Need advice: Satellite or Cable? - Blu-ray Forum

Sylin · 02-08-2008, 12:36 AM

We've had cable for about 6 years now. It's been good, but not great. Now that we have a nice HD setup (50" SXRD, TiVo Series 3, Blu-ray), I'm keen on getting more HD TV channels, and cable just doesn't offer much of a selection in our area.

So... can anyone shed light on their experience with DirecTV or Dish Network?

How is the service? Is it reliable, even in rough weather?

Can I use my TiVo Series 3 with it? I don't really want to buy new hardware, and refuse to use any other DVR except one with a TiVo interface.

How's the cost? We spend about $65/mo on Charter cable (not including internet), and it gives us basic, expanded basic and the HD tier, along with 2 cable cards (in the TiVo) and 2 cable boxes. We typically don't subscribe to HBO or other movie channels cuz we buy our movies instead. But I'm not against it. Is satellite comparable on cost? More so?

Thanks in advance!

Blus Brother · 02-08-2008, 12:55 AM

I much prefer satellite - much more HD channels than my local cable, which is COX. I have direct tv - I have never had dishnetwork, but I know an installer who has worked for both and says he prefers dishnetwork.

Dexter Morgan · 02-08-2008, 12:59 AM

I recently switched from DirecTV to Dish, and besides the need for 2 antennas vs. 1, it has worked out pretty well.

I actually had a real TiVo setup with DirecTV for about 2 years, and the box finally crapped out on me. When I went to purchase another one, I was very disappointed that DirecTV no longer supported TiVo. I called customer service and was told to send them my TiVo box, and they would replace it with their generic DVR (which I might add is one of the worst pieces of electronic equipment I've ever used). Not a happy camper.

The actual reason I switched though, was because when I took the plunge into the HD world and bought a 1080p tv, they were unwilling to upgrade my DVR setup to an HD DVR. Dish had a special involving a free HD DVR with HD free for 1 year, so I decided to switch.

As far as the service goes, they are pretty comparable. About the same amount of HD channels, etc. One difference is the music channels though. DirecTV is partnered with XM, while Dish uses Sirius for their music. No Howard Stern, if you were wondering.

Overall, I would say DirecTV's unwillingless to satisfy their customers is a huge turnoff for me, and I am glad I switched.

One glaring piece missing from my Dish channel lineup though is the YES network, which broadcasts about 75% of New York Yankee games throughout the season. It probably doesn't mean much to most, but it's making me almost wish I chose cable instead.

Well that's my 2 cents worth of rambling...

nhaase · 02-08-2008, 12:59 AM

I have Comcast, which keeps expanding their HD lineup. Other than the NFL Sunday Ticket I do not like satellite. I had to have it as a kid, all the way until I went to college, and my mom still has it. The signal losses were just horrible when storms came. If we were watching PPV when a storm came, it was not even worth the hassle w/ Dish Network to get refunded. My Dad had cable until he moved, then got satellite for a year, and switched right back to cable, citing signal lossage as the main reason, and the lackluster PQ of the local channels.

Just my thoughts, of course.

Footloose301 · 02-08-2008, 01:07 AM

Comcast is expanding their HD lineup to over 120+ HD chan.... opps! I didn't mean to let the cat out of the bag

Dexter Morgan · 02-08-2008, 01:12 AM

I don't really have any service interruptions, and I live on the rainy, snowy, and windy Connecticut shoreline.

Price-wise, my Dish setup will be about $72 a month once my free year of HD is over. This is for their either 200 or 250 channel package with a 2 room HD DVR, and non HD service in a third room.

I don't remember exactly what DirecTV's pricing was, but it was a tad higher.

Sylin · 02-08-2008, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Comcast is expanding their HD lineup to over 120+ HD chan.... opps! I didn't mean to let the cat out of the bag

Yeah, it kinda sucks that we have Charter, but 4 miles north is Comcast. My brother has it, and his HD channel line-up is nice. I wish I had the choice. I think AT&T is trying to muscle into the area, tho, so that might be a good thing to stimulate the market.

