Satellite Dish System vs. Cable TV

Where do you live?

Whether you live in an apartment or a single-family home, a clear view of the southern sky is all that is required in order to get satellite tv reception. Almost 98 % of all residences are able to get satellite tv reception. With cable tv, you normally have to live within the city limits in order to be a part of their service area. While cable coverage is constantly expanding, satellite coverage remains the same.

True Digital Service

Cable tv companies offer a variety of different types of service. Is your local cable provider offering analog-only, true digital, or a hybrid analog/digital service? In contrast, signals from satellite dish services are generally considered the highest quality since they are first generation. This means that they are sent directly from the Broadcaster to your dish. Digital Cable should not be thought of as purre digital since it is usually a fourth or fifth generation signal that is relayed from sub-station to sub-station before it can reach your home. This relay devalues your overall picture and sound quality.

What's in the Package?

Cable tv packages are different for various geographical areas. Satellite dish tv packages are the same everywhere in the United States. What you should do is try to think about what channels and types of programming you really want, and then chose your programming packages accordingly. If your local cable tv company happens to offer a programming package that suits your needs, you should still look at the other various factors that are involved before making a decision. You can always get a satellite dish and be able to pick and choose various types of programming.

Do Interactive Features Float your Boat?

Interactivity is not something that is readily available from most cable tv providers. The exception to this is the electronic programming guides (EPGs) that are made so that they look like satellite tv guides. A satellite system will offer these programming guides plus a whole new series of services from DISH Network and DirecTV. Dish Network has the 508 series set-top box which features a free basic personal video recorder function. The cost for this service is $49 and is expected at the time of activation. The Dish Network 721 series allows you to record one show and watch another at the same time. Similarly, DIRECTV has TiVo for recording programs. Unfortunately, there is usually an upfront cost of around $400 that is needed in order to buy the receiver. These tv services are basically personal video recorders. They allow you to pause, record and rewind live shows. Enhanced broadcasting is only available with a satellite dish system.

Interested in HDTV?

Cable tv companies are still having a difficult time with their ability to deliver HDTV. Dish Network and DirecTV both offer HDTV programming. Dish Network has seen the future of HDTV and has launched a vast number of programs so that they will have unlimited bandwidth capabilities. In contrast, the DIRECTV satellite dish system only has a LNB (the receiving end on the Satellite Dish) and therefore will have problems with bandwidth when programming gradually switches over to all HDTV programming.

Reception in Multiple Rooms?

Cable tv's nationwide "lease" model has previously allowed the maximum number of set-top boxes to be served at the lowest cost-per-set in comparison to satellite dish providers. Dish Network and Direct TV have been adding plans for up to 4 free receivers. With an extra switch box you can add even more rooms to your plan. There is an additional monthly fee for each converter box needed.

In a Nutshell

Satellite tv programming signals are delivered straight from the source, right to your dish and are converted as digital signals in your television receiver. Digital cable, even at it's highest quality, is relayed from the original source to various regional bases. It is then relayed to your local cable provider before it is finally sent to your tv in your home. At each of these stages the signal will lose strength. By the time the signal finally gets to your house the signal has been disrupted and is nowhere near its former quality.

Weather can be a consideration, but not much of one. There are some weather conditions that will effect the strength of the satellite signal but this claim has been very much exagerrated by the cable tv companies just so that they can get more business. Overall, satellite dish system providers have about a 1% downtime. Cable tv on the other hand, has an average of 3-5% down time. Dish Network has more uptime each year than the average cable connection.

Many people don't want to switch to satellite tv from cable because they don't want to miss out on the local programming. Most people don't realise that Dish Network offers local programming at no additional cost in hundreds of areas throughout the United States.

With the rising costs of cable television, satellite tv is looking more and more like an option that will be taken advantage of by thousands of people looking for a better service.