Ever since TV and internet technology has evolved, we have so many different avenues of getting the service. In the past, there were a handful of options to get TV service at home. Today, there are dozens of methods of getting the service. The most common ones are cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite. For an average consumer, things can get quite confusing with so many options available. Every connection has some good things and bad things. Therefore, one must weigh all the merits and demerits before reaching any conclusion.
Today, we will discuss all the different types of connections, their merits, demerits, and which one is the best for you. Let’s begin:
Things to look for in a TV provider
Before making any decision, here are things to look forward to:
Reliability
No matter what connection you have, it should be reliable. There is no point in getting service with connection issues.
Price
The connection should be affordable. This price doesn’t only involve the monthly charges but installation, equipment, and other charges also.
Channel Lineup
The connection should get you an extensive channel lineup. The lineup should have all the local and national channels. Premium channels should be available as add-ons for the people willing to pay for them.
On-demand
Traditional TV focused only on getting local and national channels. With the induction of the internet, everything changed for good. Providers now offer an extensive library of on-demand movies and TV shows.
DVR functionality
DVR lets you record live TV shows. Some devices have their own storage to record hours of videos while others have cloud storage to store data.
Best connections:
Cable
Cable TV uses a network of coaxial cables to provide high-speed internet, HD cable, and digital phone service. Many cable providers are working in the industry providing state of the art service that includes extensive channel lineups, high-definition, DVR, and on-demand service. Mediacom customer service is an example of such a service. The packages are well-tailored to meet the expectations of a household. Moreover, cable providers have ultra-fast internet. You can bundle internet and cable from the same provider to get discounts on your monthly bill. The benefit of cable is that it is widely available. The installation fee is quite affordable. You get fairly consistent service even when the weather is stormy or rainy.
Fiber
Fiber cable uses a network of fiber optics. These are glass cables and much more efficient than coaxial cables. Fiber cable and internet is the most reliable service. You can get an extensive channel lineup in HD. The internet service is a highlight of fiber service. Customers can get download speeds up to 1 gigabit. However, the only problem with fiber is availability. Since the installation of fiber cables and its infrastructure requires massive cost, therefore it is not widely available. If you have fiber service in your area, then you should prefer it over cable any given day.
Satellite
Satellite is an outdated form of TV service. Although it is still widely available in the majority of the states in the US, the cable and fiber providers have completely taken over the market share. There are multiple reasons behind this. Satellite service is a bit cheap but it is not reliable. The service requires you to install a satellite. The satellite service is highly affected by the changing weather. In a storm or rainy season, your connection will suffer. However, if you have no other options in the area, the satellite has to be your go-to connection.
Streaming services
The cord-cutting movement is gaining momentum. Consumers think that the ever-increasing monthly charges of cable are difficult to manage. Therefore, they want something affordable. Streaming services offer a cheaper alternative. There are no equipment charges. However, there is a limitation to streaming services. There are so many options available and only have popular channels. You can miss out on the local channels and there are limited channels for sports. But if you are not a frequent user, then streaming services are fine for you.
Conclusion
Cable TV has a reliable connection but if you have fiber in your area, go for it!
