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Satellite TV Providers

There are two satellite TV providers that offer satellite TV service in the U.S. — DISH Network and DIRECTV.

DISH Network was launched by EchoStar Communications in 1996. It currently has 12 million subscribers, and is ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among all cable and satellite TV providers by J.D. Power and Associates.

DIRECTV was the first DBS (direct broadcast satellite) TV provider. Launched in 1994 by General Motors, it currently has 14.5 million subscribers, and is ranked #2 in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates.

Satellite TV Provider Comparison

Here’s a feature-to-feature comparison of the two satellite TV providers:

Programming

DISH Network offers 375 channels of all-digital programming including movie channels, pay-per-view programs, and sports packages. They have the biggest variety of movies and shows, and offer 60 Sirius radio channels.

DIRECTV offers 250 channels of all-digital programming including movie channels, pay-per-view, and sports packages. They have the most sports packages, and offer 67 XM radio channels.

International Channels

DISH Network offers Armenian, Asian, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, South Asian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Urdu program channels.

DIRECTV offers Chinese, Filipino, Italian, South Asian, Spanish, Vietnamese program channels.

Pay-Per-View Movies and Special Events

Both DISH Network and DIRECTV pay-per-view movies are $3.99 each. Special event programming prices vary according to the event.

Pricing

dish network program packages start at $19.99 for 40 program channels including the Starz Movie Pak, and go up to $74.99 for 375 channels, including 60 Sirius radio channels, HBO, Showtime, and Starz.

DIRECTV program packages start at $41.99 a month for 155 program channels including 50 XM radio channels, plus HBO, Showtime, and Starz, and go up to $96.99 for 250 channels.

Note: For ordering information and current special offers on program packages, click on the links below.

Activation Fee

DISH Network’s $49.99 activation fee is refunded with first bill, so it ends up being free.

DIRECTV’s $50.00 fee is refunded with first bill, so it too is free.

Satellite TV System

Both DISH Network and DIRECTV will give you a free satellite TV dish and 4 free receivers with universal remotes when you subscribe to their service. Installation is free.

HD (high definition) Receivers

DISH Network offers free HD receivers when you order their service.

DIRECTV HD offers free receivers after a $99 mail-in rebate.

DVR (digital video recording) receivers

DISH Network will give you two free DVR receivers. Video-on-Demand service (the equivalent of TiVo), is free when you order their America’s Everything Pak programming, or $4.98 a month with their other programming packages.

DIRECTV DVR receivers are free (after a $99 rebate) when you order their service. TiVo service is free when you order their Total Choice Premier package, or $4.99 a month with their other program packages.

Warranty

DISH Network offers a lifetime warranty on their satellite TV systems.

DIRECTV offers a one-year warranty on their satellite TV systems.

Installation Times

Installation times for both DISH Network and directv is usually one to five days from the time an order is placed.

Customer Service

DISH Network and DIRECTV have 24-hour, 7-days-a-week online and toll-free customer service.

Bonus Gifts

Both satellite TV providers offer special programming offers and free gifts to encourage you to purchase their service. For current offerings click on the links below.

Click on the following links for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, plus the latest special offers and free bonuses from DISH Network satellite TV and directv satellite TV.

If you’re like me, you understand the dangers of using your cell phone while driving. With this Bluetooth GPS comparison guide, you can learn all about the best GPS receivers that support Bluetooth technology. Now you can not only know where you’re going, but get there more safely as well.

There are three main manufacturers of GPS receivers, Garmin, Tom Tom, and Magellan. There are others, but these are the industry leaders. All three have great GPS devices that support Bluetooth technology for hands-free calling.

In this article, I’m going to talk briefly about some of the products each company offers that supports Bluetooth. The idea is after reading this article, you’ll be better prepared to buy a Bluetooth compatible GPS receiver.

Just so you know, I’m including my opinions in this article. It’s not meant to be unbiased. I run a GPS authority website where I get to see which GPS receivers people actually buy. So, I think I have sort of a front row seat to what people like.

Magellan

Magellan is a great company! They make an excellent product! I especially like their Maestro line.

