| Millions of houses across the United States have | | | | 2009, broadcasts are going to be exclusively in digital. |
| cable television, and most apartments are cable | | | | The old antennas that some people still have will not |
| ready, which means that having the cable provider | | | | receive signals. Another option for some is to get a |
| come to install cable in the apartment is quick and | | | | converter box, but going with cable seems the much |
| easy. Without much effort on the part of the | | | | more sensible and simple route. |
| customer, they can have access to all of their | | | | Today, cable provides far more than just television |
| favorite channels. The service and quality of picture | | | | stations for people to watch. Customers can also get |
| are great and are getting better with all of the | | | | reliable telephone service and high speed Internet |
| advances in technology. However, there was a time | | | | service from the local cable company. Many |
| when cable was nothing but a dream. | | | | customers find that they can save quite a bit of |
| The coaxial cables and optical fibers used for deliver | | | | money by bundling all three of the services together. |
| the service are far more reliable than the antennas | | | | This is an option that most cable companies today |
| that broadcast signals through the air. These air | | | | offer. |
| signals were easily lost and were not of high quality in | | | | Having cable has some other benefits as well, |
| most cases. In addition, cable was a far faster | | | | including those that most people would overlook. |
| method of delivering these signals. | | | | Cable is a system that you don't have to do any |
| The origins of cable date back well over half a | | | | maintenance to whatsoever. The cables are |
| century. The conception of cable was to give those | | | | underground and the cable company maintains the |
| who lived in areas where those often unreliable air | | | | system. |
| signals wouldn't reach. Over time, this gained | | | | While satellite service seems similar on the surface, |
| popularity because of the better pictures and clearer | | | | customers will have to take care of certain things |
| and more reliable signals. | | | | dealing with their satellite dish. Keeping the satellite |
| Within a few decades, cable had hundreds of | | | | safe and clear of debris is one of the most important. |
| channels available and was in use by people all over | | | | If the snow on the roof becomes too high, it can |
| the country, even in areas where air signals were | | | | interrupt service and even damage the dish. |
| easy to receive. The reason for this is that cable | | | | With cable being in so many homes around the |
| offered so many more viewing options. | | | | nation, it is inarguably one of the most important and |
| Very few people rely on signals through the air for | | | | influential inventions in history. With new advents in |
| their televisions today. Those that do will have to | | | | technology, it is no wonder that so many people still |
| make the switch to cable or satellite very soon. In | | | | have cable television in their homes. |