Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Getting Ready for Satellite TV?

Satellite TV has changed the way people around the world watch television. With thousands of channels readily available and crystal-clear picture reception, satellite TV may well be the perfect way to watch some TV shows.

Some people swear that high-definition is the best thing to hit television in quite some time, but nothing surpasses the virtually unlimited universe that satellite television can provide for the viewer.

There are a number of satellite TV systems out there that can help you get the most bang for your buck. You'll have to shop around in your area for the ones that offer you the best deals, but you're likely to find what you're looking for with a simple click online.

Most satellite TV systems come with a wide variety of programming choices and promotional deals for first time buyers, so you might want to check those out and compare them with other companies.

One of the most popular (and one of the first) satellite TV companies in the United States is DirecTV. DirecTV is based out of California and offers thousands of channels to a huge customer base across the United States and Latin America, with the exception of Mexico.

DirecTV's channel selection is second-to-none, as they are owned by News Corporation and have a near-unlimited amount of resources at their disposal to pass on to their customers.

Another popular satellite TV company is the DISH Network. DISH Network services quite a few homes in the United States as well, but it is not as popular as DirecTV.

DISH Network satellite TV is based out of Colorado, distributing satellite programming and quite a lot of audio programming to homes around the United States. It does not currently have an active market in Latin America.

The two companies often compete for what is known as "capacity". This refers to the ability to get more customers. DISH Network and DirecTV compete by trying to set up newer and larger satellites, playing with their dish technology to enable more reception. The competition is fierce, as more customers are getting satellite TV.

At first glance, the services provided by both of these companies may appear to be very similar. It is true that the hardware set up for each is virtually identical. They both use a dish mounted outside of your home in a place where the signal from the satellite in space is not blocked by anything like trees or buildings.

Once the dish is set, a receiver is hooked up to your TV to tell the television set exactly what the signal means. It works like an interpreter so your TV knows what to show. Different levels of service use different receivers.

This allows the service provider to control what you do and don't watch based upon what you've paid for. Stepping into the world of satellite TV is a great decision and one you should enjoy.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

More Cable Customers Are Switching to DirectTV Satellite TV Everyday

Till very recently, Cable had little or no competition from anywhere and new customers all selected Cable. Each day more and more people are subscribing to Satellite TV providers. Companies like DirecTV lead the way in luring customers away from cable companies. Because of technological advances, cable no longer holds advantages over Satellite.

DirecTV Satellite Service Gives you Access to Digital Local Channels

Up until the very recent past, only Cable services were able to offer local stations. However, that is no more. The same local channels are being offered by the satellite providers like DirectTV within their package. It is possible you'll be able to attain those local channels in High Definition if they are available in your neighborhood.

DirecTV High Speed Internet: The Complete Package

Additionally, high speed internet access used to only be offered through cab;le providers as a standard part of it's packaging. Satellite providers have turned to making the service more readily available to a broader area as well. Since there is no Cable Internet service in many rural areas, most residents are left with only a slow, dial-up connection. Satellite companies such as DirecTV can provide high speed Internet service regardless of where you live because that signal is being retrieved from the sky.

DirectTV Delivers Digital Entertainment Everywhere

Direct TV has started a trend where you can now take your dish on the road in an RV, and even when your on the water on your boat! There are many advantages to doing this. It keeps the kids entertained, it helps you to avoid missing your favorite shows or sporting events and it helps you to stay up to date regarding important news and weather information about the areas that you are vacationing in. Direct TV dishes are small nd can be easily transported anywhere, even boats and Rvs! Obviously, there is no way Cable can do this because their signal is only transmitted through a wire running into your home. That wire could only be pulled so far!

The Technological Advantages of DirecTV Leave Competitors in the Dust

The reliance on the open sky and not ground wires for signal reception is just one of the technical advantages that DirecTV possess. Those living in areas where the weather can become extreme will find that this is very beneficial to them. The power is often completely wiped out, along with any form of communication to the area, during these types of extreme weather conditions. This also means knocking out internet and television services. When power is out, it can take several hours or even days to restore it because of its inaccessibility under the ground. This is not the case with Satelite providers. When you lose power, the satellite and Internet signals are unaffected and are still transmitting. Once you have power, be it from the grid or generator, your satellite signal is restored as soon as your receiver is. The ability to retrieve important weather, news, and safety information and also communicate with friends and family depends on this.

16 Million Satisfied DirecTV Customers

One of the best ways to judge the quality of any product or service is by the people that are using it. In customer satisfaction, DirecTV consistently outperforms all cable companies. The number of customers they have is more than 16 million, and they are the number one Satellite Television provider in the nation. It's easy to understand why so many people are switching based on the numbers.

Author : Martha Coleman
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/More-Cable-Customers-Are-Switching-to-DirectTV-Satellite-TV-Everyday/1036236

Enjoy Free Satellite TV On PC

Nowadays technology advance so fast that you are able to watch satellite TV or listen to your favorite radio station from your computer at home. All you need in order to do that is to buy a PCTV card for your personal computer. There are two models for PCTV, one that it can be installed inside the computer and one that remain outside but it needs to be connected to the PC through a cable put in the USB port of your computer.

You can enjoy digital television programs and radio shows while staying at your computer. Some cards use the computer's infrastructure to decode the satellite signals. Other models allow you to watch TV in a separate window, while the computer performs other tasks, due to a special built-in processor. Through these cards, you receive Broadband Internet via Satellite. Any requests to the satellite are made through a telephone line, but the reception travels the satellite dish with a speed of 40MB per second.

