Satellite TV

Flat Panel Displays - Beyond Plasma

2008-07-16T19:34:00.001-07:00

The term set-top box will become something of a misnomer in the near future, as most displays will become too thin to allow a box to placed on top of them. As the price of plasma & LCD displays has plummeted and their image quality has improved, they are popping up in homes everywhere.

Although they are the darlings of the media and the generic for flat panel display in the minds of many, plasmas are about to be in a serious fight with other technologies for the flat panel crown.

LCD displays, seen on the desktop for years as computer monitors, and commonplace in smaller flat panel TVs, are finally increasing in size to the point they are becoming a rival to plasmas in the 42" - 50" size range. Picture quality is similar to plasmas; however LCDs are immune to the burn-in that can affect plasma displays. This burn-in occurs when plasma units are used to display static images such as video game screens and stock or sports tickers.

Plasmas generally have an edge in the ability to produce deeper blacks and more saturated colors than LCDs. Plasmas are also better at producing full motion video than LCDs because of the response time of the LCD panels, although this difference is disappearing.

LCD TVs are a bit more expensive than plasmas at 42" and larger sizes, but they should last a while longer. Plasma displays should last 20,000 - 25,000 hours and LCDs should give 30,000+ hours of useful life. However, the latest generation of plasma displays from NEC is claimed to have a 60,000 hour life. If that is an industry trend, the traditional lifespan advantage held by LCDs may soon disappear.

Currently Sony has a 42", NEC a 40", Sharp a 45", and Samsung a 40" LCD TV or display. Samsung also has the big one, a 46" that started shipping in early September of 2004. The Samsung 46" was the first consumer LCD video display to have a 1080 line native resolution. This allows it to display 1080p native when that format arrives for HDTV.

Other technologies are on the horizon as well. One that has shown great promise is OLED, for Organic Light Emitting Diode. Developed by Kodak and Pioneer, this technology has been used for a few years in car stereo and cell phone displays. It's just about ready for prime time. Philips has shown a 13" unit, Samsung a 17", and Seiko-Epson has shown a 40" prototype.

OLED's advantages are many. It actually emits it's own light, so it requires no backlight and has better contrast than a traditional LCD. OLED displays have a wide viewing angle like a plasma display. Power usage is very low, less than 1/2 that of a traditional LCD display. At around 2mm deep, OLEDs are much thinner than either a plasma or LCD.

They have a refresh rate about 1,000 times faster than a traditional LCD, so they will be far superior for video applications. They have fewer parts than LCD or plasma and can be manufactured using a novel ink jet printing process. This promises to keep prices low as the technology is implemented. It is expected to see sub 20" displays in stores by 2006 with larger units following one to two years later.

Other promising display technologies on the horizon include SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display) and carbon Nanotube. SED was developed by Canon, who began research into the technology in 1986. SED is basically the same principle as CRT, however there are important differences. The most important from a consumer standpoint is thickness. An SED display is only an inch or two thick, depending upon screen size.

The basic construction is two glass plates separated by a vacuum. One of the plates is coated with phosphors the other is mounted with electron emitters. Electrons are ejected when a voltage of about 16 to 18 V is applied to the emitters. These electrons are then accelerated by a higher voltage into a beam similar to that in a CRT display.

The visual advantages of SEDs are as for CRT displays, great color, deep black levels and quick motion response. These advantages, combined with the slim form factor, low cost and small power requirement should make for a real winner.

A unit shown by Toshiba at a Japanese trade show in April of 2005 even had it's contrast ratio up to an incredible 100,000 to 1 by significantly reducing black luminance. Even if the specs were a bit inflated this would still amount to a fantastic contrast ratio, on the order of 5 times that of a traditional CRT. Toshiba has indicated they will move to this technology for all displays over 40" by 2006.

One fly in the SED ointment however. On April 21st, 2005 US firm Nano-Proprietary has filed a suit against Canon in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Texas, alleging that the surface (SED) televisions that Canon plans to release violates a licensing agreement signed 5 years ago between the Japanese giant and Nano-Proprietary.

The pace of change in the home theater and entertainment display market has just kept accelerating. There are some promising technologies around the corner that will allow, as usual, higher performance, lower cost and more compact form factors. As prices for advanced technologies plunge and technology improves, it will make it even easier for the average person to have a fantastic media system almost anywhere in their home.

By Steve Faber

Selecting a Satellite TV Network from the Audiences Perspective

2008-07-16T19:33:00.019-07:00

The numbers of those who just connect their TV to a simple roof top antenna can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand. I assume you are not one of those minimalists who need 30 minutes of news programming to get by in a day. Most likely, you are one of those millions who want 200+ channels in their home and are wondering which of the biggies to choose.

There are hundreds of websites offering detailed price lists, programming analysis and freebies. I will not attempt to compete with them. By a simple comparison of costs, you are unlikely to get a good idea of the content and value of these channels. Therefore, we need to look at the viewing audience and see what the specific requirements of user groups are. On pricing, let me make a few general statements first:

Nothing is free. When any of the networks offers you free equipment and installation, it is only deferring payments over a year. Both DirecTV and Dish Network require you to commit on a one-year subscription.

If you are an average watcher - say 2-3 hours per day - then, over a two-year subscription - your costs with DirecTV or with Dish Network will be very similar.

To help you decide, I have broken down viewing audience into a few well-defined sub-groups. We will look at the networks from their differing perspectives.

Working Families - viewing primarily in evening hours or on weekends

Requirements: parental control on specific channels (children may be unsupervised during the day), control over pay per view, adequate children programming and info-entertainment channels. OK sports coverage. Availability of Internet, local channels.

Recommendation: either DirecTV or Dish Network is good enough. Select on least cost basis - Dish Network is marginally ahead here.

Housewives at home - not working

Requirements: recording capability, good film channel availability, good HD TV.

Recommendation: Dish Network.

Elderly people

Requirements: good film channels, good news coverage, religion channels. Internet, sports, simpler choice of equipment.

Recommendation: Dish Network

Immigrant workers in the USA

Requirements: language content from the relevant region, good news coverage.

Recommendation: DirecTV

Young working families

Requirements: strong sports content, easy shift of residence, good HDTV, and easy shift of residence.

Recommendation: DirecTV for strong sport and Dish Network for easy mobility

While both the networks offer you a number of accessories, the variety available with Dish Network is larger. The key accessories are:

IR to UHF converter for the remote - That means that even if you have hooked up four TVs as both the networks do free, you could only operate the receiver with the remote if you were in the same room as the receiver. The IR to UHF converter makes your remote radio controlled. This means that you can now operate it from any room in the house. Installation is simple; just plug it into the mains!

Wireless Phone Jack - Sometimes, you may not have a phone jack near the receiver. However, your receiver needs to communicate with the network for a pay per view TV experience. Just plug the wireless phone jack to a phone jack and an electrical outlet. The phone signals now travel on the electrical line to the receiver.

Purchase of Equipment
Dish Network insists that you use equipment supplied by them. Sounds autocratic but is OK by me since what you get is perfectly tuned equipment that works well together. DirecTV allows you to mix and match equipment of your choice. The key issue here is that you are responsible for compatibility issues.

Final Recommendation
As I read the paragraphs above, my choices become clear. For most general classes of viewers, Dish Network is a better choice - marginally in terms of cost, it also offers better HD TV choices and more accessories. If your main interests lie in sports or you are interested in foreign language programming - look at DirecTV. It offers more choices in these categories. You must be a more educated viewer by now and the decision you have to take must be clearer. Here is wishing you hours of satisfying viewing.

By Al Falaq Arsendatama

Home Theater Control - Its The Remote, Stupid!

2008-07-16T19:33:00.017-07:00

It's the one piece of equipment that can really make or break your home theater system; the remote control. It's no good to have the latest and greatest gear and world's biggest DVD collection if you can't figure out how to use anything. True home theater nirvana is a fantastic performing system anyone can use with a single button press.

Many of today's home theater receivers and surround processors come with a "smart" remote control. Some of these are actually pretty good too. B&K and Denon come to mind. If you know what you are doing, you can get one of these babies programmed to orchestrate your entire system pretty well. If you haven't the time or inclination for such a project yourself, hire a professional installer to bring everything together for you. A great place to start is CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association). They have member firms in every state, and many foreign countries, that are experts in making complex home theaters easy to use.

Remote controls come in several flavors. The one most people are familiar with comes with almost any electronic component you buy these days. For the most part it does a pretty good job at making the particular component do what you want. Some of these even let you control other components, especially if they are from the same manufacturer. This way, for example, you can use your TV remote to also control your VCR or DVD player.

The next rung up the remote control ladder is the so called "smart remote". This type of remote is able to control multiple pieces of equipment from different manufacturers. Some can control up to 8 or 10 different components. They are usually set to control each piece of equipment by entering a 3 or 4 digit code. Some of these units will learn control functions from other remote controls. This is helpful if the unit you need to control is not in your remote control's internal database. You usually accomplish the learning by entering a "learn" mode on the smart remote, pointing the "teaching" remote at the smart remote and pressing the desired button. Viola! Your smart remote has learned the command from the original remote control.

If you want things even easier than using just one remote to control everything, you need a remote that does macros. These are command sequences initiated by pressing one button. For example, you want to watch a DVD. Typically you would have to turn on your TV, DVD player and surround receiver. Then you would have to switch your TV to the component input and your receiver to the DVD input. With a macro capable remote, this sequence is programmed into the remote. The remote then plays back all the commands in the appropriate order so you don't have to.

If you want a remote that controls everything, you need a remote with a lot of different buttons. This can make the remote a little intimidating. Sure it can do almost anything but make toast, but where to start? If you have the budget, now is the time to get a touch screen remote. With a touch screen, you typically have only a few actual buttons. These are typically the most used functions such as volume up / down, channel up / down, mute and possibly cursor functions.

All other buttons are just icons on a screen that you touch to initiate the desired command. The beauty of this approach is that you only need to have just a few icons on the screen at any one time. This really cuts down on button clutter and confusion. The icons can be graphical representations of the command, which makes everything very intuitive. For example, you can have an "NBC" logo you touch to go to the local NBC station.

Touchscreen remotes come in four basic variations. First there is the choice of color or grayscale. Color looks better and more information can be conveyed more quickly. Grayscale units are much less expensive. Next, the communication with the remote can be one way or two way. Two way communication allows status to be updated on the remote itself. For example you can display album and artist information from a music server or check the status of your security system or thermostats. Two way communication has been provided via a two way radio link, similar to a digital spread spectrum telephone.

The latest two way remote controls being introduced from companies such as AMX and Crestron use WiFi. This allows a whole host of other possibilities. The range is spectacular for one thing. You can roam around your entire home. On some units you can browse the internet too. Imagine, you are watching a game but you want updates from around the league. Just go to ESPN.com on your remote and take a look.

The remote can really make or break your system. You can have an unusable system with 7 different remotes or a slick system that even visitors can use with no instruction. It's all up to you, your budget and your programmer.

By Steve Faber

Why Satellite TV is better than Cable TV

2008-07-16T19:33:00.015-07:00

Satellite TV is Making the Cable Companies Run Scared

Satellite TV holds a great advantage over the cable TV companies. Not only is the picture and sound quality superior, but there's more choice in what to watch. If you said to yourself 'there's nothing on TV', switch to satellite. The differences couldn't be more obvious.

Cable quality vs. Satellite quality

With the limited bandwidth that cable offers, it's no wonder the quality is poor. First, the cable wire comes from a hub transmission system somewhere near your home. At source, the signal is passable, but by the time it runs through your community, splitting to each house, the signal has degraded. As the cable is RF (radio frequency) based, it has converted from an audio/video signal (at source) to RF and then needs to re-convert back into audio/video for your television. Along the way, anything broadcasting through the air has tried to get into the cable line and will appear as noise on your TV screen.

Unfortunately, we are our worst enemy as well. Look at your cables and splitters inside your house. Poor quality RG6 or RF cable can cause great loss of signal too. Turn on your TV and have someone bend your cable in half and watch for ghosting on your picture. If it is ghosting, you have unshielded cables! Replace them with something better like Monster Cable. RF cable has a tough time producing stereo sound too, so don't expect great audio. Another culprit of poor cable quality is the cable splitter. Most splitters have just a positive and negative wire inside (it's a noise box). Throw it out and again replace with a good splitter (Monster Cable makes quality ones).

Satellite signals stay digital until the receiver. That means better picture and audio. The picture can be 2-3 times better resolution from your cable picture. The sound from the satellite receiver is true stereo and can be Dolby Digital surround depending on the program you are watching. Plus there are many more channels to choose from.

By the way, if you have a digital box from the cable company, you have only a handful of digital channels, the rest are the same if you remove the cable box.

