Satellite Dish companies are stepping up the war for new customers on the airwaves and the cable companies are answering with their own advertising campaigns. It seems like we are bombarded every day with advertisements from the television providers asking for our money and trust in their product. So who has the best deals? Let’s look at the individual players in this “war”.

Satellite Dish providers sell you a dish that attaches to the roof of your house (or some other convenient location) that can “track” the provider’s satellite and bring the signal into your home. Most of the dish companies are offering the dish as a free incentive to subscribing to their service so this cost is absorbed by them, which is very nice. The usually ask you to sign a contract for 18 months and they offer a relative low monthly payment for basic channels. (I am old enough to remember the only thing available was black and white reception and only 3 channels. Now you have several hundred channels available to watch. It must take hours just to find out what is on them all).

If you want the other extra nice program packages it is an additional monthly cost. The addition of what you really want, movies, sports, etc. These can really bring the monthly cost up to the point of threatening your budget. Additional incentives to get your business are: Lower monthly charges for the first couple of months, DVD and HDTV. Some of these add-ons are only offered free for the first couple of months and then their charges are added to you monthly payment. Watch these as they will add up quickly. Is it really necessary to have everything? Just order what you can afford.

. If you should want to move during your contract period it is nice to know that they will move your equipment to your new residence and you do not have to go through all the trouble of starting over. There may be a fee for this service but you never have to worry about moving to an area where you cannot get reception and that is really nice. They frown on your trying to cancel the contract and there is usually a stiff penalty so be sure that you want to pay the monthly fees before you sign up.

The Satellite Dish programs are all very good and offer installation for several rooms, free installation, free upgrade and outstanding customer service.

Cable providers offer pretty much the same packages but there are some draw backs to their offers. The most disturbing is the lack of coverage in large parts of the country. I live in an area where the cable is available across the street but not on my side of the street. That seems a little strange to me but that is the way it is and nothing I can do or say will change it. Cable offers to relocate your service if you move within their territory for coverage and they will “refer” you to another cable company if you move out of their territory, but not all cable companies are the same and you may be looking at higher costs and fees that are not in your best interests.

Let me ask you a question, where does the cable company get their signal? Answer, from satellite dish companies. Now it seems reasonable to me that if you cut out the middle man and go straight to the provider you should save money. What happens if the satellite dish companies decide to raise the rates for the cable company? Your rates go up. (I think that the government has a control on this so it is unlikely that it will happen, but then I thought the government had control over the rates of the phone and utilities companies and my rates seem to go up every year anyway).

The good old fashion antenna in the attic is another choice, reception is not very good, no additional perks like DVD or HDTV but the cost is right. ZERO Cost.

If you grab hold of the antenna wire, stand on one foot with your thumb in your mouth and turn just the right way reception will improve, but it is hard to watch the TV and stand on one foot very long so maybe you can wire up the dog.

So what is the conclusion here? Which is better for you? As always it comes down to what you can deal with. Maybe our parents were right after all. We watch too much TV, go outside and play. Costs less and is better for us, but since that is not going to happen I think the best option is Satellite Dish. Reasonable cost, good program selection, good incentive offers and can be moved to any location in the world.

About the Author

Jerry Hubbard is an Internet Marketing Consultant and Business owner. Jerry resides just outside of Boulder Colorado at the foot of the Colorado Rockies. He has authored many articles to help and encourage the “Newbie” Internet Marketeer to succeed. He maybe reached at ipower@agoldenbiz.com Yahoo messenger: jhub56 Skype: hubgl59 http://urltrak.com/?531:IPP:

Written By: Jerry Hubbard

Satellite Dish Installed in Apartments, Condos or Townhouses. Living in an apartment, townhouse or Condo without Satellite TV is like going to the Super Bowl Blindfolded!

The BIG game is about to start and there you in your apartment with all your friends starring at your beautiful T V when the picture goes blank. What happened? You hurriedly check all the connections to see if they are tight and functioning. You check the lights to see if the electricity has gone off. Every thing is working fine but still no picture. The game starts in a few minutes, you run to the phone and call the Apartment manager, “My T V just went blank” you scream, ” What’s going on, the game is about to start and I have all my friends here to watch it.” “The cable company has had an accident and the cable has been cut” he answers. “Won’t have it fixed for a few hours” “Maybe you could watch the game with John in #115, he has Satellite Dish.”

Do you know that Apartment, Condo and Townhouse dwellers can install a Satellite Dish to provide all the great advantages of Satellite TV? The FCC says you can in Rule 47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000. Here is what they say:

As directed by Congress in Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission adopted the Over-the-Air Reception Devices (“OTARD”) rule concerning governmental and nongovernmental restrictions on viewers’ ability to receive video programming signals from direct broadcast satellites (“DBS”), broadband radio service providers (formerly multichannel multipoint distribution service or MMDS), and television broadcast stations (“TVBS”).

The rule (47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000) has been in effect since October 1996, and it prohibits restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance or use of antennas used to receive video programming. The rule applies to video antennas including direct-to-home satellite dishes that are less than one meter (39.37″) in diameter (or of any size in Alaska), TV antennas, and wireless cable antennas. The rule prohibits most restrictions that: (1) unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance or use; (2) unreasonably increase the cost of installation, maintenance or use; or (3) preclude reception of an acceptable quality signal.

Effective January 22, 1999, the Commission amended the rule so that it also applies to rental property where the renter has an exclusive use area, such as a balcony or patio.

On October 25, 2000, the Commission further amended the rule so that it applies to customer-end antennas that receive and transmit fixed wireless signals. This amendment became effective on May 25, 2001.

The rule applies to individuals who place antennas that meet size limitations on property that they own or rent and that is within their exclusive use or control, including condominium owners and cooperative owners, and tenants who have an area where they have exclusive use, such as a balcony or patio, in which to install the antenna.

The rule applies to antenna users who live in a multiple dwelling unit building, such as a condominium or apartment building, if the antenna user has an exclusive use area in which to install the antenna. “Exclusive use” means an area of the property that only you, and persons you permit, may enter and use to the exclusion of other residents. For example, your condominium or apartment may include a balcony, terrace, deck or patio that only you can use, and the rule applies to these areas. The rule does not apply to common areas, such as the roof, the hallways, the walkways or the exterior walls of a condominium or apartment building. Restrictions on antennas installed in these common areas are not covered by the Commission’s rule. For example, the rule would not apply to restrictions that prevent drilling through the exterior wall of a condominium or rental unit and thus restrictions may prohibit installation that requires such drilling.

Satellite Dish Reception is without a doubt has become very popular but many people have thought that they could not use it because they live in a Multi Unit facility. However, as long as they confirm to the FCC rule concerning the installation of Satellite Dishes, they too can enjoy the benefits of Satellite TV. I would certainly discuss the issue with the Management of the complex but you certainly have the right to install a Satellite Dish within certain restrictions as per the FCC Rule.

Satellite Dish reception is unbelievable. Talk to the Satellite Dish Supplier for specifics.

About the Author

Jerry Hubbard is an Internet Marketing Consultant and Business owner. Jerry resides just outside of Boulder Colorado at the foot of the Colorado Rockies. He has authored many articles to help and encourage the “Newbie” Internet Marketeer to succeed. He maybe reached at ipower@agoldenbiz.com

Written By: Jerry Hubbard