| Ever since the early nineties, personal entertainment | | | | Satellite providers have electronic program guides, |
| items such as television has been on a growth | | | | parental controls, video on demand and automated |
| rampage. Most people over the age of thirty | | | | timers, as well as more advanced systems that offer |
| remember when you needed a good set of "rabbit | | | | a DVR (Digital Video Recorder), which allows |
| ears" on top of the set just to get your local network | | | | programs to be recorded without videotape, PVR |
| channels. Today, however, hundreds of channels are | | | | (Personal Video Recording), which allows you to pause |
| available to you just about anywhere you live and | | | | and even rewind live broadcasts and HDTV (High |
| there is more than one way to get those signals. You | | | | Definition Television). Although these same features |
| have a choice between conventional (analog) Cable, | | | | are often offered by Cable companies, availability to |
| Digital Cable, and all-Digital Satellite Television. But how | | | | the consumer is dependent upon the local provider. |
| do you know which one is best for you? Below is a | | | | Internet - Satellite television offers many of the same |
| breakdown of each system and how they compare | | | | features that Digital Cable does. For example, the two |
| to each other, so you can choose the right signal for | | | | major dish networks - DirecTV and Dish Network - |
| your home and budget. Conventional Cable is by far | | | | both offer their own version of high-speed internet |
| the least advanced of the three and offers you the | | | | through broadband. DirecTV has DirecWay , and Dish |
| fewest features. In an effort to compete with Satellite | | | | Network has partnered with EarthLink to bring |
| television providers, most Cable companies are making | | | | high-speed internet to their customers. In terms of high |
| a strong push to get their customers on their Digital | | | | speed internet technology, the dish networks are still a |
| systems. Digital Cable television has many advantages | | | | little behind Cable TV. When it comes to Cable TV |
| over conventional Cable, including high-speed internet | | | | you can either purchase or rent the cable modem and |
| access and video on demand, as well as hundreds of | | | | there are usually several packages to choose from |
| Cable channel choices. Because of the land lines | | | | when it comes to speed. Parental Control - Both |
| necessary to deliver and receive the Cable cable | | | | services come with parental control features which |
| signal, there is a strong, well-established infrastructure | | | | allows you to control what shows your children can |
| to support the Cable system. Since you need a Cable | | | | watch. Warranty - All providers should offer a 12 |
| line to receive a signal, if you live in a less populate | | | | month warranty from the day of activation and 24 |
| area you may not have access to Cable television or | | | | hour customer service. Types of Satellite TV When it |
| have a limited number of channels to choose from. | | | | comes to Cable TV your are limited to whatever |
| Here's a helpful list of how Cable TV and Satellite TV | | | | provider owns the rights to the particular area you live |
| compare in certain areas: Availability - Cable TV | | | | in. When it comes to Satellite TV you have at least |
| requires a service technician to install it, but is not | | | | two providers to choose from - DirecTV and DISH |
| available in some rural or sparsely populated areas. | | | | Network. DirectTV Receivers When it comes to |
| Satellite TV is available anywhere in the United States, | | | | choosing your Direct TV programming package there |
| including Hawaii and Alaska. It is recommended that a | | | | are several to choose from, but all operate using |
| qualified technician install the dish, but you can install it | | | | DirecTV programming. You can get DirectTV |
| yourself. can be done by yourself. Equipment - Cable | | | | receivers with TiVo DirecTV which integrates any |
| TV requires a set-top box for Digital services | | | | DirecTV programming package with up to 35 hours of |
| (generally at no extra cost) and Satellite TV requires a | | | | Digital recording without videotape. It allows you to |
| satellite dish and receivers (which can run you several | | | | record two different shows at the same time and to |
| hundreds of dollars). DirecTV, unlike Dish Network, | | | | pause and replay live television. Then there's DirectTV |
| does not make you purchase equipment directly from | | | | receivers with UltimateTV which allows you to enjoy |
