Satellite TV - My Search For Reality In TV Revealed Television's Future, Now

Recently, during an emergency replace-ectomy of a dying Zenith behemoth, I realized I was in deep trouble. Never mind DVD. Who knew of progressive scan and digital convergence? Aspect ratios and digital comb filters - anti-glare coatings and so many lines of resolution? I knew of the TV satellite dish, but...

...satellite TV and all the new technology is light years away from the TV I was beamed up on.

I never dreamed of TV becoming amazing again. I was the guy with 12 o?clock blinking-green on his VCR. Yes, VCR. Getting the hang of today?s TV was not a piece of cake for me.

I can remember Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show gyrating inside a black & white-glass-globe-picture-tube about as small as the window on a front-load washer.

And the glow of that box-at-the-end-of-a-wire getting me excited.

I watched plenty alright! And I can?t remember ever complaining about having to get off the couch to change the channel? or adjust the antenna.

Wagon Train, then Star Trek on a 19 inch ?color television set? became good as it got.

I lost sight of television?s high technology after that I suppose. Yes, I saw TVs getting bigger and I got hip to cable and the remote control, but distracted by intelligent life forms and a gazillion other things, today?s satellite TV and a whole new world almost passed me by.

It wasn?t until my first trek to a home-electronics super-store to replace that dinosaur 25inch Zenith color-console in a polished-wood-cabinet that matched our living-room furniture long ago that I realized - I wasn?t in Kansas anymore. I was lost.

Lost in a new-world-unknown.

A world of satellite TV on flat-screens, square and wide. A world where thin plasma televisions hung on walls and flat-panel LCD TVs framed in silver sat upon slender, tilting pedestals.

I saw TVs that connect to your computer and one giant-screen, rear-projector that eats digital camera memory sticks to show your photos of grandma on vacation ? in larger than life and surround!

TVs are still getting bigger alright. But now they're amazing again and I?m excited. And with that ?excitement and amazement? comes downright confusion. How do they do that? And what of ?all that? is right for me?

So began my personal quest for reality in TV.

I like the idea of a TV satellite dish on my roof, but it?s a new-tech jungle out there my friend. Prepare if you too are from Kansas.

I?ll help you get a clue about what's beyond the cornfield before you go out to buy ?what could become? the most incredible entertainment experience you and your living room - or Elvis, could ever dream-up. And for a lot less than you probably think - I learned some tricks.

Keep your eye on the Planet. I?ll fill you in on why I can?t leave home anymore. Hint: My final destination of wide screen TV, hi-def receiver, TV satellite dish and provider of satellite TV.

Danny Planet is author of Danny?s Planet, "the hippest free zine out there", hundreds of articles, radio spots, web pages and celebrity ghost scrawling. Visit him at Satellite TV, Dish Satellite TV or Free Satellite TV Get your seat on Danny?s Planet Ark.

Satellite TV: How Does This Actually Work?

Satellite TV is TV delivered by way of orbiting communications satellites located 37,000 km above the earth's surface. To start a Satellite TV we have to locate a transmitting antenna at an uplink facility. Uplink satellite dishes go towards the satellite on which its signals are transmitted to & are very large in diameter, say about 9-12 meters or 30-40 feet. This large diameter gives a perfect positioning & a clear signal reception at the satellite. The satellite signals are retransmitted to Earth through transponders with a different frequency.

Satellite TV is much similar to the broadcast TV. Satellite TV is a wireless system for delivering television programming directly to a viewer's house. But in broadcast TV the major problem is of range because due to Earth's curved surface the signal line of site is broken many times. The other problem which broadcast TV gives is that there is much interruption in signal or the picture is distorted in the viewing area. Satellite TV solves all these problems of the range, broadcast signals, etc.

As due to Earth's surface the problem comes in signal but as satellites are high in the sky, the coverage scope for the customers is much more. They transmit & receive radio signals through satellite dishes which are a sort of specialized antennas.