Satellite companies like Direct TV (or DirecTV) and Dish Network, provide national satellite service with hundreds of digital stations. The picture is clear and crisp, especially if you spring for a high definition receiver to match your HD ready TV. While most cable signals are below 150 lines of interlaced resolution, standard satellite can approach DVD quality (480i) and HD content will be sent at either 1080i or 720p (progressive). A regular 27" TV has the capability of no more than 500i while a HD television can produce the full range.

What are interlaced and progressive signals? Interlaced broadcast was developed from the old NTSC format where the designers in the 1920's and 30's couldn't get the TV to scan every line from the top of the screen to the bottom fast enough. They needed to cheat by having the TV scan all the odd lines; 1, 3, 5 etc. then go back and scan the even lines; 2, 4, 6 etc. The result is thick black lines running horizontally across your screen and only half the picture appearing. These flickering lines prevented you from sitting close to the television without getting eye strain. As the TVs got bigger, you sat farther away.

The new HD televisions scan all the lines progressively and refresh the screen much quicker. It is like looking through your front window with horizontal blinds. Turn the rod so the blinds are half open. The street outside is now half covered like interlaced pictures and you only see half the picture at one time. Now pull the cord to fully open the blinds. You now see the entire window unobstructed or like a progressive signal.

Plasma Compared To DLP Television and LCD

2008-07-16T19:33:00.013-07:00

When you think of comparing plasma to DLP technology you should really compare the main aspect and that is the picture quality. The contrast by definition is the measurement of black depending of the white amount. The plasma is a step ahead this time. The boast of this in the plasma technology is truly remarkable and it's possible to heard about ratios like 4000 to 1. But not all the manufactures can accomplish this level of quality and the main ration is only 1000 to 1. The DLP is a relative new technology on the market so it's not really fair to compare with plasma but some of the big manufacturers came close to the standard ration 1000:1.

The clarity is measured by the amount of lines and by looking at the clean edge around the picture. So again is hard to compare DLP television to plasma on this topic because both technologies have great reviews regarding the clarity. The plasma achieves this by conversion and processing and the DLP have made this possible using the best clean mirror technology.

The brightness makes the DLP set to take a step ahead the competition. The viewing angle in DLP is big. The final product has really no component that can burn, perhaps only the easily replaceable lamp. The advantage plasma may have at this chapter is the fact that the brightness doesn't affect the colour richness but this affects most of the DLP TVs.

Both technologies are incredible and the difference between the two is equal in the final product. Both have a little advantage in some areas and some disadvantages. In the end it's up to you and of course the price will affect your decision a lot. For the same visual result the technology in LCD and plasma is very different. Don't let yourself be deceived with the fact that both are flat and thin because there are lots of differences between LCD and plasma televisions.

The Plasma TV is outclassing the LCD with the size of the display and a better contrast! When in comes to price plasma wins by far in this competition so this could be a decisive factor. On the other hand the LCD has its own advantages when compared with Plasma. The brightest is increased to LCD. The main advantage is the big life span of such sets and the fact that the light source can be replaced with ease. An interesting think could be that LCD doesn't have any problems with high-altitudes and the running temperature is smaller.

At last if you want to get technical then we should talk about the making technology. The Plasma is based on the light bulb and the display consists of cells. But all in one this has the same disadvantages as the traditional televisions (heat and screen burn). The LCD making technology is far different. The LCD are made of two layers polarized and glued together so the big advantage could be the less power is consuming and the lack of radiation around it ; all this because there are no phosphors that light up.

Satellite TV Comparison Shopping Made Easy!

2008-07-16T19:33:00.011-07:00

DirecTV vs. Dish Network and Satellite TV vs. Cable TV

With so many satellite TV providers competing for your business, how do you know who to choose from? Let's take a look at two of the more popular satellite TV service providers, DirecTV and Dish Network for an apple to apples comparison.

Dish Network

Dish Network Satellite is the nation's second largest provider of satellite TV. Does that mean that Dish Network offers better service? Not necessarily.

Dish Network does provide most of the satellite TV resources other providers do, including a satellite TV guide, free satelite TV dishes, free dish network deals and more. Dish Network also offers customers the option of purchasing HDTV equipment and service packages, giving viewers access to 8 high definition channels, a bonus for consumers with high definition TV sets.

In addition Dish Network does have a slightly larger channel selection that DirecTV which is a benefit to some customers.

Here is a summary of the major services offered by Dish Network:

More than 180 channels

HDTV for up to 8 channels

More than 30 sports dedicated networks including subscription options to NBA League Pass, and NHL Center Ice

Foreign Language Programming in many languages

More than 103 local channels available

Monthly cost generally less than $100

Available in all 50 states

DirecTV

DirecTV is the nation's largest provider. Like Dish Network, DirecTV is available in all 50 states. DirecTV's claim to fame is that they offer more channels dollar for dollar than other satellite TV providers.

So how do you know whether DirecTV or Dish Network is right for you? Let's look at some of the specifics of DirecTV. DirecTV does offer fewer overall channels than Dish Network satellite (but not much fewer) but it does feature exclusive sports packages including NFL Sunday Ticket, which are a bonus for avid sports fans.

DirecTV also offers a high definition package including four feature high definition channels. DirecTV also offers many of the same freebies Dish Network does, including free Direct TV receivers, free satelite TV dishes and satellite TV resources.

A summary of the benefits of DirecTV is as follows:

More than 150 channels

More than 30 sports networks including special and exclusive sports package deals

Foreign language programming in Spanish and Chinese

Up to 8 HDVT channels

Approximately 126 local channels

Monthly costs less than $100

Available in all 50 states

DirecTV or Dish Network Satellite

So, with an apple to apples comparison, you can see that you get most of the same benefits regardless of which provider you choose. There are some subtle differences between the two, Dish Network offers slightly more overall channels and a larger foreign language programming selection. DirecTV offers some exclusive sports networks and greater access to local channels. DirecTV Tivo is an added benefit for DirecTV consumers, which providers channel recording capability to consumers.

Which provider you select may depend on your location. Some may offer better deals or service in some areas than others.

Satellite TV vs. Cable TV

The question of satellite TV vs. Cable TV is an age old one. How do you know which to choose?

Thus the two also deserve a comparison.

Cable TV

Equipment - Requires a TV set top box in order to access digital services Transmission - Usually Analog but consumers have the option of upgrading to digital for a higher premium. Analog channels don't convert to digital in this situation.

Programming - Supports more than 260 channels and offers options such as pay per view, where viewers can buy movies for a small fee. Usually cable TV offers more local channel options than satellite. Offers fewer HDTV services

Pricing - Cable is usually more expensive, in part due to additional costs added onto monthly premium, which may include fees, taxes, pay per view and equipment

Satellite TV

Equipment - Requires use of satellite dish and receivers. Many providers offer free satelite TV systems, free satelite TV dishes to entice customers.

Transmission - Satellite TV services are all digital, which consumers usually translate to mean better quality reception. TV reception can be subject to interference during inclement weather, but this happens with cable service too.

Programming - Usually offers 200 or more channels, including more international and sports channels than cable. High definition channels are more easily accessed through satellite

Pricing - Satellite TV can be less expensive than cable particularly if equipment is thrown in for free. Local channel packages are usually extra with satellite, but over time the expense is less. So which do you choose?

For many it's a matter of price, and satellite TV seems to be at an advantage here. Both cable and satellite offer similar channel line ups, though if you plan on watching a lot of foreign or international films you might opt for a satellite provider such as Dish Network or DirecTV.

That said most consumers just end up getting whichever is convenient at the time they are setting up home. No matter your choice, you'll end up with decent service and a wide channel range which is all most consumers are looking for in the end. Buyer beware, you should know that cable TV fans are very strictly cable, and satellite TV fans very strictly satellite.

You could literally cause an argument between two otherwise friendly neighbors simply by asking them to rate satellite TV vs. cable. That said, you'll probably find that once you make your selection, you too begin an avid supporter of one vs. the other.

By Antigone Arthur

The Benefits of Satellite Television!

2008-07-16T19:33:00.009-07:00

Most teenagers today won't remember what the entertainment world was like before the days of satellite television. They simply take the hundreds of entertainment channels for granted, unlike the adults, who remember just how tedious things could get before the luxury of satellite television exploded on to our screens.

Satellite television is hugely popular in America as well as in other civilized countries around the world. There are many benefits to having satellite TV - it's not just a case of there always being something to watch - although this is one of the main attractions for many people. However, satellite TV is also the source of a great deal of information, which can be used for education as well as entertainment.

What Sort of Channels You Can Enjoy

Satellite television will give you access to just about every type of channel you could hope for. You will enjoy numerous channels that are packed with comedy and drama; you can relax whilst watching a wide selection of sports channels covering every type of sport you could hope for. You'll be kept abreast of what's happening in the world with a range of news channels that cover both national and international news; and you can enjoy the latest blockbusters with a wide choice of movie channels.

The kids will also be delighted with satellite television. They can enjoy the entertainment value of a wide choice of kid's channels, from cartoon and comedy to drama and movies. From Disney and Nickelodeon to Cartoon Network and Fox Kids, the choice is endless, which means that on weekends and during holidays your kids will never be short of things to watch.

Your kids will also enjoy having access to a wide selection of informational channels that provide both interesting and educational programming. Channels such as Discovery Science, National Geographic and Animal Planet can help your kids to broaden their horizons as well as provide valuable information to help with their education.

And let's not forget the incredible choice of music channels - a delight for both adults and kids. You can enjoy listening to all sorts of music, from retro or classical to pop and rock. So, as you can see your satellite television system will enable the whole family to enjoy enhanced entertainment and information.

Why Go for Satellite Television Instead of Cable?

Independent research carried out on customer satisfaction has already proven that satellite television customers enjoyed far better prices and a more enhanced service than cable television customers.

While cable customers appear to be paying more than average, receiving a limited service and forking out on monthly rental charges and additional fees, satellite television customers are able to enjoy free installation of the necessary equipment, and they do not have to pay rental for it. One simple monthly fee gives you access to crystal clear pictures, a wealth of choice and top quality service.

Getting Satellite Television Online

There are three choices of satellite television providers in the Unites States, and these are: DIRECTV, Dish Network and Voom. There are also a number of retailers from whom you can buy your satellite television equipment, and you will often find some great offers from retailer to retailer. This is why it is better to compare the deals on offers rather than just rushing into the purchase of your satellite television equipment.

The easiest way to make comparisons on the various satellite television deals being offered is to go online, where you will find all sort of excellent and cost-effective offers from satellite television retailers. You can enjoy such benefits as free installation, free equipment, heavily discounted receivers, free trials on various channels and free periods on your satellite television package.

The Internet is an effective tool with which you can quickly and easily view the various offers available from each retailer. The popularity of satellite television is huge and is expected to continue to grow in the future, so the competition between these retailers is fierce. Each will try and beat their competitors with a range of incredible deals and prices, and as consumers, we are the ones that benefit from this.

By comparing the various offers online, you can make a far more informed choice with regards to which deal is going to prove the best value for your needs and your budget, enabling you to enjoy the benefits and entertainment of satellite television at a really affordable price. With so many deals available from these retailers, it is possible to get a fabulous deal on cost and service on your satellite television package, so you can make the most of your television viewing experience.

You Can Start Enjoying Satellite TV with Speed and Ease

When you go online to browse the various satellite television deals, you can really speed up the whole process. Browsing from the comfort of your own home, you can find the most cost-effective or comprehensive deal for your needs and then place an order for the necessary equipment. Although you can install the equipment yourself, it might be better to have a professional come out and do it to ensure that you can start to enjoy your satellite television viewing experience as soon as possible. And since this service is often free of charge, there is no reason not to get a fast and professional installation.

With a choice of excellent packages to select from, you can enjoy a satellite television deal that is perfectly suited to your lifestyle and family. If you have kids, you can choose a package that incorporates the vast choice of kids television and educational channels. If you are something of a movie buff, you can select the package with the widest range of movie channels, and if you want to spend your spare time listening to the latest tunes, you can go for a package with a wide choice of music channels. The choice is impressive and there is sure to be a package that will suit the whole family.

By Reno Charlton

Digital Cable VS Satellite TV

2008-07-16T19:33:00.007-07:00

Do you want to get more channels while saving money but not sure if you should go with digital cable or satellite TV? Then this article is meant directly for you! The commercials seen on TV and the ad's displayed all over the internet can be overwhelming at best. Below we will hope to help make your choice simplified for you!

Cost Difference between Digital Cable VS Satellite TV:

Most cable companies include local franchise fees along with local broadcasting fees on your monthly bill. Digital cable varies starting at $30-$40 per month and up depending on the package you choose it can go up as high as $90 per month.

While Satellite packages usually offer betters deals based on how much money is spent per channel. Some satellite companies offer a price point between of $25 for over fifty channels. With most satellite companies pricing may be a little higher per month unless committing to twelve months of programming up front. A twelve month satellite commitment will usually ensure lower cost up front and most even free installation of the satellite dish.

