Cable TV, Satelitte TV - Help

[ShadowYU 1]

Since I am guessing that any thread is welcome in this forum, I would like to start this one and ask for help...

I currently am a Comcast customer. I was thinking of switching to Dish Network because they have more channels for less money. Besides, they have more international stuff. However, all reviews I have looked at for Dish are basically negative. But, the same is true for comments about Comcast (which I really don't think is that bad).

Please, if you have Dish or Directv, could you tell me if they are any good? Most importantly, how is the picture quality? And, does system crashes offten? If you had comcast and Dish, could you compare them?

Kind of random thread, I know... Thanks, in advance...

[Jason-Sasha 1]

From my experience digital cable has always been more reliable when dealing with weather issues. And the OnDemand feature is very nice for watching programs on my time. I also think cable programming is better.

[Ephesia 0]

We were with Directv from end 2005 to middle of last year. Then AT&T had an attractively bundled package for cable TV (tied to Dish) + land line + Internet. It felt too good to pass up so we left Directv and signed on with AT&T.

It was one nightmare after another for 5 months. The AT&T Homezone wouldn't work correctly sometimes in our room, Launchast puked almost every time we tried to turn it on in our living room, and Dish's customer support was the pits. We also had to have the cable box replaced FOUR times because it fried each time.

After enduring this for close to 5 months, I gave my hubby an ultimatum - either he called to cancel the cable TV portion or I was gonna do it and I wouldn't be polite about it on the phone with them. We ran the risk of incurring early contract termination fees (the contract was for 18 months). Hubby told AT&T that his wife was prepared to fork out the cancellation fees if they wanted to lose our land line + Internet subscriptions too. To AT&T's credit, they canceled our Dish Network subscription on the spot, and paid Dish the $177.00 early termination fee.

Hubby called Directv the very next day and apologized so profusely it made me laugh. We've never had a single problem with them, and we're so happy we are back in their fold.

Since I am guessing that any thread is welcome in this forum, I would like to start this one and ask for help...

I currently am a Comcast customer. I was thinking of switching to Dish Network because they have more channels for less money. Besides, they have more international stuff. However, all reviews I have looked at for Dish are basically negative. But, the same is true for comments about Comcast (which I really don't think is that bad).

Please, if you have Dish or Directv, could you tell me if they are any good? Most importantly, how is the picture quality? And, does system crashes offten? If you had comcast and Dish, could you compare them?

Kind of random thread, I know... Thanks, in advance...

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

From my viewing experience, I agree here with Jason.

From my experience digital cable has always been more reliable when dealing with weather issues. And the OnDemand feature is very nice for watching programs on my time. I also think cable programming is better.

[Lansbury 19]

We compared the program packages from Comcast and DirecTV and decided DirecTV had the better ones.

We have had DirecTV since November 2006, never once lost a picture due to rain or any other reason, and it rains at lot in Oregon. Picture quality is superb, 90+ HD channels.

We have high speed Internet from Comcast and I only wish is was as reliable as the service we get from DirecTV. The outages are short but frequent.

[RonMay 1]

we cant actually get comcast/cable coz we're out of the city limit but we used to have direct tv hd and 2 months ago we asked for a dvr and they wanted $400 from it so we thought since the customer service is pretty bad anyways, might as well try dish and they have packages and promos for the first timers including the dvr... so we paid $200 cancelation fee to direct tv lol and change to dish... to be honest they're just both the same (in terms of customer service once you're in a contract already lol) i do noticed though that direct tv has got more HD than dish. but heck the dvr is cool lol... good luck!

[Niels Bohr 72]

From my experience digital cable has always been more reliable when dealing with weather issues. And the OnDemand feature is very nice for watching programs on my time. I also think cable programming is better.

I agree. Satellite technology is always affected by the weather. The broadcast sometimes may not be received by your receiver if the weather is bad. Which means that if you're in the middle of an intense plot in your movie, you may miss out on it. I recommend wires. I experienced satellite when the weather was bad. I don't like it.

[eric&gen 0]

We have DirecTV they rock much better than Dish Network never had a problem with DirecTV even during the most sever weather back in January and February never lost a signal which surprised me and the winds were very strong hitting the house didnt affect the signal.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm a gamer so it's:

cable for internet

and

direct TV w/ DVR for TV

[b_weeks 6]

You might check out what is called "Free-To-Air" satellite systems.

You can recieve channels from almost any country. And you dont pay a subscription....

[caybee 21]

You might check out what is called "Free-To-Air" satellite systems.

You can recieve channels from almost any country. And you dont pay a subscription....

We have one of these on order. We aren't huge TV watchers anyway, but hubby will be able to watch some TV from back home, and there's enough variety to keep me happy. We'll see how it goes once it's hooked up.

[b_weeks 6]

We have one of these on order. We aren't huge TV watchers anyway, but hubby will be able to watch some TV from back home, and there's enough variety to keep me happy. We'll see how it goes once it's hooked up.

What sytem did you order?

I am looking at a Sonicview HD8000 System

[Heracles 417]

Since I am guessing that any thread is welcome in this forum, I would like to start this one and ask for help...

I currently am a Comcast customer. I was thinking of switching to Dish Network because they have more channels for less money. Besides, they have more international stuff. However, all reviews I have looked at for Dish are basically negative. But, the same is true for comments about Comcast (which I really don't think is that bad).

Please, if you have Dish or Directv, could you tell me if they are any good? Most importantly, how is the picture quality? And, does system crashes offten? If you had comcast and Dish, could you compare them?

Kind of random thread, I know... Thanks, in advance...

DirectTV is probably the best provider. Dish network provides better value. You may even have Verizon Fios available.. Unlike crapcast, both satellite systems broadcast completely in digital.

Don't get me started with Comcast. They are the crappiest company I have ever dealt with. Their digital TV service is also #######. In a lot of areas the first 99 channels are not even digital but simply analogue rebroadcast though their digital box. It took these fools 2 months and over 33 calls to get my "digital voice" service running. The only reason I use these clowns is because they are the only broadband internet service available. I am counting down for the day Verizon lays their optical fiber FIOS service in our area.

Edited March 9, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[GaryC 7]

I have had both Cable (Insight which is now Comcast here) and Dish Network. I didn't like cable at all. Too high priced with fewer channels that Dish. When I went HD and I saw that Dish had 3 times the HD channels I switched. I now have Comcast for my internet and Dish for my TV. A properly installed dish only quits in the most severe weather and then only at the peak of the storm. In reality the cable was out more than the dish. I don't care about on demand so that stuff isn't missed with Dish. I would go with Dish and just have Comcast for your internet. Cable internet rocks.

[SMB x2 0]

On the off chance that any Brits reading this have used Sky and then subsequently US services, are there any that compare?

Stu