Which satellite TV is better to choose: TOP 6 best options

Today in Moscow and indeed throughout Russia, television is still a fairly popular way to have fun or find out information. And there are a lot of ways to “receive” television. For example, you can connect free digital television to your TV, cable TV, or Internet TV.

But let's take a larger situation. In places far from urban infrastructure, for high-quality television you need to install a satellite dish, and connecting satellite TV is the only right solution.

In this article, experts from Obzor-Expert.com will tell you which satellite television is best to choose from the options that can be found today.

A few words about satellite television: what is it?

Before you figure out which operator you should choose, you need to understand what satellite television itself is.

Satellite television is a special television system in which the signal from the source to the consumer is transmitted through artificial satellites. They are located in the orbit of our planet and provide a high-quality signal distributed over large areas.

Each satellite television operates using a number of equipment:

• satellite antenna;
• receiver or CAM module;
• converter;
• smart card.

Important! As a rule, the use of a special receiver was previously required. Today TVs do not need it; a CAM module is enough to operate satellite TV.

You need to purchase special equipment to connect satellite TV.
Satellite television has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at them.

pros

• good quality signal;
• high video resolution;
• Possibility of connection in hard-to-reach areas;
• a large number of channels.

Minuses

• constant payment of subscriptions;
• purchase of expensive equipment.

If you want to connect to satellite television, a potential user has only two options for purchasing equipment. The first involves the purchase of specific equipment. For example, if you connect to MTS, you need to purchase equipment from the same operator. The second involves the purchase of universal equipment, however, it takes a long time to set up.

The most interesting situation arises when channels are cut. People inevitably encounter this in two cases:

• inexpensive package;
• third party equipment.

And if everything is clear about the package, then third-party equipment is the number one problem for many. As a rule, manufacturers, when promoting their television, try to sell only their equipment. Therefore, the masters, seeing someone else’s equipment, cut down the packages.

You need to have a universal option that can do everything you need

Telecard

The Telekarta operator (aka Continent TV) has 4 basic tariffs and 12 thematic channel packages for an additional fee. The main tariffs are as follows:

• Pioneer - 85 channels, 75 rubles per month (800 rubles per year);
• Master - 145 channels, 149 rubles per month (1400 rubles per year);
• Leader - 225 channels, 249 rubles per month (1990 rubles per year);
• Premier - 250 channels, 399 rubles per month (3990 rubles per year).

The operator broadcasts in both SD and HD formats. Satellites cover all of Russia well, with the exception of the most extreme regions (for example, the Kaliningrad region or the Sakhalin Peninsula). The operator broadcasts from three different satellites:

To connect, you need a satellite receiver, a dish with a Ku-signal converter with a diameter of at least 75 cm, an antenna cable with a connector and a satellite operator card. Moreover, you can buy your own equipment, and only purchase a card from the operator.

Advantages and disadvantages according to user reviews:

Advantages

three satellites, the largest coverage, many interesting channels in the basic package, cheap multiroom (watching channels on a second TV), the ability to use third-party equipment with an operator card

Flaws

when connecting with your equipment, only Pioneer and Leader tariffs are available; Premier tariff is available only in HD format; reception is uncertain in the northern regions of Russia

Channels

Each satellite has channels for viewing different content. However, not all of them are open for free viewing, and you need to pay extra for some packages. For example, various music channels, “film” channels, ethnic TV, and the main state ones are free. But the paid ones are more “profile”.

Paid channels broadcast in various encodings, for example, Betacrypt, Irdeto, Nagravision and the beloved Viaccess, which, for example, is used by the NTV Plus operator.

There are three ways to "decode" them and watch them. The first is to purchase cards and a CAM module from the operator if you want to watch on modern TVs. The second is to buy a receiver if you don’t have a cool TV. And the last way is cardsharing. But operators are not very fond of this method, since it is considered an illegal way of viewing.

Not all satellite channels are broadcast in the clear - you need to pay extra for some

Disadvantages of interactive TV

When considering interactive TV, you need to take into account the disadvantages. In order for channels to be broadcast, you will need an STB set-top box. Its price starts from 3 thousand rubles. Often the cost reaches 10 thousand rubles. You won't be able to buy cheaper equipment in the store.

Operators offer customers to purchase the device in installments for 12, 24, 36 months. Monthly payment includes the price of the set-top box from 100 rubles. The control is carried out by a special remote control, which is very convenient for all people. If the telephone line capacity is low, there is a possibility that the connection application will be rejected.

