a satellite communications system provides an information channel between remotely located transmitters and receivers a virtual satellite system provides the same service , but divides the signal either in power or in data content into subchannels such that any particular signal is conducted to the intended receiver via a plurality of traditional satellite channels . the receiving terminal accepts the plurality of signals simultaneously from a possible plurality of satellites , combining the subchannels comprising the virtual channel into the original signal content as if conducted via a single channel . the receiving antenna system receives satellite subchannel signals from a plurality of directions using multiple antennas or a single antenna with multi - direction capability . prior to signal combining , the receiver necessarily time - synchronizes the plurality of subchannels by introducing time delay in some channels before combining the subsignals into the original composite . a timing signal present in the virtual satellite system assists the receiver in determining the amount of delay to apply to each incoming signal . the timing signal is either a separate carrier or an additional modulation on the existing information - bearing carrier .