Cable TV Question

[mickeyfan1]

I am moving next week. We will be renting a house for 6 months, so I will not be taking my Dish Network with me, I have opted for basic cable. My question to all you cable users: Is it worth 16 dollars more a month for digital cable? I don't watch a lot of TV anyway, so I don't see the need, but the COmcast guy was all bent out of shape that I didn't want to go digital.

Looking forward to all your answers and advise.

 

[DoeWDW]

I haven't found a need for digital cable yet. I do use my cable for internet access though - couldn't go back to dial-up!

 

[barbeml]

The Comcast guy probably wants a bigger commission! I hate Comcast and recommend spending as little money with them as possible.

 

[caitycaity]

but the COmcast guy was all bent out of shape that I didn't want to go digital.

we also have comcast. and we don't have digital cable (just basic).

the last time we called for SERVICE, we were told that we were the only people in our apartment complex without digital cable (not true) and we should "get with the times." i couldn't believe how rude the guys was; if we had a choice in cable providers, no way would we be with them.

in short, i think comcast people try to pressure sell the digital -- if you don't need it, don't get it. we actually watch a fair amount of tv and haven't felt the need to upgrade yet.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Thanks!!! As I thought, a ploy to get me to spend more of DHs money. I am getting HS Internet, can't do with out that!

 

[barbeml]

If I had a choice, I would have no dealings with Comcast at all. They are crooks. Rotten "service," idiots on staff, we have a terrible picture half the time, etc. I made the mistake of paying my bill early last year because I was going to WDW. They applied my payment to the wrong account and it took six months, 15 calls, 25 faxes and three letters from my bank showing them that they cashed the check before they would admit they made a mistake.

My internet is Verizon DSL and I love it.

At work I am forced to use Comcast cable modem for internet. Once again, internet was out for 3 hours today. We have trouble with it every week.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

We have digital cable. As far as I can see the picture is the same. There's other bells and whistles, but like you, I don't watch a lot of tv and I don't care about the features.

Stick with basic!

 

[powellrj]

We have digital cable and the only advantage I see is with the pay stations. You get alot more stations for the same price when you have digital. We have like 7 different HBOs and 7 different Starz stations and don't pay any extra over the cost of the pay station. If you are just going with basic, I wouldn't pay extra for the digital.

 

[Robinrs]

I got digital because it came CHEAPER with the deal they offered me when I threatened to cancel! My basic was out more times than ON so they gave me the digital for $2 less per month to see if it would fix the problem. Surprisingly it DID!

I don't think it's worth $16 more, though. I do enjoy the bells and whistle because they're free. My sister doesn't have it and Iget mad with her because I can't check the "info", etc... not necessary if you have to pay more for it.

 

[crazelion]

I have basic cable from Comcast. I found digital cable to be completely useless to me. All it has alot of music channels on there for most of the channels.

The reason Comcast is force people to digital because the federal goverment is force them go digital by 2006 if memory serves me write.

 

[Octoberbride03]

The reason Comcast is force people to digital because the federal goverment is force them go digital by 2006 if memory serves me write.

Your memory is almost right crazelion. I just read in my paper a few weks ago though that the deadline is becoming a lot more flexible because most of the country STILL do not have digital TVs nor will we by the 2006 deadline. So the deadline is being pushed back until the majority of us have digital service which will be well past that. Seems a lot of stations are pushing back digital reception until most of their viewing area is able to get the signal.

As for Comcast, basic cable is just fine.

Maureen

 

[battricia]

the deadline is about television stations broadcasting in both non-digital and digital formats. By the end of dec. 2006, (unless they change the date, which they have many times in the past) broadcast stations are REQUIRED to send out both an analog and digital station. By the year 2006 they will no longer be required to send out the analog signal, which means that if you have an analog box, you will no longer get the station if the STATION chooses to not send out the analog signal anymore. These stations include NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, etc. This does not mean the government is forcing everyone to stop sending out analog signals, or forcing consumers to buy digital cable, or forcing cable companies to only put out digital signals, it means it is giving television stations the right to stop sending out analog signals. If the government feels, in the up coming years, that this doesn't seem fair to consumers they will set the date back farther as i said they've done that in the past.

you can check out information about digital cable here:

fcc on digital television

as for the digital cable, I love mine. If you had the satellite you're most likely used to knowing what it is that you're watching, when you flip to a channel, or turn on the TV. I really like knowing what it is that's on at the time. I also like knowing what's coming on later, and even before digital cable/satellite I found tv guides to be completely annoying.

hope this information helps.

tricia.

 

[DocRafiki]

So the "bells and whistles" you guys are talking about with digital are the titles that pop up saying what's on, like you get on satellite?

I'm just curious b/c I don't have cable or satellite and am going to be completely lost if I ever decide to get it.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I have digital cable......we are TV watchers and we do have the premium package.....all the movie channels, we especially like getting BBC, House and Garden etc.. but if you are not someone who would utilize all those channels then I would say get the basic and keep your Dish...

 

[mickeyfan1]

Thanks again. The reason I have Dish now, and before had Direct TV, is because it is less expensive than cable here. SInce I won't be allowed to mount the antenna on the house we are renting, I am switching back to cable. I could care less about the online guides, and all the music channels, etc. I just hope the internet access is as reliable as Cox is out here. Since I will not be leaving the house except when DH is home on the weekends, I may end up watching it, which is not a good thought!

 

[bjgrazi]

We had the digital and we gave it back. I see no difference and we never used all the extra bells and whistles that came with it. I couldn't justify the cost. Although I'd never give up my cable internet.