Mart Gnosis

We love spending time outdoors and if you are expecting a large group; you need to be somewhere you can accommodate all of the people. A picnic can be anything you want it to be. There are a host of picnic ideas available, depending upon time of day and how formal or casual you want your picnic to be. If you are having a picnic for just your family; you might try to find some of the fun new gear available; such as a portable gas grill, picnic backpack, folding picnic table, fancy acrylic dishes and glasses, sleeping hammocks and more. If you are planning a picnic for a crowd there are more details and extra planning that are needed. The following are a few ideas for your picnics to help your next event be special:

• Host dinner picnics in the park under the stars. It could be romantic picnics, or family reunions. Band concerts are held on summer evenings that your guests could listen to.

• Hold rainy day picnics especially for the kids. If the kids can’t enjoy the outdoors, spread a big blanket out in the family room and get together all of their favorite picnic food. Play a few impromptu games and then nap time later. They will feel that you did something especially for them.

• Are you watching calories so burgers and brats won’t do? Try low carb, less fat or vegetarian picnics. Beans and tortillas, lots of salads and veggies could be on the menu instead of all that heavy BBQ. Keep dairy products and mayo limited as they don’t do well in the heat.

• One idea is a total family affair including the kids. Let them help you with all of the details and the cooking preparation. It will be an event they will look forward to and remember for a long time.

• Come up with a cultural theme for your next picnic. Do you want it to be TexMex and steak fajitas or Italian with lots of wine? Make it cowboys and cowgirls for the kids or Spongebob, Garfield, etc. You decide on what’s fun for everyone.

• Include water if you can; picnics are more fun and refreshing when they are at the beach, lake, ocean side or poolside. Bring games that are good in the same such as volleyball or badminton.

• Plan the picnic around an outdoor festival. Music is a great entertainment and you can still talk at the same time the concert is going on.

• If the picnic is for the company; be a little more conservative in taste, and plan games that are good for all ages. Keep everyone involved and give out prizes.

• Get the kids involved in a craft projects including sea shells, sandcastles, nature walks, scavenger hunts and more.

• Decide if you want to do pizza or potluck, burgers or filet mignon, wine and cheese or a full course meal, sushi, tapas and more. Food is the biggest decision for the picnic so put some thought into it. Your picnic could be a success or failure depending on what kind of food you serve.

• Be creative when it comes to games. The same old things like croquet or softball is just fine, but how about coming up with new games like bocce ball or give lessons on tennis and golf that people normally don’t have time for.

• Allow for down time too. Busy people just want to relax and sit in a chair. Respect the wishes of those that just want to sit and watch instead of constantly participating in the activities. Many just need to veg for a while. It’s good to have activities for people to participate in; but don’t over do it.

• Plan some type of shelter if possible in case it rains or if some just need to come in out of the sun. Many older people cannot sit out in the sun all day and will need some shade.

Your picnics can be anything you want them to be; elegant or casual, well planned or impromptu, kids included or just dinner for two, wedding receptions or birthday parties; it doesn’t matter the ideas for picnics abound. Just get a little creative with your ideas to make it extra special for everyone and a time your guests won’t soon forget.

Beverly Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying patio and outdoor furniture, outdoor kitchen ideas gas grills, picnic tables, hammocks, above ground pools and more. She gives information and tips to help you save money and make informed buying decisions.

Alaska is considered to be the perfect place for fishing. The wildlife is various and there are a lot of water areas where great diversity of fish species lives together. Alaska is famous as a region, where salmon fishing can be practiced. Salmon fishing is unique and it can be done mainly on the shores of Alaska, which attract many enthusiasts to try their luck. For the convenience of the anglers, Alaska offers great tourist overnight accommodations, called fishing lodges. Alaska fishing lodges can be the perfect place for your holiday, and very affordable too. Here are the most popular Alaska fishing lodges where many fishermen come to stay a couple of weeks.

