How to choose the right satellite dish for your home and garden

Despite the development of modern technologies, not every city or village can achieve a stable connection and acceptable Internet speeds for watching television.

One of the options is satellite TV and the Internet, which can be installed in a private house or country cottage remote from civilization, and which of the options on the market to choose for use should be determined on the spot. Existing offers from satellite operators can also be used in the countryside or during long-term scientific expeditions.


To choose satellite TV for your home and garden, you need to take into account signal coverage from satellite TV operators

Is it worth installing a satellite dish?

It’s definitely worth buying a plate if:

  • You live in an area remote from television towers.
  • Do you want to receive quality content?
  • You need to additionally gain access to hundreds of TV channels that are not available on terrestrial digital television.

If you live in a densely populated city, the satellite dish may not live up to expectations due to possible signal interference (high-rise buildings, tall trees). In this case, take a closer look at terrestrial or cable digital television.

Satellite television operators in Russia

Satellite television in Russia is represented by federal operators:

  • Tricolor is a brand of NJSC National Satellite Company, the most popular satellite company in Russia with revenue of more than 20 billion rubles and 10 million active subscribers. Founded in 2005.
  • NTV-plus is the oldest Russian satellite service, launched in 1996. Now the organization’s subscriber network numbers 41,000 people, and revenue is 4.3 billion rubles.
  • MTS-TV is a brand of the Public Joint Stock Company Mobile Telecommunications. The company began selling satellite television services in 2015. Over 3 full years, the subscriber network has increased to half a million people. The active growth of the network is associated with high demand in the Sverdlovsk region, Trans-Baikal and Krasnodar territories. MTS-TV - offers not only satellite television, but also an online media library. In total, 3.32 million people use all TV. MTS does not publicly highlight television revenue in a separate report.
  • Telekarta is a brand of the group, which is one of the 5 largest satellite television operators in Russia. Total revenue is 3.3 billion. 3.14 million households are connected to the operator’s satellite network. The group of companies was founded in 2005, and 10 years later Telekarta was recognized as the best satellite operator in the Russian Federation.
  • Hotbird is a series of satellites through which digital radio and TV channels are transmitted. All satellites belong to the French operator Eutelsat. Some channels are broadcast free of charge. To view them, it is enough to configure the equipment to the appropriate orbital position and frequency in MHz. The first Hotbird satellite was launched in 1995. TV operators from the Top 4 lease satellites from Eutelsat.

Each operator offers its own conditions. Let's take a closer look at them.

Advantages and disadvantages

In general, satellite television has its positive and negative sides.

The advantages include:

  • High-quality and stable signal;
  • High resolution TV channels;
  • Implementation of access to television in remote or hard-to-reach areas;
  • A huge number of TV channels (via satellite, TV operators offer to connect many channels of different directions).

The disadvantages are:

  • The price for equipment is high;
  • Paid monthly subscription options;
  • There may be interference in bad weather.

If you do not purchase an antenna from a provider, then there will be restrictions on many channels. They will be encrypted.

Advice for future subscribers

Before purchasing, you need to read information about all the major providers operating in the region.

You should not focus solely on the cost of paying for the use of packages or a kit. An important factor is the stability of signal reception. This information is presented on regional forums, where users themselves indicate their location.

If you need to combine the Internet and TV, then such packages are provided by mobile operators - MTS, Beeline, Megafon.


Satellite signal coverage from MTS TV

In the first case, you can also use a satellite by purchasing a set of equipment. A set of channels in packages should also not be the main reason for purchasing and installing equipment.

The number of channels and topics may change over time, so an important characteristic is the reliability of the equipment and high quality signal reception.

