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Category: Cable TV Vs. Satellite TV Subcategory: Cable TV Vs. Satellite TV Tip: High-speed Internet Access: DIRECTV vs. Cable It used to be that Internet access was only available through the slow process of modem phone lines. These days, it's common to find high-speed Internet service through your local television cable provider as part of their monthly service fee. The other option for high-speed Internet access is a DSL service where satellite companies have partnered with your local phone company. Debating between getting your Internet service from a satellite TV provider like DIRECTV vs. cable? If you subscribe to satellite TV, it might be worth your while to go through your satellite TV provider to add a DSL service for a nominal fee. In a 2004 survey by J.D. Power and Associates, thousands of U.S. residents participated in a poll on overall satisfaction with their Internet service. The winner in seven areas of customer satisfaction, including billing, business image, costs, customer service, email, promotions, and reliability, was DSL. The clear winner here in DIRECTV vs. cable is DIRECTV. Tip: Weighing In - Cable TV Vs. Satellite TV So many channels, so little time. If you've looked through the offers in your mail lately, you've probably had cable companies and satellite TV companies wooing you with their television channel subscription services. So how do you decide which to pick? Here's a little guide to help you through the process. Price The typical price for a basic cable service tends to be better, but satellite TV companies can give you more for your money. Even the low-end satellite TV packages will give you about three times the number of channels to watch. Equipment For those who like it simple, cable is best. You don't need additional equipment. Satellite TV subscribers must have a converter box, a remote, and a satellite dish to install. Accessibility Cable TV loses here. Some areas even in highly populated urban areas have limited cable channel access. Programming Selection Both cable and satellite TV offer a wide variety of television programming to satiate your viewing fix. With hundreds of channels to choose from, you'll simply have to find the package which suits your needs best. Subcategory: DIRECTV vs. Cable TV Tip: Downsides to Cable TV vs. Satellite More and more advances are being made in how people watch television. Cable has expanded to digital cable and there are also the major satellite providers. How can people choose when all options appear so similar? The truth is that they are not so
similar and there are major differences that should be accounted for. Here are a few of the downsides to cable vs. satellite TV. First, with cable, you are often restricted in which channels you can receive. Certain pay channels and expanded channels are not offered by all cable providers. With satellite, you can get every channel that is available, no matter where you live. Also, with cable, your access to high definition programming can be very limited. Most cable providers have yet to expand their HD programming to include all available channels. With satellite, you can get access to all of the available HD channels on the air. Lastly, with cable TV, you cannot access many of the sports packages that are offered on satellite. Whether you prefer the NFL or March Madness, certain sports are only available from satellite. There are many other downsides to cable television, but there are many upsides as well. Do what you can to educate yourself as to all of these before you decide on your home TV solution. Tip: Repairing a Broken Coaxial Cable If your television reception has been filled with static and you have found that it is because of a bad coaxial cable, don't worry. Fixing a bad coaxial cable is easy with the right equipment and knowledge. Here, we can only give you the knowledge, but the equipment can be found online or at you local hardware store as well. First, what exactly is the problem? If you have broken off the piece of cable that passes into your television set, here is the solution. You will need a pair of wire strippers to begin. Start by prying off the metal or plastic threaded connection piece. Once off, use the wire strippers to strip the cable back about a half to three quarters of an inch. Cleanly expose only the center cable and remove the housing that surrounds it. Try not to fray any of the interior housing because this will make the next step more difficult. Once the wire is stripped and ready, you will need to put a new connector piece on it. If possible, you can re-use your old piece. If removing it did too much damage, you can pick up a new piece at any hardware store. To put it on, simply slide it over the end and then use a set of pliers to seal the connection. The connector should grip firmly to the housing. This is only one solution to repairing this specific problem. For other coaxial cable solutions you can look around LifeTips or contact your cable company. If you simply cannot get the job done, you can always buy a new coaxial cable for a few bucks. Category: DirecTV DVR Tips
Subcategory: DirecTV DVR Tips Tip: The Electronic Programming Guide An Electronic Programming Guide or EPG, is your reference to all the programming available to you whether you have a cable subscription, satellite TV subscription, or a newer model television. Search for show titles, do a specified search based on a show theme, or read summaries on programming with your electronic programming guide. If you're a satellite TV subscriber with DVR capability, you would use your EPG to record shows ahead of time. Think of it as your personal guide to television in an electronic format. Category: DIRECTV DVR Tips. Subcategory: Tips About DIRECTV DVR's Tip: 3 Things to Know About your DVR For those that have gotten a DVR (digital video recorder) it becomes an indispensable part of their lives. I have one and my wife and I think it is the best entertainment investment we make each month. There are a few tricks and notes that we only learned over time. I wanted to share just a few of those with you here.recording New Episodes Many people who schedule recordings on their DVR forget to only record new episodes of their shows. This is a setting you can choose when setting up your scheduled recordings. Those that record all episodes' find that their DVR is cluttered with repeats and soon enough they are out