Stealing A Line: How To Get Satellite TV For Free

Who wouldn't be interested in an opportunity to get satellite TV for free? Those digital quality channels, that CD quality sound, and the immense variety certainly tempts many a person. There are many detractors and doubters on the prospect, but still others swear by the ability to get satellite TV for free. Personally, I am a sceptic and so I shall take that outlook to task.

Too good to be true?

Generally, the offer of free satellite TV is found on the internet or from various people that claim to have pirated satellite signals or have found different ways to come into possession of illegal cable. There is a certain stigma to the notion of getting something for free and many people find these types of offers to be too good to be true. Traditionally, I am one of those people so the idea that I could get satellite TV for free sounds a little funny to me. Still, an investigation was warranted.

I checked a few websites and found the sceptics first. Many were discussing the notion that the satellite signal was not free at all, but often creative marketing was used to hook the consumer with the promise of free satellite setup or installation. The rest would, naturally, be still paid for. It was simply an incentive.

Others experienced this supposed free service in other ways. A common deception employed was the usage of various "cards" that would apparently assist the consumer in virtually "latching on to" existing signals and sharing in the cable satellite network. There is always a fee to these cards, as well, as they must be "charged up" like a battery. Many people report "charging" their cards several times weekly.

Other ways to get it for "free"

Often times, the notion of something for free include a one-time fee and then the remainder of the service or product is administered for free. I have found several supposed "deals" that offer a one-time payment and then offer the remainder of several channels for no further fees.

This system again normally utilizes a viewing card, which again by all popular accounts is something that requires "charging". Other companies use creative wording to convince the consumer they are receiving something for "free", such as monthly rates on the maintenance and the utilization of the ever-popular "hidden fees" to cover the cost of the satellite television which is, apparently, still free of charge.

From my knowledge and research, there isn't really a way to get satellite TV for free by any easy measure. As with most things in life, "free" is often too good to be true.

Christopher Buckley is owner of one of the internet's largest Satellite TV resources. To get satellite TV for free, visit Satellite TV Blog

Cheap Satellite TV

Satellite TV used to be considered a luxury just a few years ago. Cheap satellite TV was just a fantasy. The prices of a system with a satellite TV dish and electronic boxes ranged from $2,000 to $10,000. The installation cost was another few hundreds dollars.

With so many TV satellite companies competing for getting more customers, cheap satellite TV has become a reality, and guess what, the installation is generally free.

Satellite TV Systems

Here are the things you can usually get from a satellite TV company:

- A free satellite TV dish, as well as mounting stand - Several free receivers and universal remote controls - Free installation in several rooms - Free digital video recording receivers to record your favorite shows - Optional HDTV receivers for high definition reception. In addition, some cheap satellite TV providers also offer a bonus gift, such as a DVD player and home theater system when you subscribe.

Cheap Satellite TV

In the United States and Canada, you usually pay from $32 a month for 60 programming channels and from $94 a month for 215 programming channels. Both DISH and DirecTV include the following features:

- Over 255 programming channels with digital picture and sound - Digital video recording that allows you to skip commercials and record your favorite shows - Up to 500 movies with no commercials each month - High definition programming - Up to 60 pay-per-view programs a day - Local channels with digital-quality picture and sound - Music channels with no commercials with digital sound - Online and toll-free 24/7 customer service

Moreover, satellite companies also often offer some introductory programming packages at lower prices for new customers.

The Bottom Line

Cheap satellite TV services are available for everyone. The question is whether you want the cheapest package or the cheapest price per channel.

In the United States, DISH Network provides the cheapest satellite TV package. Their low-end package - America's Top Sixty - includes 60 programming channels (local channels as well) and costs $31.99 a month.

On the other hand, with Total Choice programming package at $41.99 from DirecTV you get the lowest price per channel, which is $0.31 a month. This package includes 135 programming channels, as well as 31 music channels.

If television is an important form of entertainment for you and you want high-quality and a wide range of movies, sports and shows to choose from, you might consider subscribing to a satellite service. You will sure find a cheap satellite TV service that can provide you with what you want.

Christopher Buckley is owner of one of the internet's largest Satellite TV resources. To find out more about cheap satellite TV, visit Satellite TV Blog

Now I Know Why Dish Network Satellite TV is a Better Buy than Cable

In compiling the Dish-Network-Directory, my main aim was to gather all the latest and up-to-date Dish Network Satellite TV information in one place. But I also found that I was able to find some interesting comparisons between Dish Network and Cable TV. Sometimes when making a comparison it's easy to come up with either technical reasons or financial reasons why one thing might be better than another, but in this case I found that Dish Network came out on top on both fronts.

It takes a long to time to research a market, particularly when there are many competing offers, but comparing Dish Network and Cable can be made easier by looking at long-term trends. These show firstly that Dish Network take-up is growing in terms of market share, whilst cable is falling. Secondly that the cost of cable is increasing whilst Dish Network prices are stable. I say stable, but in real terms they are falling because of the additional equipment you can get for the same cost. And it's not as if you have to buy the equipment either, you get the complete basic setup for free and additional features or duplicate equipment can be obtained at a nominal one-off fee.