Alaska Fishing Lodge- Custom Adventures. The website for more information available runs as: www.wildernessplacelodge.com Wilderness Place Lodge is situated on five private acres right on Lake Creek, its location being 70 miles northwest of Anchorage. Their lodge offers the best relaxing activities and great opportunities for adventurous salmon fishing, as well as courses in fly-fishing, world class fishing, personal and professional fishing guides. Let alone the gourmet 5-course meals, the hotel’s amenities and the luxurious accommodations at the meanest price- this fishing lodge offers you also the biggest opportunity to overreach your fishing standards as it is located only minutes from the best fishing place in southcentral Alaska. Their lodge also features some of the best spin and fly fishing in Alaska. In addition, you can get your adventure packages for all kinds of Alaska salmon (King, Silver, Pink, Chum and Sockeye), and also tickets for rainbow trout.

The second Alaska fishing lodge on offer is www.alaska-adventures.net . Their Alaska fishing lodge can be found 40 miles away from the town King Salmon Alaska, which is world famous for the great fishing there. Alaska Adventures Fishing Lodge is situated in the centre of Katmai National park. It offers bountiful fishing opportunities for all the 5 salmon species, including rainbow trout, arctic char and grayling. The place for fishing stands only 40 yards from the hotel, and you have the chance of going on a trip before breakfast and after dinner. You can spend 20 hours a day fishing, if you like, and it is not necessary to fight for the water with other anglers, as there are no other fishing lodges within 34 river miles and no landing place within 20 miles. And that can ensure your big catch. Their Alaska Adventures Fishing Lodge can host 20 guests, each fishing lodge cabin accommodating from 2 to 4 people. The hotel amenities consist of dining and serving room, recreation area, the hotel offers Alaska traditional wood sauna, also hot showers and flush toilets, as well as TV, DVD and satellite phone.

The third Alaska fishing lodge to be presented here is World-Class Trophy Alaska- Salmon Fishing and Arctic Char. The site for additional information is www.alaska-salmon-fishing.net This fantastic place is reachable only on boat. The quietness and serenity offered are immense- there are no roads and airports in the district. Another way for getting there is by using the Austin’s tours. For more information click Alaska Fishing Lodges

Their lodge is situated on the banks of the Golsovia River, only 300 yards from the river mouth. The river itself is located on Norton Sound on the shores of the Bering Sea. The waters teem with King, Silver, Chum and Pink Salmon. Arctic Char can also be easily run against, when passing by your lure, just having swum from the pure ocean. The striking situation of the lodge -its nearness to the ocean- offers immense opportunities for a real big catch. Daily quantity exceeds 30-40 during the summer (June till August being the peak time). But the owners are also trying to preserve the wildlife, and after the reaching of limits, the catch-and-release technique is practised.

Whistler BC Canada is an exceptional winter destination ski resort, but you do not have to pay exceptionally high prices to enjoy its breathtaking beauty and unbeatable terrain diversity.

Whistler is affordable once you know the local money-saving secrets.

Here are 9 local tips for getting maximum Whistler value, while enriching your vacation experience to create beautiful lifetime memories.

Tip #1- Be Date-Flexible

Most ski vacation destinations have holiday date-driven pricing grids. Some vacation dates will cost you more (like New Year’s), while, others will cost you a lot less.

Fortunately, most seasonal price fluctuations have little to do with snow conditions, and more to do with consumer demand!

Whistler is no different.

What does this mean for you?

You will pay a lot less, get great snow conditions and avoid crowds by planning your vacation around non-peak holiday dates.

Here are some of Whistler Blackcomb’s best kept secret vacation dates, when you can expect to get the hill to yourself and get better accommodation value:

• Nov. 24-Dec.23 2005
• Jan. 3-Feb. 18 2006
• Mar. 1-March 15 2006
• Apr. 1-10 2006br

Tip #2- Reduce Your Whistler Accommodation Costs by Arriving and Departing a Few Days Earlier or Later During Peak Holiday Periods

If you are planning on visiting Whistler during peak holiday dates like Christmas, New Years, Spring Break or Easter, try to
arrive and leave day or two earlier or later.