| them. Most popular manufacturers make dishes and | | | | not only DirecTV programming, but UltimateTV |
| receivers that are compatible with the DirecTV | | | | Services from Microsoft as well as DVR, live TV |
| system. When purchasing DirectTV equipment you | | | | controls, interactive TV, and Internet access. DirectTV |
| should weigh the options between manufacturers, the | | | | receivers with DirecTV with AOLTV connects directly |
| functionality provided by the different systems and | | | | to your TV show so you can view complementary |
| overall cost. A note of caution is that the dishes and | | | | Web sites while watching TV. DirectTV receivers with |
| receivers must work together in order to receive the | | | | HDTV DirecTV enhances the reception of the TV |
| mix of features you have purchased because this can | | | | signal and allows you to take advantages of High |
| complicate things considerably so be sure to check | | | | Definition Television and Dolby Digital surround sound. |
| that what you are getting matches what you need. | | | | There are two ways you can receive high-definition |
| When it comes to purchasing a system all prices are | | | | programming via DirectTV. The first is to purchase an |
| subject to promotions and availability and will vary from | | | | HDTV set with the DirectTV System receiver built into |
| retailer to retailer. Programming - Both services offer | | | | the television or to purchase a DirectTV multi satellite |
| hundreds of top-rated channels, but Satellite television | | | | system receiver and connect it to a |
| offers many unique channels like international | | | | high-definition-ready Digital TV. DirectTV Packages |
| entertainment and special packages like NFL Sunday | | | | Direct TV offers 3 basic packages: TOTAL |
| which gives you access to games all over the country. | | | | CHOICE® with Local Channels - Over 130 |
| include period A big disadvantage for Satellite is the | | | | Channels, $39.99/mo TOTAL CHOICE® PLUS |
| inability to offer local network stations without a fee. In | | | | with Local Channels - Over 150 Channels, $42.99/mo. |
| fact, in some areas, they are not available at all. | | | | TOTAL CHOICE® PREMIER with Local |
| Services - Historically Cable has had problems with | | | | Channels - Over 210 Channels, $90.99/mo. DISH |
| outages, but this is usually offset by the fact that they | | | | Network You can usually get a good deal when |
| have a fleet of technicians available 24/7. If a satellite | | | | signing up for the Dish Network satellite service like |
| dish is properly installed it requires very little | | | | having the system installed in up to four rooms of your |
| maintenance and is not usually affected by Mother | | | | home with no upfront fee. DISH Network offers 3 |
| Nature. Cost- As Cable continues to push Digital Cable, | | | | basic packages with optional local channels and other |
| the cost of Cable continues to escalate with an | | | | premium services. Americas Top 60 offers 60 |
| average package costing around $50 per month | | | | Channels for monthly price of $29.99 Americas Top |
| compared to Satellite programming which averages | | | | 120 is the most popular programming package on DISH |
| around $30 to $40 a month. Beware of additional | | | | Network. It also includes more than thirty |
| costs on a Cable bill like franchise fees and taxes, | | | | commercial-free, CD-quality music channels and a |
| which depending where you live can quickly raise your | | | | dozen Public Interest Channels. Monthly price: $34.99 |
| monthly bill. If you're a TV junky and want all the | | | | Americas top Top 180 has something for everyone - |
| premium stations and pay per view that will raise your | | | | 9 commercial-free movie channels, sports, 4 channels |
| monthly bill by $10 to $20. Transmission and Reception | | | | from Discovery, as well as including the entire |
| Quality - All of Cable's basic and expanded services | | | | America's Top 120 Entertainment package. However, |
| are currently analog, but you can upgrade to Digital | | | | A DISH 500 is required to receive all the channels in |
| Cable, just know that the analog channels will remain | | | | this package. Monthly Price: $44.99 Cable providers |
| analog even though you have digital equipment. | | | | offer several packages including a basic, premium and |
| Satellite TV is 100% digital, which in general means | | | | digital package with prices starting around $24 and |
| better reception. Satellite reception can weaken from | | | | escalating into the hundreds. |
| bad rain and snow storms. Interactive Services - | | | | |