Cable Fiber Optic & Satellite TV - What's the Difference & How to Choose
Cable TV has been around since 1948 when it was started by John and Margaret Walson of Pennsylvania, and first referred to as community antenna television, which later became what we know today as cable TV. One of the reasons cable TV is so popular is because it's been around so long. It's the original pay-TV service, and the gold standard for all other technologies to follow. In fact, the first satellite distribution of a television show was delivered by HBO for a cable boxing event!
Emeritus H. Taylor Howard, a Stanford University Professor, and former NASA scientist then built the first satellite Dish. After attempting to pay HBO for the movies he had watched, HBO refused to accept the payment as it was against their policy to work with individuals, so Emerist did what any modern blogger might do today, and wrote a how-to manual on the system he had created. Shortly after that he began manufacturing parts for the system he had created with co-founder of Chaparral Communications Inc, Bob Taggart.
Satellite TV service was much cheaper than cable in the 80's, but the expense for a satellite system ranged between $10,000 to $3,000. Hardly a deal for the average Joe, but a superior choice to cable in that day if you could afford it. Fortunately, the price for satellite TV systems and service has dropped drastically, and made it possible for phone companies to offer digital television service along with their other products as part of a bundled package. That is until the recent adaptation of fiber optic TV service like AT&T's U-verse, and Verizon's FiOS. Fiber optics is a superior way to send data, since there is less loss of data, and it travels much faster, which brings us to the differences between cable TV, satellite TV, fiber optic TV, and how to choose between them.
Quality of TV Service, Price, and Availability
The first thing to consider is, of course, availability. It's moot point to decide which television package is best for you if you can't get it where you live. In most cases, satellite TV services like Dish Network, or DirecTV are available just about anywhere, so you can most likely add these to your choices for consideration. Cable and fiber, on the other hand, are very location and provider specific, so you might need to check to see who, if anyone, offers these services in your area.
After determining your options for possible providers, you might want to think of the quality of TV service you'll be receiving from a given provider. Factoid: Just because it's cable doesn't mean a better picture, better sound, or more reliable service. While it's true satellite TV may go out temporarily in inclimate weather, it happens with cable TV service too. If you're a cable subscriber, or have been one in the past, you already know this. I know you're not going to like this, and in this age of technology one would think there is a better way, but ask your neighbors about the quality of their TV service.
Finally, price. It's surprising how many people just go for the cheapest package they can find. Unless you simply don't watch a lot of TV, this isn't a good approach. There has to be a middle ground where price meets satisfaction. Do you enjoy movie channels? How about sports? Local channels? Do you want a DVR, and for how many TV sets? Do you have an HD TV set? Before you think about price, try to zero in on the features you're going to want. After you've made a list go ahead and run your price checks.
Which TV Service is Best
In my opinion, U-verse, or Fios, but that's my opinion. What's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander, so ultimately it comes down to your opinion, not mine. If you are looking for someone to tell you which TV service is best, all you're going to get is other people's opinions. I think if one follows the guidelines above, they'll be pretty happy in the long run. I will say U-verse has the best DVR on the market at this point, and with a TV signal over fiber optic you'll get less loss of picture and sound than with anything else you can get.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daymon_Hoag
Emeritus H. Taylor Howard, a Stanford University Professor, and former NASA scientist then built the first satellite Dish. After attempting to pay HBO for the movies he had watched, HBO refused to accept the payment as it was against their policy to work with individuals, so Emerist did what any modern blogger might do today, and wrote a how-to manual on the system he had created. Shortly after that he began manufacturing parts for the system he had created with co-founder of Chaparral Communications Inc, Bob Taggart.
Satellite TV service was much cheaper than cable in the 80's, but the expense for a satellite system ranged between $10,000 to $3,000. Hardly a deal for the average Joe, but a superior choice to cable in that day if you could afford it. Fortunately, the price for satellite TV systems and service has dropped drastically, and made it possible for phone companies to offer digital television service along with their other products as part of a bundled package. That is until the recent adaptation of fiber optic TV service like AT&T's U-verse, and Verizon's FiOS. Fiber optics is a superior way to send data, since there is less loss of data, and it travels much faster, which brings us to the differences between cable TV, satellite TV, fiber optic TV, and how to choose between them.
Quality of TV Service, Price, and Availability
The first thing to consider is, of course, availability. It's moot point to decide which television package is best for you if you can't get it where you live. In most cases, satellite TV services like Dish Network, or DirecTV are available just about anywhere, so you can most likely add these to your choices for consideration. Cable and fiber, on the other hand, are very location and provider specific, so you might need to check to see who, if anyone, offers these services in your area.
After determining your options for possible providers, you might want to think of the quality of TV service you'll be receiving from a given provider. Factoid: Just because it's cable doesn't mean a better picture, better sound, or more reliable service. While it's true satellite TV may go out temporarily in inclimate weather, it happens with cable TV service too. If you're a cable subscriber, or have been one in the past, you already know this. I know you're not going to like this, and in this age of technology one would think there is a better way, but ask your neighbors about the quality of their TV service.
Finally, price. It's surprising how many people just go for the cheapest package they can find. Unless you simply don't watch a lot of TV, this isn't a good approach. There has to be a middle ground where price meets satisfaction. Do you enjoy movie channels? How about sports? Local channels? Do you want a DVR, and for how many TV sets? Do you have an HD TV set? Before you think about price, try to zero in on the features you're going to want. After you've made a list go ahead and run your price checks.
Which TV Service is Best
In my opinion, U-verse, or Fios, but that's my opinion. What's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander, so ultimately it comes down to your opinion, not mine. If you are looking for someone to tell you which TV service is best, all you're going to get is other people's opinions. I think if one follows the guidelines above, they'll be pretty happy in the long run. I will say U-verse has the best DVR on the market at this point, and with a TV signal over fiber optic you'll get less loss of picture and sound than with anything else you can get.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daymon_Hoag
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