This will not affect the total number of days that you enjoy Whistler, but could limit the number of nights for which you are paying top accommodations dollar in peak holiday season, which can often translate into many hundreds of dollars in accommodation savings.

Limit the number of nights that you stay in the most expensive seasons by adjusting your arrival and departure dates to include cheaper seasonal rates.

Tip#3-Plan Vacation Dates Around Lift Ticket Seasonal Pricing Dates

Like accommodations, Whistler lift ticket seasonal price ranges also reflect peak holiday dates. Lift tickets cost more during peak holiday periods.

In cases where your lift ticket may overlap date-driven price ranges, the total price you pay for a Whistler Blackcomb lift pass is determined by the date-driven price scale in which your first skiing/riding day falls.

Plan your vacation around starting to ski/ride within a date-driven price range with the lowest lift ticket prices, even if you start on the last day of that date-driven ticket season price. As long as your first day falls in the best price range, your entire ticket price will fall within he cheaper range.

For example, the 2005/2006 ticket window price for 5 of 6 day tickets that start November 24-December 23 inclusive, is $335.00 CAD + 7% GST. The same 5 of 6 day ticket that starts December 24-January 1, 2006 will cost you $360.00 CAD + 7% GST.

In this example, if you start skiing/riding on December 23, 2005, your entire lift ticket will cost $335.00, even though most of your skiing/riding days will be in the more expensive seasons.

Tip #4-Take Advantage of Pre-Booking Incentives

Whistler Blackcomb heavily rewards customers who pre-book their lift tickets online.

Pre-purchasing your 5 or more day discount Whistler lift tickets for your 2005/2006 ski vacation by October 31, 2005 will save you 18-35% on your passes, without any date exceptions. In addition to great savings, you also get a free adult ski/snowboard group lesson on your first day of skiing/riding with every 5 or more day ticket purchased by October 31, 2005.

For example, purchasing a 6 of 7-day lift ticket starting on December 23, 2005, will reward you with a savings of $128 CAD and a free adult ski or snowboard lesson, providing that you purchase it by October 31, 2005.

What if you can’t book your vacation by October 31, 2005?

You still save 5-20% on tickets pre-purchased within 72 hours of picking them in the resort.

Tip #5-Be Aware of Date-Driven Promotions & Plan Accordingly

In addition to early booking incentives, Whistler Blackcomb also offers Whistler Discount Discovery Weeks, when the resort’s most popular ski and snowboard programs are 50% off.

There are no booking deadlines to qualify, and the promotion takes place during 11 different Whistler ski season weeks.

If you book your vacation to fall within these date ranges, you would save $260 on a 5-day kids ski or snowboard Adventure Camp, or $50/day per adult group lesson.

Tip #6-Don’t Just Focus on Ski-In/Out Accommodation

Staying in a Whistler ski-in/out location will cost you a lot more per night, but often does not result in a better ski vacation experience.

Why?

Slope side properties tend to be smaller, more expensive, and less accessible to Whistler Village.

Thanks to a fantastic free Whistler shuttle system, getting to and from the slopes and Whistler Village from most resort locations is easy, fast and free. You don’t have to pay more for the location convenience of slope side accommodation to enjoy the benefits of being close to everything, including the slopes.

Take the time to look at ALL accommodation options within a 10-minute walk to the lifts. You will often get more square
footage, amenities and accessibility to Whistler Village conveniences for the same, or less, money.

Tip #7-Book Accommodation Directly with Owners

Booking your accommodation directly with owners offers you the benefits of wholesale accommodation prices, a personal home, and a personal, locally knowledgeable resource person when you need it.

Renting directly from owners enables you to bypass all unnecessary middle agent fees and commissions.

There are over 470 Whistler homeowners who now rent their condos privately and directly to Whistler visitors. Booking online
directly with owners is easy, secure and guaranteed.

If you have never rented directly from an owner before, we recommend that you review these Whistler condo booking tips.