Types of satellite dishes

There are several types of satellite dishes. Which satellite dish is best to choose may depend on some subtleties. But in general, the majority of satellite TV users choose the classics. Types of antennas:

  • Round is the optimal shape for capturing a good signal from a far away transmitter. Round antennas are a classic. The diameter of the antennas varies, as do the support rods and stands. Their surface is smooth, without gaps.
  • Offset - the shape of the oval reflector allows signal reception from several transmitters if configured correctly. But, the output signal level of such a “plate”, all other things being equal, is an order of magnitude worse than a round one.
  • Multifocal - the name indicates that the antenna is oriented towards several satellites at the same time. A group of converters is installed in them. The classic main deflector and reflectors can act as a multifocal antenna.
  • Mesh - the shape of a curved picnic grid with a support post and an attached converter allows the antenna to reflect the signal and generate it at the same time. Often, this design can be seen in indoor satellite antennas for TV. The shape gives a clear directionality of the antenna, and the weight allows you to install the antenna anywhere without much effort. Often, the latter are used more for transmitting a Wi-Fi signal over a distance.

Payment model

How to choose satellite TV for your home if you need breaks from watching television? MTS supports an interesting payment model, since it provides the opportunity to pay monthly, and not once a year like Tricolor TV.

The prices for equipment and subscription are as follows:

  • MTS equipment (set-top box and dish) - 2990 rubles;
  • Monthly fee for the basic MTS tariff - 175 rubles / month, 1800 rubles / year;
  • The cost of Tricolor equipment (attachment and plate) is 6990 rubles;
  • Subscription fee for the basic tariff of Tricolor TV is 1,500 rubles / year.

Which is the best satellite dish to choose?

The choice of a digital TV dish depends on the area, subscriber needs and the work of operators in the sector where you live. As operators, you can choose the three most popular: NTV Plus, Tricolor TV and MTS TV. They offer various variations of satellite equipment kits. In this case, the diameter of the plate is always within 50-60 cm.

If you don’t want to pay a monthly fee, then choose a satellite dish with converters to work with the Astra and Hotbird satellites.

The best satellite TV sets for country houses

Such kits are distinguished by their large antenna diameter, receiver sensitivity and stable signal transmission. Thanks to this, they confidently broadcast most Russian TV channels and have a wide range of supported frequencies.

MTS TV No. 192

5.0

★★★★★

editorial assessment

96%

buyers recommend this product

Once connected to the TV, the receiver will automatically search for available channels. It works with the DVB-S2 broadcast standard, which provides viewing of programs in high definition, as well as in 4K format.

The antenna diameter is 60 cm, the maximum resolution is 3840x2160 pixels. The owner has access to such additional features of the receiver as a TV guide, subtitles, scheduled program recording, and a media player.

Advantages:

  • easy setup;
  • 4K support;
  • wide functionality;
  • long cable;
  • low price.

Flaws:

  • difficulty of installation.

MTS TV No. 192 is suitable for owners of TVs that support high-resolution images. A functional and inexpensive solution for watching digital channels.

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Telecard TV (HD) EVO 09 HD

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

92%

buyers recommend this product

The receiver supports DVB-S, S2 broadcasting standards. The set is distinguished by a large diameter satellite dish - 90 cm. Thanks to this, the user can watch digital channels in HD quality even at a great distance from the satellite.

The input frequency range is 950-2150 MHz. The receiver supports stereo audio transmission, which enhances the comfort of watching movies or playing music, helping to achieve an immersive effect.

Advantages:

  • large antenna diameter;
  • sensitive receiver;
  • wide range of supported frequencies;
  • multifunctional receiver.

Flaws:

  • difficult setup.

The EVO TV telecard will be an excellent solution for use outside the city. A sensitive converter and a large diameter dish guarantee stable reception of even a weak signal.

For a private home

Although private houses come in different sizes, the average house occupies about 100 square meters. Based on this, we can assume that there will be at least two TVs in the house.

