HD (high definition) TV is all the rage these days. DISH network has combined HD with their DVR (digital video recorder) so you can watch and record your favorite shows in crystal-clear high def format. Here's a guide that shows you how a DISH Network HD DVR works, and how you can get one free.

DISH Network HD DVR

I remember the good ol' days - last year - when all I had to record my favorite programs was a VCR player. In order to record a program I had to: 1. set the format, 2. set the start hour, 3. set the start minutes, 4. set the AM or PM, 5. set the stop hour, 6. set the stop minutes, 7. set the AM or PM, and 8. set the channel. What a pain! And if I missed a step, I missed the show.

What a difference technology makes. Now when I record a program with my HD VCR all I have to do is go to the on-screen guide that displays all the programs on satellite TV and click on the show I want to record. Piece of cake.

When I want to watch a recorded show all I do is click on my VCR guide and click on the show's title. No more rummaging through VCR cassettes then having to fast forward through my recorded shows to see the one I want. My VCR displays all the shows I've recorded and even has a short summary of what they're about. One click of my remote and I'm watching one of my recordings

HD DVR Features

In addition to recording my favorite programs, DISH Network's HD DVR allows me to:

* Store up to 350 hours of my favorite recordings in the DVR unit inside my receiver. Now more hassling with video tapes.

* Pause, rewind, and replay live TV shows so I can pause my show, answer the phone or get a snack, then resume watching when I'm ready.

* Record HD programs so I get a near-lifelike picture. The difference really is amazing.

*Record a program while watching another program, and even record two live programs while watching a program I recorded.

The Bottom Line

If you watch a lot of TV like I do and you want to record your favorite shows with push-button simplicity, then a DVR is the only way to go. If you want to record your shows and watch them in crystal-clear high def quality, then an HD DVR is the way to go. To find out how you can get a free HD DVR, click on the link below.

Want to watch cable tv on computer but do not how to do it? There is more than one way to do it. I will briefly touch on 2 methods here.

In order to enable you to watch cable tv on computer live, you can go for a specialized pc hardware called PCTV cards. These cards enable your PC to receive live satellite tv feeds. There are 2 types of cards, external and internal. The internal one comes in the form of PCI card while the external one connects to your PC via USB. The card receives satellite feed by means of telephone line or cable connection provided by your broadband network.

The second way is to purchase software that will stream live satellite tv channels directly to your computer. What you need is only the software plus a broadband connection preferably. A 56k dial up connection will work too but you will not get optimal video performance. You can then watch cable tv on computer or laptop right away. The process of downloading the software, installing it and start watching live tv channels take less than 20 minutes.

In comparison, I recommend the second option. Why? Firstly, you do not need to buy and install any hardware. That takes away the hassle opening up your computer and trying to install a card. Although there is always the external PCTV card, personally I will prefer not to have another device and wiring sitting on my desk.

There are some other reasons why I recommend using software to watch cable tv on computer and I am saying this based on my experience with one particular software. Firstly, it is a one-time fee, typically less than $50. That means you only pay for the software and can subsequently use it for as long as you like. Secondly, it is easy and straight forward to install. Thirdly, some packages offer over 3000 channels world wide for you to choose from. After a period of use, it almost feels like you are viewing live tv channels for free.

George Tho is a tv addict. Visit his site for more information to how to Watch Cable TV On Computer.

For quite some time the decision that TV viewers had to make when choosing between satellite and cable was sometimes difficult to make. The tug-o-war between the two service providers seemed to go back and forth as both of them would add on features and options for potential customers to select from. With regards to high definition programming, it too was a somewhat difficult decision to make.

This was, because while satellite TV service providers maintained a marginal lead on cable service providers cable service in terms of actual channel numbers the companies were continuing to make claims that they were on the brink of overcoming their technological handicap. This they claimed would eliminate the technological advantage that satellite service providers held and allow them to then compete on a level playing field.

It seems that time has ran out for cable companies, because two things have taken place. One of them is that both leading satellite TV service providers have made quantum leaps in their numbers of high definition channels, with Dish Network at thirty-eight and DirecTV at an astounding seventy-two at last count. This in turn has led to the other event, which is a realization by cable service customers that they have been duped into believing that they would in short order have an adequate number of high definition channels to select from.

In fact the writing was on the wall the whole time, because cable companies were never forth coming with regards to what it actually was that was in their way of carrying high numbers of high definition channels. Also, being that if it was a technological problem that required a technological solution, satellite service providers would always have the upper hand because technologically speaking they always do.

With the number comparisons being what they are at the present time it would seem that no one now can look to cable for high definition programming. Unfortunately, many people have no choice in service providers and this is something that cable company strategists have known all along. For apartment dwellers and others that can't receive satellite, because they are blocked in by terrain they are simply out of luck for now.

