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Choosing a type of cable television service to install in your home can be a frustrating experience, especially if you're a cable novice and can't distinguish between the different services available. With some patience and guidance, though, it is easy to understand the differences between basic cable, analog cable and digital cable.
Basic Cable:
Basic cable is a fundamental cable service that every cable provider will offer, and it is usually your cheapest option. For anywhere between $10 to $40 a month, you can subscribe to a basic cable package and receive cable programming from channels like MTV, TLC and USA. If you've never ordered a cable package, this may be your best bet when starting out, to get a feeling of how often you'll view the cable programming and which channels your family likes best.
Analog Cable:
Analog cable is a common type of cable that transmits programming through a coaxial cable that is set up outside and runs into your home. Analog cable provides viewers many popular channels but provides less channel options than digital cable. However, analog is often cheaper than digital and is a good option if you are in an area that is not yet accessible to digital cable. One drawback of analog is viewers sometimes get a less sharper picture than digital, as the signal can wear down as it travels through the coaxial cable.
Digital Cable:
Digital cable is a type of programming that is transmitted to your television set through a digital box supplied by the cable provider. This type of cable is popular and easy to use, and many digital cable providers offer packages that group together basic cable channels with some more premium movie channels like HBO or Showtime. Digital cable is also supposed to provide a cleaner picture and less interference than analog cable, as it is transmitted through a digital signal and not an actual cable outside your home.
Basic Cable:
Basic cable is a fundamental cable service that every cable provider will offer, and it is usually your cheapest option. For anywhere between $10 to $40 a month, you can subscribe to a basic cable package and receive cable programming from channels like MTV, TLC and USA. If you've never ordered a cable package, this may be your best bet when starting out, to get a feeling of how often you'll view the cable programming and which channels your family likes best.
Analog Cable:
Analog cable is a common type of cable that transmits programming through a coaxial cable that is set up outside and runs into your home. Analog cable provides viewers many popular channels but provides less channel options than digital cable. However, analog is often cheaper than digital and is a good option if you are in an area that is not yet accessible to digital cable. One drawback of analog is viewers sometimes get a less sharper picture than digital, as the signal can wear down as it travels through the coaxial cable.
Digital Cable:
Digital cable is a type of programming that is transmitted to your television set through a digital box supplied by the cable provider. This type of cable is popular and easy to use, and many digital cable providers offer packages that group together basic cable channels with some more premium movie channels like HBO or Showtime. Digital cable is also supposed to provide a cleaner picture and less interference than analog cable, as it is transmitted through a digital signal and not an actual cable outside your home.