Home Parabolic Dish Used for Satellite Television

Parabolic dishes like this one are now a popular way of receiving television as an alternative to cable.  Beginning in 1963, communications satellites shifted to a "geostationary" orbit. At an altitude of 22,300 miles (35,680 km), a satellite will appear to be stationary, as its orbital period matches the 24 hour rotation of the Earth. This greatly simplifies tracking.