DirecTV vs. cable
 

So I moved into my new place and I had DirecTV here last week to hook me up again but they couldn't because there's too much snow up on the roof, so I have to wait until Spring to get my DTV back. :(

In the meantime I'm stuck with Time Warner cable and I couldn't be more disappointed. The difference in their HD offerings and the overall picture quality is amazing to me. TW straight up blows. They don't have half the HD channels that DTV has, and the picture quality stinks in comparison.

Anyone else notice a big difference in the picture quality? I can't believe TW passes this off as "high def".

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

I can't speak to any comparisons, other than to just say I love my DirecTV. I'd go through withdrawal too if I were in your shoes.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

DTV quality pales in comparison to FIOS. When I changed from Cox to FIOS I thought I bought a new TV. A friend of mine had DTV and noticed the same type of change. I understand the DTV for those of you out of the DC area. I'd certainly go with DTV if I couldn't get my skins on local stations.

Time Warner seems to suck. I don't have any experience with them, but I've only ever heard bad things.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

I had DTV for a while, but when my girlfriend and I moved in August, we switched to Comcast because their bundle (phone/internet/cable) was included in our monthly rental payments, not to mention our balcony doesn't face south. I am disappointed on so many levels. Their hardware is inferior, their HD programming is inferior, and their customer service straight up blows. It's a total joke, but I'm kind of stuck with it. I can vouch for DTV's quality, and I hear Verizon FiOS is pretty sweet as well.

Matty, can't you just get up on your roof and knock some of that snow off??

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

Well, I guess as long as you can get DTV back by September then you're all good!

Hooray Sunday Ticket!

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For me DTV was the worst.

Comcast a little better.

FiOS ROCKS!!!!!!!! Never changing again and it is the cheapest of the three.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

i have been thinking about direct T.V for over a year. what is the price comparison? i really hate comcast, but am wary to change because of the switch to analog later this year

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

The only benefit that Cable has over DirecTV is "On Demand". Honestly, I can live without it. Since all channels are supposed be going digital this month, picture quality on the basic channels should improve. Do not expect much else.

The picture quality when it comes to cable actually varies from home to home based on your wiring system in the house. For example how many splitters, jumpers, and barrels you have on your cable system in conjunction with your house box (not to be confused with your cable box). In other words you can have the most high tech cable company out there with all the bells and whistles, but if your internal wiring and set up is a mess, then you are watching a mess.

Now I am not sure about Time Warner or Comcast, but I can tell you that COX runs what is called a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) System from their plant. In other words, they do run Fiber Optic Cables to your neighborhood to where your Node is located. Once the Fiber reaches the Node the node transforms the Light waves into RF signal. The RF signal then travels through the Trunk and Tree system that most of you guys are familiar with. The trunk and tree system consists of the cables that run along the telephone poles and underground. They connect to a "Tap" which is the term for a very large splitter which runs through a drop cable and connects to your house box. In other words with COX cable you are getting your signal at the speed of light from the plant until it hits your your neighborhoods Node.

For all of you guys who swear by FiOS (good for you), you are not as superior over cable as you think. Here is why; yes they ran the Fiber optic to your home and in your home in some cases. The fact of the matter is that there is no such thing as a “Fiber Optic television”; so at some point in your system you have to change Light waves into RF signal so that it may be connected to your Television. Yes, FiOS signal travels on fiber closer to your home giving you a slightly better picture than those guys with a [B]mediocre[/B] cable system. If their cable system is set up properly throughout the home as I stated in the 2nd paragraph however, then the human eye cannot tell the difference.

All in all, I still prefer DirecTV over cable, but thats because I cannot get COX and Comcast is severely inferior... plus I used to have DFS. When they come out with a Fiber optic television then I will consider FIOS.

In all honesty, if I could have a speed of light satelight signal with a fiberoptic cable back up plugged into a fiberoptic HD TV with COX's quality of customer service, then I would be a very happy man. Until then I like the rest of you guys have to pick your poison, because they all have their Pro's and Con's.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=dmek25;525668]i have been thinking about direct T.V for over a year. what is the price comparison? i really hate comcast, but am wary to change because of the switch to analog later this year[/quote]I'm paying about 65 a month for service plus three receivers. A receiver is 5 dollars a month, so you can save if you only need a few satellite-enabled TVs.