First, what you need in order to watch satellite TV on your computer is a processor that is at least Pentium II 333 MHz. Then, you will need to have an operating system like Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP and hardware consisting of a sound card, a spare USB slot and a CD Rom drive. You can use different program to visualize the TV shows, like Windows media player, Real player, or Quick Time player.

There are many ways to connect your PC to a satellite dish. You can use something like Hauppauge 3000 or the Internet cable. The connection can be made via the satellite box that runs an aerial lead from the RF output socket of the Shy Digibox to the input aerial socket on a standard PC TV card or USB TV adapter. Direct TV and Dish TV consider using a connection via their proprietary satellite TV receiver box as ideal.

The advantages of using these services are clear. You do not have only a personal computer, but a TV and a radio. Imagine how many things you can do, some even at the same time: you can watch a movie or a show, you can listen to music when writing e-mails or you surf through various websites. You can also download and record your favorite programs or music.

Author : Frederic
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Enjoy-Free-Satellite-TV-On-PC/930920

RV Satellite TV: The Best Deals

Installing a satellite TV system in your RV is now possible. The only question that remains is which RV satellite TV system is the best.

A few facts

Back in the days, in order to get satellite TV in your RV, you had to park your vehicle in a park with satellite hook ups.

The situation is very much different today, as RV satellite TV systems are self contained, which means that you can watch your favorite show anywhere you like. Plus, installing your system is a breeze, and you just need to adjust your dish so it is oriented towards southern skies for the best reception.

Satellite TV is not the only option available, Internet service can also be received in your own personal RV.

About the equipment

You will only need a satellite TV dish and a receiver to get all the equipment for installing satellite TV in your RV. If you want to avoid additional spending, just take the ones that you have at home, but you can spend a little for another set to have in your RV, as well.

Remember to purchase a movable stand. This will allow you to move the dish so it can receive better the signals from satellites. You can buy one that can be moved manually, or one that does this automatically, or, for more money, an in-motion system that follow the satellite direction while you are on the road.

You will also need an RV satellite TV provider. If you want to come out of this cheaper, try buying some used equipment from e-Bay.

The providers

Across the United States, you will find three satellite TV providers: DIRECTV, DISH Network, and Sky Angel.

DIRECTV

The first provider is DIRECTV. With 250 channels that range from sports channels, to movie channels, to pay per views channels and XM radio programs, this provider is the largest, but it comes second as far as customer satisfaction is concerned.

The available subscriptions include the $41.99 offer, for which you get 155 satellite TV channels, and the $96.99 offer for 250 channels. Installation comes with a free dish and four free receivers.

DISH Network

The first in customer satisfaction is DISH Network. Among their 350 programs, they have sports packages, movie programs, radio stations and pay per view channels.

Their start up offer begins at $19.99 for 40 programs and it goes up to $74.99, for which you get to see 350 channels. They also offer free dish and four free receivers.

Sky Angel

The third provider is specialized in Christian oriented channels, so their offers are targeting a special audience.

Their prices begin at $14.99 per month for 20 TV programs and 15 radio stations. You will have to pay $149 for the equipment consisting of one dish and one receiver.

Satellite Internet Service

For satellite Internet access, you will also need a provider. This way, you can access your e-mail while on the road, or check the latest news. The satellite Internet service has great advantages, as the connection is ten times faster then with dial-up.

Conclusion

As you can see, you have a lot of opportunities to make your RV as comfortable as it can be, by adding a satellite TV connection, and subscribing to the provider that suits your needs best.

Author : Pearle
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/RV-Satellite-TV-The-Best-Deals/1060955

Satellite TV: Prepaid Isn't Just for Cellular Services Anymore

For anyone with a damaged credit history or no credit history at all, obtaining everything from a rental agreement or car loan to cellular services or premium television services such as cable or satellite TV can be extremely difficult. For a number of years the option of prepaid cellular has given many the ability to obtain services without a credit check and the safety of the innate budget controls that are a part of the prepaid option.

For those individuals looking for premium channels to enjoy in their home, some satellite TV providers now offer a similar option for those with damaged or limited credit. Dish Network for instance, currently offers the DishNOW service. The service allows individuals with limited credit to purchase equipment directly and then buy programming in prepaid amounts. The prepaid service eliminates the need for approval and credit checks, helps assure that users stay within their budget by eliminating any monthly bills, and yet provides great home entertainment at an affordable rate.

Users of the DishNOW service purchase a satellite receiver and its installation for a single room. Once installation of the satellite dish and the purchased receiver is completed, the user can buy the programming package of their choice in $30 or $40 increments. The DishFAMILY package and Premium Movie packages are under a $1 a day, but Americas' Top 100, 200, 250 and Dish Latino, LatinoPlus, LatioDos, and LatinoMax are also available. In addition to these popular programming packages select international and adult programming options are offered.

Although few would recommend prioritizing the expense of premium television programming for anyone without a solid financial foothold, there are a number of instances in which such a service would be beneficial. Just a few examples of those who would most benefit from such a prepaid service would include:

- Newly independent individuals who have not yet established credit. This would include those who are no longer minors or perhaps someone emerging from a divorce who has not yet had the opportunity to establish credit in their own name.

- Those who are not yet citizens and have no credit card or no credit history established.

- Those who are emerging from bankruptcy and currently have a stable income but a compromised history.

Programming options are greater with regular satellite TV service and in many instances, customers do not have to pay for installation or equipment. However, for those without a credit card, damaged credit, or no credit history the option of prepaid entertainment is one that may make sense.

Author : Christine
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Satellite-TV-Prepaid-Isn-t-Just-for-Cellular-Services-Anymore/919194