Mrs. Mecomber's Scrapbook Talking technology, computers, and the Internet… for the average computer user

Before television signals were switched from digital to analog, all it took to get a signal was some rabbit ears antennae (albeit for only local reception). Today’s digital reception has created some healthy competition between the types of providers, however. Here are some things to remember when choosing a television service:

Channels Availability
Both cable TV and satellite TV provide a ton of channels. Cable users often complain that there are too many choices for cable TV- they dislike receiving (and paying for) thousands of channels. Dish Network DirecTV offers channels in packages; for example, they have a Family Package where you pay for only family-friendly programming with 50 or so channels. Or there’s the “ultimate” deal where you pay for all channels. It’s a very nice option, and it helps the budget, too.

Quality and Downtime
Cable TV is distributed through coaxial cable lines. If you have cable TV, I’m sure you know that these lines break or fall down, since they are usually physically strung on telephone poles. DirecTV is transmitted by satellite. Of course, satellite transmission experiences interference from time to time. When it comes to signal clarity (High Definition, also known as HD), DirectTV prides themselves on offering exceptional HD quality. Sports fans particularly appreciate the extreme clarity of HDTV.

High-Speed Internet
I look into cable TV options from time to time (I am interested in Voip and high-speed Internet, not TV). I am still astonished at the high prices, even for a limited package of plain old high-speed Internet. Satellite Internet is expensive, too, however. Depending on your plan, you may be charged extra if you go over the limit of service allotted to you. Overall, I think Internet service is expensive for both cable and satellite. The determining factor for one of the other is, in many cases, location. Cable lines may not be available for rural locations, and therefore satellite Internet is the only option.

For more information in comparing the pros and cons of satellite television, check out the FCC’s TV service guide.

This post is brought to you by your friends at Directsattv.com.