Tip #8-Book Other Vacation Services Direct with Local Businesses to Avoid Middle Agent Fees

Booking activities such as heliskiing, snowmobiling and ground transportation directly with local businesses is another way to save money.

Some Whistler BC accommodation companies work directly with local partners and pass on all referral commissions to their
guests as savings. These Whistler BC discount consumer-direct programs help you save money, but more importantly, you get expert, friendly service directly from knowledgeable local residents who are eager to help you discover Whistler’s beauty and secrets!

Tip #9-Take the Time to Research Flights

With gas prices expected to climb even further, it is worth it to take the time to research flights.

Using consolidator services like Expedia.com, Travelocity.com and CheapTickets.com offer the benefits of rapid price comparison and easy online bookings, however, you should also check prices for booking direct with airlines. You will sometimes get better deals and seats. Most airlines now offer easy online bookings and seat selection. Even if there is no price difference, but you can get better seats, it is worth your effort.

Conclusion

Although these tips are Whistler BC-specific, they can also be generally applied to any other ski resort destination. They each have their own promotions and incentives.

Reward yourself with maximum value by taking the time to research pricing and resort promotional programs and try to plan your dates accordingly. Book directly with owners and local businesses for friendly service, local expertise and consumer-direct value.

Above all, remember that in the end, vacations are not about how much money you saved, but about whether or not you created a brilliant lifetime memory with your friends and family. Whistler is an unforgettable place where you can rest, rejoice and renew with your loved ones. Saving money is just the icing on the cake!

Sue Chappel owns and manages AlluraDirect.com, Whistler Blackcomb’s largest directory of over 470 owner-direct Whistler BC chalets and condo rentals and Whistler condo booking tips. AlluraDirect.com also enables Whistler visitors to save hundreds of dollars by self-creating consumer-direct Whistler ski packages and accessing Whistler deals such as those described, that bypass typical middle agent fees and commissions. Enjoy consumer direct savings on accommodations, discount lift tickets, heliskiing and more by visiting her web site.

@copyright Sue Chappel and AlluraDirect.com Vacation Rentals by Owner Ltd.

This article may only be re-printed from this web site providing that all content remains intact and in its original form, the author is named and all links are preserved and remain live.

For offline magazine reprint permission, please contact Sue Chappel directly.

Blue spruce trees have been reported to be suffering from the Blue Spruce Rust in the New Hope Pa. area. This Rust is difficult to control. For this reason alone I would suggest that you NOT plant the Blue Spruces.

If my farm were run like a democracy and one man one vote applied for whether we should plant or sell Colorado Blue Spruce, the vote would 100% against the Blue Spruce Tree. The Blue Spruce also known as Picea pungens Engelm is noted for being majestic, stately, with its silver blue color and symetricle form. Its color can range from blue to green. The color variations are genetic traits of the tree. For uniform color from tree to tree one should use grafted cuttings, which command premium prices. The Blue Spruce is widely planted througout the US because it is tolerant to a variety of site conditions. It has good drought, wind, and cold tolerance. The Blue Spruce finds uses such as wind breaks and as an ornamental in landscape designs. Deer don’t prefer to eat these trees unless they are very hungry. Now you would think that this tree would get our vote. But my boys hate to work with these trees because they can be brutal on transplanting. Like wrestling with a porkupine! You can see more of Bill’s plant talk at his web site http://www.seedlingrus.com

Camping is a delightful and adventurous way to spend your vacations. Camping basically means living in tents that are pitched on specific grounds. The biggest advantage of camping is the cost saving. You can have a good vacation within your budget. For you will have to spend least on accommodation. While if you go for stay in hotels, a large chunk of your money is gone in paying for per day rent of your room. On the top of it camping is not associated with troubles like what type and class of room to take, how much will be too much for this etc. Camping also takes you away from all such hurly-burly of the big hotels and lends you the opportunity to follow your style.