The first Satellite TV was relayed from Europe to the Telstar Satellite over North America in 1962.Canada's Anik I, launched in 1973, was the first domestic North American Satellite to carry television. When Satellite TV was launched in the market, home dishes converted a lot of space in yards. Everyone was dying hard to have their own dish. Satellite TV has gifted today's generation with thousands of entertainment channels. They cannot imagine the tedious stage of people before the launching of Satellite TV.

Satellite TV is not only popular in America but it is equally popular in other civilized countries around the world. It is not only a channel but is actually huge information resource which is a source of entertainment as well as an important source of education.

Satellite TV is the best source we can rely on for entertainment. It gives us variety of channels some filled with comedy, laughter and drama, some of sports which take up each and every type of port, some on cartoons, some on news taking in view the news of both, national as well as international news and moreover the most awaited movie channels. Even for children it is not only that they give cartoon films but they also give channels of general knowledge and educative information like Discovery Science, National Geography, etc. Satellite TV gives us a gala gift of music channels where we can listen to all types of favorites. Recent independent searches carried out came of a conclusion that Satellite TV is a far more better option than Cable TV because it is better to install a necessary equipment without paying rental for it rather than pay rental for Cable TV, which too is very expensive& see disturbed transmission &that too limited.

There are 3 choices of Satellite TV available in America: DirectTV, Dish Network & Voom. To buy Satellite TV equipment, you have a number of retailers offering you various types of schemes also. To make comparisons among all the retailers just be online & nave all sorts of information in front of you. There is tremendous competition in retailers as the graph of popularity of Satellite TV is increasing day by day. Thus you can enjoy a selective choice of package according to the need of your family.

James Croydon, Satellite Installation Engineer and Dish Network Offer advisor - focusing on DirecTV HD and DirecTV HD

Dish Network: The Satellite TV Leader

The fastest-growing satellite TV service provider in the country, Dish Network has quickly become the leader in the industry. With more than 12 million customers, it offers the widest range of digital satellite programming at the most affordable price.

Dish Network delivers more than 250 channels, including 100 local networks, 30 sizzling sports channels, and 110 of the best foreign language channels. Special packages are available for fans of Pay Per View, movies or music programming. Family packages are also available, providing great entertainment for parents and kids, including the Hallmark Channel and the Lifetime network. And with Dish Network's parental control locking system, it's easy for parents to monitor what their children watch.

Dish Network is pioneering high definition TV, offering up to 1700 hours of the best high definition shows available. Viewers can get high definition movies, sports - even weather. Recent additions to the high definition menu include 10 VOOM networks. Dish Network is also the leader in Interactive TV (ITV), with 25 innovative channels, all virtual and enhanced. Interactive TV is like nothing you've ever seen before: you can bet on sporting events, shop or play games, all in the comfort of your own home with Dish Network and ITV. Sirius satellite radio is also available to subscribers. Sirius brings you CD-quality music, 24-hours a day, commercial free. With great talk show options, a wide variety of music styles, and celebrity Deejays like Lance Armstrong, Sirius is the best in radio.

If customer service and technical support are important to you, look no further than Dish Network. They know questions arise all too frequently in the world of satellite television, and they're ready with help and answers, 24 hours a day. In fact, customer service is so important to Dish Network that the company has been repeatedly recognized for the quality of care they give to subscribers. For the past five years, the American Customer Satisfaction Index, beating out other cable and satellite TV providers, including DirecTV, has ranked them number one in customer service. J.D. Power and Associates has also consistently ranked them at number one for customer satisfaction.

Great deals for first-time subscribers to Dish Network are taking place right now. This is an ideal time for cable subscribers to make the switch to satellite television. Be sure and take advantage of online promotions - they're more affordable than other deals because they're cheaper to market. DishPronto is the leading Dish Network dealer online. They have great promotions for first-time subscribers, with free digital video recorders (DVRs), free high definition (HD) receivers, and free installation of free equipment - up to four rooms - included in the package. Many online offers are for a limited time only, so click here to find out more.