Characteristics of satellite television

There are a number of features that make satellite television stand out from all others. Below, experts from Obzor-Expert.com revealed them.

Important! Some satellite equipment works with the Internet, 3D effects, EPG and subtitles.

Satellite TV has many advantages, and it also has a number of distinctive features from conventional digital TV

Additional NTV Plus packages

Movie

• Premiere
• Cinema club
• TV-21 M

Night

• Night Channel (Hustler)
• Russian night
• Playboy TV

Family

• Nostalgia
• MTV-Russia
• Kitchen-TV
• Nickelodeon
• "Russia 2"
• Carousel
• Disney
• Child's world
• Tiji TV
• TV club
• Home
• RBC-TV
• Russia-Culture
• NTV
• Star
• Gulli
• TVC
• Who is who
• "First"
• Russia 24
• TNT
• Yu-TV
• REN-TV
• Cartoon Network
• Jim Jam
• "Russia"
• "Fifth"
• STS
• Our film

Supersport

• NTV-PLUS Sport
• NTV-PLUS Sport HD
• NTV-PLUS Sport Online
• NTV-PLUS Football
• NTV-PLUS Football 2
• NTV-PLUS Football HD
• NTV-PLUS Basketball
• NTV-PLUS Tennis
• Eurosport 2
• KHL
• Our football
• SPORT

Sport

• NTV-PLUS Sport
• NTV-PLUS Sport HD
• NTV-PLUS Sport Online
• NTV-PLUS Sports Football
• Eurosport 2
• KHL

Viasat

• Viasat History
• Viasat Nature
• Sports TV channel Viasat
• TV 1000 (TV 1000)
• TV 1000
• Russian cinema
• TV1000-Action

Opening

• RTG TV
• OCEAN-TV
• My planet
• Science 2.0
• Outdoor Channel
• Pets
• Da Vinci
• Viasat Explorer
• RTD
• Hunting and fishing
• LIVE!
• First educational
• Education

HD

• Movie
• Sport
• Life
• Eurosport
• Discovery Showcase
• MTV Live
• Nat Geo Wild
• Mezzo Live
• NTV-PLUS 3D
• Animal Planet
• NTV-PLUS Football (2)
• Nickelodeon
• HD Cinema 2
• Sports 1
• MGM

Armenia TV

• Armenia TV

Our football

• Our football

Egoist

• Egoist TV

Leader TV

• LEADER TV - RF

VIP Cinema

• Premiere
• Cinema club
• TV-21 M
• MGM
• Movie hit
• HOME CINEMA
• Illusion +
• Russian Illusion
• EuroKino

Starting

• "First"
• "Russia"
• "Russia 2"
• Russia-Culture
• Russia 24
• "Fifth"
• Carousel
• NTV
• TNT
• STS
• TV Law
• Disney
• Moscow region
• Yu-TV
• Sports Union

[/td]

About satellite television sets: what they consist of

Today you can find a number of kit options from satellite TV operators.

1. Full set . As a rule, such a kit includes a number of elements: a satellite dish, a receiver/CAM module, a converter, several cables for connection (power and HDMI, for example), as well as a warranty card and user documentation.
2. Incomplete set . Unlike the complete set, here you will not find a satellite dish, a cable for it and an LNB converter.
3. Extended kit. Unlike the full set, it includes an additional receiver.

Each of the satellite television sets has its own characteristics

Interactive television

Interactive television appeared in Russia several years ago. Then the improvement of technology began. All popular providers in the country began to offer just such services. What is this connected with?

Interactive television has several advantages. Users have many options that make watching programs enjoyable. They have access to functions such as rewind, record and pause. It is possible to display the program on the screen. There is also integration with popular social networks.

The advantages are associated with rich technical potential. The image quality is excellent, especially for HD channels. The picture looks clear and has no glare or other interference. Channels can be viewed even if there is no standard connection. Providers use a telephone line.

Currently, the Internet is actively developing, so online television is considered one of the most popular. You can watch your favorite programs even at home or very far from it. In addition to accessibility, flexible subscription management is considered an advantage. Among the programs you can choose those that you want to watch at the moment. Moreover, there is no reference to the broadcast time. The subscriber has the right to pause the program and view it at a convenient time. Such moments have earned positive reviews from many users.

Which Internet TV is better to connect? High-quality services are provided by Beeline, MTS. You can choose any company, because each of them has positive reviews. Users like the variety of channels, excellent quality and excellent service.

How to watch satellite TV

Each satellite installation for the home is divided into three important groups.