of disk space. Be sure that you record only first-run' episodes.rewinding Live TV This is the biggest misconception about a DVR. Yes, you can rewind Live TV, but only if you were already watching that channel. You cannot just change channels and then rewind, unless you were already recording that channel. Bottom line record everything you think you might want to watch and then you can rewind at any time.recording in HD If you have a DVR in conjunction with a HD reception, you can record your high definition programming on your DVR. The trick is that your playback, while in wide screen aspect ratio, will not retain the HD quality that it initially aired in. Except in cases where you own an HD-DVR which works with DIRECTV service. It will still be a superior picture, but because it is now digitally stored, you may encounter some minor pixilation that you would have on the original broadcast. Tip: 3 Things to know when you buy a Digital Video Recorder Purchasing a new gadget or piece of technology should always include a little
self-education about what you are getting. When it comes to a digital video recorder, there are many features and tidbits of knowledge that you should know. Having this knowledge at hand will help you ensure you make the smartest purchase. Here are three of these things.storage Space How much storage space do you need? Digital video recorders come with different size hard drives, much like a computer. The difference is these are measured in hours instead of gigabytes. If you plan on recording a lot of television that you plan on saving for a long time, you will want to get at least a 70 hour digital video recorder and nothing less.outputs Would you like to transfer your recorded shows or movies onto your laptop to burn them to DVD? Well, not all digital video recorders have this ability. When you are looking around, make sure that the model you are looking has video and audio outputs as well as inputs.hd Recording As high definition television becomes more prevalent, more people will want to record this programming and be able to watch it without losing quality. Double check that your unit can record and playback HD in HD quality. Not every digital video recorder has the same capabilities when it comes to high definition signals. Tip: DirecTV & Tivo A Match Made In Heaven Subscribers to satellite television already know the benefits of being able to pick up more programming for their entertainment dollar. However, there is almost too much good TV to watch sometimes and they end up missing out on their shows. The solution is easy for this dilemma and it lies in combining DirecTV and Tivo into one TV entertainment unit. With DirecTV and Tivo, viewers can now get all of their programming and watch what they miss at a later time. With a Tivo, you can record your programs, store them, and then figure out when to watch them. You always will know that they are available, which means that he money you spend on your DirecTV or other satellite TV will never be wasted. Get the most out of your satellite TV system by ensuring that you never miss a single episode of your favorite show. Combine DirecTV and Tivo into one entertainment unit and you will never have to worry about missing a show again. Don't forget to set up scheduled recordings on your DirecTV Tivo as soon as you get it plugged in. That way, you can record shows that won't even air for weeks or months. Tip: Fixing Space Problems on a Digital Video Recorder Most people who get a digital video recorder get carried away at first and record everything that is on the TV. Soon they realize that there is simply not enough space on the digital video recorder to save it all. Choices then have to be made as to which shows will stay and which will be deleted. There are a few ways to remedy your space
problems on your digital video recorder and here are a few. First, you can simply delete older recordings that you no longer need. Once you watch an episode of TV, what are the chances you will watch it again? Certain shows fall into this category but most are watched once and never seen again. Once you have watched these, delete them from your digital video recorder and that will immediately free up a bunch of storage space. The other way to clean up your memory on your digital video recorder is to export the files to another device. Not all digital video recorders give you this option. The TIVO is an example of a digital video recorder that allows you to plug into a computer and store them there. Most computers have far more storage space than a digital video recorder, but most people won't keep them on the computer for long. Once you have cleaned the memory of your digital video recorder and moved files on the computer, these can then be stored on portable media devices such as CDs or DVDs. Then these programs can truly be archived and you will have a lot of space back on your digital video recorder. Tip: Pausing Live TV with your DVR A DVR (digital video recorder) has many advantages. One of the most relied upon features is the ability to pause live TV. Let's say you get an important phone call that you have to take right before 4th down, you can pause the game and take that call without missing a thing. Absolutely need a bathroom break during a long show? Pause the show with your DVR and you can take all the time you need. The remote control to your DVR holds the key to most of its functions. Get familiar with your DVR remote so that you can quickly use it when you really need to. When you pause, don't forget that you can also fast forward to get caught up if you like. This is great for if you simply want to skip through commercials after a break. Just pause the DVR and when you return, you can pick right back up where you left off and also fast forward through the next commercial break. Tip: Scheduling a Recording on your DVR One of the biggest benefits of a DVR is the ability to schedule recording for the future. Let's say that a special is on in a few days that you absolutely do not want to miss. With a DVR you can go ahead and schedule that recording today in just a matter of seconds. Here is a step by step on how to do this on most typical DVR units. First, go to your guide'. This is the interactive menu that shows you what shows are on now and in the future. Browse to the date that your show will be airing on. Once you have found the date, scroll to the channel and locate the exact show you want to record.
