The Purposes of a B-Band Box Converter

Ka-band satellite signals require a converter.Nick M Do/Photodisc/Getty Images

The growth in satellite television programming has led to a need for more satellites to broadcast the new signals. The greater number of satellites has, in turn, led to a need to find a way for home satellite systems to receive those signals. Satellite TV providers have developed several different ways to process this new technology; provider DirecTV uses B-Band converters.

Picking up Signals

A B-Band Converter Box allows a receiver to pick up DirecTV signals. DirecTV broadcasts its primary programming signals from three main satellites; it uses several others for local channels. These main satellites use the Ka-Band, which is divided into two ranges: 1650 to 2150 MHz, which is the A-band, and 250 to 750 MHz, which is the B-band.

B-Band converter boxes convert B-Band signals to the A-Band. When a B-Band signal comes to the DirecTV receiver, the B-Band converter recognizes it as such, and shifts the signal into the A-Band frequency range. The receiver will then recognize the signal, and will be able to display its content for the viewer.

A B-Band converter box must also be able to recognize and handle A-Band signals. These signals need no conversion, but they still need to be fed into the receiver. The B-Band converter box contains a bypass function that recognizes A-Band signals and lets them pass through to the receiver without trying to filter them.