The time has come

wroughtn_harv · Feb 4, 2004

Comcast had an installer ring my bell last Tuesday a little after nine pm wanting to install digital boxes on my televisions.

I'm sure he left with the opinion that a old bear is one thing you don't want to wake up.

Then last night on my way home after a hard day my cell rings and there's another installer at my house wanting to install the boxes. No scheduling, no warning, just shows up and wants to do business.

But he wants me to help him get access to the back of my entertainment center. I'm dirty, muddy, got diesel on my jeans when means my wife is going to be chewing up nails and spitting out screws. I told them to take their cable and shove it.

If I'm going to have to get another remote and have another box over every television I want to see the options available.

I don't like Comcast. Them and their predecessors treated us out in Wylie like off colored step children that had severe acne. We received poor service, few channels, and paid the same rate as the city dwellers with zillions of channels. I'm the only one on this block with them.

But I've heard bad stuff about satellites too.

Tell me about it.

PineRidge · Feb 4, 2004

Harv I have DirecTV and I have no complaints. With the exception of a good hard rain I don't experience any outages. And even then it's only about 5 minutes max. The picture quality is excellent and the dish itself is a very small footprint. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mikim · Feb 4, 2004

$25 dollar radio shack antenna and for over 10 years in this house I've gotten 5 channels of garbage ....... why would I want more garbage? ... lessee - I can live with my 5 free stations just like when I was a kid ... or I can spend a lot of dough so I can pick which, of the 3 or 4 channels that are running the same show, channel of garbage to watch. .... pass .... although ... broadband modem will be nice .... wife needs it for work and guess what? .... can't get the broadband without taking at least the basic cable ..... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gifsigh .. I'm stuck. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

fivestring · Feb 4, 2004

I've had DirecTV for 10 years now. I have no complaints.
If the satellite were to fall from the sky tomorrow, I'd do without tv before I went back to cable.

MossRoad · Feb 4, 2004

We have had DirecTV for 6 years. The quality of the picture is perfect. It cost $29.95 when we bought it and I think it is now $32.95 or close... anyway, still under $35.00. It recieves only one channel at a time, so if you want to watch two different shows at the same time(or watch one and tape one, or tape two, etc...) you have to get a second or third box. That tacks on an additional $5.00 per extra box. I've taken the video output and run it into a modulator and fed it into our home video distribution system, so I can flip any TV in the house to channel 4 and watch whatever is playing on the dish reciever. Helps when doing housework while important episopes of Sponge Bob are running /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

There are some really good deals on free equipment from both DirecTV and Dish Network.

Many people in my neighborhood have dumped cable for the little dish. More channels, better picture, more pay for view movies. And all for less price.

I've got to say that we really get our money's worth out of it. The history channel, discovery channel, and TLC are the most watched. National Geographic and Animal Planet, too. This is one product that I can definately recommend.

The downside is we live by the airport. If the wind is out of the south(rarely), the Fed X and UPS jets will disrupt the signal for a few seconds when they take off in that direction and cross the path between the dish and the bird in the sky. Happens about 2 times a year! But seriously, if there are large thunderstorms between the dish and the bird, the signal has cut out for about 15 minutes. But at that point, the storms are so bad that we should be in the basement anyway, not watching TV. Extremely heavy rain causes the same thing. Snow on the dish is a problem a few times a year. You can get a goretex boot that slips over the dish and the snow just slips off. One time the signal just stopped. I looked outside and a crow was sitting on the reciever arm of the dish. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif But compared to my in-laws' cable service, this stuff is way better. The cable drops out in just about every storm, the picture quality is lousy and they would have to pay extra to get access to digital cable and pay per view movie rentals. They pay more and have fewer channels.

Another consideration is local TV station access. Since so many people have cable, they forget that when the cable goes out, all they have to do is disconnect the cable at the TV, put in one of those little set top antennas and watch local TV for free. Well, with a dish, you can do the same thing with an A-B switch. The local stations are free, they've always been free, people just forget that they can get them for free. In larger market you can pay an additional $4.00 and get local TV on the dish, but unless you are in a place that you cannot pick up local channels, why would you pay for free TV? Something like 90% of the US population is in range to pick up local TV with a set top antenna. That's pretty good coverage.

