Ten tips

By Compiled by LAURA T. COFFEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 26, 2000

Satellite dishes vs. cable: Choose what's right for you

When satellite dishes first became available, they were expensive, 7-foot gargantuans. These days, direct broadcast satellite, or DBS, dishes are smaller than garbage can lids and cost considerably less than they used to. Consider these tips when deciding whether to make the switch from cable to satellite:

1. Investigate DBS providers. If you're considering installing a satellite dish, contact the nation's two main service providers: DirecTV (www.directv.com, (800) 347-3288) and EchoStar (www.dishnetwork.com, (800) 333-3474). They offer different programming, and their equipment is not compatible.

2. Think locally. Find out if the service provider offers local network stations in your area. If not, you'll have to sign up for basic cable or track down a good old-fashioned antenna if you want to get those channels.

3. Know thyself. Cable and satellite dishes provide many of the same specialty channels, but satellite tends to offer more premium movie and sports channels. If movies and sports really matter to you, a satellite dish may be right for you.

4. Analyze your needs. Switching from cable to satellite can be costly. Will you watch hundreds of channels?

5. Look around. Determine whether you can use a satellite dish. You must be able to point your dish southward without having obstructions such as buildings or trees interfere with your reception. Also, be sure local ordinances won't prevent you from installing a dish at your home.

6. Have more than one TV? If you anticipate that you'll want to watch different shows at the same time, prepare to spend some money. A basic dish and receiver for one TV can cost about $150, but that jumps substantially if you need to buy a dual-LNB dish and a second receiver so you can hook up a second TV.

7. Watch those extras. Brace yourself for higher costs if you want features such as Dolby digital sound, Internet access on your TV or a receiver that automatically tapes your favorite programs. Also, if you're likely to use pay-per-view services, factor in those costs above the $40 or so you'll being paying for satellite service.

8. Consider installation options. You can cut the cost of installation by doing it yourself. Remember, though, that affixing a dish to an apartment balcony is easier than climbing to the top of a house, so consider having the dish installed by a professional.

9. Hunt for deals. Your provider may give you a discount on installation or forgo the bill, depending on the promotions being offered that month. Also, shop around for satellite equipment online and at a variety of electronics stores.

10. Big time. If you have a lot of land and you really like to watch television, you still can get those 7-foot dishes that can offer as many as 700 channels, including unedited sporting events, syndicated shows and news feeds.

Sources: Money magazine (http://www.money.com) and Consumer Reports (http://www.consumerreports.org)

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