OT-Should we switch to digital cable?

[frannn]

Right now we have analog (?) cable which seldom goes out. Problem is we pay about 70. monthly (to get HBO and Showtime included), and since we have the analog cable box, which only has capabilities up to channel 90 something, we don't get the additional 5 or so HBO and 5 or so Showtime channels we are paying for (that you can get through the digital box). If we pay 6-10 more per month, we can upgrade to digital cable. The hookup would be free, but the price for digital HBO and Showtime is a little higher. I also pay 4. a month extra now to get Cablevision's version of the TV guide, which I don't think would be cheaper directly through TV guide. I'm not really sure what other channels we would get by switching to digital, but I think it would be more music and stuff we don't watch anyway. I love the thought of having more movie channels, but I am trying to move towards spending less, not more....Any thoughts?

 

[rachelfran]

we have digital cable and there are occasionally times when i watch the extra hbo's - especially when i can't see SATC on sunday at 9pm - where i live - the digital alternative only worked out to be about $1 more... but i don't pay for showtime - only HBO... We NEVER listen to the radio stations.. i think there are about 100 of them! But I think it's worth it for the online guide that is searchable by kids programming - which i use daily - when my 2 1/2 year old says "not that one" on every program I try for him... lol

 

[floridafam]

Only you can decide if digital is right for you.

IMO, you don't need the guide. They have a guide right on the TV that will tell you pretty much everything you need to know.

 

[crazelion]

Plus you do not have go digtal until 2006. That when cable company have everything digtal.

I will not get digital cable unless i won't it. If only use for HBO then i would not.

That's my preface.

 

[powellrj]

I love our digital cable. I love the on demand feature for movies. We have HOB, showtime and starz, so we get all of those on demand channels for free. I think we more than get our fees worth because we have stopped renting movies and that makes up for the extra we pay for cable.

 

[lucky_bunni]

I would, and have gone with, Directv. It is world's better than digital cable and costs less. I don't know what all the fuss is about it going out with inclimate whether, cause mine never goes out. Unlike cable, every channel is perfect quality (you know how some channels on cable are weaker strength than others). You can get a box that also allows you to have Dolby Digital 5.1 surround on lots of movies, especially from the premium channels. If you have a receiver with surround and an optical digital input, definately go for Directv. It's better all the way around, I swear by it. And it costs less.. $39.99 for all the channels and local channels, then $12 (HBO) for the first premium, $11 (Showtime) for the second. So that's $63 a month compared to you paying over $70 for digital cable.

 

[califred]

I think how well the DirectTV works depends on where you live, my inlawas goes out ALL the time if the wind blows to hard.

My digital cable never goes out, although aroudn here I doubt the DirecTV goes out much either.

 

[lucky_bunni]

I first had Directv about 3-4 years ago, and it did go about once in a while. However, I just started getting it again a few months ago and during some pretty strong snow and rainstorms here it has never gone out. I think they may have increased their signal to combat the problem.

 

[VintageKnight]

If you order DTV before 3/1 you will beat the price increase. we are going up 3 dollars on 3/1 on total choice.

yes EP is correct by stating we are currently at 39.99 amonth and 12+11=23 for the first 2 movie packages.. remember we charge 4.99 a month on extra tv's. but 60 pe4cent of states dont charge us tax..=D

only known issues we have on signal regionaly is florida.. its so flat, somthing 400 yards away can block your signal and of course it rains everyday....but honestly as long as you had a good install you should never have problems...

your going to be forced into digital within the next 2 yrs....HD by 2007. DTV and Dishnetwork are 100% digital simply because thats how we get it to you, cable is not. your new stations are the only ones in digital.. not your exsisting ones, till those stations start giving digital to the cable company...

Any DirecTV questions you have PM me, I've worked for them for 3 yrs now and i pull no shots.. i tell the truth, theres no ensentive to lie,no commision.=D

DisneyVK

P.S. you dont need the printed guide DTV has one to but its better to use the one on screen and of course directv.com has a program guide with built in search engine you can look for stuff up to 12 days in advance... so there is no need for a printed guide. honestly i have digital cable due to my landlord not allowing me to have in the house....but i still use directv.com to find my programming, you dont have to be a subscriber to use it.

 

[lucky_bunni]

Hey VintageKnight, thanks for giving more info. Thank you and Directv too for such a great service. I really do love it. It beats any type of cable, anyday.

 

[Nebsky]

I had Directv until last July and switched to Dish Network.
Got a DVR and 4 rooms of programing for 91.55 and I have HBO, Stars/Encore. The Top 150 programming I think its called.

I never had a problem with Directv but was offered a deal with Dish. I wish I would have stayed with them, although I love the DVR. Another thing that is pretty nice is that all the "similar channels" are grouped together..IE...TNT, TBS, WGN, ESPNS, Discovery. Price is about 5 bucks more a month I think.

I will probably end up switching back to Direct TV. Both offer great service.

Id stay away from Cable. Seems like thier prices are always going up..