I highly recommend this product to anyone considering it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

JASTN70D · Feb 4, 2004

We have had satellite about 3 years works good there are some outages as Pineridge said but there not bad or long. And as for the garbage you can customize the package to leave most if not all of it out. Much more friendly in that respect than cable. But you will have to have boxes on all TV sets or if you get fancy with your cabling and use the UHF ( I think it is called) remote type receiver you can use one box and control it anywhere in the house. Only can watch one channel at a time but on any TV.

Bird · Feb 4, 2004

Harv, when we moved back to town to an apartment, we got AT&T broadband internet and cable TV, and since I'd never had such, I paid extra for their "premium" installation (everything hooked up and working and it didn't take the installer long to do it), then Comcast bought it. Then we bought this little mobile home and I called to have our service moved, asked how much it would cost, etc. Of course, I physically moved everything. When the installer (young kid) showed up, he said he had to replace both boxes for the cable TV (I still don't know why, since the others were less than a year old and working OK), but he replaced both of them and then spent a lot of time getting them to work - had to call his office a few times, but finally got the TVs working. Then he said he also had to replace the modem for the internet service, and did, and then of course it didn't work, but he had a big book and two CDs that he gave me for me to complete the installation. I explained that it wasn't going to work that way and he told me that I hadn't ordered the "premium" installation; that if I wanted them to make it work, they'd have to send a different installer on another day and at extra cost. So I told him if it didn't work, I wasn't going to pay for it and he could just take all his equipment with him. So he called his office again and they tried to give him instructions as to how to do it, but he couldn't get the hang of using a computer keyboard. He worked at it over an hour, it got to be 5 p.m. when he was supposed to get off work, and he still never succeeded. So he finally got on the cell phones with a different installer who was a long ways off and due to get off work, also, and finally talked that installer into agreeing to come over here before he went home. So the young man said the other installer would be here sometime "this evening" and he wanted me to sign his work order so he could go ahead and leave. I told him I'd be glad to sign it . . . just as soon as it was working. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif He was not a happy camper, but he left. And about 30 minutes later, the other guy showed up, sat down at the keyboard (didn't use the CDs or book the first guy left), just typed a few keystrokes, and voila, in less than 2 minutes everything was working. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

So, it's been OK now for 6 months. I think it's too expensive, but everything seems that way, and I've had a couple of occasions to talk to their tech support folks on their chat line and they were pretty good, so I guess you could say we're satisfied with Comcast, but not overly impressed. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MossRoad · Feb 4, 2004

Simple whole house video distribution...

Run two RG6 cables to each TV location in the house from a central(home) location, usually a closet or somewhere in the basement. Then you can use a combination of splitters, combiners and amplifiers at the home location to distribute the video with an even signal level all through the house. With that setup, you can output video from any location and watch it in any location in the house by using modulators to put the video signals on a channel of your choosing.

Want to watch a movie in the living room but the VCR or DVD player is located in the family room? No problem. Set the family room modulator to channel 50. Plug in a movie in the family room, go to the living room and flip the TV in there to channel 50... the movie appears in your living room(or on any TV in the house that is tuned to channel 50). /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

MikePA · Feb 4, 2004

harv, I had DirecTV until a tree got big and blocked the signal (poor planning on my part)! I installed everything myself which included connecting 2 TVs to the dish, incorporating the satellite feeds into a digital recorder connected to each TV, etc. It will be a piece for cake for you to install. I bought everything online as well.

Recommendations
1. Install the dish so that trees, or anything else, wont grow up and block the signal.
2. Buy the dish that can pull in all the satellites, including the ones that handle the high definition signal. While you might not need it now, it will be a pain to do it later.
3. Each satellite box has to connect to a phone line. Get the satellite box that can translate CallerID. It was great being able to see who is calling pop up on the TV.