The good news is that satellite TV service providers are presently working on the technology that would allow these disadvantaged TV viewers to some day receive satellite TV programming. Until then however; they will have to do with out the large number of high definition channels that satellite TV service providers have to offer.

A bright spot is the fact that Dish Network recently launched a new satellite service for recreational vehicles called "Mobile Dish". Mobile Dish incorporates new technology that now allows RV owners to receive one-hundred channels of satellite TV programming while the vehicle is in motion and without the use of a conventional satellite dish. What this means is that unlike cable service providers, satellite TV service providers are in fact hard at work overcoming technological challenges that stand in their way and are continually reaching out to new viewers.

Selecting a satellite TV programming service provider is not anywhere near as easy as it used to be only a few years back and this is due to a number of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that satellite TV programming service providers in general are now offering far more then they ever did in the past. This not only includes their actual programming but it even goes as far as their promotional give-aways as well.

It was only a decade ago that a new satellite TV subscriber had to purchase their own satellite system to begin receiving satellite service but now with all of the providers offering free satellite TV systems and installation it is something else to consider and compare when shopping around for a service provider. With regards to service there really isn't a whole lot to consider when comparing the top satellite service providers, because they all have consistently received high marks from J.D. Power and associates for their records in overall customer satisfaction.

If all that you are in the market for is an entry level basic programming package, you need not look too far because all of the leading satellite programming service providers have excellent entry level packages and they are very comparable both in pricing and the number of channels that they come with. However; because the leading satellite service providers have very flexible policies regarding upgrades in both packages and receivers you may want to look further to make sure you will be content should you decide to upgrade from your entry level package.

Its items such as high definition programing where the two leading providers DirecTV and Dish Network beginning to demonstrate their differences. When comparing the two in this new format of programming, its hard to break it down to just hard numbers. This is due to the fact while Dish Network leads DirecTV in total numbers of high definition programming channels 31 to 12 its how they are marketed that can make a difference.

Dish Network is going to require you to subscribe to their entire repertoire of high definition programming no matter what channels you want but DirecTV, on the other hand, while having far fewer channels to offer will allow you to select out as few as one channel when adding high definition to your programming package.

The real difference in their programming packages is the channel number increments that they are composed of with the exception of their largest programming packages which both contain around 250 channels. While Dish Networks "Americas Top" series comes in three sizes ranging from 100, 200 and 250 channel packages, DirecTVs "Total Choice" series range in sizes from 140, 185 and 250 channel programming packages.

Both DirecTV and Dish Network have a broad range of programming channels for you to select from if you wish to build on your programming package, including adult programming and even ultra-premium sports programming channels that are offered by DirecTV. These are two channels that you simply can't get from any other service provider, because only DirecTV has exclusive broadcasting rights to them. They are NFL Sunday Ticket and NCAA Mega March Madness.

So many new technological developments have come along for RV travelers over the years that the people who first hit the road decades ago in the first travel trailers would hardly recognize what is todays modern RV. As far as on-board entertainment is concerned, it has been development after development and now people can expect only the best in stereo systems, flat screened TVs all ran through state of the art surround sound systems.

With all of this new whizz-bang technology that people have been dragging into their RVs there has always been one thing that stayed out of reach of the savvy RV traveler and that was real time satellite reception while the RV was traveling down the open road. Sure people could watch satellite TV after they arrived at their destinations but who wants to watch TV when your at a great vacation spot that features rivers, lakes, casinos and full contact kick boxing contests.

The time that a satellite system is really needed is on the way to the destination, particularly when all the sight seeing that there is out the window is deserts and old wrecked cars out in fields. Now that has all changed and it is possible to watch satellite TV on your new flat screened TV while zooming down the road, thanks to a new service that is offered by Dish Network called "Mobile Dish".

Its a satellite TV service that was created just for moving vehicles that now has one-hundred channels of great programming for entertainment starved travelers to select from. The reception is great and the dish on the roof never has to be set up or taken down again, because there is no longer a dish on the roof. With Mobile dish, its good-bye and good riddance to the problematic satellite dish on the roofs of RV that seemed to have the ability to magically reach up and snag on even the highest branches that were driven under.

Its been replaced by a brand new state of the art low profile antennae that actually hugs the roof of an RV and is completely snag proof. With every other minority having their own advocates in the U.S. its about time that someone did something for RV owners, who in fact are possibly the most neglected minority in the U.S.

Leave it to the good folks at Dish Network to take up the mantle for RV owners everywhere who have had to do without for generation after generation while the rest of America watched their satellite TV programming in the comfort of their homes. Now RV owners will never have to stand at the back of the line and accept second best when it comes to satellite TV programming and its about time. Also, now RV travelers everywhere can have full access to twenty-four hour weather while they are on the road, which will make traveling so much more safer and pleasant.