Programming differences between Digital Cable VS Satellite TV:

Most Satellite TV systems can support over 250 channels of programming. All channels are of digital quality. One downside is satellite offers less local channels and may not have local channels in some areas. Most satellite companies also offer HD TV services that are compatible to your satellite TV service.

Digital cable on the other hand can support over 300 channels of programming of digital quality. Digital Cable has more local channels available in most major cities. Most cable companies now offer Video on Demand (a library of movies and TV shows that you can order at your leisure). HDTV services are becoming more popular amongst cable companies now and not just thru satellite TV as in the past.

Difference of Equipment:

Satellite equipment typically includes a satellite dish that is installed outside the home that is visible to everyone. A satellite receiver is also essential per TV. Most satellite receivers today also come with a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) which the cable company has not yet been able to offer as of now. Most satellite companies run specials on free installation and equipment when you agree to a 12 month contract.

Digital cable also requires one receiver per TV but that is all the equipment needed. Should you disconnect your service the receivers will be turned into the cable company where as with Satellite TV you own the dish.

In closing:

In the end the prices are comparable but it depends on which system will best suit your television needs and what you are more comfortable with. Both Digital TV and Satellite TV both have their disadvantages and advantages, you make the call!

By Jim Teler

The Path of United States HDTV World

2008-07-16T19:33:00.005-07:00

The history of High definition television, HDTV in United States can be recalled back to 15 years ago.

It is amazing to see that despite short history of HDTV in the nation, HDTV started to play a major role in United States home entertainment system. Thanks to satellite TV service provider who continuously pushes it hard to the market.

How does HDTV land on U.S.?

15years ealier back to year 1987, the FCC issued a ruling signifying that the HDTV standards to be issued would be compatible with existing NTSC service, and would be restricted to the existing VHF and UHF frequency bands.

By the end of 1988, 23 different proposals for HDTV or EDTV standards were submitted. These were all analog (or mixed analog/digital systems like MUSE) and explored a variety of different options for resolution, interlace and bandwidth.

Early 1990, the FCC announced that HDTV would be simultaneously broadcast with full HDTV standard, rather than the reduced resolution EDTV. A big leap forward, although its still remains in analog form.

But U.S. HDTV world did not wait long to get "digitized". A few months later on May 31, 1990 General Instrument Corp. submitted the first proposal for an all digital HDTV system. By December 1990, ATRC announced its digital entry in HDTV system, followed quickly by Zenith HDTV and AT&T, then MIT. Thus there were four serious contenders for digital HDTV system in the United States, as well as a modified "narrow" MUSE and an EDTV proposal. These systems were then tested in year 1991-1992.

1993, a remarkable year for United States HDTV history, the FCC made the key decision for an all digital technology -- but could not decide among the four contenders. Therefore, after some argument, a recommendation was made to form a "Grand Alliance" composed of AT&T, GI, MIT, Philips, Sarnoff, Thomson and Zenith. This Grand Alliance of HDTV would take the best features of the four HDTV systems and develop them into an HDTV standard. Most of the remainder of 1993 was devoted to establishing the features of this new HDTV standard.

During 1994, the system was constructed and 1995 is slated for testing. If all goes well, the FCC may be setting this standard by the end of 1995.

By Teddy Low, Cc.

Buying Satellite TV From Online Sources

2008-07-16T19:33:00.003-07:00

Find Out What the Real Deal is Regarding Satellite TV

Who doesn't want to maximize their television viewing prospects inexpensively and quickly? Satellite TV provides television viewers with all of the benefits of cable service. With satellite consumers have the benefit of viewing hundreds of channels including local channels usually at a price that is more affordable than cable. So where do you go to invest in satellite TV?

Luckily, you can buy satellite TV online. In fact, I highly recommend buying satellite TV from online sources. You see, when you buy satellite TV from online sources, you are opening yourself up to hundreds of discounts, freebies and more. Most online sellers offer incredible deals on satellite TV to entice you to buy from them.

Before you invest in satellite TV you should have a solid understanding of what exactly it is. Here's a brief intro that will help you sort fact from fiction.

Satellite TV: Operation

Satellite TV works just like a conventional television does. Radio signals transmit programming that is received through a Satellite that orbits the Earth. This satellite broadcasts a signal to a dish connected to the user's home. Satellite TV technology enables the viewer to receive more than 200 channels from their home television, far more than a conventional television system.

There are three primary companies in the US that provide satellite television to customers:

DirecTV

Dish Network

Voom

Each of these companies broadcast channels directly to your home. Your choice of providers may depend in part upon where you live, because some providers such as DirecTV cater to individuals living in rural vs. suburban areas. When choosing a provider you might consider the following:

What you want to use your service for. For example, if you plan on using satellite primarily for internet connection and don't live in an area where you can get cable, you should seek out the provider that is going to offer you the best service and best deal with respect to your internet connection.

Your viewing preferences. If you are an avid sports fan and want to see more live sporting events, compare providers to see which offers the best pricing plan.

Number of receivers. How many receivers do you think you will need? This may affect your decision to go with one provider vs. another. Most providers will offer up to four different receivers, meaning you can watch TV in four different rooms while viewing different changes.

Affordability. Satellite TV is a good option for consumers looking to maximize their TV viewing potential without spending hundreds of dollars on a system. You can purchase satellite TV package for pennies on the dollar, and still have the option of watching more than 200 channels at any given time. Satellite TV is often a preferred choice for viewers operating on a budget.

Of the major online satellite TV providers, DirecTV is the most well known and largest, but not necessarily the best. It does provide service to both urban and rural areas.

Benefits of Satellite TV

What are the benefits of satellite TV? There is ongoing competition between cable TV and satellite TV providers about which is better. Satellite TV for the most part offers many of the same benefits as cable service. In addition, by buying satellite TV from online sources, consumers can take advantage of a number of "freebies" often thrown into a package to encourage customers to purchase satellite TV. Among the more common freebies include:

Satellite TV dish

Receivers

Access Cards

Remote Controls

Cabling

Installation

Multi-system packages

Many satellite TV providers will provide equipment for multiple TV hook ups for free, but this offer is sometimes reserved for first time customers only.

Other benefits of satellite TV include access to local channels in major metropolitan areas and even in rural areas with an off air antenna. Satellite TV also offers international programming. In fact, Dish Network is the leading provider of foreign language packages and channels.

Myths and Misconceptions

There are some myths and misconceptions that abound regarding satellite TV that deserve clearing up.

Myth 1 - You have to watch the same programs on all TV sets in the house when you have satellite.

False!

You can watch different channels in each of the rooms satellite is set up in, you simply need separate satellite receivers to do this. And most companies will offer additional receivers for free, especially if your buying satellite TV from online sources.

Myth 2 - The weather consistently affects the quality of programming.

False!

Rarely the weather might affect the quality of programming. Heavy and sustained storming for example might briefly interrupt reception. However this problem is also common among cable television viewers. In fact, if you were to poll cable owners, you'd probably find that many times the cable goes out in the midst of a storm. Satellite TV might actually be considered less problem prone during inclement weather.

Myth 3 - Satellite TV can only be used in homes.

False!

Satellite TV is often available in apartment complexes. In fact, may apartment residents are able to install dishes very inconspicuously from their balconies. You should of course check with the landlord before installing any equipment, but you should be able to take advantage of the many benefits of satellite TV even from an apartment.

Myth 4 - High Speed Internet is only available through cable.

Again, not true. High speed satellite internet is available in most areas of the US, much as cable internet service is.

There are many benefits satellite TV has to offer. You'll reap even more rewards if you decide to buy online, include free equipment and installation. I highly recommend investing in a system if you haven't already.

By Antigone Arthur

Guide to Mounting Your Satellite Dish

2008-07-16T19:33:00.001-07:00

The Dish Network satellite dish is only about 2 feet in diameter. Very much a space saver when it comes to mounting the satellite dish on a wall, fence or garage!

Since the satellite dish is small, it is also light and not bulky in size, this also makes it easier to mount.

Satellite dishes have two antennae's which are pointing back to the dish and shooting off into the blue sky.

These 2 receiver antennas help bring in a signal to your dish and display the signals they receive on your television.

If you purchase a satellite dish brand new, you won't have to worry about mounting it, because your local satellite installation crew will do all the installing for you. They don't want you trying to climb up a 10 foot ladder to mount their dish, so they'll do it for you, which is usually free anyways.

But if you do have to mount your dish yourself, make sure you have the Dish Network satellite pointing directly into the sky away from trees, little children and buildings.

By following this step, you will be able to receive the most premium possible signal from your satellite dish. This will also provide quality viewing on your television screen!

If you wish to not mount the dish on your home you can also go another route. Most satellite dish providers have tripod stands for you. This is a great alternative if your apartment or condo complex doesn't allow you to nail anything to their exterior walls.

One downfall with the tripod is it can be very finicky. Make sure you put the tripod and satellite dish in an area away from people and dogs or any animal of either species for that matter.

I have had some problems with guests bumping and every so gently tapping the tripod and the TV goes blank..."Looking for signal" is what you'll see on your television. Even the slightest nudge could result in you jumping out of bed in your pajamas and slightly tapping the satellite dish until the signal is received again.

What's funny about that is the slightest tap can effect the signal its receiving, but rain, snow nor wind won't usually effect the signal...go figure?

By Adam Maywald

How Satellite TV Works

2008-07-16T19:32:00.019-07:00

Have you ever wondered how satellite TV works? With over 24 Million satellite TV owners who have chosen to get digital satellite TV, there may be some of you who would like to know how the whole process works.

Television satellites travel in a geosynchronous orbit approximately 22000 miles above the Earth. That kind of orbit just means that the satellites are rotating at the same speed as the Earth. This allows the satellites to remain fixed over a certain area and that's the reason your small satellite dish can remain stationary.

Whether you choose DIRECTV, Dish Network or another satellite provider, these companies all operate their own private satellites. DIRECTV currently has six satellites and Dish Network has nine satellites orbiting the Earth right now.

Each satellite provider operates broadcast facilities where they gather all of the programming from content providers. Content providers are companies like HBO, CNN, ESPN, Showtime, other television networks and programming sources. Dish Network has a broadcast facility in Englewood, Colorado and DIRECTV operates two broadcast facilities in Castle Rock, Colorado and Los Angeles, California.

The satellite providers digitize the signals for quality, encrypt the signals for security, and then transmit those signals back up to their orbiting satellites. The satellites receive and rebroadcast the digital signals back down to Earth. So the satellites really act like giant reflectors.

Your satellite dish gathers the signal from the satellites then passes the signal on to your receiver. Your receiver processes the signal to your television and that allows you to get digital satellite TV.

The whole process is what gives you access to hundreds of channels of digital video and audio entertainment at home or at the office. It's also easy to take satellite TV with you in an RV or boat. Just aim your dish to the Southern sky and you are in business.

So the next time you're flipping through the channels or you just want to show off your techie side, you'll know exactly how satellite TV works.

Entertainment Technology: What to Consider Before Buying HDTV

2008-07-16T19:32:00.017-07:00

HDTV - or, High Definition Television - is the new generation of TV, and is capable of displaying analog signals as well as those that are digital in nature. While this offers a viewing experience that's unmatched, it also requires external hardware in order to receive the HDTV signals in addition to the monitor. In other words, plan on spending a lot of money. If money isn't the issue, then HDTV is for you. Before you run out and make a purchase, however, there are some things that you'll need to consider.

Even if your TV is "HDTV-ready," that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be capable of displaying the HDTV signal. It has to be compatible, and you'll need to make sure that it is before you make a purchasing commitment. It will need to be able to display the actual HDTV signal, or it isn't really HDTV at all. Another consideration is whether or not the HDTV receiver is compatible with the monitor that you'll be using. Finally, if you're using cable, the whole configuration will need to be compatible with your cable box. You may need to call your local cable company if you're unsure of whether or not it meets the compatibility requirements.

While monitors are available in a wide range of sizes, the wide screen is the most adaptable to HDTV displays. If you're planning on doing most of your viewing using HDTV, then you're going to have to make sure that the screen can accommodate your wide screen needs. Audio needs tend to be rather specific, as well. In fact, in order to enjoy true HDTV surround sound, it's recommended that you use the Dolby H-3 Surround Sound Audio.

While most TV sets and monitors today offer a number of ports, you're going to need several, so opt for the set that's equipped with the highest number of them. Whether they're front or back ports doesn't really matter, as long as there are several that are available on the set.

Before you invest in an HDTV, there are some things that you'll need to research. Among these are whether or not you'll need to buy a special dish for your satellite service; if special cables are needed in order to make the necessary connections; whether or not the cabling that you currently own is compatible with the units that you'll be using; what type of surge protector is recommended; and whether or not delivery and set-up is included. In the case of particularly large sets, such as the wide-screen models, this is important, since you're dealing with a unit that will weigh hundreds of pounds. The actual set-up can also be quite confusing, as well, so set-up would be a real perk, if you can work that into the purchase commitment.