The price may differ based on location.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=dmek25;525668]i have been thinking about direct T.V for over a year. what is the price comparison? i really hate comcast, but am wary to change because of the switch to analog later this year[/quote]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Unless you have one of those old televisions with "Rabbit Ear" antennas, then you as the customer do not need to worry about the switch to Digital television. Anyone that tells you otherwise is FOS!!!! DirecTV is already all digital. Cable is Digital with the exception of the "local channels" it is the responsibility of the Cable service provider to switch those channels from a analog transmission to a digital one. Most of them have already done so.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]The only people effected by the switch to Digital Television are those people who receive their television through an "over the air" broadcast through an antenna of some sort. If you already have cable, or DirecTV, or FiOS, then you do not have a damn thing to worry about.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

how many cannels does the $65.00 get?

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

does anybody else have AT&T uverse? i just switched from direct tv to them and i couldnt be happier.I've had direct tv for yrs for the sunday ticket but since the price of the ticket has skyroclketed i didnt buy it last yr so i made the switch to at&t
Plus the operator at AT&T said the ticket was coming to them,I dont know if thats true,it doesnt matter,thats not why I switched.The dvr that comes with it is awesome,record 4 shows at a time,program your dvr from the net,playback recorded shows on any tv.\Plus my hd on directtv would get out of whack every month and it almost always went out if it rained.I had to pray it wouldnt rain during a skins game

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

I just hope they pass this stimulas bill so the federal goverment will pay for my four converter boxes. I'm excited about this new digital tv stuff

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=htownskinfan;525700]does anybody else have AT&T uverse? i just switched from direct tv to them and i couldnt be happier.I've had direct tv for yrs for the sunday ticket but since the price of the ticket has skyroclketed i didnt buy it last yr so i made the switch to at&t
[B]Plus the operator at AT&T said the ticket was coming to them[/B],I dont know if thats true,it doesnt matter,thats not why I switched.The dvr that comes with it is awesome,record 4 shows at a time,program your dvr from the net,playback recorded shows on any tv.\Plus my hd on directtv would get out of whack every month and it almost always went out if it rained.I had to pray it wouldnt rain during a skins game[/quote]

I know DirecTV has exclusive rights to the Sunday Ticket through at least 2010, if not beyond.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=GMScud;525658]I had DTV for a while, but when my girlfriend and I moved in August, we switched to Comcast because their bundle (phone/internet/cable) was included in our monthly rental payments, not to mention our balcony doesn't face south. I am disappointed on so many levels. Their hardware is inferior, their HD programming is inferior, and their customer service straight up blows. It's a total joke, but I'm kind of stuck with it. I can vouch for DTV's quality, and I hear Verizon FiOS is pretty sweet as well.

[B]Matty, can't you just get up on your roof and knock some of that snow off[/B]??[/quote]

Wish I could, the roof is too high and too steep for my taste though

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[quote=GMScud;525716]I know DirecTV has exclusive rights to the Sunday Ticket through at least 2010, if not beyond.[/quote]

that lying at&t basterd! lol
yeah i looked it up,plus it looks like its going to have some more cool shit with it,it just got too high for me to buy anymore

-- In addition to the standard NFL SUNDAY TICKET package, DIRECTV
will offer a premium NFL SUNDAY TICKET package. NFL SUNDAY
TICKET customers who subscribe to the premium package will
have access to new interactive services and viewer-selected
camera angles and replays. Subscribers to the premium NFL
SUNDAY TICKET package will also have access to a new "Red
Zone" channel, which will be devoted to switching from game to
game for all the best live action and replays from any NFL
SUNDAY TICKET game. The premium package will also provide
viewers with the ability to index, search for, and view, plays
of a specific NFL player, team or play-type from games played
that Sunday. This will provide viewers with the power to
create a personalized highlight show of their own fantasy
team.

-- DIRECTV has an exclusive opportunity to develop and
distribute, for the first time, enhanced and exclusive
versions of NFL postseason games, including the Super Bowl.

-- DIRECTV customers with a digital video recorder (DVR) who
currently receive the highlights on demand feature will
receive expanded and unique NFL-related content and highlights
downloaded to their DVR hard drives.

-- DIRECTV will also have the right to provide remote access to
NFL SUNDAY TICKET games and content to SUNDAY TICKET
subscribers via broadband or wireless devices.