BTW, for people who have cable modems from Comcast...Comcast is sending out letters to people who they (Comcast) think are using too much bandwidth.

tc35dforme · Feb 4, 2004

Harv,

We have Directv...its our only option ( if you ignore the over the air snowy channels ). Our town has too few houses, and too many miles of roads to justify cable ( we do have small towns out here /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif ).

I'm happy with it. We run ( 2 ) boxes and get our local channels through space so our total with taxes and fees ends up around $ 45.00 / month.

I really enjoy the dozen or so science / nature / history channels...the kids really enjoy the disney and stuff...and the wife always finds that craft or home decotaing show she needs.

I like the option of getting news from many sources ( especially the BBC ) to hear a different slant on things.

We're happy with it, but then again we don't really have the cable option.

Most of our service outages are due to snow...we know we're in for a big clean-up when we wake up and there's no TV service. Snow is over the dish again !!! That won't be your problem !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

beenthere · Feb 4, 2004

I also am real pleased with DirecTV, and very, very pleased with the fact that the channels are not loaded with political campaign ads. My wife likes the music channels on DirecTV (that is why we have it, and we have two receivers so no argument on who will watch what, when, etc.).

News (24/7) can be picked up on FOX news (they have the others as well) and sports on ESPN whenever I am interested in the latest scores, and my latest interest, World Poker Tour (although the repeats are indication that I am watching that too much now). I may put in about 30 - 60 minutes a day watching TV, and rarely more than that. Special channels for weather both local and national. Also International news channel, which sometimes is better for getting US news too.

Intentionally did not watch the super bowl ads AND the disgusting half time show. Can't figure what MTV has to do with playing football, but probably too old to figure that out. When the lyrics of the songs state what will happen, when the nipple is decorated, and then it is stated that it was not intentional, what do they think we are smoking? Duh!!!

DAP · Feb 4, 2004

Harv, I'd be willing to bet "Murphy" is a good friend of yours, as he is for most others.

That being said ... I know you'll have an equally entertaining post here if and WHEN you decide to have one of these services installed! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif All these folks showin up at your stoop will suddenly be busier than a one-legged man in an a$$-kickin contest.

"... ya don't know what ya like, ya only like what ya know". anonymous

Bob_In_MN · Feb 4, 2004

We've had Direct TV for over 3 years now and I'm very happy with it.

The info I have on outages states an average of 23 hours per year. The cable company likes to advertise (around here anyway) that satellite will leave you without cable for an entire day. Obviously the outages are scattered and in our case have been due to storms every time. I can think of one time in 3 years where our TV viewing has been affected by an outage.

I'd buy it again over cable.

Bob

wroughtn_harv · Feb 4, 2004

( I know you'll have an equally entertaining post here if and WHEN you decide to have one of these services installed!)

I can't be held responsible for these posts! Seriously. I mean, really. It's the moon.

I can't explain it but have to define it as insanity. Something happens about this time of a month where my mind just takes off on it's own.

You take today, rainy weather, good excuse for kicking back and letting the batteries recharge. But no, not this week. I'm like a BB in a boxcar running all over the area problem solving like a wild man.

I went about sixty miles one way to visit with some buds and do some brainstorming on the tools they're going to build for the rings to do pipe fence. In sixty miles I had not only finalized my first concept but had figured out three more alternatives.

On the way back home out of the blue comes this concept for a bud's rock business. He sells stone, something I have a fondness for beyond natural reasoning by any stretch of the imagination.

One of his laborers is very talented in stone carving. The fella makes designs, names, numbers, etc on flagstone. It hit me that if we did some cuts with my diamond bladed circular saw just right he could hand chisel a rope design border on those plaques. Take them from the unordinary into the world of extra unordinary if you know what I mean.

That started a whole nother train of thought. Can you imagine in a stone wall or maybe around a column a rope design in stone? Just an inch and a half layer chiseled to look like a rope pattern for accent?

I did. Out of the blue, just came up for discussion amongst all the other subjects in there having a good time. No rhyme or reason, just ideas bouncing off the walls inside what some folks refer to as a very hard head.