If the price, bulky components and many considerations that need to be made before making a purchase don't intimidate you, then HDTV is well worth the time, effort and money that you'll need to put into it, from the time you begin the research until the unit is finally set up in your home. Once all is said and done, you'll be treated to a visual experience that's unbeatable, by home viewing standards.

By Simon Canfield

Satellite TV

2008-07-16T19:32:00.015-07:00

Here is some information about satellite TV.

Satellite television or satellite TV is television delivered by way of orbiting communications satellites located 37,000 km above the earth's surface.

The first satellite TV signal was relayed from Europe to the Telstar satellite over North America in 1962. The first domestic North American satellite to carry television was Canada's Anik 1, which was launched in 1973.

Satellite TV, like other communications relayed by satellite, starts with a transmitting satellite antenna located at an uplink facility. Uplink satellite dishes are directed toward the satellite that its signals will be transmitted to, and are very large, as much as 9 to 12 meters (30 to 40 feet) in diameter. The larger the satellite dish, the more accurate positioning and improved signal reception at the satellite. The satellite TV signals is transmitted to devices located on-board the satellite called transponders, which retransmit the satellite signal back towards the Earth at a different frequency.

The satellite signal, quite weak after traveling through space, is collected by a parabolic receiving dish, which reflects the weak signal to the dish's focal point and is received, down-converted to a lower frequency band and amplified by a device called a low-noise block down converter, or LNB.

A new form of satellite antenna, which does not use a directed parabolic dish and can be used on a mobile platform such as a vehicle, was recently announced by the University of Waterloo. On commonly known as car satellite system.

The satellite TV signal, now amplified, travels to a satellite TV receiver box through coaxial cable (RG-6 or RG-10; cannot be standard RG-59) and is converted by a local oscillator to the L-band range of frequencies (approximately). Special on-board electronics in the receiver box help tune the signal and then convert it to a frequency that a standard television can use.

As you known, satellite TV business in United States are mainly dominated by two companies, Dish Network and DirecTV. If you would like to have a satellite TV in your home, your choices are mostly limited to the free satellite TV packages that offered by either one Dish Network or DirecTV.

Here's a quick view on United States satellite TV industry: Hughes's DirecTV, the first high-powered DBS system, went online in 1994 and was the first North American DBS service. In 1996, Echostar's Dish Network went online in the United States and has gone on to similar success.

By Teddy Low

The Plus Point of Free Satellite TV Deals

2008-07-16T19:32:00.013-07:00

If you still have not subscribe to DirecTV or Dish Network deals, maybe you should take a look on this as satellite TV becomes the fastest selling products in U.S. history.

The plus point of free satellite TV deals offered by Dish Network or DirecTV:

More alternatives:

Lots of satellite TV dealers are promoting their satellite TV deals aggressively. High competition leads to better quality and more options. You can always compare satellite packages offered from different retailers to find the finest satellite systems set up and service for your needs.

Programming:

A basic 256 channels from Dish Network satellite or 255 channels from DirecTV satellite are commonly subscribed by satellite TV users. TV channels received might differ between Dish Network and DirecTV, but the major channels provided by them are almost the same. Regardless on the satellite TV dealers you pick, the subscription fees are fixed. Thus, subscription fees shouldn't be an issue when you are selecting your satellite dealers.

Satellite TV systems:

When you control your satellite TV systems, you control your TV service. Satellite TV systems are commonly provided by branded names such as Hughes, RCA, Philips, Panasonic and Sony. The same type of satellite systems is also available at local retailers, like Best Buy and Circuit City. The differences are only the price tag and the brand name.

Upgrades & Add-Ons:

Both Dish Network and DirecTV enable you to upgrade the satellite TV systems to include features like high definition (HD), digital video recorder (DVR, for DirecTV TiVo.), interactive TV, and more. Currently, some of the satellite TV dealers are offering HD systems and DVR upgrading are free currently for some of the satellite TV dealers.

Subscriber Promotions:

These promotions vary from time to time. Dish Network and DirecTV are normally rewarding their customers by waiving subscription fees for a few months. For example, DirecTV regularly offers 3 to 4 months of premium channels like HBO and Cinemax channels for free; while Dish Network normally credit back certain amount on your first bill, which equal roughly to two months subscription fees.

Satellite TV Installation:

Satellite TV systems are all installed by certified professionals (unless you insist to do it by your own). Most satellite TV dealers offered free installations where they will set up the satellite dish, satellite signals encoder, and satellite TV program card. Most installations of satellite TV systems are done after 3-5 days you placed your order.

Looking at all the good points listed above, you can see that satellite TV deals clearly are quite some bargains. If you feel that a satellite TV will fit your entertainments-needs, I highly recommend this site: http://www.satellitetvissue.com cause I am seeing them offering great satellite TV deals for Dish Network and DirecTV.

By Teddy L.Cc.

No More DirecWay? I Believe the writing is on the wall...

2008-07-16T19:32:00.011-07:00

As one who has been directly involved in selling DirecWay satellite internet products, sold competitive Enterprise Satellite internet products, has a background in financial analysis and business information reporting.... and studied HNS for over 4 years, I've come to the conclusion that the end might be near for DirecWay satellite internet in the U.S. Bear with me now......this ownership stuff gets a bit convoluted....keep in mind, this in no way affects DirecTV customers.

Last December DirecTV Group (Part of News Corporation - a Rupert Murdock company) which is the parent of HNS (Hughes Network Systems)-which, in turn owns DirecWay, decided to sell 50% of the operation to Sky Terra, which is owned by Apollo Management Group, a New York based private investment company with holdings in chemical, furniture and real estate companies in addition to it's Satellite holdings. DirectTV Group cited the main reason for the sale of HNS/DirecWay was to focus on the core satellite TV business, DirecTV. DirecTV Group will treat the 50% they retain as an investment on their books and hand over the day to day management of the operations of HNS/DirecWay to Sky Terra-a VERY important revelation.

My bet is that Sky Terra will utilize the HNS/DirecWay assets in Europe to further Cable TV and internet operations they control there and systematically dismantle the U.S. operations ....ie DirecWay U.S. But who will buy a company losing 10's of millions a year and sells a product that doesn't work very well all too often? Nobody....but they will buy the leasees on transponders DirecWay has control of. And that is part of how they will make this highly leveraged transaction work. I believe Sky Terra is laying the groundwork for dismantling DirecWay in this report filed with the SEC on April 5th: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/756502/000119312505069877/dex991.htm

In the report they speak of one potential event after another that could easily undermine the inferred plans to continue to operate HNS?as if to tell the investing world, new plans are on the horizon. The point of this opinion piece is to put DirecWay consumer and even commercial internet customers on notice.......seriously consider a change while the "gettin's good". As soon as they contractually can, I believe Sky Terra will put the assets of HNS to work in profitable niches like vsat commercial applications, sell Ku bandwidth to the highest bidder and try to get in on the balance of Homeland Security business still out there. Up to the present time DirecWay has been poorly directed and a complete financial disaster - just ask Rupert Murdock! If you work for HNS and don't have your resume' on the street.......you might want to start typing!

If WildBlue and the others in the Ka Band internet business are remotely successful it will bring this to fruition even faster. Why? Sky Terra has control of a Ka band satellite under construction for launch in 2007(SpaceWay 3) - too far out for DirecWay/Sky Terra to have any impact on the market. They have the rights to another DirecWay Ka band satellite which is still on the drawing boards and I believe they are betting they can sell both of them for a handsome profit to one of the four active major Ka players: Telesat, WildBlue, SES Americom or EchoStar. This could be a very interesting year for the satellite internet business.

By Randy Scott

LCD vs. DLP TVs

2008-07-16T19:32:00.009-07:00

Two new technologies in the world of TV, DLP and LCD, are now in a tight competition. Not long ago, everyone was talking about Plasma and LCD - which one would win? It became clear to most that Plasma, with its short lifespan of just 3-4 years, was simply not the best choice. In fact, the LCD screen has several benefits over plasma. For instance, LCD screens run much cooler than the average plasma TV, and thus require less power to operate. Plasma TVs run so hot, in fact, that they require a fan to cool them down - which can be noisy. In addition, plasma screens have a tendency to degrade over time, slowly becoming dimmer. LCD screens, on the other hand, run relatively cool, and do not degrade over time. Some Plasma owners, who have used their TVs for a few years now, have already witnessed the dimming of their screens. Also, LCD screens tend to have overall better picture quality, and are typically 10 to 15 percent lighter than plasma.

Now the choice is mainly between LCD and DLP - two distinct technologies that offer slight differences in display, price, and performance. If you are looking to buy a new flatscreen TV this year, you are probably wondering which one is right for you.

What are DLP, LCD TV Screens?

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, while LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. DLP technology, developed by Texas Instruments, uses a DMD, or Digital Micromirror Device, contructed of 1.3 million microscopic mirrors. Each of these mirrors is essentially a single pixel. When a digital signal enters the DLP system, each mirror is either activated or not, resulting in tapestry of mirrors tilting either towards the DLP light source or away. This process produces different levels of light and dark reflected by each individual mirror. The colors are produced when the DLP light sources run through a red, green, and blue color filter on a moving wheel. Depending on the lightness/ darkness of each mirror, the colors come in an enormous amount of shades, producing vivid color images.

LCD screens are made of several polarized glass panels, between which are liquid crystal molecules. An electric current is run through the crystal molecules, changing their position in respect to the glass. As light passes through the molecules, these changes in angle result in different lightness/ darkness patterns that produce images on the screen. There are usually three polarized glass panels, one with red pixels, blue, and green. This system also produced very accurate, vivid images, but angle is important. You may notice that the best colors in an LCD display are seen straight-on.

Is DLP, LCD TV Screens better than the other?

Simply put, that is a difficult question to answer. Unlike Plasma TV screens DLP and LCD last much are longer, and are considered to both have superior image quality. LCD screens tend to have slightly better contrast, with a larger range of black and white color shades. DLP, however, still has faster refresh rates than LCD (although LCD has been vastly improved in this area over the last two years). This can have implications if you are really into high-action motion (sports, action movies), because movement may seem a little blurred with LCD at times. Also, you'll want to remember that in order for you to get the best color out of your LCD, you have to sit right in front of it. LCD TVs also have a slightly shorter lifespan than DLPs, with only 45,000 to 60,000 hours compared to 75,000 hours or more. As far as price goes, LCD and DLP are still more expensive than Plasma, but like all things in time, their price has been coming down. And right now, DLP is slightly more expensive than LCD, but not by much. DLP, in our eyes, is the best investment, at least for the next few years. Click here for popular DLP TV units and prices.

By Bradley James

Insiders Review on Satellite TV Deals: Must Read For Those Who Are Looking For Free Satellite TV

2008-07-16T19:32:00.007-07:00

Nowadays, I am sure that you are seeing ads for free satellite TV everywhere. It is even more significant now as Dish Network and DirecTV, the two satellite TV big-boys, are fighting hard to lead in the market. Most of these satellite TV deals are offering free satellite TV equipments, free satellite TV installation, free HDTV upgrades, free DVD player, first month subscription waived, as well as cash back.

Even though these satellite TV deals often sound tremendously attractive, you are not advised to jump into them recklessly. Satellite TV deals might be, or might be NOT suitable with you; even you are so sure that free satellite TV is the next thing you want to get for your home, choosing the right dealers is also an important issue.

At first glance, a free satellite TV deal seems to be a great bargain and its really simple. Instant, easy, and free! But the first law of our natural tells us that nothing is FREE in this world. Is there a catch behind these free satellite TV deals?

Yes, there's definitely a catch when you subscribe to free satellite TV deals, no matter it's a Dish Network deals or DirecTV deals. Dish Network satellite TV dealers might be giving their equipments for free, while DirecTV dealers might be giving cash back on your subscription fees... no matter how is it, there is ALWAYS a catch! However, we cannot deny that free satellite TV deals have a lot to offer, especially when you compare it to cable TV services.

Is free satellite TV available for anyone?

NO! only first timer can get their free satellite TV. Only new customers having no record of previous satellite subscription service are able to get their free satellite TV. This condition applied to both Dish Network deals and DirecTV deals.

So what's the catch in free satellite TV deals?

The contract that you need to commit! Free satellite TV deal isn't free for the dealers, either. Equipments and installation costs are paid by the satellite TV dealers or service provider. At a minimum, that's a cash outlay of about $200 on your behalf. To make it worthwhile to cover those expenses, service providers usually require a year commitment from new subscribers acquired through a free satellite TV deal. Just like cell phone companies, satellite TV dealers are covering the fees of free satellite TV equipments and other services through your monthly subscription fees.

