Cable television has been widely available since the 1950s and spawned a new era of entertainment and global communication. Since then, we have seen television/video services make incredible strides in content manipulation and delivery technologies. Nowadays, the average American household can take advantage of a number of different TV services, including digital broadcast, cable, satellite, IPTV and OTT (Over the Top) streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Streaming services are indeed gaining mass popularity; however, traditional cable and satellite services are still the most commonly used.
If you’ve recently moved, have a service contract about to expire, or are unhappy with your current service, you may find yourself pondering the benefits of cable versus satellite for your TV entertainment.
Satellite or Cable: What’s the Difference?
- Service and Resolution
Satellite provides a direct link from the satellite to the customer’s antennae. Cable services also receive their signals via satellites in most cases, but then redistribute them through a network of fiber nodes, coaxial cable lines and amplifiers. Satellite has the advantage of a pure digital audio/video feed by going directly from Satellite to CPE (Customer Premises Equipment – also known as dish). Most cable networks are also 100 percent digital these days, but the satellite clarity and sharpness are hard to beat. - Reception
Both cable and satellite may experience service interruptions under certain conditions. Cable is vulnerable to weather and accidents due to their miles of transmission lines, while satellite is vulnerable to weather disturbances that block or degrade line of sight. As long as your satellite dish is installed properly and has good exposure, service interruptions should be rare. - Availability
Though cable is largely available in urban communities and can be hooked up with no visual external antennas on the property, there are still quite a few areas (especially in rural communities) where cable is not available. Satellite offers a great alternative and is by far more widely available; however, some housing developments and property owners enforce restrictions for mounting external antennas, which are required for satellite reception. - Contracts
Satellite and most cable companies offer month-to-month service for renters or subscribers on the move, as well as money-saving contracts, which typically last a year or two. Many companies require a term agreement and you would be wise to research the quality of service prior to signing. - Pricing
Cable rates vary widely from market to market, a result of many different companies offering different programming packages. Satellite TV service, on the other hand, is only provided by two major companies currently, resulting in similar “Gold Standard” pricing throughout the U.S. Both satellite and cable offer different tiers of programming available to meet your needs; however, satellite programming packages are more diverse, offering a more tailored fit for the customers budget. Equipment cost for both cable and satellite platforms are relatively low and generally incur a monthly fee on top of the programming fee. Promotions commonly offer free equipment and installation with a contract agreement. In comparison, satellite costs are typically less than cable, but this is not always the case.
New Technology Increases the Satellite Advantage
- Dish Hopper
The Dish Hopper/Hopper with Sling is an award-winning device and is becoming the set-top-box to beat in the industry. Its robust user interface, applications and recording features are very impressive. The receiver is paired with “Joeys” – one for each room – that access the Hopper via internal coax cabling, allowing for all data for tuning and DVR capabilities of the Hopper in other rooms of the home. The Hopper allows for the recording of up to eight channels at once with the addition of the Super Joey, and includes 2TB of storage space for recording up to 2,000 hours of your favorite programming. Furthermore, it allows you to transfer recorded content to your iPad (coming soon for other manufacturers) for later viewing in areas that have no Internet connection. When paired to the Hopper with Sling, The Dish Anywhere application allows customers full access to the Hopper in their home, making it possible to view live television on an iOS or android device in a mobile application. - Direct TV Genie
The Genie is another robust, whole-house DVR solution worthy of high praise. It uses wireless technology to provide service to additional rooms with the help of “Genie Minis” to communicate all data with the main Genie. It features 1TB of storage space and the ability to record up to five shows simultaneously.
In summary, all TV services are not created equally. Be objective in your buying research and you’re sure to make the right decision! QCBN
Mike Merrill is with CommSpeed
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