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I'm a DirecTV technician- Posted by IrieTom [Email] (#1032) [Profile/Gallery] (more from IrieTom) on Tue, 4 Apr 2006 15:04:05 In Reply to: ot> satellite (dish or direct) vs. cable, kooch, Mon, 3 Apr 2006 09:49:47 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
A professionally-installed satellite TV system should be every bit as reliable as cable TV, if not more reliable. Of course, nothing is 100% reliable. Powerful thunderstorms will interrupt satellite communications- including the satellite feeds at your local cable company.
Normal rain or snow should not affect satellite TV service. Anyone who complains about losing their signal every time it rains (or the wind blows) needs to have their dish re-aligned for optimal signal strength.
There are a few reasons why people may have more than one dish on their house. Typically, one dish will suffice for as many as 16 satellite receivers in a building. In major markets, all standard services are available through the main (101) satellite, and a round single-satellite dish is appropriate.
In some secondary markets (for instance here in Albany, NY), the local TV stations are broadcast by a secondary (119) satellite, so an oval triple-sat dish is used, even though one of those satellites isn't necessary for standard service.
Anyone who wants Hi-Def services or Spanish-language programming needs to get a signal from all three (101, 110, 119) satellites in order to receive the specialty programming.
In some cases where there is a lot of line-of-sight interference to the satellites due to trees, other houses, etc... a signal can be obtained by using more than one dish to circumvent the obstructions.
Some small local markets (like Burlington, VT) have their local channels carried on a satellite other than one of the main three, and you will see LOTS of houses with two dishes.
DirecTV also offers other foreign-language programming through the (95) satellite, which requires a seperate dish.
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