There are a lot of websites and advertisements online promising you free satellite TV, the type that you receive directly to your PC or laptop computer. It’s all lies. And it’s all true. I’ll explain. But first we’ll need to talk a little bit more about satellite TV.
Direct Broadcast Satellite (or DBS) is satellite TV service that you pay for, like DirecTV or Dish Network in the US or Sky in the UK. These networks own most of the popular and recognizable channels, such as HBO for movies and MTV for music. Anyone who tells you that you can get these channels for free is either lying or assuming that one or both of you are willing to break the law. Furthermore, when a website includes the logo of MTV or HBO somewhere on their sales page when they are trying to sell you their free satellite TV software, this is an example of misleading advertising.
If you want free satellite TV without most of these familiar channels, you do have two options. First, you can set up your “receive-only” satellite TV system, also known as “TVRO.” These systems predate DBS systems and use a different frequency for receiving their...