Choosing A Satellite TV Provider
By admin | September 2, 2008
The satellite tv industry has made huge gains on the cable tv industry in the past several years. With the price of cable tv skyrocketing every year, many cable subscribers are making the switch over to satellite tv. Okay so you’ve decided to switch to satellite tv; but which satellite tv provider do you choose? A satellite tv provider is a company that owns and operates satellites in geostationary orbit around the earth. These satellites broadcast the satellite signal down to your satellite dish and from their the signal is transferred to your receiver (black box). The two largest satellite tv providers in the United Sates are DirecTV and DISH Network. The vast majority of satellite tv subscribers in the United States use one or the other so this article will concentrate on comparing the two satellite giants in an attempt to help you decide which of the two is best for you.
With the almost exponential growth of the satellite tv industry, both DISH Network and DirecTV are now in a position where they can afford to offer the satellite equipment (dish and receivers) free to their subscribers. So for starters both DISH Network and DirecTV offer free satellite equiipment. Basically the only qualifiers are that you be a first time subscriber and that you have a credit card for monthly billing purposes. So if the equipment is free how do the two providers make any money? Well, you do have to pay for the monthly programming of course. The price of your monthly programming bill depends on which programming package you choose.
DISH Network’s America Top 60 programmng package starts at $24.99 per month and local channels are available. DISH Network presently is not making new subscribers commit to a one year contract. You can end your subscription at any time with no financial penalty to pay. DirecTV’s entry level programming package is called the Total Choice package and comes with local channels and is $39.99 per month. With the Total Choice package you get over 130 channels. DirecTV does require you to sign a one year subscription agreement. If you cancel your service before the year is up, then you have to pay a penalty fee to DirecTV.
As both satellite giants use the very lates technology in their satellites and receiving equipment, what differentiates the two is in the programming options that they provide to their subscribers. I would rate DirecTV somewhat ahead of the DISH Network in their sports packages, as they offer seasonal sports options like the N.F.L. Sunday Ticket that DirecTV has exclusive rights to. Both providers offer tons of premium movie packages to choose from including HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax. All these come with multiple channels per movie package. As DISH Network has more satellites in orbit than DirecTV does they have the capacity to offer up to 500 viewing channels, whereas with DirecTV, you can ‘only’ get 250 channels. Also, DISH Network offers alot more foreign programming packages than DirecTV does.
Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer 100% digital picture and CD quality sound in all of their programming. So again, they are tied in this important quality. This technology allows for a crystal clear perfect picture that cable tv simply cannot provide.
DISH Network, a subsidiary of EchoStar Communications, was founded in 1996 by Charles Ergan. While not quite as old as DirecTV, DISH Network was the fastest satellite provider to reach the 100,000 subscriber level doing so in just four short months. Presently, DISH Network has over Nine million satellite tv subscribers in the 50 United States and District of Columbia. DISH Network has many ‘firsts’ to its credit, including being the first company to offer a satellite tv receiver that had a built in DVR (digital video recorder).
DirecTV was begun in 1994 and is the largest satellite tv provider in the United States. When it first launched in 1994, Direct TV was the first satellite TV company to offer all digital-quality, multi-channel TV programming through the use of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) technology. DBS technology is now the standard for the satellite tv industry and we have the ingenuity of the DirecTV engineers to thank for it. While DirecTV does not have as large a bandwidth allocation as the DISH Network does, to counter this DirecTV has arranged to have to exclusive deals with programming companies to cater to the programming whims of their subscribers.
In the all important area of customer care, both DirecTV and DISH Network offer outstanding customer care and support. Both offer online Faqs sections and help sections to their websites. You can also call both toll free to get help with any problem you may be having. Pay-Per-View movies may be ordered either by using your remote control or calling the 800 toll free number for either provider.
Both DirecTV and DISH Network offer free professional installation as part of their free satellite tv promotions. One difference is that DirecTV will install your equipment for free in up to five rooms, where DISH Network presently only installs for free in up to four rooms of your home.