John Richardson is a popular reviewer of consumer electronics and has served as a product development consultant for several consumer electronics manufacturers including Dish Network. For more information on satellite TV, HDTV, and Dish Network DVR< receivers, visit his website: http://www.bigmouthtv.com

Free Satellite TV

Free Satellite TV

Legality aside, any kind of Free Satellite TV offered by a business is looking for a profit. However, stealing channels is an unintelligent activity at the very least. Free Satellite TV is a bonus for paying the monthly service fees for at least one year. So how free is Free Satellite TV? If you sign up and pay a monthly service, the company is more than willing to offer a free installation, free DVR, free HDTV, free equipment and free channels.

What is Free Satellite TV? Not all Free Satellite TV is the same. Different companies offer different policies. Generally speaking, more and more techniques are used to get people to sign up for a satellite TV service. Free Satellite TV is one of these things that people seem to think means getting a box from a company for free and then manipulating it into an all channel free service. Which is not only unwise, it's unnecessary. Free Satellite TV means getting free equipment, free installation, free to air channels and paying monthly service, just like everyone else. You can choose to pay for more channels other than the basic service, but that is your choice, and you pay only for what you are interested in. Channels you don't want, you don't get.

Free Satellite TV Equipment and Installation

Free Satellite TV equipment and installation usually include a DVR, HDTV and a technician going to your house with all the equipment and doing the setup for free. The DVR is a Digital Video Recorder, a box that records video feed from your Free Satellite TV to a digital storage space. Just like a hard drive on the computer, the DVR works as a virtual memory of video, related to the older analog VCR of the 80's and 90's. The HDTV is a High Definition Television unit that amplifies a video feed in such a way that the images, sounds and feelings coming from the TV are a far bolder experience. With HDTV the quality of a pin dropping from across the globe is as if from close up and in surround sound.

Free Satellite TV Channels When we think about Free Satellite TV we also seem to think about channels. Free Satellite TV channels are those that are free to air channels from all over the globe. Public broadcasting in any country is free of charge with Free Satellite TV and when you add the number of public broadcasting stations up in the diverse developing English speaking countries around the world, that comes to a whole lot of educational programming for one monthly signature in a basic package. And if you are thinking about the family, there is no better set of family channels than the Free Satellite TV channels.

Free Satellite TV is about paying a monthly service and the bonuses that come with a basic monthly package. Free Satellite TV comes with free installation, free equipment, free channels that include radio, public and educational programs from all over the world. So how free is Free Satellite TV?

"Unless you want more than a basic package, it will cost a monthly signature to your local Dish Network for a minimum of one year to get Free Satellite TV."

About the Author: Gary Davis is owner of http://www.dtv-satellite.com an authorized DIRECTV retailer, has over five years experience in the Satellite TV business and has written numerous articles on the subject.

Gary Davis is owner of http://www.dtv-satellite.com an authorized DIRECTV retailer, has over five years experience in the Satellite TV business and has written numerous articles on the subject

Satellite TV - The First Fifty Years

Dish Network, and other satellite TV providers didn't just appear over night. The development of satellite television took years and its origins can be traced back to the 1950s and the space race.

The original concept of satellite television is often attributed to writer Arthur C. Clarke, who was the first to suggest a worldwide satellite communications system. Funding for satellite technology in the U.S. began in the 1950s, amidst the space race, and the Russian launching of the satellite Sputnik in 1957.

The first communication satellite was developed by a group of businesses and government entities in 1963. Syncom II orbited at 22,300 miles over the Atlantic; the first satellite communication was on July 26, 1963, between a U.S. Navy ship in Lagos, Nigeria and the U.S. Army naval station in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Overloaded land based distribution methods had the telephone companies utilizing satellite communication way before the television industry even came into the picture. In fact, it was not until 1978 that satellite communication was officially used by the television industry.

