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How
to choose satellite television service?
If
you like a wider variety of content then satellite TV is for you
By Peter Foss
| If
you are sick of your cable company, then you are not
alone. Because of the monopoly that cable companies
have, they are very arrogant and you can sense it when you
call them. Every time I called Comcast they treated me
as if I had no choice so they could do anything they
wanted. At one time, when I called to tell them that
all channel except one were find and if they could come to
check what the problem was (since all other channels were
find except one I calculated that it was not our television
for sure) they even had the nerve to say that if the fault
was with our television they will charge us for the
visit. Talk about customer service! |
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So what does satellite
television offer that cable does not
- First of all, you can basically say
goodbye to your cable company. And since satellite
TV is a much more competitive business (with no
monopolies), you will get better service as the company
will appreciate your business.
- Broader selection of channels. If
you like foreign language channels or even English
language channels from foreign countries, you need
satellite television.
Are there any disadvantages of having
satellite television as advertised by cable companies?
- The picture is not bad and does not
disappear during snowstorm or bad weather (unless it is
one of those things that your house starts to fall apart
as well). If you correctly set up your antenna using
simple tools or hire a professional to do it you might as
well forget that you even have an antenna.
- Some satellite television packages do not
always include access to local channels but I don't know
of many people who watch local channels. If you are
in love with your local channels you can always get the
right package. If not, you can always get local
news, weather, and traffic reports from the Internet at no
charge and they are more up-to-date than the television.
- You may not be able to get satellite
television if you live in an area where you do not have
access to open space (sometimes even a balcony of a window
is sufficient) that allows you to position the antenna at
the correct angle. In some buildings, you are not
allowed to install antennas for aesthetic reasons (though
I think it is because some building owners provide cable
TV also).
How to pick the right package?
- There are a few satellite television
companies: Voom, Dish Network Systems, DIRECTV, and
Pegasus. You must research all four and then compare
and contrast them based on what channels you like to watch
and how much you will end up paying to each of the
companies.
- While almost all companies will have some
kind of promotion going on (free installation, free
equipment, etc.) but you can always ask for more.
Try to negotiate and threaten to call their competitor
. Once you have the best offer in hand, go back to
one or two and see if they can give you more.
Recommended: How
to pick a satellite radio service?
Outdoor television |
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