What about a shiton of wires?
Or a shiton of microradio towers cleverly placed to avoid obstacles.
Consider this, If the conpricy exists they invented satellite signal technology. Now if they wanted to people to beleive in a round earth they would make this technology say that we need these exact conditions at these exact points to work. So, Why wouldn't they say just that? Plus the promotion of the existence of satellites just gives them another venue for making profits.
Perhaps the definition of Satellite Technology needs to be defined.
Satellite Technology is the technology that allows machines to be put into orbit and function. Everything beyond that is basic transmission.
Now, as someone who HAS a satellite TV system, I can tell you that I need to point it at a very specific point or it won't work. How do I know? I've moved it and it stopped working. Doesn't take much either, just a few degrees.
As for a shit-ton of cleverly placed microwave transmitters...
Well that falls apart when
A) You have Airplanes using GPS.
B) You have boats Using GPS
C) The cost and manpower would be greater than all the road construction crews in the world rebuilding every road in said world. I think someone would have noticed.
D) Shit-ton of power would also be required.
Look, you say you aren't a science guy and that's fine. But those of us who know the subject matter know what it would require and know full well that it's physically impossible to have a ground microwave signal appear to originate from the sky. Not unless you use some kind of fictional technology like wormhole generators.