Now, there should be a record' button on your DVR and you will want to push that now. The DVR will then ask you about the specifics of the recording including times, channel, and length to store the show. You can choose to store it for a pre-set number of days or indefinitely if you do not know when you will have time to watch it. Finally, you will be asked to confirm your recording and then you are all set. When the show airs, your DVR will do the job of recording and storing the show. If you get home in time to catch the second half, you can simply rewind your DVR back to the beginning of the live program and watch it from the start. You can even skip through the commercials now. Tip: TIVO and Nielsen Marketing Your Information Everyone has heard of a Nielsen Family'. These are the people who provide networks with statistics regarding viewership. But have you ever heard of a TiVO family? Well, they are almost one in the same these days. Recently, TiVO and Nielsen have reached an agreement to share their information with one another with the goal of presenting more accurate viewership numbers to advertisers. Many people do not understand how the TiVO business model works. They think that TiVO is in the business of selling subscriptions to their service. This is all well and good, but this is not where the real profits are made. When you use a TiVO, all of your viewing trends and shows are logged and can be brought up for reference. Now, this may sound un-secure, but it is fine. This is what has been going on with Nielsen for decades. With the combined strength of these two systems, viewer information will become more precise over the next years. This all translates into one thing selling more advertising for the networks. Category: Directv Equipment Subcategory: Directv Equipment Tip: Protect Against Power Surges Most household electronics can withstand a minor power surge every now and then, but if you ever have a higher-level power surge, consider this; one unprotected piece of equipment can transfer the power surge to another piece of connected equipment. A series of small power surges can degrade your electrical equipment over time. A large power surge can instantly fry a circuit and melt plastic parts. Power surges don't just come through your electrical line. They can travel through your phone lines, cable lines, and satellite TV lines. So if you have satellite TV and never considered getting a surge protector, it may be a wise idea to protect your satellite TV box and your ability to watch
your regular programming. Consider a surge protector a worthwhile insurance investment to keep your satellite TV programming running and protection for all your other related expensive electronic equipment. Category: DIRECTV Equipment. Subcategory: Tips About DIRECTV Equipment Tip: DIRECTV Dish Pointing Help Pointing your DIRECTV dish is not always the easiest thing to figure out. Thankfully, DIRECTV has a great support system in place to assist you with this process right on their website. Better yet, with all new DIRECTV system installations, you get a free professional install, so take advantage of it and you won't even need this information! But just in case you do... First, they highly recommend professional installation, especially for multi-satellite systems. The proper alignment of multiple dishes is best left to the pros. However, if you are installing a standard 18 DIRECTVdish, you can do it easily with their help. You will want to determine your elevation using their online tool. This will give you the best angle with which to point your dish based on your area. Further help is provided after you have found the right coordinates. If you cannot find the answers you need from their website, contact a DIRECTVrepresentative and explain that you need help pointing your dish. They will walk you through the process and let you know if professional installation assistance will be necessary. Typically, this has little or no cost for a new subscriber, so ask about pricing for installation and dish pointing. Tip: Finding an Authorized Dealer for a DirecTV Satellite Receiver If you want to save money on your DIRECTVsystem, you can often do so by ordering your equipment from authorized re-sellers and manufacturers. One of the most available components is the DIRECTVsatellite receiver. These are made by many different manufacturers such as RCA and Hughes, and they all work just as well as a DIRECTVsatellite receiver. Many bad units make their way onto the marketplace. The best way to ensure you do not end up with one of these is to order yours from an authorized seller of DIRECTVproducts. DIRECTVproducts are distributed by authorized sellers because DIRECTVknows that
these places deliver the right products. There is a security and carried warranty on items such as DIRECTVsatellite receivers bought from these authorized sellers. To find an authorized seller, you can contact DIRECTVand ask for ones in your area. If you want the fastest solution, hit the search engines and search for authorized DIRECTVseller'. This will return you plenty of results from websites that DIRECTV trusts to sell products relating to their service. Tip: Installing Your DIRECTV Satellite Dish The heart of any satellite TV system lies in the dish. Subscribers to DIRECTV know that the satellite dish alignment is crucial to getting optimum reception. New DIRECTV systems come with free professional installation, but if you have recently become a subscriber and want some help on installing your own DIRECTV satellite dish, here are a few tips. Keep It Sturdy Whenever you are mounting a DIRECTV satellite dish, you want to be sure that it is fixed in its positioning. Once you find a single good alignment, you should rarely need to re-adjust it. Use Extra Cable When connecting our DIRECTV satellite dish, use a little extra cable than you think you'll need. Leaving extra cable line will ensure that should you need to move the DIRECTV satellite dish in the future, you will never be stuck needing to replace the cable as well. Be Careful A DIRECTVsatellite dish is a fragile piece of equipment. In order to get the best reception from it, you will want to avoid beating it up too much during the installation process. For more specifics and recommendation for mounting your DIRECTV satellite dish, consult with a representative from DIRECTV. They have technical support specialists waiting to assist you in getting your system set up and ready to watch. Better yet, take advantage of a free professional installation and you'll never have to worry about any of this at all! Tip: Necessary DirecTV Equipment for your System There are a few pieces of equipment that are absolutely necessary to setting up your DIRECTVsystem. DIRECTVequipment is simple to set-up once you have it, but make sure you have the right pieces to the puzzle. Here are a few of the obvious pieces of DIRECTV equipment you will need to get started. A Dish Obviously you will need to have your satellite dish securely mounted and eventually connected to the