Charter has, at most, I think just 21 HD channels. Unfortunately, they do not have NHL Center Ice in HD. Then again, I think only satellite has that.

JasonR · 02-08-2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Yeah, it kinda sucks that we have Charter, but 4 miles north is Comcast. My brother has it, and his HD channel line-up is nice. I wish I had the choice. I think AT&T is trying to muscle into the area, tho, so that might be a good thing to stimulate the market.

Charter has, at most, I think just 21 HD channels. Unfortunately, they do not have NHL Center Ice in HD. Then again, I think only satellite has that.

Yeah, my Charter just added three channels. I was like three c'mon!!

Footloose301 · 02-08-2008, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Yeah, it kinda sucks that we have Charter, but 4 miles north is Comcast. My brother has it, and his HD channel line-up is nice. I wish I had the choice. I think AT&T is trying to muscle into the area, tho, so that might be a good thing to stimulate the market.

Charter has, at most, I think just 21 HD channels. Unfortunately, they do not have NHL Center Ice in HD. Then again, I think only satellite has that.

Yeah Comcast here is right around 26 channels. But by the end of the year....

Verizon is coming to town and they run fiber to the house and they're now starting tv too. So Comcast is also increasing their internet speeds soon

Mark. My. Words.

sj001 · 02-08-2008, 03:13 AM

Stick with cable, while satellite can be very good, I have often found in my personal experience that it has problems when you have crappy weather. Snow, rain, heavy clouds, anything like that seems to affect it... this is especially true for internet-based satellite services, which are as bad as it gets.

BStecke · 02-08-2008, 03:16 AM

Do you have Fios in your area? That would be my first choice . . . I was one of the first Dish customers, and I haven't really had any trouble with it. That would be my second.

Todd · 02-08-2008, 05:00 AM

I have directv they use mpeg 4 video compression like blu ray which lets them offer more hd channels than any other carrier at this time. dishnet uses mpeg 2 like dvd's, cable also uses mpeg 2, what that mean is directv currently has the the best available lineup with about 150 channels offering hd content. I pay 97 dollars a month for 2 hd receivers and 1 sd receiver, subscribe to the highest tier package. As for service they are superior to any other carrier that I have dealt with (comcast, and dishnet work) The only time I or anyone I personally know have lost signal was due to power outage. fios would be good if you could get it but for most of america, and really probably the whole world right now it's alot like that mythical red bullet called TL51 that was suppose to kill blu ray.

richard lichtenfelt · 02-08-2008, 05:25 AM

Comcast is crazy expensive.
I was paying $142 a month for internet and hd cable with only about 20 hd channels and no movie channels.

jw · 02-08-2008, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

We've had cable for about 6 years now. It's been good, but not great. Now that we have a nice HD setup (50" SXRD, TiVo Series 3, Blu-ray), I'm keen on getting more HD TV channels, and cable just doesn't offer much of a selection in our area.

So... can anyone shed light on their experience with DirecTV or Dish Network?

How is the service? Is it reliable, even in rough weather?

Can I use my TiVo Series 3 with it? I don't really want to buy new hardware, and refuse to use any other DVR except one with a TiVo interface.

How's the cost? We spend about $65/mo on Charter cable (not including internet), and it gives us basic, expanded basic and the HD tier, along with 2 cable cards (in the TiVo) and 2 cable boxes. We typically don't subscribe to HBO or other movie channels cuz we buy our movies instead. But I'm not against it. Is satellite comparable on cost? More so?

Thanks in advance!

just wait, Bt Feb 2009 its government mandated that all channels are broadcast on hd frequencies. Thats probably when I will switch to satellite. Cable is ridiculously price. Basic cable and internet here....$105.00 a month

and I dont have no premium channels

Sylin · 02-08-2008, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwbbud

just wait, Bt Feb 2009 its government mandated that all channels are broadcast on hd frequencies. Thats probably when I will switch to satellite. Cable is ridiculously price. Basic cable and internet here....$105.00 a month

and I dont have no premium channels

I was under the impression that the FCC is requiring all broadcasts to be in digital, not necessarily HD. Also, this changeover does not affect cable or satellite subscribers, just OTA (who are these people still using this, and where in Virginia are they hiding?).