In 1975, RWT's co-founder and BBC transmitter engineer Stephen Birkill built an experimental system for receiving Satellite Instructional Television Experiment TV (SITE) transmissions, beamed to Indian villages, from a NASA geostationary satellite.

Birkill extended his system, receiving TV pictures from Intelsat, Raduga, Molniya and others. In 1978, Birkill met up with Bob Cooper, a cable TV technical journalist and amateur radio enthusiast in the U.S., who invited him to a cable TV operators' conference and trade show, the CCOS-78. It was there that Birkill met with other satellite TV enthusiasts, who were interested, and ready to help develop, Birkill's experiments.

Interest in Television Receive Only (TVRO) satellite technology burst forward. The American TVRO boom caught the attention of premium cable programmers, who began to realize the potential of satellite TV. Back in the mid-1970s, TV reception was the under the control of international operators, Intelsat and Intersputnik.

On March 1, 1978, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) introduced Public Television Satellite Service. Satellite communication technology caught on, and was used as a distribution method with the broadcasters from 1978 through 1984, with early signals broadcast from HBO, TBS, and CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network, later The Family Channel). TVRO system prices dropped, and the trade organization, Society for Private Commercial Earth Stations (SPACE), and the first dealerships were established.

Broadcasters realized that everyone had the potential to receive satellite signals for free, and they were not happy. But the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was governed by its open skies' policy, believing that users had as much right to receive satellite signals as broadcasters had the right to transmit them.

In 1980, the FCC established the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), a new service that consisted of a broadcast satellite in geostationary orbit, facilities for transmitting signals to the satellite, and the equipment needed for people to access the signals. In turn, broadcasters developed methods of scrambling their signals, forcing consumers to purchase a decoder, or a direct to home (DTH) satellite receiver, from a satellite program provider.

From 1981 to 1985, the big dish satellite market soared. Rural areas gained the capacity to receive television programming that was not capable of being received by standard methods.

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association of America (SBCA) was founded in 1986 as a merger between SPACE and the Direct Broadcast Satellite Association. But by this point, American communication companies had soured on the prospect of satellite TV. Broadcast cable was very successful at this time, and the satellite industry received a lot of negative press coverage. Fifty percent of all satellite retailers closed their businesses.

Business eventually recovered, but the illegal theft of pay television signals was still a problem. Ultimately, encryption has proven to be the ultimate salvation of the satellite industry as it has made the transition from a hardware to software entertainment-driven business.

Early successful attempts to launch satellites for the mass consumer market were led by Japan and Hong Kong in 1986 and 1990, respectively. In 1994, the first successful attempts in America were led by a group of major cable companies, known collectively as Primestar.

Later that year, Direct TV was established, and in 1996, the DISH Network, a subsidiary of Echostar, also entered the satellite TV industry. DISH Network's low prices forced competing DBS providers to also lower their prices. And an explosion in the popularity of digital satellite TV ensued.

If you're interested in learning more about Dish Network and satellite TV, go to http://www.dish-network-satellite-tv.ws/

Types of Satellite TV Systems - TVRO and DBS

You may think that there is only one type of satellite TV system...but you're incorrect. There is, in fact, two different formats of satellite TV: TeleVision Receive Only (TVRO) and Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS). Each satellite TV system is built differently and functions in its own fashion. Dish Network, for example, is a DBS system. However, not all satellite TV systems are DBS.

Below is a break down of each system. Read through it and gain a better understanding of the TVRO and DBS satellite TV systems.