receivers. This is the heart of your reception so be sure it is installed correctly. A Receiver The signal that comes from your satellite dish needs to pass through a receiver before it can be sent to your television. The DIRECTV receiver is a piece of equipment that comes in many variations. You can get this DIRECTV equipment with a DVR or with High Definition capabilities combined in one unit. Cables You will need high quality video and audio cables to connect your receiver to your television. Do not skimp on these as a bad cable can drastically reduce the quality of your reception. We recommend Monster Cables for your connection needs. Depending on your TV and the receiver you choose, there are a variety of Monster Cables to choose from, including HDMI, DVI, Components, and S-Video cables. Consult with a DIRECTV representative to ask about any additional equipment you may need to make certain that your system will be set up correctly and you can start enjoying the DIRECTV programming. Category: DIRECTV Installation. Subcategory: DIRECTV Installation Tips Tip: 3 Reasons for Professional DirecTV Installation DIRECTV installation is usually best left to professionals. However, if you are going to tackle the project yourself, here are a few reasons you may want to reconsider. Damage Often in any installation this complex, the chances of damage to the necessary components is apparent. Many people who attempt DIRECTV installation on their own find that they strip too many nuts or ding up their dish and in the end they cannot get a proper reception. With a professional DIRECTV installation specialist, you can rest assured that they won't damage the components. If they do, they will cover the damages so that you do not pay for the installation or the equipment replacements. Reception Anyone can bolt a satellite dish to a wall, but will they end up pointing it in the right direction. Trying to figure out the altitude and other necessary coordinates for optimal dish alignment is not the easiest project. Professional DIRECTV installation experts will know how to quickly analyze your home and figure out the best place for your dish. Their help will give you the best reception. Free Offers Most of the time, installation is included in seasonal offers from DIRECTV. If so, why not take advantage of them? Schedule an appointment time for the experts to come out and install your system. Chances are you could probably get your system set up and running without anyone else's help. But, when that first storm comes that throws your alignment off or pulls your dish from an unsecured mounting, you won't regret letting a professional take care of your DIRECTV installation?
Tip: Finding Authorized DirecTV Installers Proper installation of a new DIRECTV system is vital for ensuring long-lasting enjoyment. When choosing whom to buy your DIRECTV system from, make sure their installers are all CEDIA certified. This certification ensures the installer has been properly trained, warranties his/her work, and carries insurance. If you bought your system from a retailer that does not offer installation you can still get professional help with your installation. Start with your phone book and look up satellite TV'. There should be many listings for professionals in your area. If the yellow pages do not give you your answers, you can use the Internet. There are many online directories such as DMOZ.org and Yahoo Directory that categorize websites available online. There are categories for satellite TV installation and in these you can quickly find DIRECTV installers that can help you. Don't try to tackle this installation on your own. The costs of a professional DIRECTV installer are far less than when you need to replace your system after a poor installation attempt. Tip: How to Install a DirecTV Dish in your Camper Recreational Vehicles are enjoying a renaissance these days. More and more people are choosing to get in an RV to take a trip, go tailgating, or to see extended family. The demand to keep a family entertained on these trips is great. Cabin fever can sometimes set in without sufficient stimulation. Here is how to install a DIRECTV dish on your camper and keep everyone entertained on your next RV trip. First, get your equipment from DIRECTV or an authorized retailer. The most important piece of equipment for this install is a specialized tracking satellite dish. The dishes will actually lock on to the signal of the DIRECTV satellite and track it as you drive to ensure uninterrupted viewing pleasure. Once you have the equipment, find a good location on the roof of your camper to mount it to. Keep in mind the height of your camper and how installing a DIRECTV dish may affect your clearance levels for overpasses. If you have the space, the roof of your camper is the best place to install a DIRECTV dish. Once the dish is mounted, you will want to snake your coaxial cable through the roof to an outlet somewhere inside the vehicle. You can even split the cable in order to get signals to independent TVs with independent receivers. Lastly, connect your coaxial cable to your DIRECTV receiver and then your receiver to your television. Now you should be able to enjoy DIRECTV while on the road, again.
