Cable Vs Dish

The boom in television entertainment has gripped the world. Where there were only three or four channels once, there are now thousands! You could gain access to these entertainment channels in more than one way today. Gone are the days of the Yagi antenna that adorned the roofs of many. It is being fast replaced with the dish antenna or the cable network. I have a cable connection for my television since ages. While I was mulling over switching to a dish network, I researched a lot regarding both these options. I present what I found, in the form of a cable vs dish comparison in the rest of the article.

Cable Vs Dish Comparison

There are many aspects to consider when you make a dish vs cable connection comparison. There are many companies offering dish connections (Direct broadcast satellite services) in USA. Some of the prime Dish satellite connection providers are Direct TV and Dish Network Satellite TV. This comparison is mainly between Direct TV and Dish Network which offer satellite TV service and distributors of cable television like Comcast that also provide broadband Internet access. Let us explore each one of the features that need to be considered to help make you a choice between the two.

Cable Vs Dish: Difference In Technology
Let us make a basic technology comparison. Cable vs Dish TV services are vastly different in the way they broadcast the television channel signal to your home television. Let us first consider how satellite TV works. The channel signals that you receive on your television, via a set top box provided with satellite TC, starts its journey from a remote uplink station from where channel content is modulated and broadcasted to an orbiting geo-stationary satellite. The communication satellite receives the signal and broadcasts it down to Earth on a different downlink frequency. The satellite dish installed on your television receives the signal and amplifies it to the desired signal strength. This signal is then received by the set top box which demodulates it and displays channels on your television. These digital signals provide high quality picture compared to the cable networks as the signal uses a high frequency for transmission and faces very less interference from source to destination. However, the service may be affected by disruption caused by rain and thunderstorms.

On the other hand, cable television services are terrestrial based. The signal is received by the cable television provider's main station and from there the channel signals are broadcasted in radio frequency through coaxial or fiber optic cables. The quality of picture provided by cable services is decent; though not as high quality as dish services, because of interference that enters via transmission cables. Still, cable services have an advantage of not being much affected by acute changes in weather as the signal is transmitted via cable.

Cable Vs Dish: Installation & Services
The installation of dish based satellite TV services involves a set up of the satellite dish and set top box. This makes it easy to install in almost any place in the country. On the other hand, local cable distributors must set up cables from broadcast centers to homes for providing service. This makes it difficult to provide cable service in remote places. It also increases the cost of installation. Cable television service providers offer a range of services including Internet TV and net telephony. The range of TV channels offered by cable services is lesser than the range offered by satellite TV. Continuing with this satellite TV vs. cable TV comparison, let us discuss differences in cost.

Cable Vs Dish: Cost
Dish antenna based satellite television services are cheaper compared to conventional cable TV subscriptions. While cable television providers provide many more services compared to satellite TV, it is a fact that the cost of their setup is more, which means that their subscription cost is more. While a satellite television connection will cost you around $20, a cable television subscription will cost around $35 to $40. Also check out the dish vs Comcast comparison.

Hope this cable vs dish comparison helps you in making an informed choice between the two options. There are pros and cons of opting for both. I would personally opt for a dish or satellite television connection, because of the better overall picture quality and price of packages offered. Choose which ever is the most convenient and cost effective option for you.

How to Watch Cable TV on Computer

Lets get some information about how to watch Cable TV on computer which have become an integral part of each and every household in the United States. With a personal or desktop computer by your side, you get access to numerous sources of entertainment right from music to games. The already lengthy list of activities that you can do on your computer has just lengthened with the inclusion of facility to watch Cable TV on it. Yes, you heard me right! Now you get to watch Cable TV on computer, and enjoy all your favorite TV shows which you were not able to see for some or the other reason. Before we move on and see how to watch Cable TV on PC, let's have a look at what you require for it.

What do You Require to Watch Cable TV on Computer?

In order to get Cable TV on your computer, you will require a TV tuner card or software, an updated computer and high speed Internet access. The computer has to meet the minimum requirements stipulated by the product manufacturer, or else the tuner card or software might not work properly on it. Even though you can watch Cable TV on your PC using DSL connection, the slow speed that this connection has to offer may result in interruption of services time and again. On the other hand, using broadband Internet will ensure that you get uninterrupted services. and thus enhance your Cable TV experience.

How to Watch Cable TV on Computer?

