The digital transition is well and truly upon us and so it has become necessary, in order to survive this transition, to use a digital satellite TV tuner. Since all analog systems are to be shut by February the seventeenth, 2009 it has also become necessary that in order to receive the digital only television signals that you have a gadget such as a digital satellite TV tuner which can access these signals, decode them and then send them to your television.

Government Regulations

As per government regulations, HD television sets with a big screen (thirty-five inches or more) will need to have a digital satellite TV tuner. In fact, those television sets that come with in-built tuners are known as integrated HDTVs. However, even if you have recently purchased a television set (of any size) you will still need to purchase a digital satellite TV tuner.

Also, television sets that have analog tuners (known as NTSC tuners) will not be able to receive the free to air digital programs and so it will necessitate having to buy a digital satellite TV tuner in order to make full use of satellite television programs. Even television sets that have the older picture tubes that are not HD will require being connected to a digital satellite TV tuner and the same is the case with HD-ready television sets that were purchased a few years ago. Of course, it does presuppose that you are only interested in receiving satellite television programs.

You will however not face any difficulties with picking up satellite television programs if you have a television with satellite company video service plans. Such plans are highly affordable and will cost between fifteen and twenty dollars per month for basic satellite program packages and you can also rent a digital satellite TV tuner from the satellite service provider for between five and ten dollars per month.

The US government too is encouraging buyers to shop for digital satellite TV tuners and for other digital tuners and to ensure that more people purchase a digital satellite TV tuner the government is footing part of the cost of such devices which means that you can receive up to forty dollars as government coupons that will help defray some of the costs of purchasing this equipment.

When it concerns choosing the right kind of digital satellite TV dish system the most important consideration is the type of satellite service that you are subscribed to. Different satellite television services have their own kinds of dishes and these serve specific purposes; so, you must ensure that you buy the dish that works well for your satellite television service provider that in most instances would be either Dish Network or Direct Television.