Modern satellite TV receivers often have USB ports included in their array of connections, but many people are unaware of what these connections can be used for. USB cable can be used to connect satellite TV and Internet equipment in any of the following ways:-

USB Cable – Connections

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B004AGX4YO” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HUbQ8XJXL._SL160_.jpg” alt=”USB Cable – Extra Long” width=”148″]Satellite Dish to Receiver Box: This is fairly atypical due to instability issues that can arise when a USB cable run exceeds a certain length [easyazon-link keywords=”long usb cable” locale=”us”](Extra Long USB Cables)[/easyazon-link]. The USB standard is intended for carrying signals across very short distances.

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B003NUIK4M” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KGFy-tP6L._SL160_.jpg” width=”159″]If a USB cable run is too long you may need a [easyazon-link keywords=”repeater usb” locale=”us”]USB Extender/Repeater[/easyazon-link]. This type of unit can be used to boost the signal but interference can become a problem across long distances. [easyazon-link keywords=”repeater usb” locale=”us”]See Product Details…[/easyazon-link]

Repeaters will amplify the noise in addition to the signal. Specialized repeaters with digital processing are capable of removing the noise and amplifying only the signal. However, it is usually much more cost-effective to use [easyazon-link keywords=”rg6 coax” locale=”us”]RG6 Coaxial Cable[/easyazon-link] instead.

Receiver Box to Television: Newer televisions, which are microprocessor-based, are able to connect to external devices via USB ports. These can be used to read flash drives, external hard drives and optical drives. It can also be used to connect a satellite receiver box.

This is a less common interface than [easyazon-link keywords=”Composite cable” locale=”us”]Composite[/easyazon-link], [easyazon-link keywords=”component cable” locale=”us”]Component[/easyazon-link], [easyazon-link keywords=”DVI cable” locale=”us”]DVI[/easyazon-link], [easyazon-link keywords=”VGA cable” locale=”us”]VGA[/easyazon-link] and [easyazon-link keywords=”HDMI cable” locale=”us”]HDMI[/easyazon-link]. However, because USB is bidirectional, it allows the television to communicate directly with the interface box via the USB cable rather than acting as a passive receiver.

Interface Box or Satellite Dish to Computer: This application establishes a software-controlled modem on a personal computer that can be used to communicate with the satellite network. Satellite links offer a great deal of flexibility in how consumers and businesses can access media and information.

They allow instantaneous viewing of live and prerecorded television programs, movies and news. They also permit access to the Internet from nearly any location on the Earth’s surface. Nearly any device that can be attached to a coaxial or USB cable can interface with the satellite network.

When installing a satellite dish, an interface box must be installed. This box is responsible for converting instructions from the user’s remote control or computer into a format that can be sent via radio waves to a satellite.

In addition, it converts input from the satellite dish into a format that a television or a computer can understand. Depending on the specific type of installation, these interface boxes are connected to televisions and computers via coaxial cable, a wireless link or a USB cable.

The USB standard is a digital format that transfers data serially. That is to say, data is sent one bit at a time down a single pair of wires. One wire is the positive lead and the other is the negative lead. Two other wires make up the USB standard.

These are responsible for the transfer of steady electrical current. The “VCC” lead carries a constant supply of five volts. This supply is direct current only. The other lead is used to connect an electrical ground level between all attached equipment.

This allows the five-volt current to flow. In addition, there is a twisted metal foil shield that surrounds the four individually insulated wires. This shield is connected to ground to prevent signal loss and outside electromagnetic interference.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.