Category: DirecTV Programming Tips Subcategory: DirecTV Programming Tips Tip: Brush up on a Foreign Language via Satellite TV Have you been meaning to dust off that old Spanish language book from college for an upcoming trip to Spain, but you've been spending too much time in front of the tube instead? Now you can do both at the same time. Satellite TV channels often carry foreign language channels. Train your ear for that foreign language you wanted to learn before traveling to another country. If you want a more interactive approach, look for a satellite TV channel that is specifically geared towards teaching a language. You can choose from a range of languages, including Spanish, French, and German. Tip: Cable Company to Compete for HDTV Market The cable companies and major satellite TV companies like DIRECTV and Dish Network have been competing for their share of the market space to offer HDTV to the consumer market. One cable company, Cablevision Systems Corporation, has thrown its hat into the mix as a HDTV provider. However, Cablevision has decided to compete by adding its own satellite TV service under Rainbow DBS to offer 39 HDTV channels. The competition continues between the Big Three. Before purchasing your satellite features, assess what you want from your programming guides and what features are important to you. Then, take a look at all the players and review consumer reports sites for more information on products and services. Tip: Use Satellite TV for Your Communication Needs There's more to satellite TV than unlimited channels of programming to choose from. Satellite TV can provide benefits for classroom or your business needs. Get wired into a satellite uplink with a broadcast service that lets you distribute live or taped information. For educational uses, you have a reliable means of transmitting news broadcasts and classroom lectures to multiple locations via a satellite uplink. If you're a business, you can use a satellite uplink for teleconferencing and conducting interviews. Category: DIRECTV Programming Tips. Subcategory: Tips About DIRECTV Programming Tip: Cinemax HBO's Little Brother Growing Up
For years, Cinemax was regarded as nothing more than the little brother of the HBO network. Today, Cinemax has become it's own entity and created its own identity through original programming that can be found nowhere else. Among the biggest advances in Cinemax programming is their Reel Life series which has broken new ground for documentary television. The Cinemax Reel Life series has covered stories that you cannot find on other channels. From exposes about Indian women being born into brothels and sex trafficking to in depth pieces on the juvenile justice system, the Reel Life series has won many awards. You can review all of the past episodes of Reel Life at the Cinemax website where there is a whole section dedicated to it. From a replay channel that only took HBO's leftovers, Cinemax has grown into one of the premium pay channels that any fan of good television has to have a subscription to. If you have DirecTV or cable, contact your provider to get Cinemax added to your range of channels. Tip: DirecTV Programming Your Remote Control Users of DirecTV often require help figuring out how to set the entire system up. One of the most important pieces to get set correctly is the remote control for the unit. Imagine trying to get up every time you wanted to change the channel. If you don't get your DIRECTVremote control programming done at first, chances are you will never get around to it. Here is a quick rundown of the options that DIRECTV programming provides in remote controls. First, there is the infamous Blue remote control. This remote control is strictly for the DIRECTV programming through the DirecTV unit. It will not control other entertainment units in your system. So long as you do not mind using multiple remote controls, the Blue remote should be fine for you. If you have this remote and are not sure on how to go about programming it, here is a link to the User Manual: http://www.americansatellite.com/pdf/blue_remote_control.pdf Next, DirecTV programming also offers a universal remote control that can be programmed to control all of your entertainment system components. Programming these universal remotes is simple as long as you have the correct information and codes to input. For help programming your DirecTV universal remote control, here is a link to the instruction manual: http://www.americansatellite.com/pdf/universal_remote_user_guide_new.pdf
Tip: HBO Family Perfect for Kids of All Ages Over the years, HBO has added to their network of channels by adding niche programming on independent channels. One of the additions that has greatly expanded the HBO market was HBO Family. This station has programming that is suitable for kids of any age and most parents will enjoy it as well. Here is a quick review of a few of the programming options on HBO Family. Rainbow Fish The Rainbow Fish is one of the cornerstones to HBO Family. Created from the famous series of children's books, the Rainbow Fish teaches valuable lessons to kids about tolerance and sharing. If you haven't seen the show or read the books, I highly suggest checking them both out. Harold and the Purple Crayon An Emmy award winning show, Harold and the Purple Crayon is based on the classic storybook by Crockett Johnson. With his purple crayon, the four year old Harold creates his own world of imagination and invention. Kids love following Harold on his travels and learning along the way. Crashbox This show is actually rated TVY7 which means it is meant for older kids. This animated show challenges grade school children to fast paced games based on math, history, or any other number of topics. If you want to reinforce what your kids are learning in school, Crashbox is a great show from HBO Family that will help. For more information about the programming available on HBO Family, contact your cable or DirecTV satellite provider. You can get a number of options for HBO subscription service. Be sure to include HBO Family if you have little ones at home. Tip: MotoCross, Baja, and Other Action Sports on the Outdoor Life Network For the action sports fan, the Outdoor Life Network has you covered. Did you know that you can find coverage of everything from Baja to Cigarette Boat racing on the Outdoor Life Network? If you are a true fan, you need to check out the lineup that they have to offer. Here is a quick way to see if your favorite action sports can be seen on the Outdoor Life Network. On the Internet, you can visit the website for the Outdoor Life Network. They provide you with full schedules for all of their programming, including their action sports coverage. Use their site to search for specific events or general sports that you are interested in. If you cannot find it on their website, you can move on to your local TV guide or digital cable guide. Scroll through these resources to find out exactly what is coming on and when on the Outdoor Life Network. You can catch extreme downhill skiing, motocross racing, dune
