In this guide
Satellite television has been the default for millions of homes for decades, and it still does some things very well. If you’re weighing it against Moa Tv, here’s a straight comparison, including the points where satellite comes out ahead.
At a glance
| Moa Tv | A typical satellite package | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Order online, sign in on your own devices | Dish installation and a receiver box |
| Commitment | 1 to 24 months, paid up front, no auto-renewal | Often a 12 or 24 month contract |
| Extra rooms | Add screens to the same plan, up to 5 | Usually a second box and a multiroom fee |
| What it depends on | Your broadband | A clear line of sight to the satellite |
| On demand and catch-up | Library and catch-up included | Varies by provider, often via broadband anyway |
| Moving house | Sign in at the new address | Dish and box need reinstalling |
Getting started
With satellite, someone has to come and fit a dish, run a cable and set up a receiver, and in a flat you may need permission to put a dish on the wall. With Moa Tv you order online and install an app on a TV, stick, phone or computer you already own. If your TV can’t run the app, a streaming stick in a spare HDMI port is all the equipment you need; the devices page explains the options.
What it costs
Satellite packages often look cheap for the first months and rise later, with equipment, installation or multiroom charges on top. Moa Tv prices are listed in full on the prices page: one payment per plan, with the per-month cost falling as the plan gets longer, and no setup or equipment fees. The one cost outside the price is your own broadband, which most homes already pay for.
Extra rooms
On satellite, a second room typically means a second box and a monthly multiroom charge. With Moa Tv, you add screens to the same plan, each one costing 45% of the plan price, and every room can watch something different. The multiple screens page shows the full table.
Where satellite still wins
- It doesn’t use your broadband. If your connection is slow or shared by a busy household, satellite isn’t affected by it.
- It’s slightly closer to live. Internet streams usually run a few seconds behind a broadcast. For most viewing that doesn’t matter; for live sport with friends texting the score, it can.
- It doesn’t depend on Wi-Fi at home. A satellite box wired to the dish has none of the room-to-room Wi-Fi problems a streaming device can have.
On the other hand, heavy rain or snow can interrupt a satellite signal, and a dish knocked out of alignment needs a visit to fix.
Picture quality
Satellite delivers a steady HD picture, and some providers offer 4K on certain channels with a compatible box. Moa Tv streams most channels in Full HD and selected channels and events in 4K, provided your connection can keep up: about 20 Mbps for Full HD and 35 Mbps or more for 4K. A cable from the router to the TV makes the biggest difference; the stable streaming page has more.
Who suits which
Satellite makes sense where broadband is slow or unreliable, or for households that want a single box and never think about connections. Moa Tv suits homes with decent broadband that want to choose their own screens, avoid contracts, watch in several rooms and keep an on-demand library alongside live TV.
Questions
Can I keep my satellite dish and add Moa Tv?
Yes. They don’t interfere with each other. Enigma2 satellite receivers can even show Moa Tv channels next to satellite ones; see the Enigma2 page.
Does Moa Tv work if my broadband is slow?
It needs about 20 Mbps per Full HD stream. Below that, choose lower-quality channels or consider whether satellite suits you better.
Is there a contract to cancel later?
No. A plan simply ends at its end date unless you renew it.