1. Receiving antenna. It acts as a satellite dish.
2. Outdoor unit. In this regard, everything is simpler. The LNB converter is responsible for the outdoor unit.
3. Indoor unit. This includes a satellite set-top box or a multifunctional TV.

To connect satellite television, the satellite dish must be correctly directed and have the proper gain. In addition, the LNB converter must work properly.

Due to the number of converters, scientists determine from which satellite the signal is taken. This is convenient when standard installation is not possible.

There are situations when satellite television providers use a number of satellite signals to sell their services. And here the following satellite dish configuration can help you.

1. Several LNB converters.
2. Multifeed.
3. DiSEqC

A number of components are needed to ensure communication with satellites.
Having installed all this on a dish with a diameter of at least 85-90 cm, and then making sure that its direction is accurate, it is fixed. If all is well, then you will have access to viewing channels from several degrees (satellites) at once.

Buying a receiver yourself forces you to buy models only from affordable and well-known manufacturers, focusing on the availability and frequency of software updates.

You need to purchase products only from well-known brands

Advantages

Thanks to the global method of transmitting television broadcasts, new opportunities are opening up for both television companies and users:

• broadcasting via satellite requires minimal infrastructure, which allows broadcasting to be deployed quickly and at minimal cost;
• the user, regardless of the communications present and the area in which he is located, will always be able to receive a high-quality signal from the satellite.

Satellite TV significantly benefits in sparsely populated areas where terrestrial digital television has not yet been fully deployed. It is also often used in extremely densely built areas, where it is often necessary to receive only a reflected on-air signal, which is not always of high quality. Compared to other broadcast options:

• the user is given access to hundreds of channels, which terrestrial DTV cannot compare with;
• reception does not require telecommunications, which are used in the supply of cable television.

High-definition television is also supplied from the satellite: HDTV, Full-HD, 4K. Broadcasting occurs in packet data in the DVB-S/S2 digital standard.

The only disadvantages include the expensive cost of the equipment set. Although it is several times higher than the price of a conventional terrestrial antenna, it still remains affordable (within several thousand rubles).

Rating of the best satellite television

Which satellite TV would you choose or recommend?

Take the survey

Digital TV

Now in Russia, instead of an analogue signal, digital TV is more often used. Owners of TVs that have a digital receiver can watch up to 20 channels from a standard antenna. If this is not possible, then you can use equipment such as a receiver. When it is installed, even in the most remote regions of the country you can watch your favorite channels.

Digital TV has high resolution and excellent clarity. There is no interference while watching channels. There is also no monthly fee. 20 channels are provided free of charge. The equipment is very easy to set up, and no special operating conditions are required. Which digital television is better to connect? Such as MTS, Beeline and other companies. Providers provide many channels and competitive rates. Many users praise digital TV for its picture and sound quality.

TOP 6 satellite television operators

Today in Russia you can find a large number of companies promoting satellite television. But we are looking for the best, aren't we? And if so, then you need to take a closer look at only six companies:

• "Tricolor";
• Rostelecom;
• "MTS";
• "NTV Plus";
• "Continent";
• "Telecard".

To choose the best, you need to understand what difficulties you may encounter when installing them. In addition, you need to pay attention to their pros and cons.

TELECARD

TELEKARTA
One of the well-known satellite providers in Russia is Telekarta. It stands out, unfortunately, because it has not very good communications in many places in the country.

Telekarta, although not a “newcomer” on the satellite TV market, today is still inferior to the representatives of the Big Three.

This satellite provider has a ton of offers. For example, Telekarta offers its subscribers a large number of different packages . The minimum cost is 50 rubles per year (Music package). The most expensive of the additional packages costs 500 rubles and adds only nine channels.

pros

• high broadcast quality;
• a large number in HD format;
• loyal customer service.

Minuses

• poor coverage in many parts of the country;
• expensive equipment.

TELECARD

Continent TV

Continent TV
Continent TV and Telekarta are in many ways similar in their operating principles. For example, if you do not pay for a subscription, you are given access to 20 free channels for six months.

Important! The Unlimited tariff for 400 rubles includes only 170 channels of various topics.

To reduce your subscription fee, you can reduce the price for certain channel packages that you are not interested in. This feature has made this provider quite popular.

pros

• you don’t have to pay for channels that are not interesting to you;
• selection of receivers;
• low price for channel packages.

Minuses

• poor coverage in many regions of the country.

Continent TV

OnLime TeleCard

OnLime TeleCard
The most unusual representative, since it is not exactly a satellite operator. Rather, it is the Internet provider, known throughout the country as Rostelecom.

