Monday, April 11, 2011

Guide to Satellite TV

Satellite Television: A Brief History
Let's start with the basics of satellite television and get the history lesson and techno-jargon out of the way first. Satellite television service provided through communications satellites is referred to as direct broadcast satellite (DBS) and primarily used direct-to-home signals for home television reception. Geosynchronous communications satellites carrying television signals were first introduced in the early 1960s, but it wasn't until the mid-70s when a geosynchronous satellite carried the first direct-to-home signal. The onset of direct broadcast satellite subsequently ushered the arrival of commercial satellite broadcasts utilized by DBS services such as British Sky Broadcasting in the United Kingdom and current leading satellite TV providers in the United States, DIRECTV and Dish Network.
Reception Quality
With that part out of the way, let's demystify a common myth concerning satellite television. One of the most common questions about satellite television involves reception quality. Because satellite TV requires the transmission of signals between a satellite dish and a satellite in geostationary orbit (traveling roughly 20,000 miles), the concern about weak signals due to noise is a valid one. With satellite TV, the main issue is making sure the dish has an unobstructed view of the sky pointing to the satellite. For DIRECTV, for example, you want your dish pointing toward the Southern sky. Make sure to also address the professional installer about attaining maximum signal strength with the placement of the satellite dish. If the satellite dish receives the best optimal signal it possibly can, the dish and service may in many cases withstand some harsh weather conditions where the signal won't be completely knocked out.
Avoiding weak signals refers to the maintenance of the dish itself, keeping the dish clean and free from debris (snow, leaves, etc.) that will knock out your signal. Of course, for many that live in parts of the country with snowfall, having a satellite dish pummeled with snow is frustrating. But some of you in the lovely snowy regions will love to know that there are available dish heaters that will melt snow and ice buildup. Some have also tested the use of weather repellent sprays like Rain-X to some degree of success. Spraying the metal dish with a non-stick weather repellent spray may keep snow off the dish. It won't hurt to try it but if all else fails, there's nothing more certain for getting stuff off the dish than a ladder and a broom or a blast of garden hose water.
Perfect For Rural Areas
For the many that live in the rural countryside, they are well aware of the restrictions their location is saddled with. One of those luxuries burdened by distance is the lack of cable television service. Due to the higher expense of extending their service to remote parts of the country, cable services have limited range and that is where satellite comes in. Recent surveys have estimated that over 40% of people living in rural areas of the country subscribe to satellite television service. Satellite TV service has been the best and, for some, the only option for residents of rural areas to receive extensive television programming. It's actually quite the ideal location to have satellite television barring, of course, really bad weather during certain seasons. The wide open skies of rural cities outside of the metropolitan area provide the perfect setting to align a satellite to point for maximum signal strength.
Satellite television also benefits businesses in rural towns much like they do to businesses in urban cities. Bars and restaurants in rural areas would especially draw some good business by having a satellite dish installed and utilizing one of the more affordable and comprehensive DIRECTV packages available to establish returning customers. A variety of programming packages from commercial packages to sports packages are available for small and large businesses to accommodate their customers. The sports package for businesses are especially popular during all major sports seasons.
More or Less Expensive Than Cable?
It's an understandable issue for many people in the market for a television service to find not only satellite TV companies with the best prices but also the ones with the better value. In terms of value and without all the charges for equipment, installation, and activation fees tacked on by other cable TV services that are free on satellite TV services, the incentives for consumers to consider satellite over cable have been major deciding factors for people new to satellite TV. Satellite TV providers, especially DIRECTV, offers some of the best incentives to new customers with exclusive savings on premium packages, which not only start affordably but also come with no equipment to buy and free installation and activation as well as great customer service for as long as you remain a customer.
In terms of choice and diversity in the kind of programming you want, satellite TV packages lets you customize the packages available with sports and premium movie channels. With five different packages to choose from, Dish Network and DIRECTV simply have more variety of channels to choose from than cable. The most expensive satellite TV package is still cost-effective compared to cable that offer less for more. New customers receive the best value from satellite TV providers such as free HD service and free HD DVR receivers with a certain package. Along with rebate discounts that last for a full year to free installation and activation, the incentives for new customers of satellite TV have always been high.
Satellite TV Companies
You don't have to search very hard to find that there only two major satellite TV providers in the United States-Dish Network and DIRECTV. When consumers in the market for satellite service or want to make the switch from cable, they will most likely look to one of these two brands. What are the differences between the two companies? Many have asked and wondered, and the answer is pretty simple. The value in pricing may belong to Dish Network as their packages are less expensive after the first year promo than DIRECTV's packages after their first year promo. What DIRECTV delivers for their slightly more expensive regular-priced packages are more unique channels in HD. Many of the HD channels Dish Network claims to have include dozens of video-on-demand channels and they're also missing a host of popular channels on a couple of their most basic packages. DIRECTV's collection of 162 HD channels is the most offered by any TV service provider. Miscellaneous charges from Dish Network include a $99 upfront fee charged to customers that want paper copies of their bill (who do not sign up for auto bill pay) to higher lease fees for additional receivers. 3D HDTV owners will also find better value with DIRECTV being the first TV service provider to feature four brand new 3D channels for the 3D experience at home.
With the increasing number of consumers subscribing or making the switch from cable to satellite in the last decade, the results have indicated for a while now that satellite TV service is not simply an alternative anymore-it is now at the forefront of all major TV service providers.
Direct Choice Satellite is an authorized DIRECTV retailer featuring DIRECTV deals to the leading satellite TV provider of the most local, sports, and premium movie channels in a variety of affordable DIRECTV packages.


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