search4answers
  • Technology
    What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a VoIP Business…
  • Technology
    The Best Money-Saving Travel Apps
  • Technology
    Human Beings Out-Performing Robots On The Assembly Line
search4answers
    • Health
      • Anti Wrinkle Skin Care

        Anti Wrinkle Skin Care

      • The Parental Guide To Eating Disorders

        The Parental Guide To Eating Disorders

      • Abdominal or Spleen Pain? Relieve Your Symptoms Now!

        Abdominal or Spleen Pain? Relieve Your Symptoms Now!

      • Afib Stroke

        Afib Stroke

      • Why Does CML Happen?

        Why Does CML Happen?

      • 5 Natural Blood Sugar Controls

        5 Natural Blood Sugar Controls

    • Finance
      • How To Find The Best Mortgage Loan For You

        How To Find The Best Mortgage Loan For You

      • ETF vs. Mutual Fund

        ETF vs. Mutual Fund

      • What Can You Do if You Can’t Pay Your Taxes?

        What Can You Do if You Can’t Pay Your Taxes?

      • What Types of Installment Loans Are There?

        What Types of Installment Loans Are There?

      • The Top 5 Payroll Software Systems For A Small Business

        The Top 5 Payroll Software Systems For A Small Business

      • 10 Things to Know About Dividend Stock Investing

        10 Things to Know About Dividend Stock Investing

    • Mortgage
      • What Is A Mortgage Rate Lock?

        What Is A Mortgage Rate Lock?

      • What Home Loan Program Options Are Out There?

        What Home Loan Program Options Are Out There?

      • Refinancing your Home with FHA Loans

        Refinancing your Home with FHA Loans

      • How you Can Calculate Mortgage Costs

        How you Can Calculate Mortgage Costs

      • Applying for a HARP Loan

        Applying for a HARP Loan

      • Are Mortgage Calculators Useful when Applying for your Home Loan?

        Are Mortgage Calculators Useful when Applying for your Home Loan?

    • Auto
      • The Secrets To Finding Cheaper Car Insurance

        The Secrets To Finding Cheaper Car Insurance

      • 5 Popular Midsize Cars for College Students

        5 Popular Midsize Cars for College Students

      • How You Can Increase Your Gas Mileage

        How You Can Increase Your Gas Mileage

      • The 10 Least Expensive Cities For Car Insurance

        The 10 Least Expensive Cities For Car Insurance

      • Purchasing Used Trucks Under $25,000

        Purchasing Used Trucks Under $25,000

      • When Should you Change your Car Insurance Policy?

        When Should you Change your Car Insurance Policy?

    • Business
      • How Can You Find The Best Online Accounting System For…

        How Can You Find The Best Online Accounting System For…

      • 5 Things Worth Buying On Cyber Monday Instead of Black…

        5 Things Worth Buying On Cyber Monday Instead of Black…

      • How Cosmetologists and Estheticians Differ

        How Cosmetologists and Estheticians Differ

      • The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Plumber

        The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Plumber

      • How To Speak In Public Like A Pro

        How To Speak In Public Like A Pro

      • When Do You Need an Accident Attorney?

        When Do You Need an Accident Attorney?

    • Medical
      • The Meaning Of Cord Blood And Why It’s Special

        The Meaning Of Cord Blood And Why It’s Special

      • Medical Treatments For MS

        Medical Treatments For MS

      • How To Treat Depression: Advanced Methods

        How To Treat Depression: Advanced Methods

      • Meningitis Vaccine

        Meningitis Vaccine

      • Symptoms, Causes and Treatments of Lung Cancer

        Symptoms, Causes and Treatments of Lung Cancer

      • What is a Pulmonary Embolism?

        What is a Pulmonary Embolism?

    • Tech
      • Factors To Consider When Buying An Electric Wheelchair

        Factors To Consider When Buying An Electric Wheelchair

      • The Top 15 Free Mobile Games 2016

        The Top 15 Free Mobile Games 2016

      • 3 Best Online Storage Services for Photos and Personal Files

        3 Best Online Storage Services for Photos and Personal Files

      • Accounting Software v.s. ERP Software – What Is The Difference ?

        Accounting Software v.s. ERP Software – What Is The Difference ?

