Why do I have to have different STBs to receive TV via cable, satellite, terrestrial and internet?
The STB provides access to the digital channels available through a television service provider. A STB requires the corresponding tuner/receiver to be able to receive cable, satellite, terrestrial or internet signals. For example, a terrestrial tuner cannot decode a signal transmitted via satellite or vice-versa for physical reasons. STBs usually are manufactured with customisation to a market or service provider which uses a determined transmission mechanism. To avoid increasing the STB’s bill of materials, the manufacturer produces the box with only the necessary tuner interfaces, required by determined market. A “universal STB” would burden all users with additional cost and need to be replaced more often as the many services it would need to support, evolved.
