Satellite versus cable questions...

When the weather is really really really bad, the Dish will go out for a few mins. I have never had it go out for more than 2 or 3 mins though and its rare that it will lose signal at all.

I thought about switching from Dish to Time Warner, just to save a lil money. However, none of their receivers have digital output or any of some of the cool features that Dish has.

If money was not an object, I would go with Dish definitely.

I had Dish when I was in an apartment several years ago. Worked well. Just make sure you have a clear view of the south-SE.

 

Nowadays, the installation and equipment is free. You can get 150 channels (no movie channels) for like 30 or 40 bucks in one room (its like 5 bucks for each additional room). PPV movies are like 5 or 6 bucks. Local channels is like another 5 bucks. No other real fees besides tax and stuff.

I have always had the 150 channel package with a 4 receiver setup and local channels and its about $60 a month. In my apartment, I had the 150 channel package with just 2 receivers and local channels and it was about $45.

 

I recently made the switch from cable to dish so I could save a few bucks. If you signed up for a year and paid 50 down, you get the first three or four months @ 12 dollars. You also get hbo and skinemax during the introductory period at no charge.
Since I have switched I will strongly say that I like the dish better than cable. I have had no loss of reception. Picture quality is the same. There are just a few nuances on the dish side that I enjoy more than on the cable side.

 

My direcTV went out for 20 minutes during last night's unexpected hail storm. Only in Texas does it go from 100 degrees to ice falling from the sky in the same day.

 

1) Not bad. Weather will cause brief outages. Real bad weather (last night in Houston) can cause 10-15 minute outages. In general I have fewer problems with DirecTV than back when I was with Warner (admittedly a few years now).

2) Friends have told me there is no problem. You need a Southern exposure. The biggest issue may be with your landlord. There are ways around drilling through the wall. If you cannot clamp to your outdoor railing, there are also other ways to put the dish up.

3) Much prefer satellite. For now the only advantage of cable is bandwidth and roadrunner if you want/need it.

 

1. Never goes here in Austin.

2. the biggest pain, because most apartments make you buy renters insurance for it, plus you have to have an unobstructed view to 180 degrees south. You also have to run the cable through a window or a wall from the outside.

3. Satellite has much better picture. I mean it is night and day compared to digital cable. Digital cable sucks in terms of image quality. I've had both at the same time on the same tv and the difference is dramatic.

 

I don't have much experience, but I do now that weather ruined a Rice Owls party for the first CW championship game. Absolutely ruined it...off for 15 minutes on for 3...and so on.

All the satellite people in the room said this was rare.

but, I wished I was at another viewing party, and I glad I was not the host of that show.

 

I glad I have editing privileges.

 

hey I getting used to it.

oh, and RM95 has chance surpassing me of post count when he doesn't have edit and I like Vida's butt.

KAM KAM KAM KAM VIDAS BUTT KAM KAM KAM KAM VIDA KAM KAM KAM

 

I have both satellite and analog cable; prefer satellite. Better quality.

Digital cable was a crock. Their bandwidth on non-premium channels sucked...was like the worst setting on Tivo. Lot'sa pixels.

 

i just recently took advantage of that exact same package. no doubt it will save me money off of what i was paying for cable...and the picture quality is signficantly better than "digital cable," which i've come to learn is a complete fallacy.

 

I have Digital Cable in Houston, but in ABQ I have Satellite...

I like DirecTV better due to picture and channel selection...

Also, the p*rn isn't bad either...

 

I went with Time Warner digital cable.

They just got new HD boxes for my HDTV.

It has optical out for surround as well as very good HD component.

The downfall is that they don't have DVI. My TV has a DVI input and you can get a DVI capable receiver for most satellite companies (usually have to spend more).

For those of you who don't know...DVI is the only way to get a digital signal stream all the way from the receiver to the TV without interupting it.

Using component video is usually good enough, but the signal has to be broken down to analog then built back to digital by the TV...DVI is pure digital all the way.

Anyways...I was thinking about getting one of the two DVD players on the market that has a DVI out and just using component for HD...but the DVD players are buggy right now so I'll wait until they sure up the technology a little more.

I've been very happy with TW because they have more HD channels than satellite. I'd have to get an antenna for the local HD stations if I had satellite, whereas on TW they come to the box.


BTW: for those of you using the two box system for HD...one digital and one HD box using Time Warner, you can go change them for free for the MUCH MUCH better single box.

 

I guess the only reason why I have the digital cable is for the extra HDTV channels. Otherwise I'd go with the dish.