So let's look at equipment first. The Dish Network equipment portfolio is increasing all the time. This is because of the proliferation of HD (High Definition) TV and the equipment to record it - HD DVR. This brings about our next comparison point; Dish Network provides a 100% digital service plus the availability of HDTV. Cable on the other hand provides only a percentage of digital services with more limited HDTV. This is an important difference since digital channels are what you need for quality reception, with the ability of the digital service to remove interference or bad quality before you see it on the screen. HDTV then goes one step further by giving the best possible picture quality - essential if you want to view on a large TV. Cable is three or four times more susceptible to breaks in transmission, an important factor that is often overlooked.

Now to look at programming, it doesn't take you long to notice that Dish Network Satellite TV provides more channels than cable, and the availability of channels is increasing all the time. The best deals from retailers usually include rebates on programming as well as some months of free movie reception- at least this means you can try before you buy.

Just as important as quality and variety of course is the cost. Well this is where Dish Network Satellite TV wins hands down. Dish Network channel packages are significantly cheaper - even before you factor in the initial rebates you get with most deals. When you buy Dish Network, you know that you are buying something that is forward-looking in regard to the HD channel availability and equipment. Basic Dish Network programming packages now come in at $19.99 per month against $50-plus for cable.

In summary then, cable can't compare with Dish Network, either in terms of cost or the quality and variety of equipment on offer.

James Taylor provides information on equipment and best deals to the Dish Network Directory. Dish-Network-Directory

Satellite TV Set Up Fun

Satellite TV was the rainbow after the storm in my life. I had just left my drudge of a job, as an overworked sales clerk. I was bored at home, feeling really low. I did a lot of looking around in stores and window shopping just to get out of the house. I saw a promotion in the window of one of the video stores in town. It was for a satellite TV system on sale. Since I didn't have cable TV At the time, this ad really attracted me.

I went in and had a look at the quality and content of the satellite programming being shown on one of the TV sets showing it. The picture was so impressive. The picture quality was so crystal clear, and sharp. The brochure the clerk provided me indicated that there were over 50 channels to watch. Of course I jumped at the chance to brighten up my life.

That evening the store owner installed the dish. He laid the cable and hooked everything up. The system was turned on and then nothing. The receiver had to wait to be activated. This took over 24 hours to occur. When it started working it was terrific. It featured all the movie channels one could wish for. HBO, Cinemax, the Movie Channel, the independent Film Channel, and more. There were more sports channels than one could watch. MTV quickly became one of my favourites. Shows like Road Rules, and The Real World, made my day. It was like being in touch with a world I had never known.

Satellite TV signal reception has vulnerabilities. During heavy rain or snow storms, the amount of data carried in the signal is reduced, sometimes so much so that the computer which constructs the picture on the screen, can't do its job. When this happens little blocks pop up on the screen. This is called picture break up. If the rain or snow storm becomes more heavy, the data will became so reduced that the video freezes its movement. The computer crashes. Unplugging the receiver, removing and reinserting the smart card usually fixes the computer crash. When the storm has passed and the dish can receive, the satellite TV data at a normal signal strength, everything will work, normally once the receiver is plugged in and turned on.

When I moved residences, I had to reinstall the Satellite TV dish. This involves attaching a mast to the wall of your house, with a clear view of the southern sky. That means no trees, houses, or anything, in the way of the line of sight the dish has to the satellite location in the sky. The mast must be levelled vertically. The satellite dish is placed on the mast and set to the approximately height and direction of the satellite location in the sky. The receiver is then connected to the wire lead from the dish, and the TV. When the receiver is turned on and put in tuning mode, a graph will display the satellite signal strength. The satellite dish is moved ever so gently by a hairs width, up and down, side to side, until you reach the highest satellite signal strength. This gives you the best chance of viewing longer during a rain or snow storm.

On the whole satellite TV is the best TV viewing you can experience. You usually get more for your dollar, and it's worth every penny spent.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Satellite TV

The Future Of Dish Network And Satellite TV

If you have Dish Network or thinking about getting it or another satellite TV service, it?s good to know what the future holds for satellite TV. So, here?s a glimpse into the future.

This article may be considered science fiction, just like Arthur C. Clark once had a scientific vision about 3 satellites orbiting the earth in geostationary orbits to make global communications possible. Everything in this article is merely a scientific vision and an extrapolation of current technologies into the future.

What would be the future of Satellite TV? That may seem to be a difficult question, but extrapolating what we know about the past into the future and some educated guesses, we may very well end up with a reasonable picture of what the future of satellite TV looks like. The future of satellite TV will be guided by these properties:

1. Receive and Transmit
2. Equipment Size and Costs
3. Satellite Capacity and Coverage
4. Antenna Size
5. New Technologies

1 Receive and Transmit

What would be possible if you could not only receive, but also transmit? And in the same bandwidth as you receive? That would change the whole world. It is possible now to use the satellite for Internet purposes, but in a very simple and inefficient way. You receive via satellite, but transmit via phone. Upload capacity is completely limited by the dial up connection.