Charter talks a big line... they promised something like 14 new HD channels last year, and we got maybe 6. I'm looking forward to FoodTV HD and hopefully USA in HD, as we watch a lot of shows on both. It sucks I can't see Psych in hi def, but I hear NBC will start airing those episodes come Fall.

One good thing is that Charter just upped our internet speed from 3mb to 5mb at no charge. Now they're pushing this new 10mb upgrade, which I have no need for ATM. But the extra 2mb was nice.

caliminius · 02-08-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Yeah, it kinda sucks that we have Charter, but 4 miles north is Comcast. My brother has it, and his HD channel line-up is nice. I wish I had the choice. I think AT&T is trying to muscle into the area, tho, so that might be a good thing to stimulate the market.

Charter has, at most, I think just 21 HD channels. Unfortunately, they do not have NHL Center Ice in HD. Then again, I think only satellite has that.

If Charter has 21 HD channels, that's 3 more than I can get with Comcast and many of the HD channels are tied to premium channels (Starz HD, HBO HD, Showtime HD, Cinemax HD, and the NFL Network HD) so paying the extra $10 for HD access only gets you 13 lousy channels. And they had the gall to BRAG about having a whopping 18 channels in the last newsletter I got from them!

I really hate Comcast. The crappy Scientific Atlantic boxes, the horrible On Demand interface that is incredibly slow, and the fact that they are the only option I have for high-speed internet.

Tanman19az · 02-08-2008, 08:37 AM

I sold Dish Network and DirecTv for a summer in Indianapolis so I'm gonna have to go with satellite on this one. Either is good, but I voted for DirectTv cuz I thought it looked a tad better. Cable isnt truly digital even with the box. neither is satellite but it sure is close especially the main feed in the house. There is also more HD programming with satellite. Prices aren't too bad especially with their promotions. After their promotion ends tho it will be around $70-$80 a month

jw · 02-08-2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

I was under the impression that the FCC is requiring all broadcasts to be in digital, not necessarily HD. Also, this changeover does not affect cable or satellite subscribers, just OTA (who are these people still using this, and where in Virginia are they hiding?).

Charter talks a big line... they promised something like 14 new HD channels last year, and we got maybe 6. I'm looking forward to FoodTV HD and hopefully USA in HD, as we watch a lot of shows on both. It sucks I can't see Psych in hi def, but I hear NBC will start airing those episodes come Fall.

One good thing is that Charter just upped our internet speed from 3mb to 5mb at no charge. Now they're pushing this new 10mb upgrade, which I have no need for ATM. But the extra 2mb was nice.

yea you are right digital, thats what I was thinking, but the digital channels I get now are high def

we have comcast

dk3dknight · 02-08-2008, 06:50 PM

There is a day I have yet to live out, id say many years ago lol...
I was visiting my grandmother she lives in Spokane, Washington
for her dish was a bad idea, I swear during our trip I thought it was
either snowing, or raining or both, and it was summer....

Anywhoose it was raining that day lighting etc... boom pictures gone,
heavy rain, grandpa goes out there onto the roof and just starts to adjust
it, BOOM BOOM the lightning gets closer...

Eventually he came inside giving up on the dish for that day.

The next day it snowed Heavy, picture doing things that could only be described
as attempting to get rabbit ears to work when the signal is too far away.

Anyway this has permanently imprinted into my head that satellite is bad, so hence forth I have decided that is so.

Maybe not right but the imagery of snow and rain have set the dish's fate in my mind.

TIki_Guy · 02-08-2008, 07:04 PM

I'm trapped in Comcast now. I bought a TIVO HD and it won't work with satellite, and for some reason I can't get DSL at my house, other people in my town have it but when I try using my address it says I can't get in on the Verizon website.