buggy races, shooting competitions, and much more on OLN. If you don't get OLN, contact your cable provider and inquire as to future availability. Category: DIRECTV Sports. Subcategory: Sports on DIRECTV Tip: Accessing Your DIRECTV Sports Schedule So you aren't sure which games are on which channels in the coming days or weeks. If you are a sports buff and are a subscriber to DIRECTV, you can get their sports schedule from many places. First, check on your DIRECTV advanced programming guide. It can show you the programming coming up on every channel in the coming days. You can even browse by subjects or titles such as sports' or football'. Keep in mind; many sporting events are not scheduled until they are fairly close. For these events, you will want to stay up to date with the DIRECTV sports schedule and the best way to do this is on the DirecTV website. Tip: Getting Information on DIRECTV Sports Packages DIRECTV sports packages can vary in price from sport to sport and from season to season. If you want to subscribe to any of their packages, there are many places and resources available that can fill you in with what you need to know. Here are a few places to start if you want more details on the DIRECTV sports packages available to you. Customer Support Always a great place to start for any questions like these is on the phone. You can contact the customer service toll free number for DIRECTV and their staff can give you the information over the phone and even email you the details so you can read them yourself. These service people have the resources right in front of them to assist you so take advantage of their service. The Internet DIRECTV has a great website that has all sorts of information about all of their services. Specifically, you can find a full breakdown of all DIRECTV sports packages on their site. Costs for specific packages may be unavailable before the season starts, but you can find out about coverage details and schedules. Your DIRECTV Receiver Right at home, you can use your DIRECTV receiver
to scan through the programming options that are available to you. Use your system guide' to search for programming by name, date, or theme. You will have little problem finding out which packages you can subscribe to and even activate your subscriptions right from your receiver. Tip: NFL Sunday Ticket SuperFan New from DIRECTV This season, DIRECTV has enhanced their NFL SUNDAY TICKET to a whole new level of programming. The new feature is called SuperFan and the name couldn't be any more on the mark. There are many features that come with this add-on to the NFLSUNDAY TICKET and here are a few. HD Now you will get over 100 NFL games broadcast to you in HDTV. Any football fan that has seen a game in high definition knows that it is the only way to watch. With the NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan addition, you can see it all and see it in high definition. Red Zone Channel The Red Zone Channel is dedicated specifically to live analysis and updates for this week in the NFL. As the games are going on, experts will show you key plays in every game so you can stay up to date in real time. This is a whole new addition to NFL SUNDAY TICKET and a welcome one at that. NFL SUNDAY TICKET Game Mix This feature is one that takes the cake. Now, you can watch up to 11, yes 11, games on your screen at a single time. This isn't your old picture in picture set-up. You will get dedicated small screens for each game you want to see. This is not for the small television set, but on a big enough screen, you can keep all of your friends happy on Sunday. Tip: NFL Ticket The Jewel of DIRECTV Sports DIRECTV has built their reputation on great programming. Much of their subscription base says that the exclusive sports programming that DIRECTV offers is the main reason that they maintain their subscriptions. Of these people, the majority will say that the NFL SUNDAY TICKET is the best thing to ever happen to TV. The NFL SUNDAY TICKET is the crown jewel of DIRECTV sports programming. Through an agreement with the NFL, DIRECTV sports can offer their subscribers access to every NFL game each Sunday. With a high definition receiver, these games can even be seen in HD. Unless you have seen NFL football in HD; you do not know what you are missing. If you want to find out about getting the NFL SUNDAY TICKET from DIRECTV sports
in your home, contact a DIRECTV Preferred Online Retailer about available services. You will obviously need to subscribe to DIRECTV service and get a dish set up at your home, but it is all worth it if you have a bug for football. Don't miss your favorite team this week, take advantage of all of the DIRECTV sports programming available to you. Tip: Ordering Your NFL Sunday Ticket Deciding to take advantage of the DIRECTV NFL SUNDAY TICKET is one on the best moves that an NFL fan can make. Subscribing to this service is simple and can be done in a matter of minutes. This, of course, assumes you are already a subscriber to DIRECTV. If you are not, you will need to get a new account and have your dish and other equipment installed before being able to watch the games. Here are a few options for how to order your NFL SUNDAY TICKET once you are ready with your DIRECTV System in place. You have a couple of options for subscribing. First, if you are already a DIRECTV customer, you can do this over the Internet at the DIRECTV.com website. This option will save you time, as there are no phone calls necessary and therefore no interference from another person. Simply get to the subscription page and fill out the required information. As soon as you are finished, your account will have the NFL Sunday Ticket added to it and you will be ready to watch on Sunday. If you are a new customer you can order a subscription at the time of your DIRECTV System installation. Just let the installer know that you want to add the NFL SUNDAY TICKET and they will have you set up in no time at all. Don't miss another game this year or next! Get your NFL SUNDAY TICKET and watch every game, every week, every season. Category: DIRECTV Tips Subcategory: DIRECTV System Tips Tip: Multiple Room Systems A Must for DIRECTV Start by contacting A DIRECTV Preferred Online Retailer. If you are a previous subscriber, ask about specials that are running now for multiple units. These are most often used to attract new subscribers, but DIRECTV won't leave their old subscribers out to dry.
