Cable vs. Satellite TV Which is Best?

Cable vs. Satellite TV Which is Best?

by: Brian Stevens

The move is on. Last year millions of Americans switched from cable TV to satellite TV.

Why? When you compare satellite TV to cable TV youกll discover the main reasons are cost, picture quality, program choices, and customer satisfaction.

Letกs check out the differences …

Cable vs. Satellite TV Fees

Cable TV fees across the country average $39.99 per month. In our area the cost for cable TV is $37.30 a month for 64 channels, plus $10.95 a month to add digital channels. Installation in one room is $39.95, plus $9.95 for each additional room.

Satellite TV fees from Dish Network are $31.99 per month for 60 channels, while DirecTV charges $41.99 per month for 115 channels. Both satellite TV providers currently offer free satellite TV equipment and free installation in up to four rooms.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Programming

Cable TV in most areas offers almost as many channels as satellite TV, and is broadcast in analog (overtheair) format. If you want to have digital picture and sound youกll have to pay an additional fee, usually $10 to $15 a month.

Satellite TV offers more channels than cable TV (more than 250 channels), and more HDTV (high definition TV) programming. All satellite TV channels are broadcast in digital format for the highest quality picture and sound.

Cable vs. Satellite TV Equipment

With cable you only need cable boxes that connect the incoming cable line to your televisions. There is usually no charge or rental fees for cable boxes, however, If you want a digital video recorder, youกll have to pay an extra fee.

With satellite TV you need a satellite TV dish and TV receivers. Both Dish Network and DirecTV offer that equipment, plus installation, for free. Dish Network will give you a DVR (digital video recording) receiver or an HDTV receiver at no charge, while DirecTV charges $49.99 for DVR receivers and $299 for HDTV receivers.

Cable and Satellite TV Reliability and Customer Satisfaction

Cable TV outages average 3% to 5% per year. J.D. Powers and Associates ranks cable companies as good to poor in customer satisfaction.

Satellite TV outages average about 1%. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked the two satellite TV providers Dish Network and DirecTV higher in customer satisfaction than any of the cable TV companies for the last five years

The Bottom Line

If you only watch a couple of shows a week, and you live in an area where you can’t get overtheair TV and cable TV costs less than $20 per month, then cable may be your best option.

If, on the other hand, you want the biggest variety of shows, movies, sports, and news for the least amount of money … you want to watch your all your shows in digital video and sound … and you want the option of watching them in HD format and recording them on a DVR receiver, then satellite TV is what you’re looking for.

About The Author

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on free satellite TV systems. For more information on free satellite TV systems go to: http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 14

by Brian Stevens

TiVo: An Introduction for the Few Who Don’t Know Y

TiVo: An Introduction for the Few Who Don’t Know Yet

by: Bear Cahill

TiVo will change your life… for the better. Plain and simple: record shows by telling TiVo to record them (not when, what channel, how long, etc.), record all new episodes of X, record all movies w/ soandso in them, etc.

High Points:

Most people know the basics of the concept. Hereกs the lowdown on the things Iกm asked most…

You can record one thing and watch something else already recorded.

You can get a dual tuner TiVo, but youกll need two SEPARATE feeds to the TiVo (i.e., two lines from your satellite dish). Then you can record 2 things at once or watch one/record another. These are more expensive, but you can get a DirecTiVo w/ dual tuner cheaper and then the monthly TiVo fee is about half normal.

Pause live TV if you don’t realize the value of this, I can’t explain it. 🙂

TiVo has many different versions which all some slight variations. If you want to go beyond กaverage guyก level, check out this forum.

Comparison to ReplayTV:

TiVo seems to have a better interface from what Iกve seen and what others have said. Itกs easier to use. However, ReplayTV is more easily hackable you can access it from the web and the PC easier to convert/archive shows, etc. I have a DVD recorder for this which is another post for another time.

Both can be made to do mostly the same things, but you get the idea.

My Suggestion

I recommend the DirecTiVo Hughes HDVR2 (dual tuner) w/ the Triple LNB dish (this is the oval dish w/ 4 lines from it and itกs HDTV ready). Itกs got the satellite converter box built in so itกs only one box to deal w/, the TiVo monthly fee is less and itกs dual tuner.

This model isn’t as hackable as some TiVoกs, but it can do some and if you want to go beyond the basics than you probably haven’t read this far.

Sites:

http://www.dvrinfospot.com

http://www.TiVo.com

http://www.TiVoCommunity.com

http://www.WeaKnees.com

…and, of course, The Armchair Geek (see below).

About The Author

Bear Cahill is a software engineer in the Dallas, TX area and runs a few websites: The Armchair Geek (thearmchairgeek.com), Webpage Hosting Info (webpagehostinginfo.com), Go To College Online (gotocollegeonline.com) and The Video Exchange Community (videoexchange.org)

This article was posted on January 28

by Bear Cahill

Compare Dish Network vs. Direct TV

Compare Dish Network vs. Direct TV

by: Juston Garland

Do you need help in deciding which satellite company is better? Dish Network and Direct TV are the most popular satellite tv systems in the USA. WE have set out and compared Dish Network vs. Direct TV to help you decide on what satellite provider is best for you..

Dish Network 1. You get more digital channels for the same price, you get all the free features such as TiVo, up to 4 tv connections, free installation, and more.

Dish 2. Dish Network will offers NO Equipment to Buy, FREE Home Protection Plan, 100% Digital Programming, FREE DVR Equipment Options, FREE HD Equipment Options, LIFETIME Equipment Warranty.

Dish 3. Dish Networks packages start out from $29.95 a month, big savings vs. cable or other satellite providers.

Advantages of Direct tv

Direct tv 1. Get a DIRECTV® System in up to 5 rooms free, with standard install & free delivery.

Direct tv 2. Direct tv offers 1 DIRECTV® DVR Receiver Powered by TiVO, 70 Hour Recorder Advanced Program Guide®, OnScreen CallerID Capable, AutoTune Timers, Parental Controls, 1 UHF Remote, Triple LNB Dish.

Direct tv 3. You can get up to 125 channels at their basic package which includes local channels from $39.99 a month. They run satellite promotions from time to time that allows you to get HBO or Cinemax free for up to 3 months as well.

About The Author

Research your choices

Make sure to do you due dilligence in order to make a wise choice in choosing your Satellite tv service. We hope this advice is helpful for you in making a sound choice on your home satellite service.

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This article was posted on March 02

by Juston Garland