Yes, as you can see now, free satellite TV may not mean free everything. But it's still the deal I am recommending here, why? Because it is giving a better service in term of picture quality, customer service, programming selections, channel packages flexibility, and a much cheaper cost compare to cable TV deals.

By Teddy L.Cc.

Cable TV And Satellite TV - Which Is The Better System?

2008-07-16T19:32:00.005-07:00

Cable TV and satellite TV - which is the better system? There's a battle going on between Cable TV and Satellite TV. Today, consumers have a choice between conventional cable TV, digital cable TV, and all-digital satellite TV. Do you want to know which of the TV system is best for you? Lets compare cable TV and satellite TV head-to-head here.

First, some general things about Cable TV and Satellite TV:

Cable TV & Digital Cable TV

It is obvious that the conventional cable TV are by far the least advanced. Compare to satellite TV, cable TV provides limited features to their customers. Hence, most cable companies now are pushing hard to get their customers on their digital systems in order to compete with satellite TV providers in the market. Digital cable television has many advantages over conventional cable. Through digital cable signals, consumers are able to get high-speed internet access and video on demand, as well as hundreds of cable channel choices.

Satellite TV

Most of the features offered by digital cable TV are offered by satellite TV. Example? Major dish networks offer their own version of high-speed internet through broadband. DirecTV has DirecWay , and DISH Network has partnered with EarthLink to bring high-speed internet to their customers. Besides, satellite TV providers also provide electronic program guides, parental controls, and automated timers.

Here are major comparisons of cable TV and satellite TV:

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Popularity

Both Cable TV and Satellite TV are popular. Although cable still is more popular overall, satellite TV has made huge gains on cable TV. Equipment Cable TV systems require a cable to be installed from the network to your house. If your street has no cable you may need to wait a while before it is available in your area. Besides the cable you need a receiver. With digital services you need an additional box. Satellite TV requires a satellite dish, a receiver and a cable from the dish to your TV (no digging in your garden).

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Reception Quality

Cable TV and satellite TV used totally different systems for signal transfering. Cable TV has analog channels and even though you can upgrade to digital services, analog channels will still be analog, meaning an often fuzzy picture. Satellite TV is completely digital, which gives you all the advantages of digital systems. Very heavy rain or snow can obstruct reception briefly, but generally this happens very rarely. Reception quality is much better with Satellite TV.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Programming

Cable TV and satellite TV both served high quality programming channels. Cable TV can handle up to 260 channels. Satellite TV can handle more channels. Also, Satellite TV is more advanced in HDTV (High Definition Television) services.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Pricing

Pricing for cable TV and satellite TV have huge differences. Satellite TV is less expensive than Cable TV due to many additional costs that are related to Cable TV: franchise fees, taxes, plus costs for any pay per view services, and equipment costs. Dish Network Programming Package starts at only $29.99 per month.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Interactive Services

In general Satellite TV has more interactive services than Cable TV. Digital services like Dish Network's DVR (Digital Video Recorder) which gives the option to rewind while recording even in live broadcasts, EPG (Electronic Program Guide), Instant Weather, video on demand, etc. are all available on Satellite TV, but not all are available on Cable TV.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: High Speed Internet

Cable has high speed broadband internet services. Satellite has this too, but is somewhat slower. DirecTV: offers Direcway High Speed Internet, which is ultra fast but somewhat expensive. Overall conclusion: Satellite TV is less expensive, has better picture quality (digital signal) and gives you more channels and programming options than cable TV.

I believe that currently satellite TV providers are giving a better services with a lower price. Satellite TV apparently is a must if you want excellent picture quality, fantastic value with excellent features and varieties in TV programming. There are lots more of satellite TV benefits to be talked about, in case you want to find it oput your self, I suggest this site to be viewed: http://www.satellitetvissue.com

By Teddy L.Cc.

HDTV and the iPod Photo: A Perfect Marriage?

2008-07-16T19:32:00.003-07:00

They may seem like an odd combination, but the iPod photo could be the perfect choice for anyone who wants to view photo slideshows on an HDTV. The iPod photo can store thousands of digital photos, and syncs with a Mac or PC via iTunes. It will read any slideshows you've created in iPhoto on a Mac or Photoshop Album on a PC and copy them to the iPod. Alternatively you can tell it to copy a folder full of images from your hard drive as a slideshow.

Also, with the addition of an optional camera connector($29), you can copy photos directly from a digital camera and automatically create a slideshow from them on the iPod photo. All slideshows can be set to music.

To connect the iPod photo to an HDTV you'll need to first make sure that your HDTV has composite video and audio inputs and then purchase the iPod photo AV cable ($19) from Apple. Connect the iPod to your TV, select the appropriate input and hey presto, your slideshow can be seen in beautiful, bright widescreen glory on your HDTV.

It's worth bearing a few things in mind when creating slideshows for HDTV. First of all, the screen of an HDTV set has an aspect ratio of 16:9 (length: height) so if you size your photos with this aspect ratio you'll be able to fill the screen without cropping the photo or seeing ugly black space around it. Secondly, the resolution required for optimal viewing on HDTV at full screen is less than that needed for printing even an A4 image. So if you only intend viewing your photos on-screen, whether on your computer or HDTV, you can save space on your iPod photo by reducing the capture resolution on your digital camera. If you set it at three mega- pixels, that will be enough to allow you to crop photos to the correct aspect ratio and still view them at the highest possible quality on an HDTV.

Of course, the iPod photo can store more than just photographs. Anything that can be saved as an image file, such as JPEG, can be included in a slideshow, so you could even use it to carry around business presentations which can be viewed by anyone with access to a TV or projector.

By Robert Armstrong

The Potential Conundrum of Regulating Pay-TV

2008-07-16T19:32:00.001-07:00

In last week's column, I argued the merits (or rather the lack thereof) of extending decency regulations to cable and satellite TV. This week, I'll point out just how much of a quagmire this would actually be and how difficult it would be to implement, regardless of the merits.

Regulating cable and satellite TV would not be as clear-cut as it might seem on the surface. Remember, we are talking about the regulation of indecency which, unlike obscenity, is protected by the First Amendment. The complexities of such an undertaking are quite formidable, to say the least. There are several key issues that would have to be dealt with and overcome. Like they say, the devil is in the details.

For one thing, Congress would need to determine the scope of what is to be regulated. Would it be cable and satellite TV only or all forms of pay-TV?

If Congress sets out to regulate all forms of pay-TV, the term - "pay-TV" - would have to be legally defined. Besides satellite and cable, would it also include the new IPTV technology in which TV channels, programs, and movies are delivered to TV set-top boxes from the internet? Would internet video viewed on a computer also be included? Or would everything originating from the internet be automatically exempt?

Would wireless pay TV services also be included?

Would videos, whether rented or purchased, also be defined as a form of pay-TV? One could make a case for them being included because videos, both VHS and DVD, are ultimately played on a TV.

What about video delivered by cell phone? Couldn't that also be considered a form of pay-TV?

Now, if Congress decides that the new regulations will only apply to cable and satellite TV, there are still problems. Would all channels on every cable and satellite TV system be regulated or would the regulations just apply to the so-called "basic" channels. Would the term, "all channels", include pay-per-view and video-on-demand (VOD) programs and movies? If so, how would the safe-harbor hours be enforced with VOD, since the subscriber determines when the programs and movies play?

If only the basics are to be included, some definition would be have to be devised to determine the difference between a basic and a premium channel. Would any channel that could be purchased as part of a package of channels be defined as a basic channel? If so, then most channels we currently think of as premiums would be included because they can be packaged together with similar channels. For example, HBO is sometimes packaged with channels like Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, or even other multiplexes of HBO.

Or would basics be limited those channels available in the first tier or two? Since this packaging varies from one cable and satellite system to the next, how would anyone know which channels are the real basics? Would premiums be limited to channels that could be subscribed to individually at an additional price? If that's the case, would a multiplex channel like HBO Signature will treated like a basic, since it cannot be subscribed to individually? Also, the channels that one can subscribe to individually vary slightly from one cable and satellite system to the next, so how would anyone know which channels are the real premiums? When things like that differ from one cable and satellite system to another, would the rules be based on how the majority of the systems operate? Or would some other method be used to resolve this matter?

Perhaps the presence or absence of commercials could be used to separate the basics from the premiums. Under that system, all channels that are advertiser-supported would be considered basics and those that are not would be considered premiums. However, there are potential problems with this methodology as well. Congress would have to come up with a definition for advertiser-supported. Would it be based on the amount of advertising a channel carries? If so, how much advertising would it have to carry to be legally considered advertiser-supported? Or perhaps it would be based on the amount of revenue a channel derives from advertising. If so, what would that threshold be?

Even the term, "advertising", would have to be legally defined. Would product placement found in movies and TV shows be included in the advertising equation? What about promos run for shows on related channels? Would those count as ads?

Even when all of that is sorted out, this methodology still leaves us with the problem presented by channels like Turner Classic Movies, Fox Movie Channel, and the Independent Film Channel, which don't carry commercials but are included in many basic packages.

Now, assuming that all of the issues surrounding the scope of the new regulations could be worked out, the penalty issues would then have to be resolved. Who would pay the fines? Channel owners? Cable and satellite operators? Performers? All of them?

If internet audio and video are included in the scope of the regulations, would internet service providers and/or IPTV operators also have to pay?

If cable and satellite operators have to pay, couldn't large fines potentially limit some smaller cable companies' ability to expand and implement new technology like high-definition channels?

Then there's the issue of license revocation. Cable and satellite channels don't have licenses like broadcast channels. How could a habitual offender's license be revoked if it doesn't have license to begin with? Or would it just be put out of business? But wouldn't that limit the channel choices available to cable and satellite customers?

Could cable and satellite operators be put out of business? Wouldn't that leave people in some areas with no cable franchise? Wouldn't it squash competition for cable service in areas that currently have it? Would the FCC actually shut down Directv and/or Dish Network and render thousands of backyard dishes worthless?

As you can see, there is a mountain of complicated questions that would have to be answered before the decency regulation of pay-TV could become a reality. Obviously, there would be lots of i's to dot and t's to cross. As this legislation is being considered, lawyers throughout the Capital area are already licking their chops!

By Terry Mitchell

Free Satellite TV -- Myth or Real?

2008-07-14T21:36:00.019-07:00

Free satellite TV is the biggest myths on the internet, is this statement true?

I would say it's true if you DON'T understand correctly the word 'FREE' in this offer!

Free satellite TV doesn't mean you can get a TV for free. Free satellite TV doesn't mean that you can watch satellite TV's program for free. Free satellite TV doesn't mean that you can get everything on your TV set for free.

It's NOT like that. Not at all!

Some of you might get into this article during the search of authorized sites offering real free satellite TV deals - if so, I would suggest you this authorized site: http://www.satellitetvissue.com; some might be looking for information on pirating DirecTV signals, if so, I would recommend to not do that, its will cost you even more with the pirating cause those people that code program your satellite TV cards will charge you every two-three months for re-program fees, its illegal and its not worth it at all.

So, what do free satellite TV means?

Free satellite TV, or free satellite TV system, or free Dish Network, or free DirecTV (the list goes on here) means that you get the free satellite system, including one to four satellite signal encoders, a satellite dish, and a satellite TV authorization card for free.

Always, these free satellite TV deals also comes with the free installations as well as the free HDTV upgrading. These offers are valid for Dish Network and DirecTV. All these are valid for you IF you are the first timer for satellite TV deals. YES, these free DirecTV and free Dish Network offer are only for people who never subscribe to satellite TV service before. This is why, again some folks out there are claiming free satellite TV is a lie when they fail to get another free set of satellite equipments.

Did you get 'de-motivated' by my words on free satellite TV deals? DON'T!

The satellite TV deals are still very good bargains as they are providing very top level of product and service. Lots of program to be watched, A++ customer service reputations, topnotch picture quality, full control on the TV with DVR or TiVo systems, pay-per-view package that give you extra savings on your home entertainment systems ? all these are something that other entertainment network can't give you. Think of your experience with cable TVs, think of your experience with the big dish TVs, free satellite TV deals apparently are still the best choice among all.

Free satellite TV is the biggest myth on the internet? Who cares! I am going for it as long as it provide the best bargains.

By Teddy L.Cc

HDTV: An Introduction

2008-07-14T21:36:00.017-07:00

HDTV stands for High Definition Television, and if you live in the USA, Australia, or Japan you may already have experienced it. There are three key differences between HDTV and what's become known as standard definition TV ie regular NTSC, PAL or SECAM. The three differences are; an increase in picture resolution, 16:9 widescreen as standard, and the ability to support multi-channel audio such as Dolby Digital.