 

[VintageKnight]

To speak up for all the programing providers out there its the channels themselves raising the rates to us, then us giving it to you...

DTV just removed a few stations do to overpricing.. ESPN Deportes (spanish) being one of them.....popular channel just to many espns.....as of dec 1 we had 6, now we have 4.....

I know dtv is trying all they can to keep this from happening, even as far as we dont process check payments traditionaly anymore.. you send us your check we send it through as an eft....no bank processing fees to pass along to you the customer anymore...

but if ya want to get really picky, its the governments fault.

they messed up and didnt give the cell phone industry enough room way back the 80's thinkin this star trek stuff would never get off the ground. WRONG!.. been awhile since you've heard of UHF hadnt it.. bandwidth given to cell phones...

this stuff about going digital, and going hd in the next few years..?? gov is having to make room for the millions of cell users out there.. so there making the tv industry move. just aint enough space so there making the tv industry eat the cost of switching over... thus passing to the programmers.. the dealers, and then the customer....

you wont hear any of the cable/sat providers advertising that there not raising rates like everyone else.. cuz all of us are.

things are going to settle down in 2007, average cost of tv will be about 60 a month when everyone has High Deffinition.. but what are ya going to do?? watch snow on the screen? cuz your analog tv's youve been watching for the last 50 years aint going to work anymore.. without adaptation.

DisneyVK

 

[HaleyB]

Okay, I am thread jumping, sorry to steal the thread but I need more info.

We have old fashioned analog cabel right now. I would love to find a cheaper option, I have no love for Time Warner...

Excuse my ignorance, but what is this Direct TV thing you speak so much of? What does it cost? We pay about 49 a month after taxes and such for 2 TV's. That is in Austin TX.

I do not watch TV, DH might watch History channel from time to time, kids watch Nick and Disney and Local only...

Any advice?

 

[disneyatl]

We switched from cable to Directv about 4 years ago and would NEVER go back to cable. Our cable would go out every time the wind blew in another direction and when there wasn't even a storm. Very frustrating. So we bit the bullet and switched. LOVE IT! We had to buy our satellite dish but got free installation. But with all the deals these days, you get free installation and equipment. Also this month, we just hooked up a third tv and also got TIVO. We've never had a problem with Directv and it's chaper than cable.

 

[ibleedblue]

I switched from DirecTV to Time Warner digital cable about a year and a half ago. Just this morning I was looking at pricing options for Dish Network or DirecTV again. My digital cable flat out stinks!! It goes out, but only for about 2 seconds at a time so the technicians don't have time to figure out what's going on. This has been going on for over a month now, and I'm not the only one in the subdivision with this problem. The only good thing I can say is that they've been on time for the service calls! I'm switching back to satellite probably within the week. The picture clarity is so much better with satellite that there's really no comparison. My advise is to drop cable and get a dish. And I'm hooked on the DVR! Those things are wonderful!

Oh...and in the 4 years that I had DirecTV before, the only time it would go out was when there was a killer storm on the way. It never went out when it was raining at my house, but when the storm cloud was a few miles away and my dish was pointing right at it, it would sometimes go out. I'm only talking about 3-4 times a year max, and it would only last for just a few minutes.

Greg

 

[BrerMama]

About a year ago, we switched to digital cable and get all the 50 or so movie channels. I think this costs us about $70 plus we have digital cable internet, which is more. We are a young family with small kids and rarely go out for dinner and usually only one movie in a theater a year. We do spend a lot of time watching movies together as a family, however. We really enjoy our digital cable and I wouldn't go back to regular cable. My parents and sister have satellites and they are a major pain for them. If my cable goes out (which hasn't happened yet) the cable company will be out that same day to fix it. My sister had a problem with her satellite and they were going to charge her $50 for the service call until she called them and told them to cancel her service.

 

[lucky_bunni]

A link for anyone here. I bought my Directv Equipment here a few months ago and it was a great deal. I only paid like $10 to get some really nice equipment! The service was really quick too and they'll arrange your installation or let you it yourself. If you don't see a package that fits your needs, just call them and they'll put something together for you.

http://samsung.americansatellite.com/welcome.asp

 

[VintageKnight]

texas charges taxes, but yourDirectv bill would be right at 49.?? a month for 130 plus channels plus the local line up for austin.. and 1 extra machine. or just about double your stations for the same money

sorry to tell you regular cable is going up not down. so dont be mad if you cant find regular cable thats cheaper.

if you interested in DirecTV, the main line is 18005315000 we do use dealers to sell equipment or can just go directly with us, just make sure you get phone numbers and names regaurdless of who you speak to.. we creat our own comptition to keep equipment cost down....

as far as cable in general your outages are do to line breaks, thats why its neighborhood wide, and why it takes so long for them to catch the problem, they have to dig up the lines to fix it. thats why its will be small outages.. at least with satalite if you have a problem its going to be around untill you call us to help you out...if it is small outage its usually due to a small storm


email me or pm me if you have questions.

DisneyVK

disneyvk@cox.net