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