Undoubtedly, one of the biggest decisions involving your home entertainment setup is to decide which TV service to pick – cable, fiber or satellite.Your choice of service can make a huge difference in your happiness (or frustrations). Comparing cable, fiber, and Satellite TV is easy when you know the basic features of all the three.
Cable TV
Coaxial cable has been in use for decades to conduct TV signals. As such, a cable is routed through coaxial cable TVÂ wires and is still the medium of choice for simple video connections. Here, radio frequency signals to cable television programming through some fiber optic based line. It requires a hard-wired connection. The instruments required are cable box and remote, and a technician is required to set up the connection. Technically, a cable TV involves the distribution of television channels received and processed in a central location to users via cables. The programs are encrypted and subject to a tariff.
Fiber TV
Many people think that cable and fiber are one and the same. However, that is not true. Fiber is a method of transmitting information or signals from one point to another with the use of an optical fiber. It is the most advanced form that uses an optical network of light. Fiber optic lines are thinner and durable than cable. As the conductor is glass (a bad conductor of electricity), there will be no impact of lightening storm on transmission.
Fiber optic video connections have several advantages over cable TV. For example, low signal loss over a wide frequency range, high reliability, insensitivity to temperature variations and light weight options.
Satellite TV
Satellite provides TV services via satellite without the use of telephone landlines. A satellite that revolves around the earth in an orbit delivers the service. The satellite sends the signal back to the satellite dish attached outside your home. All you require a dish and a box to set up the connection. Here, there is no physical connection between the service provider and subscriber. The cost of satellite TV varies according to the number and type of channels subscribed. Satellite TV subscribers get around 40-50 channels in the basic package. For additional channels, extra cost has to be paid.