TVRO - TeleVision Receive Only TVRO was the first satellite system available for home viewing of satellite TV. It required a relatively big dish of 3 to 6 feet in diameter and worked in C-Band. Frequencies of around 4 G Hertz are called C-Band and require bigger dishes because the wave length of these frequencies is longer than in Ku-Band which requires a much smaller dish of about 18 inches. Ku-Band is at 12 to 14 G Hertz. TVRO systems also need a movable dish because it needs to get all the channels of many satellites. C-Band satellites have much less channels available than Ku-Band satellites and therefore more satellites are needed to provide enough channels. Possibilities that exist with TVRO systems is that you can also receive free channels and independent feeds from for instance news companies. You could for instance receive the unedited material that is broadcasted from a news crew somewhere in the coverage area of the satellite. They transmit their materials to their headquarters using a C-Band satellite. Many of these types of feeds are not scrambled and are available to everyone with the proper equipment.

TVRO systems are often referred to as Big Dish TV, C-Band Satellite TV and BUD (Big Ugly Dish).

DBS - Direct Broadcast Satellite Satellite TV via DBS is done in the Ku-Band. These satellites work on higher frequencies and can transmit higher power signals. This means that much smaller dishes can be used to receive the signal. A small dish of 18 inches is already enough to receive all satellite TV by Satellite TV. This makes it possible to have satellite TV from an apartment on the 10th floor, if you have a clear line of sight to the south. This is the system used by Dish Network and other satellite TV providers.

DBS is for everyone. The satellite dish is so small that it is not an obstacle like with for instance the TVRO dishes of 3 to 6 feet. Once installed the dish needs no maintenance since it is aimed at just one satellite. Some dishes actually have 2 or more feeds which makes it possible to receive the signals from more than 1 satellite. There are no free channels available on DBS satellites as these are often owned and used by the satellite TV provider it self, such as Dish Network, while TVRO satellites often are used by those who rent space on the satellite for a limited time. TVRO systems are meant for, for instance, transport of unedited materials between continents, but also within one continent.

DBS is meant for everyone with a simple, low cost installation of the system. Often the installation is for free as it really is very easy to do. The only thing that is needed is a bit of knowledge of where to find the satellite and the tools that make this even easier. A qualified installer will find the satellite and point it to maximum reception within minutes.

For more free and helpful information on Satellite TV, how to find the best deal, and how to set it up, visit http://www.dish-network-satellite-tv.ws/

Choosing a Satellite TV Provider

The Satellite TV industry has made huge gains on the cable tv industry in the past several years. With the price of cable tv skyrocketing every year, many cable subscribers are making the switch over to satellite tv. Okay so you've decided to switch to satellite tv; but which satellite tv provider do you choose?

A satellite tv provider is a company that owns and operates satellites in geostationary orbit around the earth. These satellites broadcast the satellite signal down to your satellite dish and from their the signal is transferred to your receiver (black box). The two largest satellite tv providers in the United Sates are DirecTV and DISH Network. The vast majority of satellite tv subscribers in the United States use one or the other so this article will concentrate on comparing the two satellite giants in an attempt to help you decide which of the two is best foryou.

With the almost exponential growth of the satellite tv industry, both DISH Network and DirecTV are now in a position where they can afford to offer the satellite equipment (dish and receivers) free to their subscribers. So for starters both DISH Network and DirecTV offer free satellite equipment. Basically the only qualifiers are that you be a first time subscriber and that you have a credit card for monthly billing purposes. So if the equipment is free how do the two providers make any money? Well, you do have to pay for the monthly programming of course. The price of your monthly programming bill depends on which programming package you choose.

DISH Network's America Top 60 programming package starts at $24.99 per month and local channels are available. DISH Network presently is not making new subscribers commit to a one year contract. You can end your subscription at any time with no financial penalty to pay. DirecTV's entry level programming package is called the Total Choice package and comes with local channels and is $39.99 per month. With the Total Choice package you get over 130 channels. DirecTV does require you to sign a one year subscription agreement. If you cancel your service before the year is up, then you have to pay a penalty fee to DirecTV.