Hoosier_Daddy · Feb 4, 2004

I have Comcast basic and Comcast cable modem. I think it is overpriced but I cannot complain about the quality of service I have received because I have not had to have any idiots show up at the house.

It's a trade off. A little more cost with cable but you can have as many TV's as you want on different stations anyplace you have a jack in the house.

And, if you get a router you can have 2-3-4 computers sharing the same IP. I have two IP's. One for work and one for home use. (no over limit letter yet)

If you are looking at cable for internet service consider this. You pay a fee for the internet connection (instead of a 2nd phone line) and that fee includes the your IP provider (No AOL, etc).

Of course, there are cheaper routes but this works well for me.

I have a friend that has direct TV and when the wife makes him go camping in the trailer he takes his 2nd box and dish mounted on a tripod with him. He is a NASCAR Nut.

I think it's funny. He lives in the country and spends several weekend in a noisy campground and takes the TV with him.

Tom

Hoosier_Daddy · Feb 4, 2004

Harv,

I just saw a good Dish commercial on TV.

"Who let the Pigs Out"

Sure beats Comcast Commercials.

wroughtn_harv · Feb 5, 2004

Over the years we've had few problems with Telecable, AT&T, Comcast, same company, different ticker symbols.

In 92 when we moved into this house the cable had the basic local channels, CNN, ESPN, and some shopping channels. We paid the same as the folks twelve miles away who had something like a hundred channels.

We had fried catfish eggs and knew is our hearts it wasn't caviar.

We also got movie channels on occasion. By that I mean they'd tune their system one day and HBO or Cinemax would come in viewable, not clear, but viewable. Maybe a year later they'd retune their system and one would turn to garble and the other might come in real clear for awhile then fade to viewable. But it couldn't be depended upon and you had to be in the mood for a poor reception movie to watch one of them.

Our rate is now fifty percent more than when we moved here. We get about forty or so channels. Almost as many as the neighbors next town over got in 92. Now they're wanting to go digital and the biggest thing I had against satellite, extra remote, is now going to be a part of my life, Comcast, Dish, or Directtv.

I have Verizon DSL. We've had it since it became available. So a modem is not in the mix. It's all about television. And I don't want to give up that part of my life. I'm addicted to NOW with Bill Moyers on Fridays, CSpan just about anytime, Speed during the NASCAR season, etc.

I'm going to turn my wife loose on this thread tonight. She's a wonderful woman but a frustrated editor. So now ya'll get what I get, edited! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DAP · Feb 5, 2004

( That started a whole nother train of thought. Can you imagine in a stone wall or maybe around a column a rope design in stone? Just an inch and a half layer chiseled to look like a rope pattern for accent? )

Well, ummm, while it's not technically the "same", I have seen some "stone ropes". They were implemented on large stone pilasters on the end of field stone walls - kinda like fancy stone gate posts. They DID catch my eye, and upon thinking about them some, it looked like they were 'poured' though. (Just had an image of a stone rope fence flash by. Put all that 4"OD steel pipe you swizzel around with on the back burner!) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Which fires up an even more interesting idea. The means to an end. Are they the same end if the means are different? Yeeha ... we could have 3 lifes worth of bantering on this one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MossRoad · Feb 5, 2004

the biggest thing I had against satellite, extra remote, is now going to be a part of my life, 

Doesn't have to be. I have a universal learning remote. It knew the codes for most of our TV's, VCRs and Satellite box. We recently won a home theatre system at a school function. It is three years newer than our remote, so the remote didn't know the codes for it. No problem. I pushed the LEARN button and pointed the home theater remote at it. Pushed a few buttons and it learned the new codes. It also runs X10 codes and can controll the lights in the house with on/off and dim/brighten commands. Pretty nice for a $39.00 remote. They make nicer ones, too, but more $$ /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

fivestring · Feb 5, 2004

"The cable company likes to advertise (around here anyway) that satellite will leave you without cable for an entire day."

The cable companies do that here, too. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
My parents have cable and and they lose TV a lot longer than I do. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Like I said, I wouldn't go back to cable... I'd do without TV.