Rostelecom covers the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region. High picture quality, as well as the ability to use additional functions anywhere, be it a city or a suburb, is what sets this option apart from others.

By installing a special modem, anyone can receive a powerful, high-quality satellite signal when the receiver has a CI/CI+ connector.

Important! The cost of a kit with a CAM module is around 3,000 rubles.

The main advantage of this option is ease of installation. You don't need anyone's help, you can do everything yourself.

All essential functions are welcome. And without them there is no way to do normal use.

Along with the channels, consumers receive two additional features:

• EPG (TV program) with detailed information about the program;
• audio tracks in different languages.

pros

• a large number of channels in different resolutions;
• inexpensive equipment;
• You can use equipment from third-party manufacturers.

Minuses

• covers a very small area.

OnLime Telecard

Video — About OnLime Telecard

You may be interested in knowing which TV is better - LCD, plasma, LED or Smart .

Tricolor

Tricolor
It is not surprising that one of the best in our ranking was the satellite operator Tricolor, the largest supplier of satellite television. This company has an extremely large number of subscribers throughout the country.

Tricolor itself is known for offering a range of options that are equally suitable for connecting to satellite TV. A large amount of the equipment offered is assembled into kits consisting of a satellite dish, as well as a receiver or CAM module.

If you have a tuned antenna for Tricolor, but no equipment, you can buy it separately.

Important! The minimum cost of the CAM module itself is 3,000 rubles. The cost of a kit for satellite television with a CAM module is around 5,000 rubles, and a kit with an antenna and receiver costs from 7,000 rubles and more.

The cost of tariffs for a year of use is not too high - from 1500 to 2500 rubles per year. If desired, you can add other packages for 200 rubles per month.

Important! Basically, the operator transmits a video stream in SD resolution, and over time, a good video stream in HD and UHD resolution. You can watch in this quality only if you have the necessary equipment.

Now a few words about the additional services provided by Tricolor.

1. Online TV. With this function, Tricolor channels can be turned on on any device that supports the Internet.
2. Cinema halls. All the latest films and TV series are available for viewing on the channels of the Tricolor provider.
3. Broadcast control. Simply put, access to the archive.
4. Multiroom. One account for three TVs. Each of them will show different content. The function is paid, 500 rubles per year, which is quite inexpensive.

For many, Tricolor is the best satellite television in Russia due to a number of advantages.

pros

• variety of equipment;
• a large number of useful services;
• many channels of different broadcast quality;
• low subscription cost;
• ease of managing services in your personal account.

Minuses

• an extremely negative attitude towards third-party equipment - in this case, the company blocks broadcasting and cancels subscriptions;
• annual increase in the cost of services;
• despite coverage of the entire territory of the Russian Federation (except for Crimea and Kaliningrad), stable broadcasting is observed only in the European part of the country;
• the provider often forces services or connects them without approval.

Tricolor

NTV Plus

NTV Plus
Let's move on to one of the most popular satellite operators in the Russian region - NTV Plus. According to statistics, the NTV+ operator is insignificantly popular, but still inferior to its direct competitors in the form of Tricolor and MTS.

This satellite operator offers high-quality equipment that is not too expensive. For example, a set of a TV module and a CI+ module costs 3,000 rubles. With the prefix, the price goes higher - 5,000 rubles.

Subscription prices start from 140 rubles per year, providing access to children's channels. The most expensive subscription is 1,400 rubles.

Regarding additional functions: the most obvious one in this regard is Online TV, which in other words is called a channel archive. More than 190 channels support this feature. If you wish, you can watch the archived program separately on your phone, laptop, tablet or even computer.

pros

• confident reception throughout Russia;
• no need to pay for a subscription;
• easy setup;
• connecting equipment;
• useful additional services;
• many additional packages.

Minuses

• basic packages include fewer channels than competitors, but cost the same;
• NTV+ only accepts its own equipment, although it is affordable.

NTV-Plus

Video - Review of the receiver from NTV Plus

MTS

MTS
Many domestic users know MTS as a cellular service provider, a representative of one of the Big Three. Moreover, in fact, the scope of activity of this company is much wider than usual. And therefore the provider feels at ease in the satellite broadcasting market.

It is interesting that residents of Kamchatka and Yakutia do not have the opportunity to use the services of this company. At the same time, Crimea and Kaliningrad will fall within the coverage area.

Important! The cost of a set for satellite television with a CAM module or set-top box is around 7,040 rubles.

MTS is a company that has several channel packages, the price of which starts from 50 rubles per month (Children's package) and ends at 380 rubles per month (Match! Football package).