The idea of being able to transmit to a satellite from your home is new and will probably one day be reality. At the moment companies can use satellites to connect offices all over the country via satellite. Bandwidth is limited, or very expensive. Another problem for home use is the size of the satellite dish. At least 4 foot for small bandwidth and up to 10 feet or even more for higher bandwidths. In point 3 this bandwidth issue is explained in more detail.

2 Equipment Size and Costs

Your Dish Network or Satellite TV equipment at home may seem small, but it is small because all it has to do is receive. Transmitting requires different equipment. Not so much in the house, but on the roof at the antenna there is need for a relative big transmitter. Also these are still pretty expensive and for domestic use just not affordable.

In the future this will change. Equipment will get smaller, and cheaper. Eventually when satellites are able to relay much more data than now (see point 3), having 10.000.000 transmitters on the ground won't be a problem.

3 Satellite Capacity and Coverage

This will always be the bottle neck of satellites; how much data can they relay and how small an area can they cover. A satellite has multiple dishes and each dish can cover a part of the earth; small parts like just one state or big parts like the whole continental United States.

In the future satellites will be able to relay much more data, and cover much smaller areas. Especially the smaller coverage areas will be important. Having full capacity available for just a small area means higher bandwidth available for a small amount of people. Especially in urban areas it will be great to have a satellite cover just one neighborhood.

4 Antenna Size

This is a very important issue. Small antennas of 18 inches already exist and are used by satellite TV providers such as Dish Network, but these can receive only. The opening angle of an antenna like this is too big to get enough signal power to reach the satellite. In the future however, antennas will get better and eventually small antennas can be used to transmit to the satellite.

5 New Technologies

This will be the really interesting part. New technologies may open up possibilities that are never heard of before.

Imagine watching a movie in 3D, you sitting on your couch but watching a show as if you are in the audience when the TV show was recorded. You're not really having a TV at home anymore, but a 3D entertainment room. (for those of you who like StarTrek, a not so strange idea). Normal Satellite TV will still be available of course.

In the future Satellite TV will open up so many possibilities that it is hard to imagine what our lives will be like in 30, or even just 20 years from now. To give an idea of how fast things are going. 50 years ago, there was nothing in space that was made by humans. Now there are even satellite graveyards (specific orbits where obsolete satellites are "parked"). The possibilities of satellite TV technology are growing faster every year. What took 10 years to develop 30 years ago is now done in 2 years.

Dish Network and Satellite TV is one of the driving forces for satellite technologies because the need to please million of subscribers is much stronger than the need to please the relative limited needs of communications for commercial purposes. The future of satellite TV is so bright, that a supernova would pale in comparison!

I am first and foremost an observer of life. I enjoy analyzing and exploring all aspects of life on planet Earth, and expressing my personal perspective on the nitty gritty of it all. As a result of my observations, I have become a freelance writer. http://www.dish-network-satellite-tv.ws/

Satellite TV ? Real Entertainment Opportunities

Satellite TV has gained in popularity over the last few years for good reasons. Many people live too far out of town to get cable, so for years they were stuck with antennas for their source of television signals. This meant that they got only a few channels, and quite often had to send someone outside to turn the antenna to hope for a better signal. But now satellite TV has given people in rural areas real entertainment again.

Besides the access for people outside of town, satellite tv offers a good alternative for renting movies all the time. If you are a real movie lover, you might think about getting an upgraded package to include movie channels in your menu. This way, you get to see all the new releases and more. And you never have to leave the house to rent, or worry about late fees. You simply pay your monthly bill and leave the rest to your provider.

Of course, with satellite TV, you do have to have a receiver. Sometimes companies will offer promotional opportunities for you to get your equipment free or cheap when you give them your business. Other times, you may have the option of buying, or renting the equipment. Even though it may seem like a lot of money at the time, these receivers will last you a long time if you treat them right.

Satellite TV can also be a good educational resource if you have anyone in the household still in school. The history channel, discovery channel, and all sorts of news channels are often provided in basic packages. This way, you can have the information with just a click of the remote.

Another reason that parents like satellite TV is the control locks. If there are certain channels that you don?t want your children watching, you simply set those channels as locked. When someone tries to view one of those channels, it will then ask for a parental code. If the user doesn?t know the code, he won?t be able to view it. Just make sure that the code is something that you can easily remember, but that would be hard for anyone else to guess. This way, it is accessible to you, and only those you share the code with.

Satellite TV has many advantages as your home entertainment system. Whether you love movies, game shows, old shows, or sports, satellite TV has a package for you and much more.For more information about Satellite dish visit http://www.satelitedish.info to get your movie rental questions answered.