Satellite.
Satellite transmissions are always open to global weather interference. This will cause ALL Channels (when the weather is bad) to show 'Blocking' on the screen or one can lose them completely. That's right across the board !! EVERY CHANNEL !!

I have also noticed that the publications of program transmissions are quite fictitious.
By the time one receives the magazine, a lot of program times have been changed (replaced with something else). It's a shambles. Repeats ! I have never seen so many !
About 4 times a week we are also subjected to being unable to select 'program details' via the satellite system.

Getting Channels.
We despair when trying to either change our subscription or get information.
Some operators tell us we must stay on SKY ONE for the change signal to be sent and it normally takes about 2 hours. Others say "no need, it takes a few minutes". Some say that one should stay on the SKY ONE channel while they send the signal and it only takes a few minutes. No doubt about it, they seem not to train their staff properly. In fact, on a few occassions, they have done nothing and we have had to repeatedly telephone to get the changes made.
It's a poor show alround. Remember, all calls are at NATIONAL rates, which just adds 'cost' to an already frustrated consumer.

Dish placement.
If your satellite supplier has placed your dish on your television pole then call them and get them to remove it and place it on a correctly fitted (and separate) dish fixture (at no extra cost to yourselves). There are a lot of cowboys fitting these dishes on TV poles, which are totally unsuitable ! It only takes a strong breeze to miss-align the dish causing all sorts of problems. You could also lose the pole as the dish may be too heavy for it.

Our personal feelings.
Now that we have experienced Digital Satellite for ourselves, we will be cancelling as soon as the one year contract expires, make no mistake about it. For us, it's worthless. The overall 'enjoyment' factor is 'killed' by the 'faults', constant telephone calls to get things done and the lack of correct information. Naturally, you may feel differently.

Satellite packages.
Some companies have thrown together packages which really are not up to the job. As an example, no facilities to set up 'timed' recordings. This means that you have to leave the entire system ON with your video set up on the timer but the satellite box on the channel you want to record. This means that you can not, I repeat, can not watch satellite just incase you miss the program you want to record. So what happens when you want to record more than one channel and on different channels and different days ? CAN NOT DO IT ! It also means that your satellite box is ON all the time until you switch it OFF manually, if you remember. So going Out or going on a Holiday is out, especially if you are doing an 'Open University' course ! The latest systems DO offer a method of multiple settings for recording, so make sure its one of those.
One satellite system made by Amstrad (which we have and has been replaced twice), has serious 'baud' faults which end up freezing the system completely and cannot be turned OFF without removing the Mains plug from the socket (that's the answer to the problem from our satellite supplier, Sky digital). Absolute rubbish !!
Now our 3rd replacement, a 'Pace' system, also without the ability to set 'timed' recordings, started to go wrong only a few days later. What a waste of time !
If you have this type of problem, then you have the right to demand another package with another satellite system under the 'Sales and Supplies of Goods' act, or you can ask for your money back and cancel the contract (Please check first).
If the signal is good (see the set up section on your satellite box), then the chances it's your LNB, Dish, cabelling or mains plug is remote to say the least. No matter what the engineers say, get a replacement box or a new package.
All-in-all, I suggest that you 'WAIT' and see what is going to happen in the next year (2000-2001). If you do not wait, then expect to be disappointed in one form or another.

Digital Television.
Is this going to use Satellite technology ? Yes it is ! So, you are going to experience all the same problems as Satellite. You can see this on some retailers demonstration sets. The picture quality is not that good especially if the weather is poor.
If, on the other hand, digital television is going to be terrestrial based, then one thing is for sure, picture 'breakup' is inevitable due to weather conditions. Digital requires a more precise signal over a more concentrated area. Hence the problem.
Be Warned !
Some so-called digital sets being sold have the digi box inside the television set. This does not mean that the television set itself is digital. If you are thinking of purchasing such a set, please check to see if digital means 'digital television' and not digital box inside with normal analog television.
As things stand today, using the television services we have, the only real problem is if the TV set breaks down or the TV station/transmitter stops sending a signal in one form or another. Keep you normal television, you do not really need a digital set ! It will be quite some time before all transmissions go digital and by that time the prices and facilities will improve.

Overall Conclusion.
If you want a system then go for Cable(analogue or digital with video recording selections) or Satellite (analogue). The people I have spoken to seem to be very happy indeed. Also, analogue sets have the ability to set-up timed recordings with day/week etc. You should be able to get a secondhand system very cheaply. As for Cable digital, we have not looked into that as yet.
All-in-all, just wait and see what happens. Time will tell. It is not worth signing contracts and end up paying for something that is far from 'satisfactory' to say the least !
If you have an 'analogue' system, then use it, do not change over, not just yet !
At this moment in time, It's your 'Time' and 'Money' that can best be spent on other things.
For those of you who need the ability to record channels, be it for 'Open University', Gardening, Wild Life and so on, then make sure that the system you chose offers the ability to setup video recording.