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Home Entertainment - Satellite TV & Cable TV

Ever since the early nineties, personalgeneral means better reception. Satellite
entertainment items such as television hasreception can weaken from bad rain and snow
been on a growth rampage. Most people overstorms. Interactive Services - Satellite
the age of thirty remember when you needed aproviders have electronic program guides,
good set of "rabbit ears" on top of the setparental controls, video on demand and
just to get your local network channels.automated timers, as well as more advanced
Today, however, hundreds of channels aresystems that offer a DVR (Digital Video
available to you just about anywhere you liveRecorder), which allows programs to be
and there is more than one way to get thoserecorded without videotape, PVR (Personal
signals. You have a choice betweenVideo Recording), which allows you to pause
conventional (analog) Cable, Digital Cable,and even rewind live broadcasts and HDTV
and all-Digital Satellite Television. But how(High Definition Television). Although these
do you know which one is best for you? Belowsame features are often offered by Cable
is a breakdown of each system and how theycompanies, availability to the consumer is
compare to each other, so you can choose thedependent upon the local provider. Internet -
right signal for your home and budget.Satellite television offers many of the same
Conventional Cable is by far the leastfeatures that Digital Cable does. For
advanced of the three and offers you theexample, the two major dish networks -
fewest features. In an effort to compete withDirecTV and Dish Network - both offer their
Satellite television providers, most Cableown version of high-speed internet through
companies are making a strong push to getbroadband. DirecTV has DirecWay , and Dish
their customers on their Digital systems.Network has partnered with EarthLink to bring
Digital Cable television has many advantageshigh-speed internet to their customers. In
over conventional Cable, including high-speedterms of high speed internet technology, the
internet access and video on demand, as welldish networks are still a little behind Cable
as hundreds of Cable channel choices. BecauseTV. When it comes to Cable TV you can either
of the land lines necessary to deliver andpurchase or rent the cable modem and there
receive the Cable cable signal, there is aare usually several packages to choose from
strong, well-established infrastructure towhen it comes to speed. Parental Control -
support the Cable system. Since you need aBoth services come with parental control
Cable line to receive a signal, if you livefeatures which allows you to control what
in a less populate area you may not haveshows your children can watch. Warranty - All
access to Cable television or have a limitedproviders should offer a 12 month warranty
number of channels to choose from. Here's afrom the day of activation and 24 hour
helpful list of how Cable TV and Satellite TVcustomer service. Types of Satellite TV When
compare in certain areas: Availability -it comes to Cable TV your are limited to
Cable TV requires a service technician towhatever provider owns the rights to the
install it, but is not available in someparticular area you live in. When it comes to
rural or sparsely populated areas. SatelliteSatellite TV you have at least two providers
TV is available anywhere in the Unitedto choose from - DirecTV and DISH Network.
States, including Hawaii and Alaska. It isDirectTV Receivers When it comes to choosing
recommended that a qualified technicianyour Direct TV programming package there are
install the dish, but you can install itseveral to choose from, but all operate using
yourself. can be done by yourself. EquipmentDirecTV programming. You can get DirectTV
- Cable TV requires a set-top box for Digitalreceivers with TiVo DirecTV which integrates
services (generally at no extra cost) andany DirecTV programming package with up to 35
Satellite TV requires a satellite dish andhours of Digital recording without videotape.
receivers (which can run you several hundredsIt allows you to record two different shows
of dollars). DirecTV, unlike Dish Network,at the same time and to pause and replay live
does not make you purchase equipment directlytelevision. Then there's DirectTV receivers
from them. Most popular manufacturers makewith UltimateTV which allows you to enjoy not
dishes and receivers that are compatible withonly DirecTV programming, but UltimateTV
the DirecTV system. When purchasing DirectTVServices from Microsoft as well as DVR, live
equipment you should weigh the optionsTV controls, interactive TV, and Internet
between manufacturers, the functionalityaccess. DirectTV receivers with DirecTV with
provided by the different systems and overallAOLTV connects directly to your TV show so
cost. A note of caution is that the dishesyou can view complementary Web sites while
and receivers must work together in order towatching TV. DirectTV receivers with HDTV
receive the mix of features you haveDirecTV enhances the reception of the TV
purchased because this can complicate thingssignal and allows you to take advantages of
considerably so be sure to check that whatHigh Definition Television and Dolby Digital
you are getting matches what you need. Whensurround sound. There are two ways you can
it comes to purchasing a system all pricesreceive high-definition programming via
are subject to promotions and availabilityDirectTV. The first is to purchase an HDTV
and will vary from retailer to retailer.set with the DirectTV System receiver built
Programming - Both services offer hundreds ofinto the television or to purchase a DirectTV
top-rated channels, but Satellite televisionmulti satellite system receiver and connect
offers many unique channels likeit to a high-definition-ready Digital TV.
international entertainment and specialDirectTV Packages Direct TV offers 3 basic
packages like NFL Sunday which gives youpackages: TOTAL CHOICE® with Local
access to games all over the country. includeChannels - Over 130 Channels, $39.99/mo TOTAL
period A big disadvantage for Satellite isCHOICE® PLUS with Local Channels - Over
the inability to offer local network stations150 Channels, $42.99/mo. TOTAL CHOICE®
without a fee. In fact, in some areas, theyPREMIER with Local Channels - Over 210
are not available at all. Services -Channels, $90.99/mo. DISH Network You can
Historically Cable has had problems withusually get a good deal when signing up for
outages, but this is usually offset by thethe Dish Network satellite service like
fact that they have a fleet of technicianshaving the system installed in up to four
available 24/7. If a satellite dish isrooms of your home with no upfront fee. DISH
properly installed it requires very littleNetwork offers 3 basic packages with optional
maintenance and is not usually affected bylocal channels and other premium services.
Mother Nature. Cost- As Cable continues toAmericas Top 60 offers 60 Channels for
push Digital Cable, the cost of Cablemonthly price of $29.99 Americas Top 120 is
continues to escalate with an average packagethe most popular programming package on DISH
costing around $50 per month compared toNetwork. It also includes more than thirty
Satellite programming which averages aroundcommercial-free, CD-quality music channels
$30 to $40 a month. Beware of additionaland a dozen Public Interest Channels. Monthly
costs on a Cable bill like franchise fees andprice: $34.99 Americas top Top 180 has
taxes, which depending where you live cansomething for everyone - 9 commercial-free
quickly raise your monthly bill. If you're amovie channels, sports, 4 channels from
TV junky and want all the premium stationsDiscovery, as well as including the entire
and pay per view that will raise your monthlyAmerica's Top 120 Entertainment package.
bill by $10 to $20. Transmission andHowever, A DISH 500 is required to receive
Reception Quality - All of Cable's basic andall the channels in this package. Monthly
expanded services are currently analog, butPrice: $44.99 Cable providers offer several
you can upgrade to Digital Cable, just knowpackages including a basic, premium and
that the analog channels will remain analogdigital package with prices starting around
even though you have digital equipment.$24 and escalating into the hundreds.
Satellite TV is 100% digital, which in



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