TV satellite frequencies in the USA

TV satellite frequencies in the USA vary depending on the satellite, provider, and whether the service is free-to-air (FTA) or encrypted. Here’s a general overview:

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🛰️ Main Satellite Bands Used in the USA for TV

Band	Frequency Range	Use
C-band	3.7 – 4.2 GHz (downlink)	Mostly used for commercial and some FTA satellite TV
Ku-band	11.7 – 12.7 GHz (downlink)	Common for satellite TV (e.g., Dish, DirecTV, FTA)
Ka-band	18.3 – 20.2 GHz (downlink)	Used by newer services (e.g., DirecTV HD, internet)

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📡 Examples of Satellites & Their Frequencies

1. Galaxy 19 (97.0°W) – FTA Popular Satellite

• Ku-band FTA channels
• Frequencies: 11720 MHz, 11836 MHz, 12152 MHz, etc.
• Polarization: Horizontal or Vertical
• Symbol rates: 20000, 22000, 27500 ksps

2. Echostar 105 / SES-11 (105.0°W)

• C-band and Ku-band commercial channels
• Frequencies vary: C-band often 3740–4180 MHz

3. DirecTV Satellites (99°, 101°, 103°W)

• Ka-band and Ku-band (encrypted)
• Frequencies: Proprietary, mostly between 12–20 GHz
• Not receivable without DirecTV equipment/subscription

4. Dish Network Satellites (110°, 119°, 129°W)

• Ku-band, encrypted
• Frequencies: Typically in the 12200–12700 MHz range

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🆓 Free-To-Air (FTA) Satellite TV in the USA

To receive:

• Ku-band dish (30″ or larger) or C-band dish (6-10 ft)
• FTA receiver that supports DVB-S/S2

Sample FTA Transponder (Galaxy 19):

• Frequency: 11836 MHz
• Polarization: Vertical
• Symbol Rate: 20765
• FEC: 3/4
• Modulation: DVB-S QPSK

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🔎 Finding Up-to-Date Frequencies

For real-time transponder info:

• https://www.lyngsat.com/
• https://www.satbeams.com/
• https://www.flysat.com/