-- DIRECTV will have access to, and plans to distribute, every
NFL SUNDAY TICKET game produced in high-definition format, in
addition to the standard-definition productions.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=dmek25;525672]how many cannels does the $65.00 get?[/quote]

about 200

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=firstdown;525704]I just hope they pass this stimulas bill so the federal goverment will pay for my four converter boxes. I'm excited about this new digital tv stuff[/quote]

You seriously have four TV's that are that old?

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=Mattyk72;525724]Wish I could, the roof is too high and too steep for my taste though[/quote]

If Time Warner gets too unbearable, you can always go up to the attic, rip off all the insulation underneath the roof, and crank the heat up to 90 degrees. That should melt that damn snow. :)

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[quote=Angry;525741]You seriously have four TV's that are that old?[/quote]
hahahaha

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[quote=Angry;525741]You seriously have four TV's that are that old?[/quote]

You mean there's something wrong with [URL="http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/retro/old%20tv-thumb.JPG"]this[/URL]?

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

now that someone brought it up, how many T.V's do you guys have in your household? i have 6( and my parents are always getting on me for it)

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[quote=Mattyk72;525778]You mean there's something wrong with [URL="http://www.pinkgodzillagames.com/retro/old%20tv-thumb.JPG"]this[/URL]?[/quote]

That's not a TV, it's a antique!

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[quote=dmek25;525788]now that someone brought it up, how many T.V's do you guys have in your household? i have 6( and my parents are always getting on me for it)[/quote]

I have 6 as well. one in the finished basement, den, family room, master bedroom, and 2 in my childrens bedrooms. If you count the antique that we have on the enclosed porch then it is 7, but we never watch the damn thing.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=dmek25;525788]now that someone brought it up, how many T.V's do you guys have in your household? i have 6( and my parents are always getting on me for it)[/quote]

4, one in each bedroom and one in the living room. I now have all flat panels so I should be done buying TVs for a long time. Just got a new 46" Panasonic plasma for the living room, it rocks.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

We have 3. Basement, kitchen, our bedroom. Kids don't have cable drops in their rooms, and I don't plan on doing that anytime soon.

We have Comcast, and for what it's worth, it's fine. We haven't had any problems with TV or Internet service. And the only reason I haven't switched to DirecTV is because DSL isn't provided in our neighborhood. So in order to have high speed internet (which I need for work) and not pay close to $60/month for it, I'm sticking with Comcast for now. My parents have and love FiOS, and I would consider that switch if it's ever provided. But for now, Comcast is fine.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=Angry;525741]You seriously have four TV's that are that old?[/quote]
No I was joking but I don't have any that are HD. They all have a great picture so I just have a hard time replacing something that works great just to have the newest thing going. As the prices drop on HD TV's I'll probably go out and buy one. As far as TV's we have 4 and thats three in the house and one in the garage which is where I watch most of my football. As far as cable v/s Direct its been so long sense I have had cable it would be hard for me to compare the two.

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[quote=firstdown;525704]I just hope they pass this stimulas bill so the federal goverment will pay for my four converter boxes. I'm excited about this new digital tv stuff[/quote]

You mean the Federal Government will pay someone (Create a job) to install your four converter boxes.............:silly:

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=Miller101;525929]You mean the Federal Government will pay someone (Create a job) to install your four converter boxes.............:silly:[/quote]
How is the goverment providing funding for converter boxes creating new jobs? With or without their funding people still will needed the converter boxes.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=firstdown;525704]I just hope they pass this stimulas bill so the federal goverment will pay for my four converter boxes. I'm excited about this new digital tv stuff[/quote]

Later on down the thread, it sounds like you have DirecTV. If so, you don't need any converter boxes. Only people that pull their TV signal from the air need a converter.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

I have two, maybe Uncle Sam will give me monies to buy more TVs in this porkulus package :p The PC in my bedroom has a 30" Dell monitor and a TV tuner card and I have 50" Panasonic Plasma in the living room.

Soon as Verizon FIOS is available Comcast is getting tossed on the streets. It's a little personal and a little business. Around here Comcast has plenty of HD channels, the quality of picture is pretty good, and their DVR is second to none but they've rubbed me the wrong way too many times and there are consequences [to] poking your customers.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=saden1;525940]I have two, maybe Uncle Sam will give me monies to buy more TVs in this porkulus package :p The PC in my bedroom has a 30" Dell monitor and a TV tuner card and I have 50" Panasonic Plasma in the living room.