If you are willing to go for camping then don’t think twice. For the fares to camp on grounds are as low as around ten to twenty five dollar per night. All you have to do is select the place or ground you want to camp. This information can be collected through the internet. The best and most popular site is www.nps.gov . The ‘nps’ stands for the National Park Service. Most of the camping grounds are under it. The site will inform you fully about the fees, the locations, the rules and regulations, which slightly vary from ground to ground. There can be several parameters to decide which camping ground you want to go for. These can be the activities involved like some might prefer fishing grounds to rafting, horse riding, boating, hiking or even a serene and romantic ground. Others may give preference to the amenities. For instance the ground that provides the best facilities in terms of water, toilets, parking etc. might be their top priority. A class of people might also just look at the costs involved. So at the end of the day it is entirely at you and your family’s discretion where to pitch the tent.

The moment you decide the grounds, make a list of the things that you need to pack. This should be cross checked with the services that will be provided to you at the camp site. For instance, if the camp site facilitates you with hygienic drinking water all round the clock then you need not carry too many water bottles with you. However, there are certain things that are too important to be ignored by you. Some of which are sleeping bag for every member of your family, toiletries, cookware, plates, silverware, towels, trash bags to keep yourself clean, pair of sneakers and last but not the least a warm pullover or gown for it is often chilly at night.

Though the packing is a little cumbersome but it cannot undermine the benefits. You get to save ample of many that you can invest in many ways like either in eating at a five star or shopping for yourself and the like. Moreover camping teaches you and makes you self-dependent. Even those men who do not do any household work at all are seen cleaning plates while camping. Is that great for their wives!

Some of the well known camping grounds in America are-Yellowstone National Park,
Isle Royal National Park (known for its aura of tranquility), Great Basin National Park
(Beautiful caves and fishing), Dry Tortugas National Park (snorkeling, scuba diving,
Tropical fish and wildlife), Point Reyes National Park (horse riding, kayaking, biking),
Greta Canyon National Park, Joshua Tree National Park (mystifying mountain ranges), Denali National Park (skiing and snow shoeing) and so forth.

So Is Not Camping Feeling and Exploring the Nature in its True Form… Think About It!

Tia arora writes camping vacations topics. Learn more at http://www.campingvacationguide.com.

Fly fishing in itself can be intimidating for the uninitiated. Watching a fly fisher while holding a spin rod can feel humbling. The whole world of fly fishing looks complicated, daunting, unfriendly and expensive. But is also alluring, and sooner or later if you like to fish, you may very well take the plunge, and begin to learn. To experiment, and hopefully to catch a fish., And before long you might begin to think of yourself as a fly angler. Gain confidence, skill and knowledge. Try new fly fishing experiences, and learn new techniques, flies and buy even more gear. And on and on it goes, as learning about fly fishing is a non-ending path.

Well, let’s go one step further shall we? Saltwater fly fishing is the epitome of everything said in the previous paragraph and more. Even for the season fly fishing trout angler, saltwater fly fishing looks like an impossible task, to say the least. For one thing the ocean is well huge, enormous, and might as well be unending. Even the most competent caster can only cover a ridiculously minute portion of the area why would one even bother. When scanning a river or lake, one can have an educated guess about where the fish will lie. But the ocean? Where they can be anywhere can’t they, and then you have the whole business of the tide to learn. It isn’t seasonal, it is daily. And then we have the myriad of flies to learn about all over again. It took years to learn about trout flies, and it is still ongoing, one must really start all over again?? Ugh!

Yes it is daunting, but remember when you first learned about fly fishing in general. Or frankly any new hobby or topic. It is all daunting at first. Learning is daunting, but becomes easier, as the new area of interest is unveiled slowly. A little knowledge to start, to hang later more detailed knowledge on is the most crucial. So let’s start with just a little knowledge.

If you are in an area where saltwater fly fishing is well practiced, you are in an easier position to obtain such knowledge, by asking fly shop owners, and fly fisher’s, and by observation you can begin to get a feel for what it is all about. But much of the world’s saltwater fly fishing opportunities are virtually unexplored.

So let’s see what we can do to break this down. Like fishing lakes and big rivers, you have only look at the territory you can actually cover with your fly rod. And pretty much ignore the rest. For saltwater fly fishing that territory is the 60 feet or so next to shore. The easiest way to explore this area is by foot at low tide, when you can actually see the underwater terrain. You can first invest in a chart or survey map, to help you narrow down areas that might have rocky outcroppings leading into deeper pools or channels. If you have loads of free time, this can become an enjoyable activity of exploration all in itself. Look for activity of fish, and habitats that might hold fish and their food. One nice thing here, is that fish are fish are fish, and they all require the same thing. Security, food, places to lie, if you know how to read habitat in rivers or lakes you can easily adapt that skill to oceans, and bays.

Once you have your spots located, you will also need some gear,. If you have some 8 wt gear or larger, you can least begin to get your feet wet. As for flies, well start with the basics, the classics, Deceiver’s, Clouser’s, will give you the best opportunity to catch a fish. And you have begun to add that crucial beginning of knowledge onto which you will hang new knowledge as you become more versed in this field of fly fishing. Be sure and check future editions of Big Y Fly Fishing Ezine for more in depth articles.

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is a must for serious hikers on the west coast and through much of the world. While it can be great, you need to keep an eye out for potential critter problems.

Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from the Mexican border to Canada. It contains some of the most beautiful scenery you will see anywhere. The trail is set up in such a way that as much as 80 percent of it can be done with day hikes, which makes it a very attractive option for long weekends.

Since the Pacific Crest Trail is so easy to day hike, many hikers fail to take into account the animals that cross the trail on a daily basis. Of course, this can lead to small inconveniences or horrendous disasters you read about in the newspaper. Here’s a list of critters you should keep in mind.

1. Mosquitoes - Where there is water, there seems to be mosquitoes. The sections of the trail in Southern California aren’t too bad, but northern areas can be horrendous. As spring comes on, the snow in the mountains starts to melt and you get standing water. During these periods, there can be absolute clouds of mosquitoes in some areas. The area around Klamath should be avoided at all costs in June. Just don’t go.

2. Snakes - Most snakes are not confrontational. On the southern sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, you are definitely going to see rattlesnakes. When you do, just calmly walk away from them.

3. Mountain Lions - Mountain lions can be a bit troubling. They are much bigger than you think, weighing as much as a couple hundred pounds. They are also known to track humans on the trail, but attacks are extremely rare. If you do happen upon one, do not run away or start screaming. Mountain lions are predators, so don’t act like prey. Just stand there or calmly back away. Try to grab a stick or even a can of mace if you have one.

4. Bears - Black bears can be found in mountain areas, but are fairly harmless. Unlike what you see in movies, these bears tend to eat plants and you don’t look appetizing. If you see cubs, absolutely leave the area as calmly, but quickly as possible. Mother bears are very aggressive if they think cubs are in trouble. You don’t want to face off with an angry bear.

5. Humans - As with all aspects of society, there are scumbags on trails. If you objectively feel you can handle yourself, don’t worry about it. If not, it is best to travel with another hiker you know well on the odd chance you run across a jerk.

In retrospect, that may all sound rather horrific. In truth, those hiking the Pacific Crest Trail rarely run into problems. Just make sure you keep in mind you are in the wild, not your local canyon.

One of the trickiest things related to kayaking, believe it or not, is getting into the kayak. When I first began kayaking this was one of the more annoying things that I was faced with at the beginning of each trip. Me or my kayak would end up being soggy before I even started down the river. So to help you out, here is a step-by-step process you can use to safely and dryly board your kayak.

Step one: Place your kayak in ankle deep water.

Step Two: Place your paddle perpendicularly across the back deck of the kayak with 3/4 of the paddle hanging off one side.

Step Three: Grip the paddle with your thumb and hold on to the coaming on the back of the cockpit with one hand.

Step Four: Using your paddle as a BALANCE, not a weight support, sit down on the back deck of the kayak behind the cockpit, keeping one foot in the water and the other in the cockpit.

Step Five: After regaining your balance, place your other foot in the cockpit.