RATING DISH NETWORK and DIRECTV POINT by POINT:
- Satellite equipment - DirecTV - FREE; DISH Network - FREE
- Satellite Installation - DirecTV - FREE (up to 5 tv’s) DISH Network - FREE (up to 4 tv’s)
- Picture Quality - DirecTV - Outstanding DISH Network - Outstanding
- Pricing - DirecTV Total Choice Package $39.99 per month DISH Network America’s Top 60 Package $24.99 per month
- Programming Quantity - DirecTV offers programming packages up to 250 channels DISH Network has the capacity to offer up to 500 channels
- Programming Quality - DirecTV has outstanding programming package options with a heavy emphasis on seasonal sports packages. DISH Network also has outstanding programming package options with somewhat less of an emphasis on sports.
- Customer Care - DirecTV - Outstanding with both online and 800 toll free support. DISH Network - Outstanding with both online and 800 toll free support.
FINAL CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATION:
Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer an outstanding television viewing experience. The picture reception for both is far superior to that of cable tv. DISH Network’s entry level package is cheaper than DirecTV’s; but then the Total Choice package comes with alot more channels. DirecTV is stronger in the area of sports coverage, while DISH Network places somewhat more of an emphasis on its premium movie packages and foreign programming options. And both have outstanding customer care, both having won the prestigious J.D. Power Award in recent years for providing the best overall service among satellite and cable subscribers.
Our recommendation is that both DirecTV and DISH Network offer a superior television viewing experience than cable tv. Both are alot cheaper than cable, offer superior picture quality and free equipment and instalation. Both also offer superior customer care service compared to local cable providers. If you’re a big sports fan and just have to have that certain premium sports package, then DirecTV is for you; but if you’re not a huge sports fan and cost is an issue, then you might want to go with DISH Network and it’s entry level America’s Top 60 at just $24.99 a month. Also, remember that DirecTV will require a one year commitment, whereas with the DISH Network there is no contract to sign, meaning you can cancel your service at anytime and not have to pay a penalty.
Whichever satellite provider you choose, you can’t go wrong. As a subscriber of the DISH Network and a sales person that has several years experience in the satellite tv industry (have sold both DirecTV & DISH Network)I highly recommend that you drop cable, stop feeding the pig and switch to satellite tv service today. The vastly superior picture quality alone that DBS satellite technology provides makes it worth the change. It’s like heaven watching tv with no more squiggly lines running across the tv screen!
About the Author: Gary Davis has many years experience in the Satellite TV Industry and has written numerous articles on the topic. You can learn more about satellite television at Dish Network Satellite TV.
Tags: choose satellite provider, comparison, satellite providers, satellite television, satellite tvTopics: Satellite_TV | No Comments »
Satellite TV Trends - Watch Digital TV on Your PC
By admin | August 28, 2008
Is this the end of the TV receiver, as we know it?
Ever since the 1930s we have purchased and used standalone TV sets for entertainment and up to date information but now things are changing. We live in a world that is very different from what it was only a few years ago, a world where digital TV, Satellite TV, computers and the Internet are all around us. Today the computer is as common in the home as the TV set is. I know of many households that actually have more computers than they have TV sets.
We use computers routinely for gathering information and research. Only a few short years ago this was the role of television news and current affairs channels. The TV channels haven’t gone away but we rely on them a lot less than we used to. It’s often so much easier to reach for the Internet browser on your PC especially when you need the information right now.
So why do we need a standalone TV set?
That’s a very good question. Until recently the computer that you might typically use in your home hasn’t had the power or capacity to perform the same functions as your TV set but this is no longer the case. Even the most humble of modern notebook PC is now capable of receiving and playing digital TV from sources such as terrestrial, cable or satellite digital TV. You can even watch analogue TV transmissions until they are phased out.
How to watch satellite digital TV on your PC?
Not very long ago in the early days of PC TV it was necessary to install a TV capture card inside your computer in order to watch television broadcasts without using a standalone television. This was not a difficult task but it wasn’t simple or elegant either. It also made it unsuitable for use with notebook PC’s which limited the appeal somewhat. Notebooks were also less common and more expensive a few years ago so there was no incentive to develop such systems.