No more remote control fights and if you choose to get the DIRECTV DVR, you can also record the live programming in case someone in the other room has something you absolutely need to see'. Subcategory: Tips About DIRECTV Tip: Connecting Your DIRECTV System to your Sound System What would be the use in having a great television picture with terrible audio? Most people, who take the time and effort to set up a DIRECTV system or other satellite system, also take the time to set up a good audio system. Taking care of this is easy. First, you will need the equipment, so if you do not have a receiver that can take a digital audio input, look around for a new receiver and possibly a speaker upgrade. Once you have your audio system ready, you will have a few options for setting it up with your DIRECTV system. Some people still connect the DIRECTV system to a standard stereo connection with old style cables. For the best sound, you will want to use a digital audio output from your DIRECTV system into your television or receiver. This type of audio will be as clear as your high definition picture. What's the point in watching great quality TV if you have to strain your ears to hear it? Take the time and spend the extra money to set your DIRECTV system up on a great audio set-up and you will get the most enjoyment out of your TV viewing each night. Tip: Repair or Replace a Faulty Dish Network Satellite If your satellite reception has been on the fritz lately, there may be a problem with your dish. For subscribers to Dish Network, this problem is really little problem at all. You can choose to have your Dish Network satellite repaired or you can simply replace it. It will all depend on the exact problem. First, get a specialist to come look at your Dish Network satellite dish. They will usually have a specialist out to you quickly with a call to their service line. Once you have the pro out there, sit back and let them analyze your system. The problem may not be in the dish at all. However, if they discover a problem in your Dish Network satellite dish, you will have 2 options repair or replace. Sometime the specialist can repair the satellite right there on the spot. Other times, there is nothing they can do. Satellite dish repairs can be expensive if they are serious. If you have a Dish Network satellite dish, chances are you are still covered by their great warranty. If this is the case, you have an easy choice to make. Simply contact Dish Network and explain the situation. Most likely, you can have a new dish in the main and on its way to you in no
time at all. Tip: Upgrading Your DIRECTV System DIRECTV has been around for many years now. As it has aged, the technology in their satellite systems has been improved. New receivers, new dishes, and other developments have vastly improved the services that come with a DIRECTV system. For those that have been subscribers for a long time and still are operating on their original equipment, there are solutions to get them back up to date. One of the most upgraded pieces of equipment in a DIRECTV System is the receiver. Most people now want to own a digital video recorder. The original DIRECTV System did not include this feature. Now, you can upgrade your receiver to include this technology in just a few minutes. If you want to upgrade your DIRECTV System, you can contact a DIRECTV Preferred Online Retailer and explain your situation. If upgrades are available, they will walk you through the ordering and get your new equipment sent to you as soon as you like. If you are spending money each month for a subscription to DIRECTV, make sure you are taking advantage of every feature possible. Contact a DIRECTV Preferred Online Retailer to see if you can upgrade your system. It might not even cost you a cent if they have any of their regular specials available. Category: HDTV Tips Subcategory: Tips About HDTV Tip: Buying a Flatscreen High Definition Television The newest models of televisions resemble computer monitors more than your traditional TV. Flatscreen televisions, whether plasma or LCD, are one of the largest selling technology items on the market. If you are buying a flatscreen TV, be sure you get a high definition television that will accept a HDTV input. HDTV is becoming more and more prevalent. Eventually, every home will be able to access high definition television programming. There is no sense in buying a new television, especially a flatscreen, that cannot accept these signals. To make sure you make a smart purchase, check that the models of flat televisions that you are choosing from all include the ability to display high definition television. For additional convenience, make sure that you purchase a widescreen high definition
television. When watching HD, you will see that the programming is formatted for a widescreen picture. Most flatscreen TVs are made in a widescreen aspect ratio, but some are not. If high definition television is a priority for you, get a flatscreen that has a wide aspect ration display. Tip: Component Video The Only Way to Connect Your High Definition Receiver Many people who are using a high definition receiver are robbing themselves of the full experience. By connecting a high definition receiver to your TV with bad cables, you will not get the same quality of picture that you should. In order to get the best picture from your high definition receiver, you will want to use component video cables. Component video cables are made up of three separate plugs all connected to one actual cable. These can be a little expensive but they are worth it. We recommend Monster Cables for your high definition receiver as they come with a great warranty and unmatched quality. You can find these at many retailers and on the Internet. Be prepared for a better picture from your high definition receiver. Don't wait any longer. If you are not using component video cable for your HDTV, than you are truly missing out. Tip: HDTV Growing