Cable or satellite— both deliver television programming to your home, but which is ideal for your home theater installation? Southwest Audio Visual compares the two to help you decide which is best for your custom home theater.

How They Work

Cable receives signals via radio frequency transmitted through coaxial or fiber-optic cables, while satellite receives them via communications satellites by an outdoor antenna, usually in the form of a dish which home theater installers can set up.

Installation and Availability

Before you get too excited about choosing cable or satellite for your home theatre installation, you need to know which one your home can support. Unfortunately, cable is available only near its service providers, while satellite is available everywhere for a convenient home theater install—provided the dish is able to face the right direction.

Both require installation—a junction box for cable, a dish for satellite—that home theater installers can set up. For an easy home theater install you can count on, including your cable or satellite, contact SWAV today!

Cost and Contract

Most cable providers set up month-to-month subscription plans that generally cost more than satellite; however, cable providers such as Cox offer bundled subscriptions to TV, internet, and phone services, which can make for a more complete home theatre installation.

Satellite contracts often last up to one year, and some companies have begun offering bundled services for home theater installation as well.

Reception and Programming

Signal reception for cable home theatre installation is often more reliable than satellite, which may suffer due to obstructions such as trees, buildings, or heavy rain. However, basic satellite packages usually come with more channels than that of basic cable, offering a more complete home theater installation experience with fewer extra purchases.

Cable or satellite—the choice is yours! Southwest Audio Visual is here to deliver the best home theater install in San Diego. If you’re looking for a home theater installation to deliver everything you need for high-quality TV entertainment, let us help! A custom home theater installation is just a call away.