As both satellite giants use the very lates technology in their satellites and receiving equipment, what differentiates the two is in the programming options that they provide to their subscribers. I would rate DirecTV somewhat ahead of the DISH Network in their sports packages, as they offer seasonal sports options like the N.F.L. Sunday Ticket that DirecTV has exclusive rights to. Both providers offer tons of premium movie packages to choose from including HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax. All these come with multiple channels per movie package. As DISH Network has more satellites in orbit than DirecTV does they have the capacity to offer up to 500 viewing channels, whereas with DirecTV, you can 'only' get 250 channels. Also, DISH Network offers a lot more foreign programming packages than DirecTV does.

Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer 100% digital picture and CD quality sound in all of their programming. So again, they are tied in this important quality. This technology allows for a crystal clear perfect picture that cable tv simply cannot provide.

DISH Network, a subsidiary of EchoStar Communications, was founded in 1996 by Charles Ergan. While not quite as old as DirecTV, DISH Network was the fastest satellite provider to reach the 100,000 subscriber level doing so in just four short months. Presently, DISH Network has over Nine million satellite tv subscribers in the 50 United States and District of Columbia. DISH Network has many 'firsts' to its credit, including being the first company to offer a satellite tv receiver that had a built in DVR (digital video recorder).

DirecTV was begun in 1994 and is the largest satellite tv provider in the United States. When it first launched in 1994, Direct TV was the first satellite TV company to offer all digital-quality, multi-channel TV programming through the use of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) technology. DBS technology is now the standard for the satellite tv industry and we have the ingenuity of the DirecTV engineers to thank for it. While DirecTV does not have as large a bandwidth allocation as the DISH Network does, to counter this DirecTV has arranged to have to exclusive deals with programming companies to cater to the programming whims of their subscribers.

In the all important area of customer care, both DirecTV and DISH Network offer outstanding customer care and support. Both offer online Faqs sections and help sections to their websites. You can also call both toll free to get help with any problem you may be having. Pay-Per-View movies may be ordered either by using your remote control or calling the 800 toll free number for either provider.

Both DirecTV and DISH Network offer free professional installation as part of their free satellite tv promotions. One difference is that DirecTV will install your equipment for free in up to five rooms, where DISH Network presently only installs for free in up to four rooms of your home.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATION:

Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer an outstanding television viewing experience. The picture reception for both is far superior to that of cable tv. DISH Network's entry level package is cheaper than DirecTV's; but then the Total Choice package comes with alot more channels. DirecTV is stronger in the area of sports coverage, while DISH Network places somewhat more of an emphasis on its premium movie packages and foreign programming options. And both have outstanding customer care, both having won the prestigious J.D. Power Award in recent years for providing the best overall service among satellite and cable subscribers.

Our recommendation is that both DirecTV and DISH Network offer a superior television viewing experience than cable tv. Both are alot cheaper than cable, offer superior picture quality and free equipment and instalation. Both also offer superior customer care service compared to local cable providers. If you're a big sports fan and just have to have that certain premium sports package, then DirecTV is for you; but if you're not a huge sports fan and cost is an issue, then you might want to go with DISH Network and it's entry level America's Top 60 at just $24.99 a month. Also, remember that DirecTV will require a one year commitment, whereas with the DISH Network there is no contract to sign, meaning you can cancel your service at anytime and not have to pay a penalty.

Whichever satellite provider you choose, you can't go wrong. As a subscriber of the DISH Network and a sales person that has several years experience in the satellite tv industry (have sold both DirecTV & DISH Network)I highly recommend that you drop cable, stop feeding the pig and switch to satellite tv service today. The vastly superior picture quality alone that DBS satellite technology provides makes it worth the change. It's like heaven watching tv with no more squiggly lines running across the tv screen!

