Cable vs Dish vs Internet

[RacerX]

I'm getting really fed up with the INSANE high cost of Comcast cable... I know it's different all over, but in my area I had to upgrade to some fancy package so I can get SPEED and SPEED HD, then my wife likes some of the showtime shows... and heck there are a few good hbo thingys too (and like 10 bucks off if you get them both)...so before you know it we're spending over 120 a month for cable. And during this time of year (not much racing) the tv bounces between CNN and Disney channel for the most part.

Now, I've been pissed off about cable ever since they went (and forced me to go) all digital. You see before, life was GREAT! I had a cool picture in picture tv so I could watch 2 shows, and tape a 3rd all at the same time. And Hell, even have another tv upstairs doing something totally different...all from the same single little cable, no converters or boxes or tray full of remotes, all for around 50/month (including hbo/showtime). Now I will admit the the stunning HD picture I now enjoy is probably worth the extra equpiment hasle, but the monthly bill is stupid high if you ask me.

When I'm king, it's gonna be ala carte. 2.00 each per channel, 3 bux for ones without commercials.

But until then...

Direct tv is fighting with comcast so if I go dish I can't get VS (a shitty chanel BUT all of the Indycar races are there) so that's out. WOW cable is in my area but their good deals revolve around packages with internet/cable/long distance. ATT has a deal with the U-verse tv where you can get a decent package plus internet and cell phone (both of which I use att for now) for around 100/month. BUT U-verse is not on my block yet, so I started looking into the internet... A gal I used to work with didnt have a tv, she watched all the shows on HULU and the like. So I'm thinking maybe I could try and see if some or all the stuff I watch is online...

Anyone else doing this?

Soap box off

Mark.

[MCChris]

I switched to Uverse and it's a better value than Comcast but the HD broadcasts are in 1080i only, which is a little annoying. I also lost Palladia and the Music Choice channels in the process (Uverse has music channels but they are terrible in comparison).

[specialk]

Best of luck in what you choose. They are ALL out to screw you the customer. I hate Comcast because they recently added these goofball little boxes to each customer's home, allowing them to get digital cable above channel 29. But those little boxes strip all the EPG (electronic program guide) info from the signal. So before, when I switched channels, I got this display on my TV screen showing ne a synopsis of what was on. This box strips all that. So it's either surf or watch that program guide channel they carry. It sucks!

[Submariner85]

Dish has been good to me for the last 3 years. Best rates I could get and decent selection.

[Rocktuna]

We just switched from Dish to Cable. I loved my dish, cause it was easy to navigate.

We had DSL and it was slow as crap. Verizon phone

My wife called Dish Network to get the deal advertised on TV but it was only for new cusomers. Why the hell should a new customer get a better price than somebody who has been using the service for over 5 years. Had DSL and it was slow as crap.

We got the cable, TV, internet and phone package

savings about $240.00 a year.

Bought a 50" TV at Christmas and a Blue Ray......I'm in love

Cable hasn't crapped out in the snow storms like the dish did.

We can't get Comcast here we have Service Electric

[mathman]

Had dish 6 or so years ago. Ask them for an upgrade in equipment. They said no so I switched to Direct Tv. A week later Dish called and said that they will give me the upgrade after all. Too late.

Upgraded to hd about 3 years ago and got the hd receiver free when I signed up for at least two years. Then this fall we wanted a hd-dvr I called direct tv and ask for the hd dvr. They wanted $50 bucks. I said I would think about it. Checked other options. We have cable internet but many people aren't happy with brighthouse/time warner cable and some of the sport channels require a more expensive package. I called them again and said I wanted the HD dvr free. They said no, so I said I am cancelling the service, connect me with the cancellation department. They came on after a few minutes of me basically telling them, either give it to me free and install it or I'll go to dish. They did the whole thing for free.

I like Direct tv the best anyway and the dvr is awesome.

[JohnnyB]

Anyone else doing this?

Soap box off

Mark.

You mean whining like a little bitch?

No.

[BubbaVO]

Had Comcast. They tried to screw me over with a rate hike.

Got Dish Network. They advertised one rate, and delivered a different one. I literally had the dish for 48 hours.

Called Verizon. Good price. Fairly decent service. They sent someone over yesterday when phones/internet/TV went down due to a crapped out box. Spent an hour on the cell phone trying to talk the lady from "TX" with an Indian accent to send out a tech. But all is well that ends well.

[JohnnyB]

I'm getting really fed up with the INSANE high cost of Comcast cable... I know it's different all over, but in my area I had to upgrade to some fancy package so I can get SPEED and SPEED HD, then my wife likes some of the showtime shows... and heck there are a few good hbo thingys too (and like 10 bucks off if you get them both)...so before you know it we're spending over 120 a month for cable. And during this time of year (not much racing) the tv bounces between CNN and Disney channel for the most part.

Now, I've been pissed off about cable ever since they went (and forced me to go) all digital. You see before, life was GREAT! I had a cool picture in picture tv so I could watch 2 shows, and tape a 3rd all at the same time. And Hell, even have another tv upstairs doing something totally different...all from the same single little cable, no converters or boxes or tray full of remotes, all for around 50/month (including hbo/showtime). Now I will admit the the stunning HD picture I now enjoy is probably worth the extra equpiment hasle, but the monthly bill is stupid high if you ask me.

When I'm king, it's gonna be ala carte. 2.00 each per channel, 3 bux for ones without commercials.

But until then...

