Choosing a cable package shouldn’t be hard. After all, you just need to know what channels are being offered. And if they support HD quality. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as you think it is. You see, the provider websites are quite complicated. They tend to confuse people with different deals. Plus, not to forget how sometimes providers offer a discount if you subscribe to their bundle offers. For instance, if you opt for both Cox internet plan and cable TV, the company may give you some concession.
Things to Remember While Selecting a Cable Provider
Yes, finding the right cable provider that can meet your needs can be quite tricky. However, there is no need to worry! This article is going to list down five tips that will help you choose the right provider for you. So, without any further ado, let’s begin!
Do Your Research
Start by doing some research. You have to know which cable provider is currently offering their services in your area. This is a pretty simple step. You just need to go on websites like Digital Landing and then find out which options you have available. Once you have that information, it’s time to do a little digging. You can ask your friends and even your neighbors and find out which provider they are subscribed to. Also, ask them about their experience with their service. If their reviews are positive, then you can consider trying that provider yourself.
Select the Channels You Want
Usually, people tend to watch fewer channels than they are subscribed to. You don’t have to be one of them! Instead, you should try making a list of all the channels that you would like to have access to. Also, make another list that should include channels that will add extra value to the deal. Now, you can see which provider is offering all the channels that you want. Bonus points to those who are offering some of the networks that you mentioned in your second list. Once you know which provider is offering a mix of both, contact them to learn more about their services and deals.
Inquire About Packages
Speaking of deals, cable provider are often quite generous. They will attract new customers by giving them a decent discount for a year. However, you should always pay heed to the details. Also, compare promos across various cable providers. Moreover, when the promotion period is over, you should mark the date so a higher-than-usual bill may not blindside you. You can even use it to re-evaluate your cable deal.
Realize How Often You Are at Home
You can skip this if you are someone who is living with a large family. And the reason is that there will always be someone who is going to be watching the television. However, if you live alone, ask yourself how much time you will spend watching TV. Knowing the answer to this will make it easier for you to determine which provider to go for. You see, if you are not at home most of the time, then having hundreds of channels may be a bit more for you. Therefore, this information will also let you know which plan to subscribe to.
Installation Fees
There is another thing you should consider while looking for a cable provider: installation fees. Yes, in most cases, there isn’t one. But sometimes, you may have to pay a few bucks. Plus, you will be surprised to know that there are some providers who will trick you into paying high charges for equipment and cables. Hence, it’s always better to ask for the installation fees before you sign up for anything.
Compare Prices
When you have got a lot of options, the best thing you can do in such a situation is to compare prices. You will definitely get a great deal this way. But note that the providers you have listed may or may not offer all of the channels you want. So, if the price is your concern, then do look for those who are offering the cheapest deal. However, if you prioritize the number of channels, then go with the provider who is offering the most channels.
Bandwidth, Bitrate, Resolution
Before moving on to deciding the best speed and bandwidth for streaming, you should have some idea of why you need it. There are several important factors to consider. The type of connection matters a lot. Ethernet typically has the lowest signal loss, but home Wi-Fi can also be a close second. Here are 3 other important factors that could demand more internet speed than your current plan:
Bandwidth
Internet bandwidth determines how much data you can transfer online. During video streaming or broadcasting, the transfer of data involves particularly high volumes. Therefore, the more bandwidth you have the more data you can transfer. But the more bandwidth you use, the higher your streaming costs. Bandwidth consumption, in turn, depends on the bitrate and resolution of your video stream.
Bitrate
Video bitrate is a term for data transferred over a specific period of time. The “bit” refers to data bits and the “rate” refers to the time it takes to transfer them. Bitrate is usually measured in kbps or bps. With some encoding knowledge, you can manipulate your bitrate for improved streaming performance. Manipulating the bitrate can help you control the video resolution.
Resolution
Almost everybody understands video quality terms like 420p, 720p, and 1080p. These refer to the video resolution. Video resolution involves the number of pixels that are part of the video image. In most cases, a higher number of pixels can result in a clearer and sharper image quality. Therefore, your higher resolution video streams will offer the best experience to viewers. On the other hand, it also involves a higher bitrate and consumes more bandwidth. All of which will factor into your choice of internet speeds.
The Best Internet Speeds for Streaming
High-speed internet is the norm in most markets in the United States. However, there is more to it than just picking the cheapest plan with the fastest speeds. There are two parts to internet speed. Download speed is important for viewers in the context of video streaming. Upload speed, on the other hand, is important for content creators uploading videos or broadcasting streams.
Internet speeds in the United States are much higher on average than in most parts of the world. Most homes have access to high-speed internet speeds and providers. But just any plan won’t work. The right speeds matter both to uploaders and to viewers. Generally speaking, video streaming works best with the following speeds:
- For a 480p resolution, a 5 Mbps plan is usually enough.
- For resolutions up to 720p, 10 Mbps plans typically work best.
- For HD or 1080p video streaming, you need a 25Mbps plan or higher.
From the broadcaster’s perspective, the only internet speed you can control is your own plan. However, viewers can have varying plans and speeds. And most of them are outside of the broadcaster’s control. However, making use of viewer analytics information, you should be able to get a better idea of the average internet speed among your audience. This gives you valuable insights into modifying your bitrate encoding for the best results.
Conclusion
Considering how many cable providers are there in the market, it sure becomes a challenge to identify the best one. But it shouldn’t be a problem for you now. You can consider all of the aforementioned points when selecting the provider. This will help you find the one that can successfully meet your requirements. Also, when you have found the right provider, try to negotiate the price, and who knows, you may get a decent plan at a discounted price!