Basically, there are two methods by which you can watch Cable TV on your desktop or laptop. In the first method, you can use simple hardware to gain access to the Cable services, and in the second you need to download certain software for the same. While the term 'hardware' here refers to the TV tuner cards, the term 'software' refers to a program which facilitates the use of computer to watch cable TV in real time. Both the processes are very easy, and you can execute them by following some simple guidelines given in the user manual. Given below are the details of each of these processes.

Watch Cable TV on Computer Using TV Tuner Card
You can buy a TV tuner card from the electronics store in your neighborhood. There are two types of TV tuner cards for PC - internal cards and external cards. The internal TV tuner card comes in form of a PCI card, which can be directly plugged onto the motherboard of the computer. The external TV tuner card, on the other hand, comes in form of a USB device. Both of these types have their own pros and cons. Even though an internal card is relatively inexpensive, you may have a hard time installing it on the motherboard. The external card has to be simply plugged into the USB slot, but you may have to give it a second thought owing to its price. Some of the best USB TV tuner cards receive feed from Cable service provider through the broadband network without any disturbance.

Watch Cable TV on Computer by Downloading Software
You can also resort to a wide range of software applications which facilitate live streaming of Cable TV channels on the computer. This method will also require a high-speed broadband connection as slow speeds will affect the picture quality to a significant extent, and hamper your Cable TV experience. The entire process of downloading this software takes less than half an hour, and on completion of this process you get access to thousands of TV channels on your computer or laptop. The main advantage of resorting to this method is that it saves you the trouble of going through the technicalities of the hardware.

That covered all the information that you needed to know about how to watch cable TV on computer. In some cases, you may also need to consult your service provider to find out if there is any subscription system for this method or whether you require some software program for it. You might have to spend anywhere between $50-$100 on the entire process. Once you have installed the TV tuner card or downloaded the required software, you can just sit back and watch your favorite show with no disturbance whatsoever.

How to Watch Cable TV on PC

Cable TV service providers enable access to hundreds of popular and request channels, instantly. There is doubt about the reception quality and flexibility of their schedules. However, keeping unique home décor in mind and the need to do away with an additional screen, you can easily consider the Cable TV-on-PC option. Instead of missing out on your favorite TV programs while working, you could tweak the technology to watch Cable on the desk top. This choice enables you to switch and watch TV in between the work from home schedule and access hundreds of channels, anytime, on your own private screen.

The set up to install Cable TV on your PC is straightforward and simple. The process does not involve hardware installation and with a little planning and careful consideration of the guidelines provided, your are ready to go! Download the software, run the installation file and feast your eyes. Once the process is over, you can settle down to watching satellite TV on the computer monitor, at a click on the mouse. You don't really need any technical assistance. The software for Cable TV installation is easily accessible and most service providers are more than willing to help. In the absence of installation fees, the process becomes real value for money. No more shifting from the work-at-home-job niche or missing out on your favorite movie TV channels during lunch time at work! The freedom to do away with certain commercials, adware and spyware gives you a chance to choose what you want to see. The Cable TV updates are also available at no additional charge. The software can be preset for favorites too. All you need is a desk top computer, Cable TV connectivity and the right guidelines. A broadband connection ensures smooth, quality transmission of feeds. Watching TV on the PC is very popular. It is important to remember the quality of the reception largely depends on the speed of internet connection and the configuration of the computer.

• Keep your remote control and owner's manual close at hand.
• Organize access to a coaxial cable to hook onto the cable outlet.
• Set the Cable TV to recognize desired antenna signals.
• Check and choose the cable and antenna options correctly.
• Identify the 'cable' setting and execute the operation at least twice to ensure the storage memory. Proper selection is essential.
• The final step involves scanning and storing channels according to the desired lineup.

Setting the Cable TV options on your PC allows you to carry your programs and movies along even when you travel within the vicinity mapped by the service provider. The do-it-yourself installation guide is easily accessible online. Most Cable TV service providers too facilitate the service instantly, in the presence of a technician. There are many ways in which you could optimize the usage of your personal computer and this kind of connectivity is just one of them. The reception and sound quality will naturally be as good as that of your PC. Access and connectivity are instant, the moment the right commands are provided to the infrastructure. Cable TV-to-PC connectivity is easy. It helps to conduct a little research and prepare a checklist of equipment and the steps. It is also very important to know your gadgetry. Nothing like knowing the PC inside out; its features, adaptability to intended future enhancement and compatibility with the desired connection to the cable.