Have you heard of Free to Air (FTA) satellite TV before? Even though you might not have heard of it, you might have seen it. Those that adopted FTA satellite TV earlier on, used satellite dishes that spanned several feet in diameter. With the coming of digital video, consumers no longer are restricted to these huge dishes.

Here are 5 great benefits of having a Free To Air satellite system:

• You can receive Free to Air channels for free
• There are hundreds of channels to choose from
• Its great for international programming
• FTA can be used as a educational tool
• Scan and browse as a hobby

Free to Air is Free

With a FTA satellite TV, you dont have to pay any monthly fees. You are only required to pay for the equipment, unless youd like to pay for installation as well. Its almost like receiving free local channels from an antenna, except FTA uses a satellite to receive digital programming.

A Wide Variety of Channels

There is a huge selection of channels to choose from. Whether you desire public network programming, Christian, or programming in languages other than English, you can select what ever fits your needs.

Free International Programming

You can choose between Arabic, English, European, Turkish, Kurdish, Thai, Vietnamese, Persian, African, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and more! You wont find this wide variety of free international programming anywhere else.

Education Through FTA

Free to Air programming can help you learn more about other cultures and languages. With the diverse selection of channels you have at your finger tips, theres a variety of things to learn from. There are many channels in English too. Many popular home schooling systems use Free To Air satellite receivers for consumers to receive educational channels.

An Electronic Enthusiasts Playground

Some people even choose Free to Air as a hobby. There are many amateur radio, radio scanner, and electronic hobbyists that purchase Free to Air satellite systems. Its fascinating to have the ability to get hundreds of channels all the way from a distant satellite in space.

So What Are the Disadvantages of Using Free to Air Satellite Systems?

Now, all of this might seem too good to be true, but Free to Air satellite TV does have some issues. Since FTA satellites have been used as a testing ground, some channels are only shown for a limited time. Typically, test channels are shown for several months.

Also, mainstream programming is quite limited. Some of the popular networks arent broadcasting through FTA satellites. The ones that are broadcasting may be in a different time zone than you. So what this means is that programs might show earlier or later than they normally would in your area. So if you are really into watching mainstream channels, you might have to consider Dish Network or DirecTV.