      • Cloud ERP accounting software solutions

        Cloud ERP accounting software solutions

      • Dispatch Field Service Ticketing Systems Software

        Dispatch Field Service Ticketing Systems Software

    • Travel
      • Where To Get Cheap Airline Tickets

        Where To Get Cheap Airline Tickets

      • How To Travel With Kids: What To Keep In Mind

        How To Travel With Kids: What To Keep In Mind

      • Jet Lag? Cure It With One Of These 5 Drinks

        Jet Lag? Cure It With One Of These 5 Drinks

      • Things You Need To Know Before You Travel With Other…

        Things You Need To Know Before You Travel With Other…

      • Tips For Flying With A Baby: Don’t Go On Vacation…

        Tips For Flying With A Baby: Don’t Go On Vacation…

      • 5 Best Cities You Can Retire In

        5 Best Cities You Can Retire In

      TV Services: Cable, Satellite, or Fiber Optics?

      by Shannon Sanford

      When it comes to television, there are so many options out there that it can feel nearly impossible to choose the right service provider. You can go with a local cable company, satellite, or even fiber optics. If you aren’t sure what to choose, you first have to decide how you want your television transmitted. The biggest difference between cable, satellite, and fiber optics is the way you receive your transmission. There are plenty of pros and cons to consider for each option.

      The Big Three

      Cable

      When you get cable, cables go into your house from the ground outside. They combine hundreds of analog and digital channels into a single cable that decodes and passes the picture through your television screen.

      Cable doesn’t need much equipment, and most homes are already equipped to receive cable transmissions. It’s also one of the cheapest ways to get TV. However, the price will vary from place to place. The picture and sound for cable are inferior compared to satellite, but a drive toward high-definition (and possibly 4K) has been changing this aspect. Signals may also be less secure depending on where you live and if the cables were properly grounded.

      Satellite

      Satellite is completely different. With this type of service, you receive your TV signals from satellites that orbit the Earth. The satellites stay in the same general position, so you’re able to receive your programming through these transmissions.

      Satellite rates are fixed based on channel packages, but companies charge extra if you want on-demand or premium channels. This fixed price is great because your bill rarely changes from year to year, unlike cable. Satellite, as mentioned, has superior quality and sound compared to cable services, but if there is heavy rain or snow, you can lose your picture easily.

      Fiber Optics

      Fiber optics is a little harder to explain. It works a lot like internet services. When you want to watch a program or channel, a request is sent to a server to display a channel or a program stream. From there, the data is transmitted through the cables and to your TV, allowing you to watch what you want when you want it. It’s almost like an “on-demand” service but in a broader sense.

      Fiber optics is one of the best options, and the price will usually reflect the quality. It depends on where you live, but the price can sometimes be double that of cable services. Fortunately, that price also comes with quite a few benefits. One, fiber optics television is much more reliable and usually higher quality than both satellite and cable due to the higher data transfer speeds. The biggest drawback of fiber optics is that it isn’t available everywhere. Many big cities have fiber optics technology, and the field is expanding, but it has yet to reach most cities around America.

      Considerations

      Location

      Most old buildings have an issue with cable transmissions because the grounding may not be up to par. This problem can cause slow internet speeds and constant interruption of your television picture. Another issue to consider is whether the cables to and from your home were updated recently. If you’re still using old satellite cables, your picture won’t be the best. This dilemma is a simple fix, but it can impact your decision if you have to pay for rewiring.

      As mentioned before, satellite transmissions may be affected during times of heavy snow or rain. If you live in an area notorious for this kind of weather, consider shying away from satellite. If you need more information about satellites, ask neighbors and friends in your area to see if they have satellite. If they do, ask about their signal strength during times of harsh weather.

      If you have your heart set on fiber optic, you first need determine if it’s available in your city. Google, AT&T, and Verizon are some of the biggest names in fiber optic, but these services aren’t everywhere. For example, Google Fiber can only be found in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Kansas City, Nashville, Provo, Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio. That’s it. Sure, there are plans to expand, but how long will it take? Call companies that have invested in fiber optic and learn if it’s available in your area.

      Budget

      The amount of money you want to spend per month will impact what type of service you ultimately choose. If you want to spend as little as possible, you might consider choosing cable. Satellite may be cheap for a few channels, but keep in mind that you’ll also spend quite a bit of money on the equipment needed to receive channels. Investigate each cable, satellite, and fiber optic package to see what channels you receive and the cost per month. Most companies will charge a promotion price for the first year, and then your bill can go up significantly, so be sure to inquire about the cost of your services after promotions end.

      Featured Image Source: DepositPhotos / @firefox

      Posted on May 22, 2023
      Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact