Cable companies love to spread tales of how intermittent satellite TV reception can be. They assure customers that the slightest change in the weather is going to cause substantial problems with signal reception, either degrading the signal or disrupting it entirely.

The reality is that weather conditions have little affect on satellite TV reception. The satellites of old may have been affected by weather, but technology changes, such as the reduction of disk size and greater signal integrity, have essentially eliminated much of the old problems.

So, if weather doesn't affect satellite transmission, does that mean that the signal is virtually clear? In a word, yes! Satellite TV will remain clear even in bad storms - the picture on the TV will remain, clear, crisp and sharp.

Does that mean the satellite never goes out? Occasionally your satellite may lose reception, but the solution is often a very easy fix. Many times, you can correct the problem yourself.

First, check the line of sight from your dish toward the sky. Is it clear and unobstructed? Sometimes trees have a habit of extending branches just enough to interfere with satellite transmission. A simple solution is to trim back the tree limbs or branches enough to eliminate the interference. Another option may be to adjust the dish slightly so the view of the sky is unobstructed.

If a tree isn't the culprit, the next likely cause is an object that is resting on the disk and interfering with the satellite signal. It's easy to forget how much debris becomes airborne and if that debris has to come to rest somewhere, why not on you satellite dish? Check the dish to make sure there is no debris, birds, squirrel's nests or plastics affecting the signal. Clearing the signal is merely a matter of clearing the debris from the dish.

Don't be confused by false information. Satellite TV offers viewers variety and clarity. In many cases it's the perfect solution to give consumers a choice in their television watching. Customers can be confident in a great TV experience that is not dependent on weather conditions.