Soon as Verizon FIOS is available Comcast is getting tossed on the streets. It's a little personal and a little business. Around here Comcast has plenty of HD channels, the quality of picture is pretty good, and their DVR is second to none but [B]they've rubbed me the wrong way too many times[/B] and there are consequences poking your customers.[/quote]

Getting rubbed the wrog way is still better than not getting rubbed at all.

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[quote=firstdown;525935]How is the goverment providing funding for converter boxes creating new jobs? With or without their funding people still will needed the converter boxes.[/quote]

The converter boxes have to be installed right? There you go! Heck! If it pays good I just might have switch jobs and............install converter boxes for a living! That job would be fun! :)

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[quote=Miller101;526060]The converter boxes have to be installed right? There you go! Heck! If it pays good I just might have switch jobs and............install converter boxes for a living! That job would be fun! :)[/quote]


It would be fun until you had to walk into another persons house. I can just imangine the stories Comcast guys have.

When in HS I worked construction, we were putting an addition onto this house. Every morning this three bill lady boiled up a dozen eggs and proceded to eat them while watching us work, oh did I mention she dipped them in mayo as she went along. By 11 am I could smell her farts from out side the house. GROSS!!!

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i have bunny ears hooked up to my 60 inch HD tv . . . on top of that, when i went to go get my converter box i was told the gov't ran out of money to reimburse us for some of the cost like they said they would. . . thanks for not putting enough money away for this project or thanks for putting enough money away only to divert it to other gov't spending.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=over the mountain;526104]i have bunny ears hooked up to my 60 inch HD tv . . . on top of that, when i went to go get my converter box i was told the gov't ran out of money to reimburse us for some of the cost like they said they would. . . thanks for not putting enough money away for this project or thanks for putting enough money away only to divert it to other gov't spending.[/quote]


Why in the world do you have bunny ears connected to a HDTV...on second thought how in the hell do you have them connected?

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1) because i live paycheck to paycheck 2) i have an amplified bunny ears with tin foil on top that runs your average coaxil cable right into the back of your tv just like a cable box (which is actually an upgrade from connecting a cable from my window screen to the tv with no ears at all)

and i did host a SB party, hahahaha but it came out crystal clear b/c the station amped up their analog frequency just for the game so people using bunny ears got a clear image.

Re: DirecTV vs. cable
 

[quote=over the mountain;526107]1) because i live paycheck to paycheck 2) i have an amplified bunny ears with tin foil on top that runs your average coaxil cable right into the back of your tv just like a cable box (which is actually an upgrade from connecting a cable from my window screen to the tv with no ears at all)

and i did host a SB party, hahahaha but it came out crystal clear b/c the station amped up their analog frequency just for the game so people using bunny ears got a clear image.[/quote]

I forgot about those antennas with the coax adapters. I was still thinking of the double pronged wires that you used to screw to the back of the set.

In no way was I poking fun at your financial situation nor am I now, but I could not help but think to myself "One day, I'm gonna have HD to go with my HDTV".

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[quote=over the mountain;526104]i have bunny ears hooked up to my 60 inch HD tv . . . on top of that, when i went to go get my converter box i was told the gov't ran out of money to reimburse us for some of the cost like they said they would. . . thanks for not putting enough money away for this project or thanks for putting enough money away only to divert it to other gov't spending.[/quote]

If you have an HDTV, you don't need a converter box. Use HD [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Philips-PHDTV1-Silver-Digital-Antenna/dp/B0007XDI54/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234295720&sr=8-3"]bunny ears[/ame]. ;)

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If you have a HD TV with a HD converter built in you can pick up HD channels with bunny ears with no problem. Agruable maybe the best HD picture you will see.

It will be displayed as a ##-#. for example my NBC is 11 but over bunny ears my HD NBC is 11-1.

If not for the wife this would be my set up at my house also. MPT (Maryland Public TV) has seriously 4 or 5 HD channels that they brodcast and can easily be picked up by bunny ears.

I figured this out becasue the wonderful world of DircTV didn't allow HD local channels in my area. I now have Comcast.