First of all, virtually nobody has an antenna anymore to watch TV, not even my grandparents who live literally in the middle of nowhere. It just doesn't make sense and with the new technologies and broadcast standards coming into play within the next few years, it is a major question mark as to whether or not traditional broadcast TV will even be available. So you have two choices, how do you decide what is best for you?
Cable TV is a good option. Not excellent, perhaps not the best, but good. On the plus side, cable TV provides good picture clarity, good reception, and very few problems. Most cable TV providers can also give you HDTV (High Definition TV), although they will charge you more for it and you will need an enhanced cable box to really take advantage of all that HDTV brings to the table. And of course, the TV that you own must be able to display HDTV, and if your TV was manufactured more than 3-5 years ago, that might be a huge question mark that you should find out before you pay extra money for HDTV capabilities.
On the downside, it is expensive, typically a noticeable amount more expensive than the satellite TV counterpart. The basic cable service gives you a truckload of channels to choose from and you can also opt for (at additional cost) to have a Chinese menu of premium channels available, like sports channels, various movie channels, and more.
One thing to note is that your cable company MAY be willing to cut you a deal if they are also providing you with high-speed cable Internet access. It is worth checking into, but keep the bottom line cost in mind, as it really may not be a deal at all. Your cable company is probably also willing to provide you with a VOIP phone where you can make and receive phone calls over your high-speed Internet connection. Be aware of this because getting VOIP service from your cable provider is very likely your WORST and most cost INEFFECTIVE option! See my other articles on VOIP phone service in this directory for more details on that aspect.
Satellite TV is typically a better choice, and almost always more cost effective. Yes, you can still get HDTV with a satellite TV connection. The picture quality will be equal to or better than what you get with cable. Your satellite dish will need to be mounted on the outside of your house and will require a clear and unobstructed view of the southern sky (in the US). The only real detriment to satellite TV is the fact that the picture quality can degrade during times of heavy rain or heavy snow. If you live in an area where this might be a frequent occurrence, this problem can be resolved for the most part by opting for a larger satellite dish, which will be more efficient at capturing the signals.
If you live in a rental house or an apartment, you will likely need to get permission from your landlord to mount your satellite dish on the building. If your particular neighborhood is big on aesthetics, they may not allow this, so be sure you have permission before placing your order.
The major satellite TV providers today, Dish Networks and DirecTV, typically offer free installation in up to 4 rooms of your home, and also provide free equipment, sometimes also including a DVR (Digital Video Recorder). During promos, you can sometimes also get about 3 free months of movie channels and sports channels to see if you like them. The provider is of course hoping you will like them and upgrade your account to include those channels.
From a picture quality perspective, both options are good. From a cost perspective, satellite wins almost every time.Understand the pros and cons of each choice so you can make the decision that is best for your particular situation.
Cable TV has had a less than stellar reputation in the past, but there are some things that Comcast is doing (and has done) that make cable TV worth looking into again. The most basic thing that Comcast has done was to embrace digital TV technology. This may seem pretty elementary, but it actually has some pretty far reaching implications. For example, using digital TV to transmit TV programming has the benefit of allowing each video stream to be compressed so that it takes up less bandwidth. When each channel takes up less bandwidth, a cable TV company like Comcast can fit more channels over the existing cable infrastructure without having to replace it or add more cables. This compression technology makes Comcast able to provide over three hundred channels, making it at least as good as any satellite TV service. Another thing that digital TV allows Comcast to do is to provide a better picture. Any time that TV is transmitted it picks up a certain amount of interference. Even if it happens to be transmitted over buried cables, it still picks up the interference of cosmic rays or something. This inevitable interference translates into a fuzzy picture for any video that's been transmitted more than a couple of hundred feet over a cable. The good thing about digital TV is that a digital cable receiver can tell the difference between interference and the real signal, making it easy to clean all of that picture ruining crud out of the signal. The same thing works for sound too. Digital TV also allows companies like Comcast to provide access to other technologies as well. For example, it's now possible to provide an interactive on screen program guide with digital TV to allow viewers to see what's available for them to watch at any given time. It even includes descriptions of the TV shows and movies that you have to choose from. This is a great way to keep track of all the hundreds of channels that Comcast no provides. Digital TV also makes parental control software available as well. Parental control software can be programmed to filter out specific types of programming that you may not want your kids to view. Then, before each program comes on, the software will check to see that it meets you criteria before allowing it to be displayed. Digital TV also forms the basis for higher tech features like HDTV. HDTV is a great new way to watch TV because it provides an even sharper picture than regular digital TV along with a great sound format. Comcast has been especially ambitious about implementing new HDTV channels to the point where it's extremely competitive in the number it offers. Comcast is taking advantage of digital technology in another way with the implementation of Switched Digital Video. Switched Digital Video is a new technology that will allow Comcast to provide a virtually unlimited number of channels- including HDTV channels- by making even better use of existing bandwidth. All of these things make Comcast a good alternative for cable TV.
Both Jon A & Rachel Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jon A has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Sports Car and Acid Reflux. Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about satellite TV details, tips, and promos at his web site at. Jon A's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Rachel Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Internet, The Internet and Information Technology. Looking for new cable service? This article is for consumers looking for information on . You can find more information at. Rachel Smith's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.