Digital Direct TV vs HD via Cable

If comparing satelite networks, (Direct TV vs Dish Network) check into the dish angles for your locality. Where I live, Direct TV has an elevation angle of 30 degrees, whereas the Dish Network needs 11 degrees. (I don't know why they are different, since all the satelites are in synchronous 22,000 mile orbits). Anyway, 30 degrees makes it a lot easier to see over trees and other obstructions.

You are right about all the video sat services being in geosync orbit over the equator, but... The difference in elevation angle relates to which equatorial slot the licensee has. If the satellite is longitudinally equatorial, but latitudinally coincident with the pacific ocean, an Wash. DC viewer is going to have to use a significantly lower elevation angle to "see" that satellite as compared to one that is latitudinally coincident with DC.

I think both services' websites have calculators for zip codes to show you the direction/azimuth for their sats for your area. (I think Echostar requires two dishes for "full" service, inc. HD channels; DirecTV requires three satellites, but due to their orbital slots, you should be able to get away with a single elliptical dish with 3 LNBs--if you want the bulk of the HD stuff, you need the third LNB). Then you need to get on your roof with a compass, a protractor, a level, and a drinking straw. ; )

I think people use their chimneys for mounting b/c its easier than drilling holes through your roof, and generally its also the best high unobstructed view.

The best picture is over the air HD and its free..Hd network off air decoded thru a sat box looks better than cable network hd..At a store I ran we could abcd Direct TV, Dish, Insight cable, and off air hd going thru the tv's built in hd tuner..Tom

Edesilva...The dish has a built-in level, and the adjustments have angular scales, so all you need is a boy scout compass. Clue me in...what is the drinking straw for?

This is pre-actual ownership to see if you can get it. You get on your roof with the compass, you figure out the direction of the satellite, you use the level and the protractor to figure azimuth, lining the straw up on the protractor, and then you look through the straw to see if there is a big building or tree in the way... Frankly, I just got on my roof, eyeballed it, and said "yeah, this will work." For areas where large trees exist, or where you are attempting a ground install, or shooting between buildings, the whole compass/protractor/level/straw thing is more accurate.

The whole thing made me recollect an episode in my neighborhood as a kid where the cops were trying to figure out who shot a bunch of bb's through a window. They stuck drinking straws in the bb holes and looked through them. The all lined up with one particular window in a neighbor's house...