Direct tv is fighting with comcast so if I go dish I can't get VS (a shitty chanel BUT all of the Indycar races are there) so that's out. WOW cable is in my area but their good deals revolve around packages with internet/cable/long distance. ATT has a deal with the U-verse tv where you can get a decent package plus internet and cell phone (both of which I use att for now) for around 100/month. BUT U-verse is not on my block yet, so I started looking into the internet... A gal I used to work with didnt have a tv, she watched all the shows on HULU and the like. So I'm thinking maybe I could try and see if some or all the stuff I watch is online...

Anyone else doing this?

Soap box off

Mark.

Well, since you have an HDTV, you'd HAVE to go all digital. For PIP you have to have some dual tuner setup. Used to be you could do this with the TV's built-in tuner and a VCR with another tuner. Things have changed. But my Comcast DVR has two tuners in it, so I think I could get PIP if I wanted it.

I pay nearly $200/mo for Comcast, but it includes broadband, which is at least $50 worth of it, and digital voice, which replaced my basic $60 phone bill and the extra I paid for long distance. So I feel like I get my money's worth.

PLUS, where I am, Comcast works hard to improve their service and stay ahead. I don't mind paying them that money because it's about the best utility service with the best customer service I've ever had since I began keeping my own household with utilities over 30 years ago. I've had cable for nearly 28, and Comcast is the best I've ever had. With no price increase, they recently added at least 50 HD channels to my service. I also have the Starz and HBO packages, and it went from one Starz HD and one HBO HD to an Encore HD, 5 Starz HD channels, and 6 HBO HD channels.

For the miniscule cost of a DVR (about $5/mo.) I have video on demand, most of which is free and now includes well over 100 free HD movies at any given time, and I can also time shift hours and hours of programming. The dual tuner/DVR made all the difference for me. Now I can watch a lot more of the programming I'm paying for.

And a final note: here in the Puget Sound area, DirecTV is running into trouble. In the last 2-1/2 years the state attorney general's office received over 700 complaints against DirecTV. Since a local news channel aired some customer grievances a couple weeks ago it opened a floodgate and the AG's office has received an additional 465 complaints against DirecTV in the last two weeks.

I can see from your perspective that you're not getting your money's worth because you want to watch more racing. Satellite could help there. But it could also be that a little tweaking with your features (e.g., get a DVR) and package (more racing?) and you might feel like you're getting your money's worth. Have you bundled your Internet access and phone service with them? That bundling is what made Comcast worthwhile for me.

They also keep increasing the speed of my broadband (up to a point) without charging extra. I can go even faster for another $5-10 /mo.

[RacerX]

Anyone else doing this?

Soap box off

Mark.

You mean whining like a little bitch?

No.

Yikes! rough crowd!

It just seems like I had more versatility for less than half the money before...

But, I do have a killer picture today, so that's progress I guess.

I'm old enough to remember when tv was free, maybe that's the problem.

Mark.

[m chops]

Just disconnected the cable. Not going to replace it with anything for a while . . . .

[zorrow]

Just disconnected the cable. Not going to replace it with anything for a while . . . .

THAT is what you call "unplugged"!

[burningyen]

Full disclosure: one of my clients is a cable company. When a phone company came into my client's territory with video service, the client saw a small but significant number of customer defections due to the low prices and high speeds promised. But as time has gone by, those customers have been returning, to the point where we're basically at a stalemate with the phone company. The main reason: customers got fed up with the poor customer service provided by the phone company, and the differences in internet speeds, pricing and HD channel offerings have shrunk to the point where a 30-minute phone call arguing with a customer service rep about overbilling is enough to bring the customer back to my client.

Just thought I'd throw out some insider perspective.

[MrGuitarguy]

The only thing I don't watch online is the NFL and sportscenter because they aren't available. Every show ever made seems to be online now. I would cancel my cable TV if it weren't for monday night football (since the rest is available on local networks over the air) and I basically pay $2.00 a month for basic cable tv vs the current cost of my internet package.

I have my computer hooked up to my flat screen/stereo system and watch everything full screen just like normal tv on demand!

[jettster]

If you have high speed internet and a device to stream (Blu ray, Xbox360, PS3, etc.) Netflix is pretty hard to beat. We get two Blu rays (at a time) and unlimited streaming movies for well under $20 a month.

[anotherfreak]

I havent' had cable since college(seems like the wrong time to have cable) Everything I watch is digital broadcast through my rabbit ears (you can't stop the signal Mal) PBS and local News, and really slow internet We do get netflix, so the Mrs can catch up on little house on the prairie, and Dr quinn. Sometimes I can instant view but it usually needs to buffer somewhere in the middle of the show.

I'm supposed to be practicing right?

[doody]

(you can't stop the signal Mal)

I'm supposed to be practicing right?

Firefly and Serenity Rocked!

[anotherfreak]

I'm just glad someone got it

[marcnorth]

I pay Comcast $161 a month, no movie channels. $50 is for the internet.

They've got the fastest internet connection around Indianapolis and that's the only reason I pay it.

AT&T has the best price on TV but their internet sucks compared to Comcast. So I just keep on paying.

[Submariner85]

Face it. They all suck and it's just going to get worse because FREE TV will soon be a thing of the past.

[JGale]

Digitalized wabbit ears here.

Verizon DSL...eh

Soon no Internet connection t'all

Spent last week up there and had only wild turkeys and whitetail to contend with

Discovered this neat picture in head (PIH?) thing called a book

Fetching young thing bringing my gravy n biscuit is...er...fetching my biscuit is all.

Sigh.