Decisions, Decisions....(Re: Cable vs. Satellite)

[christygobar]

Comcast just turned into Time Warner over in our part of the world. They've done nothing wrong to me since the switch, but I haven't been 100% thrilled with Comcast since I've signed up with them anyhow. Spotty internet service and no dual tuner DVR available yet (therefore spending extra for 2 DVR's) are two of the issues.

Here are my options:

1) Stay with the now Time Warner (Internet and television)
2) Switch to DirecTV and AT&T/Yahoo DSL

It doesn't look like I'll be spending any more money per month, even though I'll now have to sign up for a land line phone when I switch to DSL. My initial number crunching says it'll about even out.

So, can anyone give me some pros and cons about DirecTV if you have their service? If you live in the DFW area and have it, I'd love to hear that too.

Is the reception really is bad when the weather isn't cooperating or is that a myth?

Thanks!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes they have haven't they...How about that stupid commercial we have to endure? We are switching to Verizon soon, due to a 30.00 savings.
We cannot get AT&T in our area, which stinks!

 

[salmoneous]

Good luck with your decision. But I just want to throw out a third option - neither. Pick up a few shows with good-old-rabbit-ears and supplement with TV shows on DVD. No commercials, no flipping through cannels hoping to find something good on, no watching infomercials because they are the best thing on, etc.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Good luck with your decision. But I just want to throw out a third option - neither. Pick up a few shows with good-old-rabbit-ears and supplement with TV shows on DVD. No commercials, no flipping through cannels hoping to find something good on, no watching infomercials because they are the best thing on, etc.

Who watches reg. TV? I don't.

As far as no commercials that is what the DVR is for. God I love that thing.

 

[christygobar]

Good luck with your decision. But I just want to throw out a third option - neither. Pick up a few shows with good-old-rabbit-ears and supplement with TV shows on DVD. No commercials, no flipping through cannels hoping to find something good on, no watching infomercials because they are the best thing on, etc.

Hee hee, done that! It's definitely a budget saver, I agree! Unfortunately my favorite channels happen to be the Food Network and the Travel Channel What can I say - I'm addicted!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Comcast just turned into Time Warner over in our part of the world. They've done nothing wrong to me since the switch, but I haven't been 100% thrilled with Comcast since I've signed up with them anyhow. Spotty internet service and no dual tuner DVR available yet (therefore spending extra for 2 DVR's) are two of the issues.

Here are my options:

1) Stay with the now Time Warner (Internet and television)
2) Switch to DirecTV and AT&T/Yahoo DSL

It doesn't look like I'll be spending any more money per month, even though I'll now have to sign up for a land line phone when I switch to DSL. My initial number crunching says it'll about even out.

So, can anyone give me some pros and cons about DirecTV if you have their service? If you live in the DFW area and have it, I'd love to hear that too.

Is the reception really is bad when the weather isn't cooperating or is that a myth?

Thanks!!

We had a small dish from DishNetwork and absolutely hated it. The reception is horrible on cloudy days, there's no myth there!!! We're back to Hi-Def cable, with a DVR and are thrilled that we switched back. No way, no how would I ever get another satellite dish.

 

[diznygirl]

We have DirecTV and yes, we lose reception when the storms are really bad - but it's only for about 10 or 15 mins and then all is back to normal - nothing in the 4 years that we have lived here that made us think "Man, this stinks!" We even had reception during some of the hurricanes the past couple years.

Funny - the kids have learned that when the TV pic starts getting pixelated, that a storm is coming.

Meanwhile, cable users in town complain about losing service all the time.

 

[Poohnatic]

I've had satellite and cable. DH and I just had this conversation the other day.

He'd been a Direct TV subscriber since 1995, off and on. A five digit customer number, lol.

We now have FIOS, after being with the local cable company for 2 years.

Of the three, we both liked the Direct TV the best. We had the most problems with reception in summer, because we had a tree in the front yard that blocked our antenna. When we'd moved in, the HOA would not allow us to put the dish on our roof. Later, HOA restrictions on Satellites were ruled unconstitutional.

We moved to Florida just in time for all the hurricanes. Would you believe the only time we didn't watch TV was when the power was out? Steady winds of 50mph, downpours and we still had signal.

The FIOS seems okay. I only watch food network, and not much of it at that. I just don't know any of the channels anymore!

For us, it'd cost more to have separate internet and satellite, so we went this route.

Suzanne

 

[tiff211]

I posted this same question about 3 weeks ago. I had cable (comcast) and the reception was terrible. I did a poll and upon the advice of the DIS made the switch to Directv It's been 2 weeks and so far so good. We have had a few storms and the signal has remained strong. No problems. And I got a free DVR and IPOD out of the deal!

 

[DMickey28]

We had DirecTV in IL before we moved and we MISS it so much. Our building now is pre-wired for DishNetwork and they don't have a DVR yet b/c it's some promotional tuner. AND we can't even get Comcast it HAS to be Dish, luckily it's included in our rent but I HATE it. I don't miss regular cable at all... but by far the best thing we have ever had was DirectTV...much more channels for the same price. In IL we only lost it for a few minutes at a time during some particularly bad storms with hail and high winds in the Spring. Our friends across the way down here had DirectTV here but they ended up cancelling it and going with Comcast b/c the afternoon thunderstorms down here took it down too much, but there are a few big buildings in the way of their "clear" view that i think caused it. With the DISH we have lost it two for a few minutes each during some of the bad storms, but nothing worth complaining over.

I would do Direct TV in a heartbeat! I was apprehensive before too, but it's SOOO worth it.