What Is FTA Television?
FTA stands for "free to air," referring to television stations that don't encode their signals before sending them out. That means viewers can pick them up without having to pay for them, unlike stations available through cable, satellite or pay-per-view services. International stations and those in developing countries often use FTA television, though there are many FTA stations in the United States as well.
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Encryption
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Satellite services use encryption methods in their signals, preventing non-subscribers from receiving the stations. Descrambler software in the satellite receiver decrypts the signal and sends it on to your television screen. Many satellite providers also send out FTA television signals at the same time. In order to pick them up, you simply need to point the receiver at the satellite broadcasting them.
Equipment
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While FTA television doesn't charge you to pick up the signal, you still need to purchase the right equipment to receive it. You will need a satellite dish--usually a DTV compliant dish, but you can also use K-band or C-band dishes--along with an FTV receiver to connect to your television. You can purchase both at any electronics store. If you wish to collect FTA signals from more than one satellite service, your dish requires a motor and a low noise block converter array.
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Setup
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Setting up an FTA television system differs little from setting up a regular satellite system. The dish goes on a high spot on your property (usually the rooftop) and must have a clear view of the spot in the sky where the satellite orbits. Once it points in the right direction, you need to run coaxial cable from the dish down and connect it to the receiver. The receiver then connects to the coaxial input jack in the back of your TV. An FTA satellite support service can help with installation, though if you're handy with tools and you know exactly where to point the satellite, you can do it yourself. FTA support services usually charge a fee, but once the satellite dish is set up, you don't need to pay anything more.
Stations
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FTA stations vary by exact location, but include standbys such as PBS and ABC News feeds, as well as local stations broadcasting in your area. Many religious stations broadcast FTA, as do college stations run by students and faculty at a nearby university. FTA television also includes foreign language stations, allowing viewers to pick up programming from Spain, China, Iran, Vietnam and the Middle East.
Revenue
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While FTA television is free once you set up your system, the stations receive revenue in other ways. For public stations like PBS, that means funding from the government and contributors. Religious stations get money from their respective church supporters. College stations have support through their respective schools. Some of them rely upon traditional commercials as well, as do many local stations and those without another form of revenue.
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References
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- Photo Credit Satellite TV image by Bryan Crowe from Fotolia.com
