You may have noticed an abundance of TV commercials, not to mention the various offers flooding your mailbox, from cable and satellite companies pushing their services. They all present promises of a diverse selection of programming; plus enhanced picture and sound quality. Many people have made the switch to satellite from cable recently, but that does not necessarily mean that it is for everyone. To determine which one would truly suit you better, you will need to examine your own TV viewing habits. Then you can see how they fit in with the packages being offered to you.
All of the service providers will likely offer a variety of different programming packages, the difference being the number and type of channels that are included in each package. The price range will include some type of basic package and can be extended to include many packages or channel bundles. You will need to do a survey of your household members to see which combination of news, sports, movies, and educational channels would best meet everybody's needs.
While cable TV and satellite have many features in common, they also have some significant differences between them. One thing to research thoroughly is what it will cost you to bring them into your home. When considering the costs, remember there is the cost of the service itself, which is typically billed on a monthly basis; plus some form of installation or set up fee. You can contact your local cable TV and satellite companies to find out what these costs are.
There is generally some type of additional cost for equipment that you need to properly operate each system. The satellite companies usually require you to purchase the satellite dish and receiver and also pay for installation. The cable company can often just activate cable TV with only the activation fee required. However, for digital or high-definition, or if you will be watching any pay-per-view or specialty channels, you would have to purchase or rent additional hardware.
In addition to the installation fees and equipment rental fees, there is usually a charge for additional televisions. With satellites, you may need a different type of dish for multiple televisions, and you definitely will need a separate receiver for every TV. For cable systems, you would be expected to pay an additional fee for each TV using the cable. If you wish to see the pay-per-view or specialty channels with your cable subscription, then you would need additional equipment for those extra TVs.
For satellite service, you need to have a satellite dish mounted somewhere that has an unobstructed view towards the south. If tall buildings or trees are in your way, then satellite service may not even be possible for you. If you rent an apartment or house, you would need permission from the property owner before you could have anything like this installed. On the other hand, there are many rural areas that do not have cable service available. In that case, satellite is your only option, other than a standard antenna.
Bad weather such as rain, snow and even heavy clouds can sometimes cause a problem with satellite transmissions and block your signal. Also, keep in mind that as the seasons change and trees have new growth, a clear view to the satellite may not last forever. A neighbor’s tree could stretch up in a couple of years and block your signal. However, discounting those issues, satellite TV will likely provide you with clearer and a better quality overall.
It is important to note that your own local television channels may not be included with your satellite service. You may have to pay extra to get a package that includes local programming, or it may not even be available. With cable, you can generally get all of your local channels so you will not miss news and weather broadcasts for your area. If you are planning to switch from cable to satellite, make sure any favorite shows you currently watch will still be available to you.
Which option would really suit you the best all depends on your individual situation and how you like to watch TV. In some cases, you may not have a choice of which service to use depending on your location. However, if you do have the choice, be sure to check all the programming details and all costs. Remember that there is a lot of competition between these companies, so you can shop around and compare the offers.