How to Compare Cable & Satellite TV Service

Both satellite and cable have benefits and downfalls.

Cable and satellite television services are two different subscription-based ways to receive all of your favorite television shows. Cable television service sends its signal into your home via a long series of coaxial cables that connect to your home from elsewhere in your neighborhood. Satellite television service, by comparison, beams TV signals into your home from a satellite in outer space. If you're trying to decide between the two methods, consider a few things to help make your decision easier.

Instructions

1. Compare installation costs. The installation cost of cable television service is typically not high, as the technician does not have to do much work when he comes to your home. He only has to turn on the cable jack (if your home or apartment was already wired) or run a new line into your home from outside (if it was not already wired). Satellite television installation costs are typically higher because the technician must first install a satellite dish on the side or roof of your home or apartment, and then connect the dish to your TVs.

2. Compare what you get in the installation package. Some cable or satellite television companies may offer you a basic channel package with a few dozen channels and one cable or satellite digital receiver box. Other companies may offer you more channels (including high definition channels, as opposed to regular digital), as well as a digital video recorder for the a comparable monthly price.

3. Compare the availability of the two types of services. There are places in the continental U.S. (typically in rural and mountainous regions) where it is physically impossible to lay the cable required to provide your home with cable television service. Satellite television service, however, is available anywhere (even at sea) because it gets its signal from an orbiting satellite.

4. Compare which networks are carried by which provider. The websites of the cable television and satellite television companies you're considering will provide you with a comprehensive list of all channels carried by that particular company. Certain channels will be cable television exclusive, while others will be satellite television exclusive. Compare these exclusive channels to see which ones you'd like to pay for, and let that influence which type of television service you'd ultimately like to go with.

5. Look at the picture quality provided by each television service provider. Cable television programming is heavily compressed for transfer via coaxial cable. Every channel is being piped into your home simultaneously, regardless of whether you're actually watching that channel or not. Signal quality is also lost due to the great lengths the signal has to travel from the cable company to reach your television set. Because of all this, the picture quality on cable television will never look quite as good as satellite television, which is transmitted uncompressed. The difference may be slight, but satellite television will always have a sharper image.

References

• MoveUtilities.com: Cable vs. Satellite