Cable & Dish Comparison

"Consumer Reports" is a publication that has been testing products since 1936. In their comparison of cable television and satellite dish, they note that 98 percent of all consumer markets are served by a single cable company without competition, so you may have no choice in vendor if you choose cable. Many rural areas are not connected to the nationwide cable network. If you live outside a major demographic area, you may be limited to satellite for television outside of your local stations.

To get cable you simply order it and schedule a time for setup. You may have to pay a fee for a converter box depending on what kind of television you have and what kind of service you want. Satellite hook-up requires a bit more of you as a customer during installation. You will own the satellite equipment, although in many cases this fee can be waived for new customers. You will need an unobstructed southern exposure to the sky in order for your satellite dish to work. Make sure your satellite provider includes installation in your package.

Cable customer service is handled either by phone or by your local office. "PC World" cites a study showing that cable customers are generally unhappy with their customer service while satellite customers give their providers high marks for customer service. Cable and satellite packages can vary in price depending on how many channels you want. Regardless of cable or satellite dish, make sure to inquire about the costs of your package after the introductory period. Prices generally go up for both services after special offers expire.

Both cable and satellite can offer up to hundreds of channels. When choosing between them, note that you will probably not watch all of the channels offered. Many basic packages include the channels that most people watch regularly. Having extra channels and paying premium costs for them may waste your money if you are not watching them. You can bundle your phone, Internet, cellular service and television in one package through both cable and satellite dish providers. Bundling can give you an economic edge while pulling together several services with one provider.