The most important aspect of HDTV, and the one which gives it its name is the increased resolution. Standard definition NTSC broadcasts have 525 horizontal lines, and PAL broadcasts are slightly better at 625 lines. In both these systems however, the actual number of lines used to display the picture, known as the active lines, is fewer than that. In addition, both PAL and NTSC systems are interlaced, that is, each frame is spit into two fields, one field is the odd-numbered lines and the other is the even lines. Each frame is displayed alternately and our brain puts them together to create a complete image of each frame. This has an adverse affect on picture quality.

HDTV is broadcast in one of two formats; 720p and 1080i. The numbers refer to the number of lines of vertical resolution and the letters refer to whether the signal is progressive scan, 'p', or interlaced, 'i'. Progressive scan means that each frame is shown in its entirety, rather than being split into fields. Both systems are significantly better quality than either PAL or NTSC broadcasts.

HDTV uses 16:9 widescreen as is its aspect ratio so widescreen pictures are transmitted properly and not letterboxed or panned and scanned. Dolby Digital multichannel sound can be broadcast as part of an HDTV signal, so if you have a surround sound speaker set-up you can use it to listen to TV rather than just DVDs.

To receive an HDTV broadcast you need either a TV with a built-in HDTV tuner or a HDTV receiver which can pick-up off the air HDTV channels, or cable or satellite HDTV like. You also need to live in are where HDTV channels are broadcast or distributed by cable or satellite.

Currently HDTV is widespread in Japan and is becoming commonplace in the US, with most major networks distributing HDTV versions of their popular content. The 2005 Superbowl led to a large increase in the demand for Fox Sports HDTV and cable companies scrambled to add it to their offering in the run up to the game. In Autralia, HDTV uptake was sluggish initially but has increased significantly since 2003.

The situation in Europe is not so bright. There is only one company broadcasting HDTV in the whole of Europe, Euro1080, and it has only two HDTV channels, both in the 1080i format. Euro1080HDe shows major cultural and sporting events to cinemas and clubs around Europe, while HD1 broadcasts sports, opera, rock music, and lifestyle programs via satellite to homes in Europe. UK satellite broadcaster, Sky, which is owned by Fox proprieter Rupert Murdoch, has announced plans to broadcast some HDTV content in 2006. The BBC has also made noises about broadcasting HDTV programs (it already films some programs in HD format).

However, it will be a while before HDTV in Europe catches up with the rest of the world. The controversy created by the confirmation of plans by the UK government to start switching off analogue transmitters in 2008 showed how many people have yet to make the switch to DVB-T. That will be used as an argument to show that there is no appetite in the UK for another major change in TV broadcasting - particularly as most people think they already have 'digital TV' in the form of DVB-T.

Given that television was invented by a Briton, and Europe led the way with PAL for so long, this is a rather sorry state of affairs.

By Kenny Hemphill

Satellite TV Deals FAQ

2008-07-14T21:36:00.015-07:00

Satellite TV 'What'?

So, what is a satellite TV?

It's a complicated question. In short, a satellite TV system is a wireless system delivering television programming directly to an end user. The whole system you can see in your home, a satellite dish, satellite decoder, and a remote.

The small satellite dish, about 18 to 24 inches in circumference, is installed outside your house; with the satellite decoder linked to your TV. Television and satellite TV stations transmit programming via a digital signal (satellite TV signals).

Satellite TV 'Who'?

Two main providers of satellite TV in United States are Direct TV satellite TV and Dish Network satellite TV. Both satellite TV companies are promoting hard with their free satellite TV deals all over the country.

Nowadays, satellite TV business is turning into a huge success, where satellite TV became the fastest selling consumer electronics product ever to enter the market.

Why is satellite TV so success? The short answer: pay LESS, get MORE!

Benefit 1: Amazing Savings. Benefit 2: Varieties, varieties, and varieties! Benefit 3: Quality customer service. Benefit 4: Choose your own satellite TV program! Benefit 5: Instant! Easy! Convenient!

More details are found here: http://www.satellitetvissue.com/benefits.htm

Topnotch picture quality, superior value and plenty of programming, if you want all these, digital satellite TV system are definitely your choice.

So, how satellite TV works?

To make things simple, this is what happens in your satellite TV system. Satellite TV broadcast stations, for example Dish Network or DirecTV satellite TV, use a powerful satellite antenna to transmit digital waves to the surrounding area.

Satellite TV viewers can receive the signal with a smaller satellite antenna. The digital signals used to broadcast television emit signals from the broadcast satellite antenna in a straight line.

To receive these signals, the satellite dish has to be in the direct line of sight of the antenna. Blockages such like trees or buildings in between would not cause any problems on the digital waves.

Is satellite TV suitable for you?

For United States, I can say that satellite TV is the right choice for 95% of the citizens. The figure would goes higher with current satellite TV market condition, with Dish Network and DirecTV offering free satellite TV deals all year long.

Compare satellite TV deals to cable TV! Either free satellite TV from DirecTV or Dish Network offers you more satellite TV program choicesup to nearly 300 channels! With current free satellite TV deals, you can even have your "own" satellite TV station with the satellite TV pay-per-view deals. This is different from normal cable TV, where you are forced to purchase whatever system your region offers and pay whatever price it offers. Direct TV and Dish Network offer you this advantage.

Cable TV users, ATTENTION! i am not going to say this twice!

If you are looking for your next home entertainment system, take time to discover DirecTV and Dish Network promotion in our site, you will love them. For cable TV subscriber, I am sure you will be make a switch very soon when you check out these free satellite TV deals!

Check it yourself, browse those Free satellite TV offers from Direct TV and Dish Network satellite TV systems, check those satellite TV benefits in details and you will know what am I talking about. Pay less, and have more with free satellite TV system from Direct TV or Dish Network!

Teddy L.Cc.

In the know: Dish Network DVR

2008-07-14T21:36:00.013-07:00

What's a DVR system and what else can it brings for us?

DVR is a hard drive that located inside a DVR receive to record and store satellite TV programs in digital format. It is the combination of the advanced technologies of Digital Video Recording and satellite TV system

Through introducing DVR into their free satellite TV package, Dish Network DVR provide you the power to to allow you to watch TV the way you want, when you want. In their free satellite TV package with DVR -- or known as Dish Network DVR Video-on-Demand Service, allows you to record, pause, and fast forward live TV programs. When you subscribe to Dish Network now, you can get up to two Dish Network DVR receivers free when you order a free satellite TV system from Dish Network such as the Dish Network deals provided at here: http://www.satellitetvissue.com/DishNetwork/DishNetworkPromotion.htm.

Features of Dish Network DVR

So, what is so special with this Dish Network DVR system?

What can Dish Network DVR with Video-On-Demand Service brings to you interm of better entertainment experience?

What's the benefits of having a Dish Network DVR at your home?

Outstanding features of Dish Network DVR with Video-On-Demand Service include:

Fast forwarding. Skip commercials and boring portions of the show you're watching depends on YOUR choice.

Auto Record. Automatically record up to 100 hours of Dish Network satellite TV shows.

Pause and replay live TV. Dish Network DVR enables you to pause the show you're watching whenever you are busy and resume watching your show when you're ready.

All digital storage. Have you get enough of the bad experience with hassles handling and video tapes storing. With Dish Network DVR, all your record will be stored in Dish Network DVR hard drive in digital format--which means much much more better quality compare to video tapes recording.

Further more, you don't need to be worried about the operations of Dish Network DVR system. The on-screen DVR menus in Dish Network DVR system are integrated with Dish Network's program guide. This makes recording tasks easy and flexible.

By Teddy L.Cc.

A Brief on United States Satellite TV Deals

2008-07-14T21:36:00.011-07:00

Want to know more about United States satellite TV business despite getting those 'free' satellite TV deals?

As you all may already known, satellite TV business in United States are mainly dominated by two companies, Dish Network and DirecTV. If you would like to have a satellite TV in your home, your choices are mostly limited to the free satellite TV packages that offered by either one Dish Network or DirecTV.

Here's some quick view on United States satellite TV industry: It was Hughes's DirecTV, the first high-powered DBS system, went on air in 1994 and was the first North American DBS service. In 1996, Echostar's Dish Network went online in the United States and has gone on to similar success.

You can get more free satellite TV information through out our website (http://www.satellitetvissue.com with info about satellite TV history in United States, Satellite HDTV, free satellite TV deals offered by Dish Network and DirecTV, etc.). But here, we will concentrate on these two U.S. satellite TV giants:Dish Network and DirecTV.

And as you can see now DirecTV and Dish Network, grew up to be the top satellite TV provider, offering their free satellite TV system everywhere. Apparently, with these free satellite TV deals, Dish Network and DirecTV are the primary competition of cable TV service in United States. These two satellite TV providers actually had blown up a "cut cable wave" in some of the states in U.S.

Now, lets have a closer look on these two famous free satellite TV providers: Dish Network and DirecTV.

DirecTV

DirecTV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States.Owned by DirecTV Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, DirecTV was launched in 1994 and was the first high-powered DBS service in the world.

DirecTV typically uses smaller 18-inch satellite dishes to receive its signals. Slightly larger, 18 x 24-inch oval antennas to access multi-satellites are becoming more common as DirecTV (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local television network affiliates stations as well as hybrid systems that also receive broadband satellite Internet service.

In 1998 DirecTV acquired its partner, USSB for $1.3 billion. In 1999 DirecTV acquired PrimeStar for $1.83 billion. In 2003, a merger with EchoStar, owner of DISH Network, fell through. On December 22, 2003, controlling interest in Hughes Electronics was sold by General Motors to News Corporation.

DirecTV is often abbreviated as "DTV". However, DTV has recently been used to refer to digital television, giving rise to the unofficial acronym "D".

DirecTV receivers (television set-top boxes) were originally referred to as "Digital Satellite Service", or DSS, so that services being broadcast by both DirecTV and USSB would appear to be received by generic equipment. In 1998, after the acquisition of USSB, an American court ruled that the term "DSS" was an already trademarked term that could not be used by DirecTV.

DirecTV offers standard television including local channels in most markets. Local channels are transmitted over terrestrial optical fiber networks to the Castle Rock Broadcast Center, in Castle Rock, Colorado, where they are uplinked.

DirecTV also offers high definition (HDTV); and a digital video recorder (DVR) service in partnership with TiVo. It has now more than 12 million customers in the US and 1.5 million in Latin America. 2002 revenues were USD 8.9 billion.

DirecTV

DirecTV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States.

Owned by DirecTV Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, DirecTV was launched in 1994 and was the first high-powered DBS service in the world. DirecTV typically uses smaller 18-inch satellite dishes to receive its signals. Slightly larger, 18 x 24-inch oval antennas to access multi-satellites are becoming more common as DirecTV (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local television network affiliates stations as well as hybrid systems that also receive broadband satellite Internet service.

In 1998 DirecTV acquired its partner, USSB for $1.3 billion. In 1999 DirecTV acquired PrimeStar for $1.83 billion. In 2003, a merger with EchoStar, owner of DISH Network, fell through. On December 22, 2003, controlling interest in Hughes Electronics was sold by General Motors to News Corporation.

DirecTV is often abbreviated as "DTV". However, DTV has recently been used to refer to digital television, giving rise to the unofficial acronym "D*".

DirecTV receivers (television set-top boxes) were originally referred to as "Digital Satellite Service", or DSS, so that services being broadcast by both DirecTV and USSB would appear to be received by generic equipment. In 1998, after the acquisition of USSB, an American court ruled that the term "DSS" was an already trademarked term that could not be used by DirecTV. DirecTV offers standard television including local channels in most markets. Local channels are transmitted over terrestrial optical fiber networks to the Castle Rock Broadcast Center, in Castle Rock, Colorado, where they are uplinked.

DirecTV also offers high definition (HDTV); and a digital video recorder (DVR) service in partnership with TiVo. It has now more than 12 million customers in the US and 1.5 million in Latin America. 2002 revenues were USD 8.9 billion.

Dish Network

So, how about the Dish Network?

The Dish Network satellite TV is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that broadcasts digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States. Owned by Echostar, Dish Network was launched in March, 1996 and is DirecTV's primary competitor in the United States.

Dish Network originally used an 18-inch satellite dish called DISH 300 which allowed subscribers to receive a signal from one satellite location. Nowadays, Dish Network uses 20-inch satellite dishes called DISH 500, which allows subscribers to receive satellite TV signals from two satellite locations simultaneously. Slightly larger, 36"x20" dishes (called SuperDISH) are being introduced with capability to receive satellite signals from three satellite locations simultaneously.

Both DISH 500 and SuperDISH are becoming more common as Dish Network (as well as other DBS services) are attempting to squeeze more programming onto their growing systems, particularly local American television network affiliates stations, and foreign programming.

In 2003, Dish Network began providing in-flight satellite TV service to the U.S. airline Song. In 2004, selected music channels from Sirius satellite radio were added to DISH Network's lineup of audio-only channels. Dish Network is also partnered with Starband to deliver broadband satellite Internet service along with it's television service.