More and More Each Day More and more people each day are hearing about HDTV. For some, it is hard to remember life before HDTV, but for others, the technology is still far ahead of them. Did you know that only 75% of cable subscribers are aware that HDTV even exists? Would it surprise you more to learn that only a few percent of cable subscribers take advantage of HDTV? Well these facts come from the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and are very interesting. Sales of HDTV units have risen by double over the past two years. This is greatly due to the increased programming that is available. For whatever the reason, HDTV is slowly growing in awareness and projections show that over 49% of new television purchases in the next year will be HDTV units. The number of HDTV sets that are being sold falls below the number of HDTV subscribers, but due to regulations, in a few years, all new televisions will be required to accept HDTV signals, so this number will grow even more over time. If you have yet to look into HDTV for our home, what are you waiting for? See a display of the picture quality that comes with it and you won't wait any longer, I promise you that. See your favorite sports and TV shows in widescreen and crystal clear picture and
you will never go back. Tip: Live Sports in HDTV Barely Short of Being at the Game HDTV is in more and more homes each year. This increase in demand has pushed more channels and types of programming to broadcast in HDTV signal for their viewers. As great as it is to see some of these on HDTV, few match the benefits that high definition brings to live sports. Most subscribers to HDTV use it for watching some form of sport. Whether football, basketball, baseball, or even golf, these people will all agree that the picture provided makes you feel like you are in the stands, on the field, or holding the flagstick. Most major sports are now on HDTV at some point or another. We can thank ESPN for this as they have multiple channels dedicated to high definition programming. On Sunday nights, you can catch an NFL game, in season, on ESPNHD. On CBSHD, you can catch NFL, College Basketball, and even Golf. The Olympics are now even being broadcast in HDTV and I, for one, cannot wait to see them. If you want to enhance your sports entertainment, look into getting HDTV for your home. You will agree with others that there is not even a comparison between standard, and even digital, cable to high definition. Put it this way, you can see the blades of grass, individual blades, on the field. Add to all of this the fact that you get a widescreen aspect ration and you can even see more of the court, field, or fairway. Tip: Not Enough High Definition in Your Area? Be Patient, It Is Coming Many subscribers to high definition TV find that the programming and channels available in their area are limited. I, for example, still do not get Fox in high definition. It's okay; because we can all rest assured that what is not available now will certainly be available in the future. All major networks are now offering their signals in high definition it is just a matter of the cable provider providing it. Contact your satellite TV or cable provider and inquire as to which high definition channels are coming soon to their service. If they cannot give you concrete answers, chances are that there are no plans in place. If this is the case, go ahead and express your unhappiness with their programming selection. Voicing your opinion as a subscriber is the best way to help move the process along. But make sure that they do not shift the focus of your call and that they report your request for more expanded high definition programming. As the consumer, you can apply the pressure that is often needed for change to occur. One thing is for sure, due to mandated regulations, all providers will be required to offer
high definition programming in the future. Therefore, even if your voice is not heard, soon enough you will get what you want anyway. Category: Satellite TV Tips Subcategory: Satellite Tips Tip: Buying an Aftermarket Mounting Unit for your Satellite TV Dish Properly mounting your dish is essential to getting the best reception out of your satellite TV service. The selections that are made available from the providers of satellite TV are not that extensive. Often, subscribers have trouble mounting the dish in a way that is functional and not an eye sore. Since satellite TV has become more prevalent, many aftermarket manufacturers have come along to offer better solutions to these consumers. To find an aftermarket satellite dish mounting system, the best place to start is the Internet. Online, you can find many different manufacturer offering solutions for any situation. Whether you need to mount on your roof, in your yard, or outside an apartment window, you can fin the right fit online. Take advantage of the major search engines to search for aftermarket mounting kits for satellite TV dishes. Instantly, you will find hundreds of thousands of results all offering you more information and product locations for these units. You can also get recommendations and products from your DIRECTV installer so you should raise the issue with your install professional when they come to your home. Don't just stick a post in the ground with some concrete. Better options are available today. Tip: Getting Free Satellite TV Installation So you finally decided to move to satellite television. Looking forward to the overall programming? Perhaps it is the movie channels that blow your hair back. Whatever made you make the move, do whatever you can to avoid large costs in starting up your service. You can probably get free satellite TV installation with the purchase of your subscription. Here is where to look. On the Internet, you can find several resellers of satellite TV services that will offer you the sun, moon, AND stars to subscribe through them. Don't fall for traps like too many