So, let’s say you’ve been getting gouged by cable company pricing like Comcast or Adelphia for long enough and you’re ready to make the switch to satellite. How does the process work? What will it cost? What kind of service can you expect to get? Not to worry, we’ve got a brief guide to setting up your satellite dish and the costs you’ll run into along the way.

Thankfully there’s really not all that much to it. Allsat’s website will provide you with a nifty flash-based application that can give you a total amount in terms of cost for installation as well as your monthly rate. Given the many promotions that Dish Network is running, they’ll include those discounts into your plan as well.

So, I popped open the tool and put in an example. I tend to be a low-maintenance TV watcher. I don’t need anything fancy like DVR or High-definition TV. It’s nice and all, but let’s go for the most basic of basic plans. The first question you’ll be asked is how many TVs you’d like for the service in your home. For me I picked one, since hey I only have one TV anyhow. Next it’ll ask you what kind of extra features you’ll like. You have the option of DVR service, HD, and HD-DVR as well, which will cost a bit extra if you opt for them. I picked standard, so let’s move on.

So, if you’re looking for the absolute basic package, your start up and installation costs will be $0.00. Not a bad deal! You’ll also receive a discounted rate for the first 3 months, giving me the $32.99 per month for my first 3 months. Definitely a good deal compared to my current bill from Comcast. If you’re ready to order, you can hop on the satellite bandwagon online or by phone.