Step Six: Slide down into the seat, and your on your way.

Enjoy the ride!

Phishing is a term used to describe a type of spam that aims to steal your identity. It can be attempted through email, instant messages, or pop-up windows. Phishers seek to convince their potential victims to provide personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords or account information.

Sophisticated phishing scams appear to come from reliable sources such as your bank or credit card company. Logos, web addresses and information taken directly from legitimate sites are copied and altered to lead the reader to respond to these requests.

There are a few simple steps you can take to protect yourself from phishing scams. For example, don’t follow the links in an email to your bank or credit card’s website. Instead, type the address directly into your browser. Also, don’t give out personal information on a website that isn’t secure. To tell if a website is secure, check for “https://” in the address bar rather than just “http://”. The ’s’ stands for ’secure’. Be wary of any emails that ask you to update, confirm, or validate your account information.

Try to review your printed account statements regularly. If you believe you are an identity theft victim, you can file a complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov in addition to filing a police report. You should also call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports.

Subscribe to the free Ask Angela Newsletter offering home computer support, tips and tricks. Topics include email, internet, spyware, website design, Microsoft Office, new technologies, Windows help, software, general PC support, and more!

For more information visit http://www.adaleydesign.com or email askangela@adaleydesign.com

A Daley Design, LLC - Southern New Jersey based firm providing web design, site maintenance and updates, domain name registration and hosting assistance, email and newsletter design, search engine submission and other marketing services.

Launched in 1994 by General Motors, Direct TV is the largest satellite TV provider in the world, with 14.5 million subscribers and 15 satellites.

Direct TV is ranked #2 in customer satisfaction among satellite TV and cable companies by J.D. Power and Associates.

Direct TV Satellite TV System

To receive Direct TV programming you need a Direct TV satellite TV system to capture the satellite signal and transmit it to your TV.

Thanks to the competition between Direct TV dealers, you can now get a free Direct TV satellite TV system when you subscribe to their service.

Here’s what you get when you order Direct TV satellite TV service

* A free direct TV satellite TV dish.

* Up to four free receivers and universal remotes.

* Free professional installation in up to four rooms of your home.

* Direct TV HD (high definition) satellite TV receivers (optional).

* Free bonus gifts such as a free DVD player and home theater system.

Direct TV Satellite TV Service

Here’s what you get with Direct TV service:

* More than 225 program channels to choose from.

* All-digital picture and sound.

* Up to 500 commercial-free movies per month.

* DVR (digital video recording) so you can record your favorite programs.

* Up to 60 pay-per-view programs per day.

* Your local channels with digital picture and sound.

* Thirty-one commercial-free music channels with digital sound.

* Toll-free, 24/7 customer service.

Direct TV Satellite TV Programming

Direct TV programming packages, which include your local channels, start at $41.99 per month.

Here are the Direct TV programming packages currently available:

* Total Choice135 program channels (includes 31 music channels) for $41.99 per month.

* Total Choice Plus155 program channels (includes 31 music channels) for $45.99 per month.

* Total Choice Premier215 program channels (includes 31 music channels), $93.99 per month.
In addition to the above programming packages you can also get sports packages, international packages, and HD (high definition) packages.

Note: To see all the Direct TV programming packages, current special offers, and free bonuses, click on the links at the bottom of this article.

Ordering Direct TV Satellite TV Service

After you decide on which system and which program package you want, you can place your order online, or you can call a toll-free number to order through a Direct TV representative.

The representative will take your order, schedule your installation, and answer any questions you may have. Installation time is usually one to five days after you order.

At the scheduled installation time a certified Direct TV installer will install your system, test it to make sure it works, then show you how to use all the functions and controls.

Operating the Direct TV satellite system may seem a little tricky at first, so I suggest you ask all the questions you need to while your installer is there, so you’ll feel comfortable with your new system.

Click on the following links for more information on free satellite TV systems and service, plus the latest special offers and free bonuses from DIRECTV satellite TV

About The Author

Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on Direct TV satellite TV.