An experiment to turn off analogue television in the Russian Federation started in the central regions on Monday last week. Those who have already taken advantage of our advice and are watching “digital” may not read further - although it is never too late to reassess values. But for those who are just about to turn off analog TV, let’s try to think: what kind of television is more profitable to connect instead of “analog”?
In 2021, the notorious 20 channels can be obtained in three ways: free digital terrestrial television, as well as paid options - satellite television and cable television. Which one should you choose and is the free option really that beneficial?
Interactive television
Interactive television appeared in Russia several years ago. Then the improvement of technology began. All popular providers in the country began to offer just such services. What is this connected with?
Interactive television has several advantages. Users have many options that make watching programs enjoyable. They have access to functions such as rewind, record and pause. It is possible to display the program on the screen. There is also integration with popular social networks.
The advantages are associated with rich technical potential. The image quality is excellent, especially for HD channels. The picture looks clear and has no glare or other interference. Channels can be viewed even if there is no standard connection. Providers use a telephone line.
Currently, the Internet is actively developing, so online television is considered one of the most popular. You can watch your favorite programs even at home or very far from it. In addition to accessibility, flexible subscription management is considered an advantage. Among the programs you can choose those that you want to watch at the moment. Moreover, there is no reference to the broadcast time. The subscriber has the right to pause the program and view it at a convenient time. Such moments have earned positive reviews from many users.
Which Internet TV is better to connect? High-quality services are provided by Beeline, MTS. You can choose any company, because each of them has positive reviews. Users like the variety of channels, excellent quality and excellent service.
Disadvantages of interactive TV
When considering interactive TV, you need to take into account the disadvantages. In order for channels to be broadcast, you will need an STB set-top box. Its price starts from 3 thousand rubles. Often the cost reaches 10 thousand rubles. You won't be able to buy cheaper equipment in the store.
Operators offer customers to purchase the device in installments for 12, 24, 36 months. Monthly payment includes the price of the set-top box from 100 rubles. The control is carried out by a special remote control, which is very convenient for all people. If the telephone line capacity is low, there is a possibility that the connection application will be rejected.
Satellite TV
Nowadays satellite TV is in great demand. There are many operators. Which satellite TV is better to connect? NTV-plus is also quite in demand among users, but there are many other providers.
Satellite TV is convenient. It is available to all users, without any restrictions. And to connect interactively, special conditions are required. Satellite offers many channels. There are over 100 options to choose from. You can also connect thematic catalogs. Viewers consider image clarity to be a plus, especially if there is HD television.
Setting up your TV
- For analogue television - configure analogue channels on the TV in the “auto-tuning” (“auto-search”) mode. For the Seven Sky® , broadcast frequencies are shown in the Table .
- For the DVB-C digital package – make settings on your TV or cable receiver in the “auto-tuning” (“auto-search”) mode, or in manual mode. For the Seven Sky® broadcast frequencies are indicated in the Table , settings: DVB-C, 64 QAM, 6,875 ksymv/s.
Cons of satellite TV
On the question of which is best to connect to television, opinions differ. This is due to the pros and cons of different types of TV. Satellite also has disadvantages. For example, during bad weather, the signal may be lost, which is why the TV will not show. It turns out that watching your favorite programs needs to be postponed.
This problem is solved after the weather improves, when the signal for the TV to work again appears. Disadvantages include channels disappearing from the list or being encrypted. This drawback is eliminated by reconfiguring the signal frequency.
Setup problems
Problem | Solution |
The TV could not find any TV channel | The problem is the signal. You need to check: whether the specific TV model supports the DVB-T2 standard, whether the cable system is connected and configured correctly, whether the wire is damaged and whether it is securely connected to the TV. |
The TV does not support DVB-T2 | Without this, you will not be able to watch digital TV channels. Buy a DVB-T2 set-top box, the approximate cost of the device is 1,500 rubles. |
Having set up the TV on their own once, each person can use this knowledge again; this cannot be done without it, since the signal source often changes on the network or new TV channels appear. You can wait a long time for a specialist, but the entire TV setup will take just a few minutes.
Digital TV
Now in Russia, instead of an analogue signal, digital TV is more often used. Owners of TVs that have a digital receiver can watch up to 20 channels from a standard antenna. If this is not possible, then you can use equipment such as a receiver. When it is installed, even in the most remote regions of the country you can watch your favorite channels.
Digital TV has high resolution and excellent clarity. There is no interference while watching channels. There is also no monthly fee. 20 channels are provided free of charge. The equipment is very easy to set up, and no special operating conditions are required. Which digital television is better to connect? Such as MTS, Beeline and other companies. Providers provide many channels and competitive rates. Many users praise digital TV for its picture and sound quality.
