I just moved to Austin and currently have Time Warner cable and am not thrilled. The channel selection sucks especially for what I am paying per month. I've been thinking about getting Direct TV, but with all of the deals everyone is willing to give on these things, I'm wondering what exactly is the best deal. I'd prefer to keep the option of cancelling when I want rather than sign a 1-year service agreement. Do any of you guys have any suggestions?? ------------------ Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Do you have regular cable or digital? I spent the last year with DirectTV, and thankfully just got digital cable back, and I love it. ------------------ www.swirve.com "Pre-born, you're fine, pre-school, you're f*****."-George Carlin
Regular cable. I have a few friends that have digital cable, but the cost seems pretty high. Why do you like it better than satellite? ------------------ Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Digital cable will give you the benefits of Direct TV without the dish. You get virtually the same channels on Digital Cable. With Digital Cable, you can get Digital set top boxes for other TV's in your house. I believe with Direct TV, you have to upgrade to a better dish. The cheaper dish's are only good for one TV. ------------------
I've used DirecTV for over a year now. Depending on how much money you have alotted for "entertainment" dictates what kind of channels you'll be getting from DTV. Their website http://www.directv.com has info on all their packages. I believe they start out at about $30 and go up to $100+ I have really enjoyed my DTV system. I will say that when inclement weather arises reception can be poor to none. To be honest, I don't care. I would rather deal with periodic drop outs than give money to AOL/Time Warner Cable (whatever they are called these days.) I would recommend DTV over DISH mainly because of the Fox Sports Networks and the fact that DISH didn't carry as many Rocket games this year. I distinctly remember folks in the chat room complain that DISH wasn't carrying the game on particular nights. You should get local affiliates (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX & PBS) but don't expect UPN, WB or lesser "networks". You'll still need an antenna for those channels. Local channels are about $5 a month extra. Installation is pretty easy as long as you have someone helping you fine tune the dish. Remember you are tuning in a signal from just above the earth, so be patient when setting it up. Hughes and Sony are both brands that I have used for DTV. There are several options out there for receivers and dishes. Go check em out at places like Best Buy, etc to see the differences, then shop online, you could find a better price. Also ask yourself how many TV's are gonna use DTV in your household. Splitting a single signal results in both TV's watching the same channels at the same time. They make dual band dishes that allow 2 TV's to be hooked up and work independantly. Those also are slightly more and you do pay a $4.95 extra receiver fee. If you have basic to intermediate mechanical skills you should be able to set up this system without 'professional installation' It's all up to you. Take a look at where you're living and figure out where the dish is going to go and where you'll have to run cable. If its gonna be too difficult opt for an installation. The dish needs a clear view of the southern sky, so keep that in mind. Billing is done through the mail or by automatic draft from the bank. I wish they had an online payment option as I would definately use that. I hope this info helps. Let us know what you decide do. Shop around and get a receiver you like. Good luck! rH ------------------ visit: The Psychedelic Groove House of Rockets Basketball Love! President, CEO & Charter Member of Rocketholics Anonymous Jiizz Coach Sloan, "OK guys, after we practice layups, I want everyone to pair up with a buddy and practice your flops even though we lost to the Mavs in the first round and will never win a championship!"
Thanks for the help guys! Here is the website with the deal I'm looking at doing. http://store.yahoo.com/mini-dish/index.html The apartment complex I live in(luckily I face south) will not let us mount it on the porch, so I would need a tri-pod. Any suggestions on where to look in Austin or should I try a local Direct TV dealer? ------------------ Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
I know folks who have taken a 3-5 gallon bucket filled it with cement and mounted a 2" pole in the middle and used that! ah... apartment life. rH ------------------ visit: The Psychedelic Groove House of Rockets Basketball Love! President, CEO & Charter Member of Rocketholics Anonymous Jiizz Coach Sloan, "OK guys, after we practice layups, I want everyone to pair up with a buddy and practice your flops even though we lost to the Mavs in the first round and will never win a championship!"
Just to echo what rockHEAD said, Dish Network doesn't offer the NBA League Pass. ------------------ Somebody say something witty so I can put it here.
Directv! Teacher, mother, secret lover. ------------------ Ceo of the Walt Williams and Lisa Malosky fan club. atheistalliance.org
I dunno. That boy's been on a nutty posting spree since the regular season ended. ...oh wait, so have I ------------------ Somebody say something witty so I can put it here.
The DEAN comment was a take off from the Simpson when Homer said "TV, teacher, mother, secret lover". ------------------ See the three, be the three.
DirecTV is where it's at. The only problem I've ever had is during bad weather (of course it never rains in Texas though). Other than that, it's 30 bucks a month for everything but movie channels (+ the League Pass). ------------------ "When we were really hard up, Nikki and I would date girls who worked in grocery stores just for the free food. But we always bought our own booze. It was a matter of pride." --Vince Neil
I had Dish Network and hated it. TWC gave me a combo deal on Roadrunner and digital cable as a way to get me out of my contract. They gave me 1 month free, no installation and half price on BOTH services including all the movie channels for 11 months. I was paying $45 per month for DSL and $60 per month for Dish with only one movie channel package. I now pay $62 per month for Roadrunner AND digital cable with ALL the movie channels. Even after the charges to disconnect my dish, I still saved over $300 this year and ended up getting more stuff. ------------------ So, I took the million dollars and bought a steam shovel...
Jeff- How exactly did you get that deal and is there any way I can sign up? ------------------ I hope, when they die, cartoon characters have to answer for their sins.
Sometimes deals are advertised on TV or online: www.twchouston.com www.houston.rr.com It's that time of year for deals. I'm waiting for free RoadRunner installation so I can get it. ------------------
Actually, it happened for me because my DSL company folded. I realized I needed a stable high speed company and Roadrunner seemed about as stable as could be. I called them and they asked if I had cable because Roadrunner is $5 cheaper per month if you do. I told the woman that I did not but I wished I did because I had grown tired of Dish Network, but the cost to disconnect was too much. She said, "What if I could make it worth switching by offering a deal that could cover your costs?" I was all ears. She said that they would give me... FREE installation FREE first-month's service Roadrunner High Speed Internet at $30 per month Digital Cable with all the movie channels for $80 per month I would also get a couple extras (an extra box for my upstairs TV for example) She said they would also cut the price of my cable and Roadrunner cost in HALF for the 11 months following the first free month. Basically, one year of Roadrunner and digital cable with all the movie channels for just under half price (counting the free month at $120!). Well, I couldn't pass that up. Cutting off Dish Network was pricey! I had to pay them plus the installer. It was like $450! But, after doing the math, I found I'd save more in one year with TWC than with DSL and Dish Network through different companies and it combined my bill. She told me that the offer is open to anyone who wants to switch over. They had a name for it but I don't remember what it was. I looked around their site and didn't see anything about it. I would suggest just calling them and asking about it saying you heard it from a friend or something. Good luck. There were a few extra ------------------ So, I took the million dollars and bought a steam shovel...
I'm stuck at work. Has anyone had a chance to call and try to get the same deal? I live in Austin, I wonder if the deal would be the same. ------------------ burp
