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