Process and connection diagram
The connection process begins with a visit to your cable TV provider. There a contract for the provision of services is concluded and the scope of work and the list of necessary equipment are stipulated.
Important! The provider company usually offers not only to connect cable TV, but also to carry out a complete wiring of the wired network inside the apartment. However, you can save on these works if you do them yourself.
To install the cable, the user will need the following.
- Set of tools for laying. The list depends on the wishes of the user and the work that needs to be done. You can lay the cable in plastic channels, under baseboards, in plaster grooves, in slots in concrete walls.
- Hand tools, hammer, pliers, wire stripper, tape measure and so on.
- Required amount of coaxial cable.
- Dividers and splitters, with a significant length of cable lines - passive or active amplifiers.
The general connection diagram for TVs may look like a multi-pointed star. From the starting point, the provider's cable entry into the apartment, lines are extended to each consumer. In this case, you will need a simple signal divider with a sufficient number of outputs.
However, in practice, the star circuit is rarely used. The reason is the different, very different, distance to each TV. In this case, wiring must be done using splitters and dividers. The general algorithm of actions is as follows.
- The strongest possible signal is sent to the longest line. To do this, install a splitter at the input. The distant TV is connected to its main output.
- If there is a large difference in length between the two remaining lines, a splitter is also installed. It is connected according to the above method. If the lengths of the lines differ little, use a divider. The device input is connected to the second output of the splitter.
Any large-scale network with more than three TVs can be divided into significant zones and signal distribution can be planned literally on a piece of paper. Installation and switching of cables to dividers and splitters is carried out using F-connectors. Installing them on the ends of the cable is very simple.
Wire splices should not be allowed. Switching to the inputs of division devices is also not difficult; it is done by screwing.
Advice! In order not to lose the signal level due to parasitic losses, there should not be more than one intermediate point on one cable line with the connection of two connectors. Therefore, before going to the store to buy a wire, it is recommended to carefully measure everything and calculate the required length on paper.
Disadvantages of digital TV
But there are also disadvantages to digital TV. Sometimes friezes appear. The reason for this is considered to be signal degradation or lightning interference. It is also limited - only 20 channels. A subscription fee is charged for services after purchasing special equipment.
Often, while watching some channels, vertical or horizontal frames appear on the sides. The reason for this is believed to be that there are no uniform broadcasting parameters in Russia. Therefore, there are channels that show with a resolution of 16:9, while others show with 4:3.
What is better – digital TV or satellite? Both types of television have their advantages and disadvantages. They have clear images and high-quality sound. Many companies provide services. Therefore, which is better depends on the needs of the users.
Setting up channels
Setting up digital channels is always done according to the instructions for the equipment, TV or set-top box used . Therefore, you need to study this document carefully and slowly. The general algorithm of actions can be described as follows:
- go to the device settings;
- find the channel list editing section;
- set the source parameter to “Cable”;
- Set to search for digital channels only.
Then you can start an automatic search. In this case, the entire frequency range is scanned. This is quite long, in addition, the device can find extra channels, service or encrypted. Manual search is faster and more accurate. For it, you need to set broadcast parameters, namely, the carrier frequency and bandwidth. You can obtain this data from your provider; they are also indicated in the service agreement.
Cable TV
If we take into account the viewing audience, then such TV is the opposite of broadcast TV. Its main task is not mass broadcasting, but meeting the needs of users with different interests. People are offered many channels with a variety of topics.
Cable TV allows you to connect sports, children's, and educational channels. There are also programs for watching films, clips and entertainment programs. To connect to TV, you need to contact an operator that provides such services.
Which cable TV is better to connect? It is advisable to use. The company is popular among residents of our country. Package offers are especially beneficial. Users have the opportunity to choose the appropriate tariff based on their needs. There are minimal and detailed plans. Rostelecom allows you to connect profitable TV. Most reviews are positive, as customers can watch their favorite shows from any gadget. You just need to connect to the TV set-top box.