MTS offers several channels for viewing in HD or UHD formats, but you can open them on your TV only by connecting a CAM module to it.

Important! Unlike Tricolor, MTS has only one receiver, but when a new tuner appears, the company will be supported for a long time with firmware that must be installed independently.

Additional services are represented by a number of functions, among which “Multiroom” stands out, the cost of which is quite low - only 500 rubles per year. An important difference from Tricolor’s “Multiroom” is the connection of as many as four TVs at a time.

pros

• a large number of channels with different broadcasting standards (HD and UHD);
• relatively inexpensive equipment;
• inexpensive "Multiroom";
• You can connect third-party equipment.

Minuses

• very few UHD channels;
• Additional packages contain an extremely small number of channels.

Satellite television MTS

You might be interested in knowing which inexpensive Smart TV you should buy.

Where is better

Where is the best place to look for a television provider in Moscow and the region? To do this, on the “Where is Better” website, in the empty field, indicate your residential address with the street name and house number. The system will analyze the possibility of connecting your apartment to interactive television with video rental, multiscreen and multiroom functions and will offer hundreds of popular channels along with the receiver (Carousel, Yu, Russia, 2x2 and MUZ-TV).

Choose one of the many television packages and leave a request for a free connection in Moscow. The company manager will contact you and answer all your questions. “Where is Better” will help you connect cable television and the Internet throughout Russia: Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Samara, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg.

The next day, an installer will come to you and carefully lay the cable through the apartment to the TV, receiver or set-top box. If you need television for your dacha or country house, the convenient “Where is Better” service will tell you where it is best to connect satellite television.

Brief comparison of providers

We have presented six of the most popular providers, and each of them has its own characteristics.

We can draw the following conclusion: the rating of the best providers is headed by MTS , which is responsible not only for television, but also for mobile communications. It is for this reason that today Russians can say with confidence that MTS provides the highest quality signal almost throughout the entire country.

Tricolor is a satellite television operator known for its variety of channels and broadcast quality. This operator is better and cheaper than competitors. And for this reason, many Russians love him. At the same time, let's be honest, the company sometimes behaves ugly. It deprives equipment of support for the purpose of selling new equipment.

The oldest operator in Russia is NTV Plus , which boasts the best signal throughout the country. However, there is one “but” - this operator has a fairly high cost of equipment and channel packages.

Telecard, Continent and OnLime TeleCard - all of them could become even more popular, although in fact they cover a much smaller territory of the country. In addition, they do not have the most affordable equipment, which is more difficult to maintain.

Akado

Connecting television to your home comes with some special features. First you need to check the possibility of connecting the apartment to the Akado cable network. Next, you need to choose a package with interactive channels to suit your needs: decide on the number of digital TV channels, and also test the services for free in the first month.

To connect, you will need a digital set-top box with an antenna; you can buy or rent it from your provider. The technician will come to your home at a convenient time and set up channel frequencies for free. For 100 rubles. per month you can get 70 basic FullHD quality channels. Other prices vary depending on the size of the package chosen. Akado uses modern network equipment and allows you to watch programs not only on TV, but also on smartphones based on Android and iOS.

The further you are from the urban areas of Moscow, the more difficult it is to find good cable television, but Akado satellite dishes will cope with this problem. Find out what other consumers think before you sign a monthly service agreement.

Go to Akado

Results

All television lovers are pleased to have a large number of channels that will be broadcast in high quality. And if in the city you can use digital television, then in places more remote from large settlements it is better to install satellite television.

In the article we listed the most popular satellite television providers in Russia - they work stably, regularly add new channels to packages, and improve broadcast quality. You just need to decide on a specific operator, based on the number of channels in the packages, their cost, as well as the price of equipment.

Packages and tariff plans

Each satellite television operator delivers broadcasts in packages of channels that form tariffs. Each provider has its own group of tariffs.

The principle of their grouping is similar for all:

• Starting. A minimum set of programs, which often includes only federal and regional channels. It may also include several thematic programs - music, sports or cinema.
• Base. The basic tariff of most operators. It contains several hundred, mostly domestic programs.
• Thematic. The user is given a choice of satellite TV channels on a specific topic (movies and TV series, sporting events, science, etc.).
• Full/Premium. Includes almost all TV channels (except for programs for a fee) that are supplied by the operator. In practice, this is the most expensive tariff for connection.

Attention! This is an approximate definition of tariff categories; each operator may have different names for them.

The user can always connect several programs to the main packages (for a fee).