most DirecTV customers, a satellite dish remains an indispensable element. The receiving dish is a curved plate that links your home to other DirecTV satellites that orbit around the world. The satellites send signals to the dishes using DirecTV signals across the country. Since you don’t get any programming if there isn’t a dish picking up this signal and routing it to your receivers, then your satellite system would lack programming.
They are of different diameters but the major one found in most homes is of 18-inch width. Larger dishes were used in the earlier years to get the best signal possible as it tends to diminish with area size. Equipment refreshes mean smaller dishes can also get a good signal. It is installed outside your home with a clear vision of the southern sky where the satellites are positioned. The final link is then made with a coaxial cable from the dish to your DirecTV receivers to finish the circuit.
Hence, satellite dish retains its strategic position as the first important delivery chain in the system. However, despite advances in new technologies the satellite TV platform still drives the base Direct TV service.
DirecTV: Other Services Provided by the Dish
Knowing the fact that satellite dishes often cause installation issues with some of its subscribers, DirecTV has introduced alternatives that come without any dish.
For those people residing in apartments or anyone who cannot afford to fix a dish, DirecTV has internet streaming options. That began with DirecTV Now in 2016 and has continued with the most recent Stream, internet-streaming mirrors the DirecTV channel package without cables protruding from the windows.
These internet-based services are similar in the receivers and the interfaces as the satellite DirecTV. But instead of beaming in from outer space, the video streams over a broadband connection, which means the concept can be adapted to similar platforms. This makes it possible for anyone to be a DirecTV customer whether he lives in a house with any kind of structure or trees that hinder easy installation of the dish.
A disadvantage is that Web-Streaming, which offers DirecTV Online is different and does not allow viewers to watch some of the regional sports networks that are available to satellite subscribers. Still, many live games are restricted to be only on satellite by the broadcast. And since videos consume the data, you’d better have a strong broadband connection before you say ‘bye’ to the dish.
A similar dishless experience is achieved by franchise arrangements with certain apartment buildings. In these properties which have common satellite equipment, residents can connect their DirecTV service by installing wiring that is already existing. The setup is almost like a normal satellite, only instead of having a large dish on your patio, you’ll have it on your roof.
Equally, the same businesses have central dish farms that transmit DirecTV programming to different rooms without having any satellite in sight. But again, these situations still employ a dish technically, and subscribing customers aren’t going to have to install anything or rig their building for it. Responsibility for equipment requirements remains with the owner of the property where such events are to be held.
The Future: Will Dishes Be Missing?
As we look into the future, one should not rule out the DirecTV dish to vanish from the scene in the immediate future. In this respect, satellite TV remains the cheapest way that DirecTV can use to spread its service to millions of homes with hundreds of entertainment programs. So far only large terrestrial antennas and cable wires can match those scales of operation.
Consuming terabytes of video monthly would be devastating for most home internet plans in America. And we would experience something that no one likes, especially gamers – the return of buffering and low bandwidths. Streaming is good for delivering programs as it does not follow the traditional on-air pattern. But to stream hundreds of always-on channels is not a viable business proposition as well as a technical possibility at the moment for the majority of ISPs.
With the help of the fast speed of 5G internet and with better compression for video there can be a situation where we see videos in real-time with no delays in buffering. When that day comes, you might see the satellite dishes begin to retire. But for now, that old 18-inch orbital antenna will just keep on bringing all those videos from the stars right into homes all across the nation.
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