Along came cheap powerful notebook PC’s and USB 2
You can now get good notebook PCs for prices comparable with television sets. They are equipped as standard with USB 2 interfaces which are fast enough to cope with a digital TV data stream from an external receiver. This means that modern desktop and notebook PCs are capable of transforming themselves into digital TV sets provided that you can find a source of digital TV data.
USB satellite TV
It turns out that there are many products available that are designed to receive and decode digital TV signals and deliver them to your PC through its USB 2 interface. Installation couldn’t be simpler, just install some software and plug the device into your PC.
There are USB digital TV units available for terrestrial, cable and satellite TV so you should have plenty of choice. All these devices conform to the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) standards in 3 basic versions. DVB-T for terrestrial TV, DVB-C for cable TV and DVB-S for satellite TV.
Disadvantages of using a USB digital TV adapter
Adding a digital television adapter to your PC to watch free-to-air broadcasts is a great idea but if you want to subscribe to any encrypted pay-for-view channels such as Sky in the UK you may be unlucky. At the time of writing the only way to watch these channels is through a set top box designed for the service.
Digital PC TV is the future
As computers become more and more like TV’s the need for a standalone TV set will diminish and ultimately vanish. I don’t know when this will happen but it might be sooner than you think.
Steve is a software engineer and writes for http://www.sattelite-television.thegrandfatherclock.com
Things you must know when buying satellite TV or digital TV
Topics: Satellite_TV | No Comments »
What to Consider When Selecting a Satellite TV Provider
By admin | July 25, 2008
There was a point in time when cable was the most popular way to watch television; however, that is beginning to change. Each day more individuals make the switch from cable to satellite TV. If you are interesting in making the switch to satellite TV then you have a number of options when it comes to selecting a satellite TV provider.
When it comes to selecting a satellite TV provider there are many individuals who do not carefully think out their decision. It is possible that you could select a provider without doing any research, but doing so may put yourself at risk for unnecessary expenses.
When searching for a satellite provider there are a number of important factors that you should consider before paying for the service or signing a contact.
The channels offered by a satellite TV provider should be one of the first things you look at. There are many individuals who search for a provider based on the cost of their service. The cost of a particular service will not matter if your favorite channel is not even offered as programming.
Once you have determined that the television stations you are most likely to tune into are offered by a particular satellite provider, you should then start examining their costs.
Satellite TV providers tend to group specific channels into packages. Each package will have a set price. The price of a specific package can often be determined by visiting the provider’s online website or by contacting their customer service department.
The average starting cost for a satellite package begins at around thirty dollars. The price that you will have to pay will all depend on how many channels you want.
The cost of equipment needed to become a satellite TV customer should also be examined. It is not uncommon to find special deals or discounts on satellite dishes and receivers; however, you may end up paying full price for the equipment.
It may be in your best interest to examine satellite TV providers that let you purchase their equipment from a local or online retail store. Outright purchasing satellite equipment means that it is yours to keep instead of leasing it from a provider.
Before you become a customer of a particular satellite TV provider you may wish to determine the reliability of that provider. Speaking to friends, family, or coworkers who are current subscribers can help you make your choices.
Feedback on just about anything, including satellite TV providers, can also be found online. Feedback and recommendations will give you a good idea as to the type of service you should expect to receive.
In today’s world, many families have multiple television sets in their household; have a home phone and an internet connection. Satellite TV providers and other companies know this and that has led to the combination of many entertainment companies.
You are encouraged to inquire about bundle packages with your television, phone, and internet. There are many companies who offer valuable discounts if you also become a customer of one of their partners.
If satellite TV is on your wish list then you are encouraged to take the above mentioned factors into consideration. Simply by comparing services and prices you can be on your way to watching satellite TV without going broke.
D. David Dugan is a support of the computer support forum at http://forum.dugancom.com and recommends purchasing your satellite service from http://www.divinfo.com/dishnetwork.php
Tags: Cable TV, direc tv, directv, dish network, dish tv, satellite television, satellite tvTopics: Satellite_TV | No Comments »