Best Satellite Dishes

Are you wondering whether you should throw out those old cables and grab yourself a satellite dish? Are your friends laughing at you for not joining the 21st century? Do you want a satellite dish but have no idea what you’re looking for? Well worry no longer because this guide will help you to choose the best satellite dishes known to man – satellite dishes that can satisfy your desires without breaking your wallet.

First off, I’d like to say that there’s no single best satellite dish out there. The best one for you is up to a wide variety of factors that decide what you want, how much you want to spend, and how much work you’re willing to put into it.

Generally, the bigger the satellite dish, the better signal it will get because it can receive more radio waves. It’d be nice if you can get a dish that’s between 8 and 12 feet, but few of us actually want something that large attached to our homes. A good satellite dish should be as small as possible but big enough to get the preferred amount of signal. If you live closer to the Equator, you can get away with a smaller satellite dish because it will receive signals perfectly fine. If you live far North or far South, however, you will need a larger satellite dish to receive a good enough signal to have constant television access.

Another problem with satellite dishes is that in cloudy areas or areas that it rains alot, you won’t get as good of a signal. A larger satellite dish can fix this problem.

Make sure that the satellite dish that you buy is either oval in shape or attached to some sort of mechanized motor so that you can turn it at your will to pick up a better signal. There’s nothing worse than having to climb up on a roof to move your satellite dish just to pick up a better signal.

If you have an oval satellite dish, it can easily pick up signals from multiple satellite locations at the same time, giving you a much more steady connection without any trouble.

With millions of people switching to satellite television, companies are trying their hardest to come out with better satellite dishes to satisfy their customers. With the launch of digital satellite television coming soon, satellite television will have much more influence in our modern world. So act now and don’t get caught up behind the times!

Types of Satellite Dishes

TV Satellite Dish

A TV Satellite Dish is made to receive a signal broadcasted from a television satellite. The dish then redirects the signal to a low noise block converter (LNB converter) in order to amplify the signal and send it to the television in your living room or wherever you want to watch the best quality television known to man.

Satellite Receiver

The satellite receiver of a satellite dish amplifies the signal, decodes it, and sends it to your television.

DISH Network Satellite Dish

The DISH Network satellite television service comes with a 20″ satellite dish with advanced LNB converter technology that can work with multiple televisions in the same household.

DISH Network Receivers

When you order DISH Network, you actually have a choice of several types of receivers. The first receiver is a standard receiver for watching satellite television on just one television set. The second receiver is a dual-tuner that allows you to watch different programs on two separate television sets. The third is a DVR receiver that allows you to digitally record, pause, and replay live television as often as you like. Finally, the fourth is an HD receiver so that you can watch high definition programming whenever you so choose.

DISH Network Service

The Family package of DISH Network starts at $19.99 and includes 40 channels, while their $74.99 plan includes 350 channels. This includes all major movie channels, 52 music channels, and 60 Sirius satellite radio channels for your entertainment pleasure.

DISH Network also offers local channels, pay-per-view movies and events, 20 international channels, sports packages, high definition, and other various channels.

DIRECTV Satellite Dish

When you order DIRECTV, you will receive an 18″ DIRECTV Dual LNB dish for free, much like the DISH Network deal.

DIRECTV Service

DIRECTV programming ranges from $41.99 and $96.99, starting at 155 channels and including 250 channels for its higher price. The packages are pretty much the same as DISH Network, with slight variations.

DIRECTV Receivers

When you order satellite television through DIRECTV, you also get to choose what type of receiver you get. The first receiver is the DIRECTV D11 standard receiver that lets you watch tv on a single television set. The second receiver is a DVR receiver that allows you to digitally record your favorite shows and, of course, play and pause live tv. The third choice is an HD receiver that provides you with high definition, just like DISH Network.

Both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer free installation of the satellite dish and receiver, but DISH Network ships the equipment for free while DIRECTV charges $19.99.

Bottom Line

When it comes right down to it, DISH Network and DIRECTV are almost identical. The only difference is that DIRECTV costs more, as you have to pay $20 for them to ship the equipment, you have less receiver options, and you only get the DVR and HD receivers if you mail in their $99 rebate. DISH Network also offers a larger variety of programs, except for DIRECTV’s larger sports channel package.

Whatever you choose, you will not be disappointed with either one of these state of the art services and can finally make your way to the new age – the digital age.