Satellite TV service gets its TV signals from satellites in
geosynchronous orbit. Because they stay in the same position relative to the
earth's surface at all times, once a satellite antenna (usually, a dish of some
kind) is properly aimed, it can be left as-is thereafter. Satellite signals are
broadcast from a ground station to multiple satellites, which then broadcast
those signals back to the earth across huge expanses of territory. Anybody with
a satellite dish (the antenna), plus the proper signal processing gear (a
set-top box of some kind, usually called a satellite receiver, is required for
each TV set on which you want to watch the provider's programming) that can
"see" a satellite can pick up the signal. A single antenna can feed
multiple satellite receivers, but a physical cable is routed from the antenna
to each receiver (inside the house,both cable and satellite TV require cables
for each TV set). Satellite providers control access to their networks by including
special encryption and encoding in their signals, and tightly controlling the
equipment that can read and play back those signals, to prevent unauthorized
users from tuning in and obtaining free TV service.
Satellite TV service costs vary, primarily according to the channels
that subscribers elect to pay for. That said, both Direct TV and Dish Network
(the two primary satellite providers in North America) offer basic packages for
$20 to $25 per month. Add-on options for HDTV, sports channels, movie channels,
and so forth usually cost anywhere from $8 to $25 per month each (or come in
season-long subscriptions for sports such as NFL football, NBA basketball and
so forth). Lots of bundles are available in the $30 to $55 a month range, but
it's easy to spend $100 a month or more on satellite TV services, especially if
you like sports or movies, or both. Dish Network offers equipment to subscribers at no charge, including DVR
(digital video recording) or HDTV (high-definition television) receivers.
Direct TV charges $99 for SDTV DVR receivers, and $299 for HDTV DVR receivers
(check for rebates).
For both services, each TV set on which you want to watch provider
programming requires a set-top box of some kind, which may or may not include
any or all of the following: analog TV signals (satellite is all-digital, so
this applies only to cable), digital TV signals, HDTV signals, plus digital
video recording for standard TV (less expensive, more hours of TV recording per
device) and HDTV (more expensive, less hours of TV recording per device). Note
that all HDTV programming is digital, and an increasing number of standard
television channels are also digital; the FCC mandates that all U.S. TV
broadcasts will be digital by February 9, 2009.
That's tough to say, because the hundreds of cable TV providers that
exist all have somewhat different offerings, and because even the offerings
from the two primary satellite providers also differ substantially.
Conventional wisdom is that satellite TV offers more and better for-a-fee
sports and entertainment packages, and a broader selection of HDTV channels,
while cable TV offers more and better local stations (they will often
rebroadcast all of the OTA channels in a viewing area on cable, and usually operate
one or more stations of their own including news, weather, and public access
programming).Look closely at the stations included in their packages, and weigh the
importance of the availability of local channels when choosing between the two
offerings.
Q: How manychannels are typical for cable offerings? For
satellite offerings? Basic
satellite offerings typically include 40 to 50 channels, and premium offerings
usually include 140 to as many as 250 channels. Cable offerings typically
include at least 20 basic channels, and another 50-60 standard channels, with
as many as 200-300 more channels available in family, lifestyle, news and
entertainment bundles, plus additional channels for HDTV, movies, sports and
more.
Satellite usually takes the edge when it comes to entertainment (movies,
live concert simulcasts, and special programming) and sports (especially for
"season pass" offerings for all games in sports such as football,
basketball, hockey and NASCAR). Cable takes the edge in on-demand programming
because the providers' equipment infrastructure makes it easy to deliver
rebroadcast of free and for-a-fee programming on demand, and to deliver
pay-per-view services for movies and other premium programming.
When it comes to channel line ups, both satellite and cable providers
apparently compete on the same playing field. Both offer all kinds of family
channels, lifestyle channels, sport channels, news channels, movie channels and
HDTV packages. Generally, cable takes the edge on local channel offerings and
on-demand services, and satellite takes the edge on sports and movie packages,
as well as for high-ticket pay-per-view and entertainment offerings. These
days, both cable and satellite providers offer bundles of a different kind as
well. Cable companies invented the so-called "triple play"
terminology, wherein they deliver television, telephone and Internet access to
households on a single bill, usually at a discount from individual items on
this list. Satellite companies will gladly provide the same combinations to
their customers, though they must usually partner up with communications
carriers for Internet and telephone services. You can get a true "triple
play" from cable companies such as Time Warner or Cox, for example. If you
turn to Dish Network or DirecTV for triple play, a company such as AT&T or
Sprint/Nextel is also likely to be involved in delivering those services to you.
The biggest difference between cable and satellite is availability.
Cable is available only in neighbourhoods where the provider can run
a cable into your home. Satellite is available anywhere you can put an antenna
that can "see" one of the satellite provider's satellites in orbit
(this does require a line of sight to that satellite). In most metro areas,
cable is a viable option and worth comparing to satellite. In most rural areas,
satellite is the only option, because cable isn't available. Whether you set up your satellite dish in an urban, suburban or rural
setting, a clear line of site to the satellite from the dish is an absolute
must. In some cases, trees or other buildings may partially obscure that line
of sight, and will have a negative effect on signal quality. That can be
particularly vexing when the weather gets bad, and high winds move trees into the
line of sight when they're not ordinarily a problem. Be sure to get the dish
situated with the clearest possible line of sight to the satellite, to minimize
the effects of weather or obstructions, occasional or otherwise.
Generally,
you will be held responsible for the safe return of equipment in situations
where the provider has furnished you with set-top boxes, remote controls, and
so forth that it owns and you do not. That usually means you must return the
equipment to them yourself, or pay for a service call to have their field
services personnel come and pick the equipment up at your house. Otherwise, you
will receive a bill from the provider for that equipment, and it generally
includes enough zeroes to command serious attention and swift action (Author's
note: I moved recently and had to return the equipment from the old house,
although I stayed with the same provider. Thirty days after the move, a bill
for $700 for a digital and an analogy set-top box and remotes showed up, and
spurred immediate action to avoid potential credit problems that might have
otherwise resulted).
For both types of providers, you must usually obtain HD-capable set-top
boxes to permit you to view HDTV signals in the first place. This will usually
add to your recurring monthly equipment costs (cable or satellite) or
equivalent purchase costs (satellite). Then, you must sign up for one or more
HDTV packages so you will have some HD programming to watch. From both types of
providers, you can sign up for various types of HD programming (basic HDTV
package, HD movies, HD sports, on-demand or pay-per-view HD programming).
Generally, most cable stations top out on HD channels somewhere between 80 and
120 stations; both major satellite providers offer 140 HD stations or more.
Note that these stations are split among various channel packages, so there
will be extra fees to obtain most or all of them). Therefore, satellite has the
HD edge right now.
Normally, cable companies make arrangements with all local broadcast
television stations to carry their signals on cable wherever they offer calbe
services to their customers. Local access on satellite varies to a great
extent, so that you can expect access to local channels in most metropolitan
areas, but station availability in rural areas will depend on what stations are
active in the broadcast area, and whether or not the satellite company has made
arrangements to pick up and include the signal feed from those stations in the
satellite feed available through your antenna. Often, local channel access will
be same for both systems; in some cases, cable may carry more or all of the
local channels, whereas satellite may carry only a few or some of those same
channels.
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