For more free and helpful information on Satellite TV, how to find the best deal, and how to set it up, visit http://www.dish-network-satellite-tv.ws/

Satellite TV systems a great choice in viewing pleasure

So perhaps you have herd all the fuss regarding Direct TV and other Satellite TV providers. You know those companies that state that you can get up to 225 channels easily. There has been an ongoing debate whether you should choose cable TV or go satellite. Well, that really depends on what you are looking for. From an entertainment point of view, cable TV unfortunately does not have the wide selection of channels that a satellite TV provider has. Often the cost of dish network systems is less than cable TV.

Today, you see compact satellite dishes on rooftops all over the United States. Drive through rural areas beyond the reach of the cable companies and you'll find dishes on just about every house. The major satellite television companies are bringing in more customers every day with the lure of movies, sporting events and news from around the world. As a consumer you have many choices. Back in the day of old satellite TV systems all they were was big units. Today with superior sound, quality and high definition television you can definitely appreciate clear and amazing pictures. Your whole family will appreciate the programming options available in the marketplace.

With Satellite TV basics you can take control of the programs and channels that you want to use. Often there will be a vast selection for you family to choose from. For the ultimate performance in home entertainment Dish Network or even Direct TV are exceptional items. With Dolby digital sound you will feel like you are in the movie theatre. Easily record your favorite shows so they're on when you want them. Having options in home entertainment has never been so much fun.

Alan Zunec is a successful publisher with extensive knowledge in satellite tv systems. See great information on dish network systems here at http://www.best-free-satellite-tv.com/Free-Dish-Network.html

Direct TV Satellite TV? What You Should Know Before You Order

Launched in 1994 by General Motors, Direct TV is the largest satellite TV provider in the world, with 14.5 million subscribers and 15 satellites.

Direct TV is ranked #2 in customer satisfaction among satellite TV and cable companies by J.D. Power and Associates.

Direct TV Satellite TV System

To receive Direct TV programming you need a Direct TV satellite TV system to capture the satellite signal and transmit it to your TV.

Thanks to the competition between Direct TV dealers, you can now get a free Direct TV satellite TV system when you subscribe to their service.

Here's what you get when you order Direct TV satellite TV service

* A free direct TV satellite TV dish.
* Up to four free receivers and universal remotes.
* Free professional installation in up to four rooms of your home.
* Direct TV HD (high definition) satellite TV receivers (optional).
* Free bonus gifts such as a free DVD player and home theater system.

Direct TV Satellite TV Service

Here's what you get with Direct TV service:

* More than 225 program channels to choose from.
* All-digital picture and sound.
* Up to 500 commercial-free movies per month.
* DVR (digital video recording) so you can record your favorite programs.
* Up to 60 pay-per-view programs per day.
* Your local channels with digital picture and sound.
* Thirty-one commercial-free music channels with digital sound.
* Toll-free, 24/7 customer service.

Direct TV Satellite TV Programming

Direct TV programming packages, which include your local channels, start at $41.99 per month.

Here are the Direct TV programming packages currently available:

* Total Choice?135 program channels (includes 31 music channels) for $41.99 per month.

* Total Choice Plus?155 program channels (includes 31 music channels) for $45.99 per month.

* Total Choice Premier?215 program channels (includes 31 music channels), $93.99 per month.
In addition to the above programming packages you can also get sports packages, international packages, and HD (high definition) packages.

Note: To see all the Direct TV programming packages, current special offers, and free bonuses, click on the links at the bottom of this article.

Ordering Direct TV Satellite TV Service

After you decide on which system and which program package you want, you can place your order online, or you can call a toll-free number to order through a Direct TV representative.

The representative will take your order, schedule your installation, and answer any questions you may have. Installation time is usually one to five days after you order.

At the scheduled installation time a certified Direct TV installer will install your system, test it to make sure it works, then show you how to use all the functions and controls.

Operating the Direct TV satellite system may seem a little tricky at first, so I suggest you ask all the questions you need to while your installer is there, so you'll feel comfortable with your new system. Visit http://www.TheSatelliteTVGuide.com for more details on free satellite TV systems and service, ordering information, plus the latest special offers and free bonuses from DIRECTV.