4. BUY IT

Here comes the part you probably aren't looking forward to: shelling out the money and actually buying satellite television. The best advice we can give you on getting the channels and features you want at minimum cost is to check out the promotions DIRECTV and DISH NETWORK are offering.

Promotional deals

Because DIRECTV and DISH NETWORK are competing for your business, there are always tons of promotional deals going on. Some will appeal to you, and some won't. Here are some examples:

  • At the time of this writing, when you buy DIRECTV and subscribe to the Total Choice package, you'll get two months of 32 premium movie channels and 25 specialty sports channels for free.

  • However, because DISH NETWORK is scurrying to be the top provider, they're offering an even better deal: show them your current cable bill and agree to purchase the Top 100 plus premium movie channels or the Top 150 package (about $40 per month) for one year. In return, you get the actual satellite dish and professional installation for free. This will save you about $400. By the way, even if you don't have cable, you can still get this promotion, you'll just have to pay up front and then get a refund in the mail.

These promotions won't last forever, though, so check out their websites before you buy. Hey, maybe you'll find an even better deal.

Equipment

When it comes to buying the equipment for your satellite television, there are many ways to find the best deal:

  • If DISH NETWORK is the DBS for you, the best dish to get by far is the DISH 500 satellite TV system (model 3722/3822), which is the one you'll get for free if you take advantage of the deal above. There are other dishes to buy, and you can check them out at the DISH NETWORK homepage, but clear your sitcom-clogged brain and think: why on earth would you buy one when you can get one for free?

  • DIRECTV doesn't offer an official satellite dish; while this makes the process a little more complicated, it does offer more flexibility and choice. The best way to buy the actual dish is to go to a retailer near you (Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, etc.) and check out what dishes are in your price range and offer what you need. The DIRECTV website even has a dealer locater that operates on zip code.

  • As we're sure you could guess, the DISH NETWORK also has a dealer locater based on your zip code.

  • You should also take a look at Amazon.com for satellite systems, which has a product finder that allows you to type in features and prices you're looking for and then displays matching systems.
When you buy the actual system, you'll get the dish, the receiver (the box on top of your TV), and a remote control. However, each receiver can only broadcast to one TV. Now, if you only have one TV or want to minimize the amount of screen gazing in your house, that's not a problem. But most likely you'll want the satellite service in more than one room of the house, which is easily accomplished… for a price. What you'll have to do is purchase extra receivers (usually about $100 each plus a nominal per-month charge for each one) and make sure you buy a dish with the capability to send the signal to more than one receiver.

Some other goodies you can get when purchasing equipment:
  • You can receive your Internet service from your TV, known as "WebTV." Of course, if you're reading this, you already have an Internet provider, but DBS can offer you a turbocharged connection at a decent price (usually about $25 per month).

  • For the parents in the crowd, you can spoil all your children's fun with parental locks on certain channels.

  • For the technophiles, you can purchase high-definition television (HDTV), which is an ultra-sharp digital picture.

Lots of other accessories abound, and new features are constantly being added, so when you're ready to buy DBS, check out the providers' websites for all of the options available.

Ordering your satellite television system

When you are ready to buy it, all you'll need is your credit card. The way to order your satellite television service is by calling the provider's toll-free number:

  • DIRECTV: 1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288)
  • DISH NETWORK: 1-800-333-DISH (3474)