Providers have the following kits for two modern TVs:

  • Tricolor TV FULL HD set for 2 TVs. It includes a Twin converter, two receivers, GSE501 and GS C591, connected to each other (wired or via Wi-Fi). Using the kit you can watch high definition channels. The range of TV channels is huge, suitable for people of any category. Price: 10,500 rubles.
  • NTV Plus set for 2 TVs. With it you can watch TV on two devices independently of each other. A converter with two outputs is connected to the satellite dish and two cables go from the antenna to the receivers. Each TV has its own NTV-PLUS710HD set-top box. You can watch SD and HDTV channels. Price 13,700 rubles.
  • MTS also includes 2 independent cables for EKT DSD 4614i set-top boxes for 2 TVs. There are few UHD channels, but HD is shown well. There are discounts and promotions for the first connections to packages. Price 11850 rubles.

For the dacha

Choosing a satellite dish for your dacha is not difficult. The house usually has one TV, and not the latest model. Therefore, to connect, a very ordinary set with a receiver that produces SD and HD quality TV channels is enough.

  • An inexpensive set of satellite Tricolor TV with a DTS 54 prefix. You can connect both an old and a new TV. 4K viewing is not implemented. An excellent option for rural areas. Price 7500 rubles.
  • An inexpensive NTV set with an NTV-PLUS 710HD receiver allows you to connect and watch a lot of TV channels, including the “Sports”, “Premiere Movies”, “Popular Science” and others packages. Price 8990 rubles.
  • MTS TV “standard” with the EKT DSD 4614i set-top box even works with UHD TV. There are options for recording TV programs onto a flash drive or external drive. Implemented support for H.265/AVC. An excellent price for the village - 7,000 rubles.

To the apartment

Which satellite dish to choose for an apartment is of interest to many residents of large cities. Usually, they settle on a satellite dish for one TV. If you need to connect two TVs, pay attention to “for home” kits. For an apartment, we will consider satellite TV with receivers that can record programs.

  • The Tricolor TV set with GS E502 is equipped with a 500 GB hard drive. Using the drive, you can easily record programs. In addition, the Timeshift option is implemented - rewind or pause a TV show. Price 11,730 rubles.
  • NTV Plus has a similar set with recording capabilities. It comes with a Thomson DSI 8020 HDTV receiver for recording shows and movies. Recording can be done using a timer. The size of the built-in hard drive is 500 GB. Price: 10,490 rubles.
  • MTS Premium does not have a built-in hard drive, but the Openbox AS1 receiver that is present runs on Android. Because of this set-top box, all sorts of options are available, including access to film libraries and IPTV, viewing from connected media and recording television content on them. Price: 13140 rubles.

In general, you can select and configure the kit yourself.

Useful: How to install a satellite dish yourself

The best satellite TV sets for the city

Such sets are equipped with small-diameter dishes with reliable vertical mounting and low-sensitive receivers. The kits are installed in apartment buildings for stable broadcasting of a large number of TV channels.

MTS TV No. 92

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

95%

buyers recommend this product

The included antenna is resistant to adverse environmental factors. It is powder coated to resist corrosion and will not warp in high winds.

The diameter of the dish is 60 centimeters, the supported broadcasting standard is DVB-S2. The broadcast is carried out in Full-HD format, which ensures high quality of the image displayed on the screen.

Advantages:

  • durability;
  • high picture resolution;
  • low cost;
  • rich set of functions.

Flaws:

  • complexity of installation.

The MTS TV antenna No. 92 can be installed on the wall or roof of a multi-story building. Stable transmission of audio and video signals, convenient setup and reliability of the kit guarantee ease of maintenance and comfort in use.

NTV-Plus HD Simple 2

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

91%

buyers recommend this product

The main feature of the set is the presence of a multifunctional receiver Opentech-OHS 1740V. It can work as a TV receiver or multimedia player. High sound quality is ensured thanks to support for the Dolby Digital 5.1 digital multi-channel system.

The antenna diameter is 60 centimeters. The kit includes all the necessary fastening elements, which allows you to install the plate yourself without purchasing specialized tools.

Advantages:

  • Full-HD support;
  • media player mode;
  • high sound quality;
  • ease of installation.