Benefits of cable television
Advantages | Flaws |
The clearest image is displayed, without distortion or flickering | If the TV does not have a special port for connecting cable television (DVB-C), then you need to purchase additional equipment (set-top box) |
The quality of the received signal does not depend on the distance to the repeater antenna | Monthly subscription fee based on the selected channel package |
The user can watch hundreds of television channels, both Russian and foreign, and can also use interactive applications (games, weather forecast, etc.) | As a rule, there is no choice of telecom operator - the market is divided and if a high-rise building is connected to one provider, then there is no way to change it |
24/7 technical support from your chosen carrier | It is not possible to run cable to remote areas. This is often not profitable for the operator, since the costs do not justify the investment. That is, they have to refuse certain subscribers |
It is possible to connect HDMI TV channels, but with the condition that the TV can support this resolution | Not all telecom operators provide the opportunity to choose TV channels for watching cable television. Many providers create different packages. It may include a set of different TV channels that may not meet the user's needs |
Features of choice
What is the best way to connect TV? To make the right choice, you need to consider several rules. You need to focus on the subscription fee. Cable and satellite TV have it. The first service provides 100 channels, for which an ongoing fee is charged. And for satellite TV you will have to pay depending on the number of TV channels.
Equipment is important. TV towers and antennas are everywhere in cities. There is no need to purchase separate devices for this. For remote regions and summer cottages, it is better to purchase satellite TV. It will be convenient to use cable if it can be connected to the Internet.
Signal reception must be taken into account. In high-rise buildings, image clarity is ensured by cables, and outside the city you can connect to a satellite dish. Analogue terrestrial TV is ideal for those who use the TV as a background and do not care about the quality of the signal.
Digital terrestrial television: pros and cons
Digital television broadcasts in exactly the same way as analogue television - through repeater towers that receive and amplify the signal from a satellite. When all repeaters in the country start broadcasting in digital format, you will have the opportunity to receive federal channels in digital quality.
Of course, this television broadcasting format has advantages:
- Digital terrestrial television is free . For the twenty federal channels that your TV will receive, you will not be required to pay a single penny of subscription fees. So this is by far the most economical option.
- Digital terrestrial television broadcasts in the same way as analogue television. Thus, you may not need any additional equipment - your existing indoor, outdoor or community antenna will simply begin to receive the digital signal.
- Digital terrestrial television is easy to “catch”. This does not require any powerful receivers - a regular cheap indoor “horn” antenna will easily pick up the digital signal. Some craftsmen manage to catch a “digital” even with a piece of cable.
But the devil, as they say, is in the details. All the advantages of digital television appear only when many factors coincide.
- Digital terrestrial television has a limited number of channels . These are twenty federal channels RTRS-1 and RTRS-2 and three radio stations. So you’ll have to be content with Malakhov’s show and watch the Orthodox TV channel “Spas”.
- Digital terrestrial television does not require equipment if you have a modern TV . Then it most likely has a built-in DVB-T2 receiver that will decode the digital signal from the antenna. But if you have an old CRT “box”, you will have to buy a special attachment.
- Digital terrestrial television is easily caught only in the immediate vicinity of a television tower . In a large city that has its own television center, you can easily catch it, but in a village or country house the signal will no longer be reliable (unless you buy a very powerful outdoor antenna).
Thus, the free digital TV option is not suitable for everyone. If you live in the city, have recently bought yourself a modern TV and use it mainly to watch the news while having breakfast, this is, of course, the best choice. But in other cases you have to consider paid options.
Moscow providers
What television is best to connect to in Moscow? There are many different companies that work for people. Which one to choose depends on desire, because every user expects something different from TV. Television in Moscow is connected by the following companies: OnLime, Ecotelecom, Beeline, Business Telecom.
What is the best way to connect television in a multi-storey building? In this case, it is advisable to choose cable, as it will provide high image quality and sound levels. But residents of the suburbs are better off using satellite TV, because it will work uninterruptedly. It turns out that the choice of television depends on desire, area of residence and the number of channels needed. All areas are in demand, because each of them is actively developing.
MGTS
The Russian company MGTS offers to connect TV packages with Amedia series, MATCH! Football, Discovery, Children's and Adults. MGTS suggests using universal HD set-top boxes for digital television for home TV. This is better than other TV providers in our ranking, making the company one of the best in 2021.
Unfortunately, the MGTS provider is currently available only in Moscow and the Moscow region. They have a huge cable network coverage in the region (Reutov, Odintsovo, Vidnoye, Lyubertsy and Krasnogorsk). The cost of the cheapest tariff is only 160 rubles/month, and the largest set of channels costs 300 rubles/month.
Participate in the promotion and connect free TV and Internet for only 399 rubles/month. Additionally, you can order multiscreen, multiroom and personal online cinema from MGTS. Monitor your account status in your personal account on the website or download the MGTS application from the App Store or Google Play. This is fifth in the ranking of the best companies where you can connect TV in Moscow.
Go to MGTS