The Best Is Yet To Come !

About John’s Antennas

Serving Central Florida Since 1983

John’s Antennas is operated by A-SAT Inc., which does business as International Satellite & Antenna Service (ISAS), John’s Antennas, and Florida Digital Sign. Founded in 1983, the company has more than four decades of experience in satellite, antenna, and communications technology.

Originally established as Sat-X-Port, the company has served homeowners and businesses throughout Central Florida for more than 40 years. Today, John’s Antennas carries that experience forward with professional antenna, satellite, signal, and communications services.

John’s Antennas operates from the A-SAT showroom and offices at 6160 SW Highway 200, Suite 112, Ocala, Florida 34476.

How It All Began

Sat-X-Port was formed in 1983 as a joint venture between Robert Hooper, a former design engineer at Microdyne and co-founder of Raydx Satellite Systems, and John Pearce.

Raydx was an Ocala manufacturer of the large 10-foot mesh satellite dishes that became familiar sights during the early years of home satellite television.

John focused on developing the growing overseas market until the C-Band satellite industry came to a near standstill in 1986 after HBO scrambled its signal. Raydx did not survive the industry downturn. John then concentrated on the emerging Direct-to-Home television market in Florida. To support his young family, he began selling and installing Television Receive Only, or TVRO, satellite systems from his little shop in Anthony, Florida. He soon serviced customers throughout Marion, Lake, Levy, and surrounding Central Florida counties.

International Satellite & Antenna Service was taking shape.

The Early Satellite TV Years

The satellite television industry expanded rapidly during the early 1980s. Consumers discovered that large home satellite systems could receive a tremendous variety of programming, including emerging cable networks such as HBO, Showtime, CNN, and ESPN.

John spent much of his time learning the rapidly changing technology.

At one of his early certification classes, presented by Charlie Ergen, co-founder of EchoStar, at the company’s East Coast distribution facility in Knoxville, John received training in satellite dish installation, alignment, and troubleshooting.

Those early years established the technical foundation that would eventually grow into International Satellite & Antenna Service.

When Satellite Television Changed

In January 1986, the home satellite industry changed dramatically as premium television programming began shifting toward encrypted, subscription-based delivery.

Satellite equipment sales slowed, and many companies in the young industry disappeared.

Instead of leaving the business, John adapted.

International Satellite & Antenna Service began helping existing satellite owners upgrade their systems to receive subscription programming. At the same time, John recognized another opportunity that remains an important part of the company today: over-the-air television antennas.

Many homeowners did not need hundreds of television channels. They simply wanted reliable reception of their local ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and other broadcast stations.

John continued installing television antennas and antenna towers alongside satellite systems.

Opening the Ocala Showroom

In 1989, John opened an Ocala showroom and office on Highway 200 in Jasmine Plaza.

Working alongside his wife, Rebecca, his father, Joseph Pearce, and a growing team of employees, the company expanded throughout Central Florida.

International Satellite & Antenna Service eventually grew its fleet to 14 service vehicles and provided installation and service throughout numerous Central Florida counties.

The DIRECTV and DISH Network Years

The television industry changed again in 1994 with the introduction of the small-dish digital satellite television systems that would become DIRECTV.

John quickly embraced the new technology.

When DIRECTV sales opened in Florida, International Satellite & Antenna Service already had customers waiting for installations. The company subsequently became recognized as one of the nation’s Top 100 DIRECTV dealers.

In 1996, EchoStar launched DISH Network. Drawing on his long-standing relationship with Charlie Ergen and EchoStar, John added DISH Network to the company’s growing lineup of television services and soon became one of the nation’s leading DISH Network dealers.

Over the years, John and his company received numerous dealer recognitions within the satellite and TV antenna industry.

From Satellite TV to Satellite Internet

As internet access became increasingly important, satellite technology found another role: connecting rural homes and businesses that could not obtain cable or reliable telephone-company internet service.

International Satellite & Antenna Service began selling and installing HughesNet/DirecWAY satellite internet systems in 1999 and continued working with satellite internet technology as speeds, equipment, and services improved.

When WildBlue expanded satellite internet service, the company became heavily involved in its installation and sales network.

In 2007, distributor DSI recognized A-SAT as the #1 WildBlue dealer in the nation.

More Than Satellite

Throughout all of these changes, over-the-air television antennas remained an important part of the business.

Technology has changed considerably since those first large satellite dishes of the 1980s, but the basic goal has remained the same: help customers receive reliable television, internet, and communications services at their homes and businesses.

John’s Antennas continues that mission today by applying decades of field experience to modern antenna and communications technology.

A-SAT Inc. and the John’s Antennas Name

In 1998, International Satellite & Antenna Service incorporated as A-SAT Inc.

The shorter corporate name originally stood for “A Satellite Antenna Technician.”

John says, “That was to save time and ink when writing out the company name!”

Today, A-SAT Inc. does business as International Satellite & Antenna Service (ISAS), John’s Antennas, and Florida Digital Sign.

John’s Antennas serves as A-SAT's antenna and related communications division, while International Satellite & Antenna Service continues the company’s long history in satellite television, satellite internet, and communications technology.

Looking Ahead

Technology never stops changing.

From 10-foot satellite dishes to digital satellite television, over-the-air HDTV, satellite internet, and today’s communications technologies, John’s business has evolved continuously since 1983.

What has not changed is the company’s commitment to helping Central Florida customers find practical solutions that work for their homes and businesses.

More than four decades later, John’s Antennas and International Satellite & Antenna Service continues serving Central Florida from the company’s Ocala showroom and offices.

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