Flaws:

  • heating of the receiver during prolonged operation.

NTV-Plus HD Simple 2 receives and broadcasts signals in the DVB-S and S2 frequency ranges. Precise automatic tuning and TV guide function make it easy to find the right channel and watch programs of interest.

Tricolor Full HD DTS 53L

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

88%

buyers recommend this product

The kit includes all the fastenings and tools necessary for correct installation of the antenna, as well as detailed instructions. This allows you to quickly install and configure the dish without the help of specialists.

The antenna diameter is 55 centimeters, the maximum image resolution is 1920x1080 pixels. Reception is carried out according to DVB-S and S2 broadcast standards. Automatic selection of frequencies when first turned on will ensure quick commissioning of the kit.

Advantages:

  • fine tuning;
  • easy installation;
  • high image quality;
  • stereo sound output.

Flaws:

  • binding to only one tariff.

Tricolor Full HD DTS 53L guarantees stable and high-quality TV signal transmission. Support for Full-HD resolution and surround sound provide a high level of comfort when watching programs or movies.

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Remo TV Future Outdoor DVB-T2

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

87%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The presence of a USB output on the receiver allows you to use it to play music or movies stored on a storage device. It supports DVB-T and T2 broadcasting standards, which makes it possible to watch most Russian channels.

Image output formats - 4:3, 16:9. Additional functions of the receiver include a choice of TV program languages, an electronic guide, recording TV shows, etc. Remo Future Outdoor supports all popular video formats: AVI, MKV, MPG.

Advantages:

  • USB port;
  • multifunctionality;
  • ease of antenna installation;
  • easy setup;
  • low price.

Flaws:

  • short cable.

Remo TV Future is suitable for installation in an apartment in a multi-storey building. It's an affordable, easy-to-use solution for family TV viewing.

Reviews of satellite dishes

Elena. I have Tricolor TV at my dacha. I come to live at the dacha for 3 months in the summer. Every year, before launch, the receiver downloaded and updated itself, and after that it just started showing TV. For the fourth summer after installing the Tricolor satellite kit, the update stopped downloading and no longer shows TV. The operator's support made it clear that the receiver was out of date and needed to be replaced with a new one. And this costs a pretty penny. At the same time, the satellite dish did not even show rust anywhere.

Vladimir . I installed a satellite dish from MTS Plus. I ran into a problem that as soon as even the slightest rain starts, the channel just freezes and doesn’t show anything else. The problem is solved by switching to another channel and back. What this is connected with is not entirely clear.

Paul . For 25 HD and more than 200 channels, the annual subscription fee of 1200 rubles suits me quite well. I paid for the kit once and have been using it for three years now. Yes, there are disadvantages of satellite television in rain or fog, but these are rare. Basically the TV is excellent. I am happy with everything.

Tricolor TV

The operator has three main tariffs, which do not differ much in the number of channels - it’s even difficult to understand which satellite TV is best to choose - and five additional subscriptions. The tariff conditions are as follows:

  • Unified - 221 channel, 1500 rubles per year (annual payment);
  • Unified Ultra HD - 227 channels, 2500 rubles per year;
  • Extra - 222 channels, 2000 rubles per year.

Broadcasting is carried out from two different satellites, one of which covers the European part of Russia, the second - Siberia and the Far East. It should be noted that reception in Siberia is rather uncertain, and in the Far East it is almost non-existent.

Connection requires, which can be purchased from the company or an authorized dealer. We wrote about connecting and setting up Tricolor TV in this article.

Advantages and disadvantages according to user reviews:

Advantages

many TV channels in any package and a large number of radio channels (47 stations) interactive services (the ability to select movies, record TV shows, multiroom, etc.)

Flaws

the ability to view only on recommended equipment, reliable reception only in the European part of Russia, a confusing system for calculating the total cost of a subscription, imposing services

Rating
( 2 ratings, average 4.5 out of 5 )
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