In the Maestro line they have two receivers that support Bluetooth, the 3250 and the 4250. These are exactly the same except the 4250 is the wide screen version. It has a 4.3-inch screen as opposed to the standard 3.5-inch. (That’s measured diagonally, by the way.)

Both of these devices are excellent. They include maps of the United States and Canada, over 6 million Points of Interest, and AAA Tour Book integration for those who are AAA members.

Right now, the 3250 is selling for about $200 and the 4250 is selling for about $250. Personally, I would pay $50 extra for the wide screen. But that’s just my opinion.

Garmin

Garmin is the top manufacturer of GPS receivers in the world! They offer a huge range of product. I especially like their nuvi line.

The nuvi’s are newer on the market, replacing the older StreetPilot (which is still a great GPS, by the way).

The nuvi’s that support Bluetooth are the 360 and 370, the 660,670,680, the 760, 770, 780, the 880 and the 5000.

The 300 line has the smaller 3.5-inch screen. To get the larger 4.3-inch screen, you’ll have to spring for the 600 line or above. The newer nuvi 5000 has a whopping big 5.2-inch screen!

What the 600 line and above offers over the 300’s is FM transmitter capability, where you can get the transmission from the GPS receiver to go through your car’s audio system. The 700 line and above offers multi-point routing. You can put in more than one destination and the device will calculate the most efficient route to all the points.

Personally, I love the Garmin nuvi line. I think they make a totally awesome, very sleek looking product.

Currently the 300 line runs a little more than $200, the 600 line a little more than $300. Add $50 to that and you’ve got the price range for the 700 line. The nuvi 5000 runs around $650, and the 880 runs close to $1,000. (But let me tell you something. If you really want top-of-the-line high end GPS technology, that’s $1,000 well spent!)

Tom Tom

Tom Tom is more the new kid on the block. But that hasn’t stopped them from taking a huge market share from the older, more established companies. One way Tom Tom has done that is with offering more product for less money. Also, they have been very instrumental in introducing new ideas and technologies.

Tom Tom’s GPS receivers that support Bluetooth are the Go 510, 720, 730, and 920. The Go 510 runs slightly less than $200. It’s a direct competitor with the garmin 360. The Go 920 is between $300 and $350.

Check the prices yourself. They tend to go down with time.

Tom Tom’s products offer essentially the same features as Garmin’s and Magellan’s.

No short article can tell you everything you need to know. But at least this gets you started. To learn more, you need an informative website.

There was a point in time when cable was the most popular way to watch television; however, that is beginning to change. Each day more individuals make the switch from cable to satellite TV. If you are interesting in making the switch to satellite TV then you have a number of options when it comes to selecting a satellite TV provider.

When it comes to selecting a satellite TV provider there are many individuals who do not carefully think out their decision. It is possible that you could select a provider without doing any research, but doing so may put yourself at risk for unnecessary expenses.

When searching for a satellite provider there are a number of important factors that you should consider before paying for the service or signing a contact.

The channels offered by a satellite TV provider should be one of the first things you look at. There are many individuals who search for a provider based on the cost of their service. The cost of a particular service will not matter if your favorite channel is not even offered as programming.

Once you have determined that the television stations you are most likely to tune into are offered by a particular satellite provider, you should then start examining their costs.

Satellite TV providers tend to group specific channels into packages. Each package will have a set price. The price of a specific package can often be determined by visiting the provider’s online website or by contacting their customer service department.

The average starting cost for a satellite package begins at around thirty dollars. The price that you will have to pay will all depend on how many channels you want.

The cost of equipment needed to become a satellite TV customer should also be examined. It is not uncommon to find special deals or discounts on satellite dishes and receivers; however, you may end up paying full price for the equipment.

It may be in your best interest to examine satellite TV providers that let you purchase their equipment from a local or online retail store. Outright purchasing satellite equipment means that it is yours to keep instead of leasing it from a provider.

Before you become a customer of a particular satellite TV provider you may wish to determine the reliability of that provider. Speaking to friends, family, or coworkers who are current subscribers can help you make your choices.

Feedback on just about anything, including satellite TV providers, can also be found online. Feedback and recommendations will give you a good idea as to the type of service you should expect to receive.