Well, that's all for the brief on satellite TVs, if you are interested to get more related information, you can always check out the articles section in http://www.satellitetvissue.com - the smart guide for satellite TV deals.

By Teddy L.Cc.

A Guide to Buying Your Next TV

2008-07-14T21:36:00.009-07:00

It used to be simple; when you bought a new TV you looked at 3 basic things: Price, Quality, and Screen Size. Aside from a few features, all sets were pretty much the same. Today, things are not quite as simple. Buying a new TV can be frustrating and confusing. Progress is usually a good thing, and for that matter, so is competition. Progress gives manufacturers the technology needed to produce new and innovative products, while competition forces them to offer better products at lower prices. The consumer is definitely the winner here, but along with the good we must take a little of the bad. All this leads to more choices and options when considering the purchase of a new TV. Along with Price, Quality, and Screen Size, the modern day TV buyer must also consider Display Type, HDTV or SDTV, Sound Options, and Connectivity of Components.

The purpose of this article is to provide you with the basic knowledge you need before heading out to buy that new TV. You won't be able to read product descriptions and compare options unless you know, and understand exactly what is available to you. So let's keep it simple, to the point, and leave the intricate, techno stuff for another time and place. Read this article, print it out, and take it with you on the quest for your new TV.

The Basics

Analog (scan lines) vs. Digital (pixels):

If you haven't bought a TV in a while the one big difference you must be aware of is the use of pixels to produce an image rather than scan lines. Our familiar CRT televisions are known as analog displays. They use a scanning technology to draw the image, which is made up of a series of horizontal lines, onto the screen. If you walk right up to your CRT set you can actually see the horizontal lines that make up the image. LCD, DLP, and Plasma displays are Digital, and use pixels to form the image. Pixels are a series of small boxes arranged in columns and rows. When viewed from a distance they appear to form one solid image. If you walk up close to an image produced from pixels you can actually see the pixel structure which appears as though you are looking through a screen door. When buying a CRT set, the number of lines that the set is capable of producing will affect the sharpness of the image (the more the better). The same goes for Digital displays, the more pixels the sharper the image will appear and, the closer you can sit to the screen without the pixel structure becoming visible.

Display Types (CRT, Rear Projection, and Plasma/LCD)

CRT:

CRT displays (Cathode Ray Tubes) use a sealed vacuum tube with the screen at the front and an electron gun at the rear. The gun fires electrons at the screen in a series of passes drawing the image onto the screen. CRT's still deliver the best quality picture available, and the image they produce can be viewed clearly at almost any viewing angle. In addition, their brightness and contrast ratios exceed that of other types of displays. They are also relatively inexpensive. The drawbacks to CRT televisions are that they are heavy, and take up more room than Rear Projection or Plasma displays. Their screen sizes are also limited to around 40".

Rear Projection (RPTV):

RPTV sets are a great alternative to the standard CRT, since they take up less room and can have very large screens. RPTV's project the image onto a mirror which reflects it back onto the screen. This greatly reduces the cabinet depth of the unit, and allows for much larger screen sizes. RPTV's can be either analog or digital depending on the projection method. There are 3 main types of projection methods CRT, LCD, and DLP. CRT uses standard Cathode Ray Tubes just like a direct view TV set, they can produce a bright, detailed image, but are heavier and take up slightly more room than LCD, or DLP. The LCD method passes a powerful light source through transparent LCD chips. The image displayed on the chips is then projected through a magnifying lens, and then onto a mirror, which reflects the image onto the display screen. Rear Projection sets using LCD's tend to take up less room than those using CRT's, but usually cost slightly more. Also, the image produced by the LCD panels is made up of individual pixels which get enlarged when projected onto the screen. If you sit too close to one of these sets you will see what is known as the "screen door effect", as the pixel structure is often visible at close range. DLP is the latest and greatest of the projection technologies. It stands for Digital Light Processing, and uses micro-mirrors to reflect colored light onto the screen. Because the light is reflected rather than passed through the chips as with LCD, DLP projectors produce images whose contrast and color saturation can rival that of CRT based systems. They do this while retaining the compactness and light weight of LCD systems. Of course they are not cheap, but the cutting edge of technology never is. Brightness and viewing angle are among some of the most important factors to consider when looking at RPTV's. When measuring brightness, you want to compare the intensity of the image emanating from the screen, not the brightness of the projected image inside the cabinet. The intensity of the image will always be less, so make sure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at brightness specs. Contrast ratio (the ratio between light and dark areas of the image) should be in the neighborhood of 1000:1 If this figure is too low, the picture will look dull, and blacks will appear to be gray.

Plasma/LCD:

Plasma/LCD displays are the most versatile when it comes to shoe-horning a large screen into a small room. Plasmas are usually less than 4" thick and can be hung on the wall if so desired. They provide an image by passing a high powered light source through cells which consist of two layers of glass between which neon-xenon gas is trapped in a plasma state. The gas is then electrically charged and reacts with phosphors which produce the colors on the screen. LCD screens work by shining a light source through an LCD chip which produces the image. Though both Plasma and LCD screens can produce beautiful, sharp, color rich images, their contrast suffers slightly due to the fact that a bright light is passing through the pixels. Blacks appear to be a very dark shade of grey, when compared to the true deep blacks that only a CRT can produce. One big advantage Plasma displays have over RPTV and LCD's is viewing angle. A plasma screen has about a 170 degree viewing angle (as good as a CRT), where as RPTV's and LCD's typically are less. Recently, LCD displays have made tremendous strides in improving their off-axis viewing angles. Although they are still not as good as a plasma or CRT, depending on your room configuration, this once important factor may now be less of an issue.

Deciding What's Right for You

Screen Size:

The type of display you buy will have a direct impact on the size of the TV you can fit in your room. Plasmas are the most accommodating while CRT's take up the most room. Now that you know the types of displays available, you can determine what size screen to look for.

Evaluate your current TV:

Deciding on the optimum size for your new TV is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. This will often help determine the type of display that your new TV will have. It is much easier to buy a new TV once you know what type of display you are interested in. The best way to determine the desired size of your new TV is to start by evaluating your current set. Is the size of the screen adequate, or would you like something bigger? What type of TV do you have, is it Direct View (CRT), or Rear Projection? Are you planning on redesigning the room, or must it fit into the same space you now have? How far away from the screen do you sit, and at what angle are you to the screen? One last and very important note on size -- TV's Grow when you get them home! I know bigger is usually always better, but be careful not to buy too big of a TV. If you go to one of the giant retailers to purchase or evaluate your next TV bear in mind that the store is a very big place, and that even the largest televisions will appear smaller than they really are. When you get the set home to your hose it will seem much larger than it did in the store I can guarantee it! The last thing you want is to have some huge box dominating your room. Plus, a large TV in a small room will not perform as well as one that is properly sized.

HDTV or SDTV:

This is really a personal decision, and is based primarily on how you watch TV and what you expect from it. While SDTV (Standard Definition Television) will be fine for most people, the amount of High Definition programming is set to steadily increase during the next few years. You may want to consider a set that is HD Capable so that if you want to make the move to High Definition in the future, the TV will be able to display a High Definition image.

If you are the type that likes to watch TV and spend a lot of time in front of your set, then HDTV should definitely be high on your list. Television transmissions are either Standard Definition SD (480p), or High Definition HD (720p or 1080i). The numbers refer to the lines of resolution that make up the image, while the letters refer to how the image is drawn on the screen (p) progressive, and (i) interlaced). Interlacing requires two separate passes across the screen to display the picture, while progressive scanning draws the entire picture in one pass. Progressive scanning is generally superior to Interlacing, as it produces a smoother, flicker free image. Most HDTV's can display 480p, 480i, 720p, and 1080i, but there are a few that can only display HD signals in 1080i. You should look for a set that can display both 720p and 1080i since the image can be displayed in its native format rather than be converted to 1080i by the TV. High Definition televisions come in 2 basic flavors, HDTV and HD Ready. An HDTV set is capable of both receiving and displaying an HD signal. It has an integrated HD tuner that can receive digital signals in both SD and HD. HD Ready sets are physically capable of displaying a High-Definition image, but lack their own integrated HD tuner. This means that you will need to purchase a separate HD tuner (receiver) to capture and send the signal to the TV. In this scenario, the TV is acting as a display monitor, like the one connected to your computer. Some people don't mind this, as it allows them to mix and match components for higher overall quality. If you're a satellite or cable subscriber, you will be using a separate HD receiver compatible with your provider's system. In this case "HD Ready" may be a smarter choice since you won't be paying extra for an integrated HD Tuner that you will not need.

Aspect Ratio:

The aspect ratio refers to the shape of the display screen. Unless you're buying an HDTV, you will have to decide on which aspect ratio to get. The Up until now TV's were all 4:3 aspect ratio or relatively square. All HDTV screens and many other modern TV sets are 16:9 aspect ratio, or rectangular in shape. This is a real sticky point since most of the programming available today is still formatted to fit the 4:3 aspect ratio. If you opt to buy a TV with a 16:9 aspect ratio, it will have to artificially stretch the image to fill the whole screen. Even when buying an HDTV you should ask to see how the set displays 4:3 programming material in the full screen mode. Some brands manipulate the picture better than others, and this may be a consideration in your final purchase.

Sound Options:

Once again it helps to know what you expect from your new TV and how you plan to use it. If you have a DVD player and tend to watch a lot of movies at home then you will want a TV with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This is the standard sound format used on DVD's and for all HDTV broadcasts. If your TV is integrated into a home audio system that has its own Dolby Digital Processor, you may not be as concerned with the TV's sound capabilities. The Dolby Digital audio that accompanies a DVD or HDTV signal can be carried by either an Optical or Digital Coax cable. You should check your DVD player to confirm the type of connectors to assure that your new TV will accommodate it.

Connectivity:

This can be a little technical, but is very important in determining how well your new TV will integrate with other components, now and in the future. Once again, if you are not concerned with HDTV then your choices are simpler and much less crucial. Most modern TV's have a more than adequate number of inputs to allow you to connect just about any device. For video, you should assure that at the very least it has Component, and S-Video inputs. For audio, some sets will have Optical connections while others will have coax. Either one is fine, but Optical cables have an advantage because they are not affected by electromagnetic interference. When we are thinking about HD components things get a little more complex. The preferred method of connecting an HD source component such as a Satellite Receiver or Cable Box to your new HDTV is by a connection known as DVI (Digital Video Interface). This connector looks kind of like the VGA connector used to connect your computer monitor. You can use Component connectors for this but DVI is preferred since it has extremely high bandwidth, and will also keep the signal in its native digital format. There is a noticeable increase in picture quality when viewing HD material via a DVI Connection. A more recent connectivity method that is even better than DVI is HDMI (High-Definition Multi-Media Interface). HDMI is a connection method similar to DVI, but goes one step further by carrying both HD Video and Audio over a single cable. This will prove to be very popular as it greatly reduces the cost and complexity of connecting HD components together. HDMI is supported by many new products, and is currently available on HD Satellite Receivers from DirecTV and DISH Network, as well as many new DVD players.

Conclusion:

Well, that's it. Having a good basic knowledge will make your buying decision easier and more fun. Whatever you choose, try to always keep an open mind and think toward the future. Don't be afraid to spend a little more now, it can save you a lot in the long run.

Written By: Michael Casamento

Looking For Satellite TV?

2008-07-14T21:36:00.007-07:00

It was 1994 and I had moved into another home and learned that the cable TV line had not been installed to my house. When the cable company told me they would have to dig up my yard to put the line in I wasn't pleased with the idea or the price they quoted me to do it.

Satellite TV was still in its infancy stage with the big monster dishes. While I was browsing in a local electronics store one day I saw a guy giving a demonstration about the new DIRECTV© 18 inch digital satellite TV dish.

Needless to say I was very impressed and purchased the satellite TV system on the spot. I knew it would save me from digging up my yard and I could actually get more channels than I got with cable.

After the tech guy hooked it up and left I was like a kid with a new toy. I couldn't believe how it transformed the picture and sound quality on my television. It was like a completely different TV.

DIRECTV© channels are 100% digital-quality picture and sound, including local network channels. If you haven't experienced quality like that before you are in for a real treat.

Cable TV tries to compete with digital satellite TV technology by offering digital cable. But if you compare both the picture and sound quality, the DIRECTV© super clear picture and crystal clear sound wins hands down any day.

But that was only the beginning of the many things I discovered. I didn't need a TV guide anymore because the on screen programming guide tells me what shows are on, who's starring in the show and what it's about.

I have an incredible variety of over 200 channels of every kind of programming I could think of and some I never dreamed of.

Then, I checked out the pay per view movie service with up to 55 different choices of movies and special events a day that I could easily order with my remote.

Does anyone like sports? What are you kidding? DIRECTV offers sports packages that will put a smile on any sports fans face. How about NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, ESPN Game Plan and ESPN Full Court. That doesn't even include the regional sports networks I now have access to.

