Installation of satellite dish system is the only way for people living in rural areas and without the access of cable services to be able to watch satellite TV. The dish system helps in clearing out your TV signal transmission. Setting up a dish system is simple. You need to position the dish in a correct area, fix it with a noiseless block converter and have a receiver or decoder to configure your TV to receive signal. That is a lot of work to do. But thanks to the advancement of technology, watching satellite TV on PC is simpler and easier to follow. Best of all, it is also cheaper. The hardware and computer requirements essential to be able to watch satellite TV on PC is as follows:
1. PCTV Card
The first step to do is to enable your computer to receive and decode satellite TV signals. This can be done with the use of a PCTV card. These cards come in two types; internal and external. The internal cards can be installed in your computer using the PCI slot, connecting your PCTV card to your motherboard. On the other hand, the external cards can be connected using the USB port of your computer. If a USB port is not available, then you use an adapter. Finally, you will need to connect to the internet.
2. Internet Connection
To obtain a high quality of signal transmission, it is best to use a broadband connection with 512KB or higher. If broadband connection is not available in your area, you can just use a high speed internet connection to be able to set up a PC satellite TV, however, the quality of signal transmission will be lessened.
3. Computer Specifications
It is required to have at least 128MB of RAM and a Pentium 3 system. These requirements can easily be obtained with modern computers. But higher versions will upgrade your viewing quality.
4. Computer Peripherals (optional)
For better viewing quality, it is best to install graphics and sound cards in good quality to your computer. This will guarantee better streaming if the video signal and give you realistic sound. For better theatre like sounds, you can purchase sub woofers or surround sound system that can be connected to your PCs.
This is the easiest way to watch satellite TV on your computer. You can also use PC satellite TV software, which is the newest technology in satellite viewing.
At first glance DIRECTV and DISH Network seem pretty similar. But when you take a closer look and compare the two you'll see some big differences when it comes to satellite TV programming and prices.
Cheapest Satellite TV Programming Packages
* DISH Network has two inexpensive packages. The Dish Family package is $19.99 and includes 40 family-oriented channels like The Biography Channel, Discovery Kids, Food Network, Hallmark, and Nickelodeon. Their America's Top 60 package is $19.99 and has 75 channels with a variety of programs like A&E, CNN, CNBC, Discovery Channel, The History Channel, The Home Shopping Network, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, and TV Games Network.
* DIRECTV's least expensive package, Total Choice, is $41.99 per month and has 155 channels including A&E, Bloomberg Television, CNBC, CNN, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, Food Network, FX, Videogame TV, Galavision, National Geographic, Nickelodeon, The Histoy Channel, and 50 XM satellite radio chanels.
Mid-Size Satellite TV Programming Packages
* DISH Network has two mid-size packages. America's Top 120 is $29.99 per month and has 230 channels including all of America's Top 60 channels plus channels like AMC, Animal Planet, ESPN, Fox News Channel, NFL Network, Disney, Telefutura, and 60 Sirius radio stations. America's Top 180 package is $39.99 per month and has 318 channels including all of America's Top 120 channels plus channels like Biography, Bloomberg, FOX Movie Channel, The Golf Channel, and The Movie Channel.
* DIRECTV's mid-size package, Total Choice Plus, is $46.99 per month and has 185 channels including all of the Total Choice channels plus channels like Boomerang, Discovery Home, Discovery Kids, The Biography Channel, The Golf Channel, The Science Channel, and 67 XM radio channels.
Top-Of-The-Line Satellite TV Programming Packages
* DISH Network's high-end package, America's Everything Pak, is $74.99 and has 350 channels including all of America's Top 180 channels plus 31 movie channels from Showtime, Starz, HBO, and Cinemax. You also get DISH Network HD programming.
* DIRECTV's top TV package, Total Choice Premier, is $96.99 per month and has 250 channels including all of the Total Choice Plus channels plus 31 channels from HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz.
Note: The subscription fees for DISH Network's America's Top 60, Top 120, Top 180, and The Everything package are for the first ten months. After that they are $10 more per month.
Miscellaneous Programming Comparison
DISH Network offers individual HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz movie packages, plus sports packages, adult channels, international channels, HD TV channels, and more than 1,600 pay-per-view programs per month. Local program channels are $5 per month.
DIRECTV offers individual HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz movie packages, plus sports packages (including NFL Sunday Ticket), international channels, adult channels, pay-per-view programs, and HDTV channels. Local program channels are $3 per month.
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