In today’s world, many families have multiple television sets in their household; have a home phone and an internet connection. Satellite TV providers and other companies know this and that has led to the combination of many entertainment companies.

You are encouraged to inquire about bundle packages with your television, phone, and internet. There are many companies who offer valuable discounts if you also become a customer of one of their partners.

If satellite TV is on your wish list then you are encouraged to take the above mentioned factors into consideration. Simply by comparing services and prices you can be on your way to watching satellite TV without going broke.

Satellite TV is nowadays a growing business with millions of subscribers worldwide. What used to be a luxury only for the rich and famous just a few years ago is no an affordable option for almost anyone. The growth rate of satellite TV has beaten cable TV in many countries and there are many satellite TV dealers providing these services. However, as with any other hot product, there are a lot of scammers as well.

Ordering Online

There are many satellite TV dealers who sell there products online as well. After you place your order with an online satellite TV dealer, you have to choose the number of satellite systems you want to receive. Online dealers usually offer up to 4 free systems often along with an incentive gift as well, such as a DVD player or a home theater system.

After you’ve completed your order, you will schedule the time when a professional installer will come to your house. The satellite system can be shipped to you in advance or be brought in by the installer. You usually don’t have to decide on the programming right away. You can call a toll-free number after the installation and talk to a customer service representative to activate the programming you’d like.

Internet Scams

Unfortunately, as with any other product you purchase on the Internet, there is a risk to get scammed. Many of the online satellite TV dealers out there are actually scammers. They claim to offer the best satellite deals for a very small subscription fee with next-day installation and sometimes unlimited number of free satellite system as part of a promotion.

However, after you sign up you will discover hidden activation fees, installation dates permanently postponed, high shipping costs or enormous cancellation fees. There might be more scammers out there than actual satellite TV dealers, so beware not to fall into their traps.

Choosing the Right Satellite TV Dealer

In the United States there are two main satellite TV providers: Dish Network and DirecTV. They both have several reputable dealers assigned and you are recommended to order your systems from one of them.

– Here is a checklist of the minimum requirements a satellite TV dealer should meet:
– Be in business for at least one year
– Have a certified website, as well as provide a secure order page
– Be authorized by a satellite provider’s officials
– Have no “hidden” costs (the cost charged on credit card should be shown clearly)
– Provide a customer support service by phone, email or live chats
– Have a 100% money-back guarantee and refund your money if the installation fails
– Being able to provide testimonials from customers, user reviews or being recommended by an authority website is always a plus.

A satellite TV deal can be either an incredible bargain or a dreadful nightmare, depending on the satellite TV dealer you choose. Ordering your satellite systems from a reliable company can save you a lot of money and headaches, as well as provide you with the quality you are expecting.

A decade ago technology visionaries were talking about a technology that people can use in their mobile phones to get direction, track their friends, and finally those kinds of services are finally starting with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS) that makes our life simpler and smother. The GPS first began to materialize when Russia put Sputnik into space in 1957. And today this system includes the operation of 24 satellites that continually circle the earth and is used for a variety of functions that helps you in map-making, land surveying, commerce and scientific affairs, such as synchronization of telecommunications networks. Now Nokia N96 is Latest Gps Phone and comes with orange and o2 network in Uk.

GPS comes with solutions for your Car, Motorcycle, PDA and mobile phones. Mobile phones gps unit identifies user’s position information with details including latitude, longitude with maximum accuracy up to 15 meters in and gps technology is measuring the exact position of the mobile user more accurately by calculating user’s coordinates with the help of satellite signals.
GPS really plays a significant role in directing the use of mobile phone a new dimension. GPS facilitate users to type a location and broadcast it to their friends and even the mobile virtual network automatically tracks and alert people about their location.
Gps Phones provides the user an alert when any of their friends comes nearer. The leading mobile operators are busy to provide GPS technologies on their handsets and the Nokia and Samsung have been quite busy with releasing new GPS enabled phones. Some of the best GPS mobile phones by Nokia and Samsung are Nokia 6110 Navigator, 6210 Navigator, 6220 Classic, E66, E71, E90, N78, N82, N95, N96 and Samsung i550 and Sansung i560.