If you are a music lover, DIRECTV© offers 31 different audio-only channels that range from choices like Soft Rock, Jazz and Country to Hit List, Easy Listening and a lot more.

I work out of my home and by selecting a DIRECTV© audio channel to soft music, I can have the music I like in the background when I work.

Having a party? Just turn on any channel you like and you'll never have to touch it again because there are no commercials or interruptions. Just great digital quality music 24 hours a day at your fingertips.

When I moved again to another home, DIRECTV© customer service made it about as easy as it gets. I just gave them my new address, and they not only sent a brand new replacement satellite TV dish to my new home, they provided complimentary standard professional installation for everything including the receivers. I didn't pay a penny for anything. How's that for a no-hassle move?

With cable, I would have had to pay another deposit and that is just extra money I get to keep in my wallet instead of giving it to the cable company.

If you're thinking about switching from cable to satellite TV or moving to another home, consider DIRECTV©. It's simply a better value than cable and a smart choice you're whole family will enjoy.

With cable rates increasing an average of 8% per year it's no mystery why more than 12 million customers nationwide have made the switch to DIRECTV® service.

Over 10 years have gone by now since I bought that first satellite TV dish and I love it as much now as when I first got it. I recommend DIRECTV© to so many people because I know they will absolutely love it.

Only once in a great while a product comes along that actually over delivers. DIRECTV© can not only save you money each month over cable but is a smart choice and an incredible value.

Copyright © 2004 1 Stop Shopping Online.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article may be re-published "as is" (unedited) as long as the author's bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.

By Gary Gresham

DirecTV and DISH Network - How Do The Two Leading Satellite TV Providers Stack Up?

2008-07-14T21:36:00.005-07:00

DirecTV and DISH Network - How Do The Two Leading Satellite TV Providers Stack Up?

If you live in the U.S. and want satellite TV systems, you have basically two choices. Yes, there are other providers out there, but for most viewers, DirecTV and DISH Network offer the most choices for the least money, although Pegasus and Voom are fast becoming major contenders in the satellite television industry. Competition being what it is, both DirecTV and DISH Network offer similar services and constantly adjust to add features and outdo their rivals. So how do you choose between the two? A side-by-side comparison of the services and prices shows some differences that help customers decide which service best fits their viewing needs. But first, a little background on each provider might be helpful.

DirecTV

The company known as The DirecTV Group is made up of four main units, which include DirecTV U.S., DirecTV Latin America, PanAmSat, and Hughes Network Systems (HNS). As a group, the organization serves over 12 million U.S. satellite TV customers and another 1.5 million subscribers in Latin countries. Through PanAmSat, they operate a fleet of 25 satellites capable of providing satellite transmissions to 98% of the world. And Hughes Network Systems operates a satellite-based consumer broadband Internet access service known as DirecWay. This component of Hughes has over 180,000 subscribers. HNS is also one of the largest manufacturers of DirecTV set-top receivers. The four different aspects of The DirecTV Group give the company a large, comprehensive base of direct and indirect satellite customers. Their partnerships with technology leaders such as AOL, Microsoft, and TiVo also add to their customer base.

There are plans for improving and expanding services in efforts to attract more customers. Hughes Network Services is developing SPACEWAY, a more advanced satellite broadband communications package that is expected to provide customers with more affordable high-speed, two-way data communications. SPACEWAY is expected to be introduced in 2005.

DirecTV has been actively working to increase the number of markets where they offer local programming. In January of this year, the company added 18 new markets that will receive local channels via the DirecTV(R) programming service. By year-end, the company plans to offer local channels in a minimum of 130 markets, representing 92% of U.S. television households. Continued marketing and development of their HDTV and DVR products will also be a part of their plans to expand their customer base. Two different basic dish designs and several different manufacturers provide DirecTV consumers with a number of dish options.

DirecTV subscribers have a choice of two basic dish designs for their satellite service. The round dish is the more common 18" design that has been popular across the country. The oval dish or low noise blockdown (LNB) dish is able to receive information from more than one satellite and is required for those who want to receive local channels, HDTV, or Spanish language programming.

Popular manufacturers of DirecTV compatible dishes include Hughes, Sony, Phillips, and RCA. Current DirecTV sales and deals offer the satellite dish and other equipment for free with a one-year commitment. It could cost anywhere from $50 to over $200 to purchase the DirecTV compatible dish separately.

DISH Network

EchoStar Communications Corporation and their DISH Network service are Hughes Network's top competitors. Headquartered in Englewood Colorado, EchoStar has been a leader in the satellite TV industry for over 20 years. The company, founded by Charlie Ergen, began as a distributor of C-band cable television systems and filed for a Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) license in 1987. The company received broadcast access in 1992, launched its own satellite, EchoStar I, in 1995, and introduced DISH Network in 1996.

Today, the company has 9 satellites, and through DISH Network, provides over 500 channels of video, audio, and data satellite services to over 8.5 million customers in the U.S. In addition to satellite television services, DISH Network customers can also receive high speed Internet, Interactive TV (on demand programming), and High Definition TV (HDTV).

HDTV is EchoStar's latest innovation, which reportedly delivers extraordinarily sharp pictures and integrated sound by digitizing television programming. Broadcasting all DISH Network programming in wide-screen format and transmitting up to 10 percent more pixels, HDTV provides a clearer more proportionate picture.

In August of 2003, EchoStar was the first company to offer a satellite receiver with a built-in digital video recorder (DVR). A DISH Network standard DVR receiver allows viewers to stop, rewind, fast forward and record up to 60 hours of live TV programming. More advanced receivers provide enhanced services.

DISH Network services can be purchased on-line or through a local retailer. Unlike its competitor, DirecTV, DISH Network offers equipment installation. This service usually involves a fee, but often is offered at free or reduced rates through special sales promotions.

The equipment needed for DISH Network satellite TV is basically the same as for DirecTV service. You need a dish, a satellite receiver, and the access cards. Depending on the type of satellite TV you want, you have several choices for equipment. Whether you want standard satellite TV or Digital Video Recording (DVR), or High Definition (HD) options, you will need a dish. Each type of service requires a different dish, but that is determined for you when you choose your package.

A Comparison

So how do the two leading satellite television services compare? Both offer over 200 channels and Pay Per View selections, DVD recorders, HDTV and seven HD channels each. But from there, things differ somewhat. Here's a side-by-side listing of the different packages and the services provided. Look them over and decide which satellite TV service is best for your budget and viewing needs.

DIRECTV

Dish Network

Receiver

Included with price plan

Free to $149 depending on selection

HDTV Receiver

$399

$449

Dish

Included

Included

Lowest price plan

$36.99 per month

$24.99 per month

Highest price plan

$87.99 per month

$77.99 per month

Satellite Internet

Yes
No

By C.J. Gustafson

Troubleshooting your Cable Box

2008-07-14T21:36:00.003-07:00

Unless you've recently moved from Alaska to Texas and you're feeling a little homesick, chances are that the last thing you want to see when you turn on your TV is snow. Combine a snowy screen with that loud, obnoxious static sound, and you've got a problem on your hands. Fortunately you don't have to be techie to fix your cable box - just follow these simple troubleshooting steps to get picture back in no time.

Cable Box Basics

Make sure your cable box is plugged in. I know that sounds silly, but after troubleshooting these things over the phone professionally, you can trust me on this one. Save yourself the time and embarrassment of calling a professional just to have them tell you to plug it in. That goes for the rest of the essential equipment as well (i.e. TV, VCR or DVR if you're running the signal through one, etc.). It wouldn't hurt to make sure the TV is on the correct channel - usually channel 3 or 4 or one of the input channels.

Make sure all the cables are connected. Even if you're TV and cable box are both turned on, you won't see a picture unless they are connected. Check each connection to ensure it is tight and that none of the wires or connecting pieces is damaged. Also check to see that the connections are all correct - meaning, video and audio should be going out of your cable or satellite box to your TV "in" ports. The signal should follow a logical path. If the connections are correct but you're still not seeing any picture, replace the cables to see if that solves the problem. If you're running the signal through a DVR or VCR and having problems, skip the middle man and plug the cables straight from the box to the TV. If you get a picture you know you're problem is in the VCR.

After making sure everything is on and the cable connections are all correct, try rebooting your system. Each company's receivers have different methods of rebooting, but one fairly universal way is to unplug the box for 10 to 20 seconds and then plug it back in. Do not just turn the box off and back on again - you'll need to actually pull the plug out of the wall and then put it back in again. Once the cable box is plugged back in, turn the power on and cross your fingers. If you're still not receiving any picture, unplug the receiver again for up to one minute and then plug it back in. This may be tedious and time-consuming, especially when you're missing the fight of the year or the Super Bowl, but give it the full minute - you'll spend less time doing it yourself than you will waiting for a repairman to come out and fix it.

Fuzzy Picture or Sound

If you are getting a picture but no sound; or sound but no picture; or a fuzzy picture or sound, recheck the cable connections to make sure they are tightened and that the wires or connecting pieces are undamaged. Poor picture or sound is typically caused by one of three problems: poor wire connections, signal interference, or TV settings.

Going outside to make sure nothing is interfering with your signal will help with the second problem. Of course, if you have underground cables there is not much you can do about making sure they are clear of interference (that's read, "Your neighbor cut through it while gardening"). If you have a satellite dish, know that excessive rain or snow buildup on the dish can cause signal interference. Use caution when checking your dish, especially if it is on your roof or some other hard-to-reach place around your house. The installer should have verified that no trees or other objects would interfere with your signal from the satellites, but take a quick look around to see if new foliage is blocking the signal. If it is not on your property, do not cut or remove anything without prior permission from the property owner.

Finally, adjusting your TV settings can help when you are receiving a clear signal and all the connections are fine. Horizontal and vertical settings are the adjustments that most often need to be made, but consulting your owner's manual can give you a better indication of other settings that can be tweaked.

Troubleshooting requires patience, so make some lemonade, roll up your sleeves, and get started. If none of these suggestions work (9 times out of 10 they will), contact your service provider. They may have additional troubleshooting steps or resources they can make available to you to get your cable or satellite TV up and running.

By Nick Smith

A to Z in Dish Network deals

2008-07-14T21:36:00.001-07:00

First, what's Dish Network?

Dish Network, owned by company Echostar, is the United States second biggest Satellite TV provider. Dish Network provides up to 256 TV channels of 100% digital picture.

Satellite broadcast licensed in 1987, Dish Network currently dish up about 10 million satellite TV customers with their free Dish Network offer in United States. With up to 256 TV channels served in three major packages (Dish Network All American Top 60s, 120s, and 180s) and various free satellite TV equipments, Dish Network is the one of the best TV setup currently in the market. Huge programming choice, crunchy digital image, HDTV-ready with SuperDISH packages, and digital video recording.

A lot of online dealers claim that Dish Network satellite TV systen is for free, is it for real?

Yes, absolutely free IF you are a first time customer! Worth $1500, these satellite equipments is totally free to get when you subscribe to Dish Network. Satellite TV providers are fighting hard to win the fierce competition that they will give you all the equipment free!

So how do they make money?

Pretty simple: the subscription fees. To get your free Dish Network satellite TV, you have to commit to a one-year subscription contract when you get into Dish Network. Infact, this is the current trend of the satellite TV buisness -- both Dish Network and DirecTV are making money through the subscription fees in long term.

Why get it online?

Greatest satellite TV bargains are normally found on line. Why? Dish Network online retailers are the most aggressive satellite retailers cause their operating cost is awfully low compared to brick and mortar stores. They are the only one that can afford to bring you the best bargains in Dish Network.

What is the best hardware setup?

2-rooms set up, 3-rooms set up, HDTV set up ? getting confused?

The best hardware set up really depends on your visualize and your location. Most people will be perfectly served by the multi-room systems right now. All the necessary equipment for up to 4 rooms, plus the installation, plus Digital Video Recorders are yours for the taking, FREE.

In this package, with just $50 of start up fees (which they will credit back your account for the same amount), you are ready to enjoy your Dish Network. As mention before, these satellite TVs equipments are given life time warranty; you won't have to worry about receivers or dishes breaking down.

Same thing if you want to receive Dish Network HD programs. Until recently you had to buy special equipment (known as the Superdish) to receive high definition signals. Now you don't even have to -- Regular receivers (those that are freely given) like the HD-811 and the HD-DVR 921, can get all HD content.

If you want to get international programming - the strong set of Dish Network - you will have to buy an additional dish antenna at the cost of $99 (at the time of writing).

Do I need to install the dish my self?

Nope, you don't need to do that. Dish Network retailer workers will install your satellite system for you and its totally free of charge. Instead of sweating it, just leave the installation works to a pro. You will be getting an access card once your dish system had been installed. The access card is like a license for your satellite system.

By Teddy L.Cc.