Many people find themselves making the difficult choice between Time Warner Cable and Dish Network. Which one is best for you and your family? There are many similarities between the two. How do you make the choice?

Both Time Warner Cable and Dish network offer great high definition digital signals. It's unlikely you will find much difference in the quality of the picture on your television. Both offer premium packages, providing a range of expanded services, such as popular networks HBO and Showtime. Prices vary between the two services. You will probably find, in most markets, that Dish Network comes out slightly cheaper when all is said and done.

Both offer some form of digital video recording capability, allowing you to record shows for watching later, or to pause shows that are currently being broadcast. But beware the differences in DVR capabilities: they are not all created equal. Make sure that whichever service you're using is offering you the latest DVR technology. It will make a big difference in the amount of programming you can record, and the flexibility you have in managing that programming. In the past Time Warner Cable has been slightly behind Dish Network in DVR technology, but that gap is closing or has closed in most markets.

If you plan on watching TV on more than one set in your house, be aware that the DVR service functions differently between these two carriers. Time Warner Cable's DVR only records from the TV set it's connected to, while Dish Network uses a different technology to control programming on more that one set. Because of this, Dish Network will allow you to record and watch programming from two separate televisions. This may not be an issue for some, but for others, it's makes all the difference.

Looking at price, you will probably find the costs are similar, though possibly slightly lower for Dish Network than for Time Warner Cable in many markets. The distinct disadvantage of Dish Network for some people is that the system requires an actual "dish"� satellite to be mounted on the outside of the home. While these are very small compared to old school TV satellite receivers, they can still be unattractive and problematic for some homes.

It's important to be sure that, whichever service you choose, it has the programming you need. For example, you may find that some sporting events are available only on Time Warner Cable, or that only Dish Network carries some small, obscure network you'll find extremely valuable. These factors vary in different markets, so be sure to do your own homework on each to avoid disappointment.