Comcast will chage more for my Broadband if I don't get TV from them, so the money saved by Satellite will be spent on higher internet, also have phone from them.

FIOS is comming to area's near me, does anyone know if the TIVO series 3 (Cablecard) will work on FIOS.? (Verizon TV)

People I have talked to who have FIOS love it!

View Poll Results: Should I go with satellite, or stick with cable?
Satellite - and Dish Network is the bees knees!	8	17.78%
Satellite - and DirecTV is the shiz-nittle-bam-slip-smack-slappy!	21	46.67%
Satellite - and (someothercompany) is the uber choice!	3	6.67%
No way, man. Stick with cable. It doesn't get any better!	13	28.89%
Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll

02-08-2008, 12:36 AM	#1
Sylin Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Nashville Blu-ray collection:1 Trading Score:159	Need advice: Satellite or Cable? We've had cable for about 6 years now. It's been good, but not great. Now that we have a nice HD setup (50" SXRD, TiVo Series 3, Blu-ray), I'm keen on getting more HD TV channels, and cable just doesn't offer much of a selection in our area. So... can anyone shed light on their experience with DirecTV or Dish Network? How is the service? Is it reliable, even in rough weather? Can I use my TiVo Series 3 with it? I don't really want to buy new hardware, and refuse to use any other DVR except one with a TiVo interface. How's the cost? We spend about $65/mo on Charter cable (not including internet), and it gives us basic, expanded basic and the HD tier, along with 2 cable cards (in the TiVo) and 2 cable boxes. We typically don't subscribe to HBO or other movie channels cuz we buy our movies instead. But I'm not against it. Is satellite comparable on cost? More so? Thanks in advance! Last edited by Sylin; 02-08-2008 at 12:40 AM.

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02-08-2008, 12:55 AM	#2
Blus Brother Senior Member Member since:Jun 2007	I much prefer satellite - much more HD channels than my local cable, which is COX. I have direct tv - I have never had dishnetwork, but I know an installer who has worked for both and says he prefers dishnetwork.

02-08-2008, 12:59 AM	#3
Dexter Morgan Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Charleston, SC Blu-ray collection:87 Trading Score:15	I recently switched from DirecTV to Dish, and besides the need for 2 antennas vs. 1, it has worked out pretty well. I actually had a real TiVo setup with DirecTV for about 2 years, and the box finally crapped out on me. When I went to purchase another one, I was very disappointed that DirecTV no longer supported TiVo. I called customer service and was told to send them my TiVo box, and they would replace it with their generic DVR (which I might add is one of the worst pieces of electronic equipment I've ever used). Not a happy camper. The actual reason I switched though, was because when I took the plunge into the HD world and bought a 1080p tv, they were unwilling to upgrade my DVR setup to an HD DVR. Dish had a special involving a free HD DVR with HD free for 1 year, so I decided to switch. As far as the service goes, they are pretty comparable. About the same amount of HD channels, etc. One difference is the music channels though. DirecTV is partnered with XM, while Dish uses Sirius for their music. No Howard Stern, if you were wondering. Overall, I would say DirecTV's unwillingless to satisfy their customers is a huge turnoff for me, and I am glad I switched. One glaring piece missing from my Dish channel lineup though is the YES network, which broadcasts about 75% of New York Yankee games throughout the season. It probably doesn't mean much to most, but it's making me almost wish I chose cable instead. Well that's my 2 cents worth of rambling...

02-08-2008, 12:59 AM	#4
nhaase Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Trading Score:2	I have Comcast, which keeps expanding their HD lineup. Other than the NFL Sunday Ticket I do not like satellite. I had to have it as a kid, all the way until I went to college, and my mom still has it. The signal losses were just horrible when storms came. If we were watching PPV when a storm came, it was not even worth the hassle w/ Dish Network to get refunded. My Dad had cable until he moved, then got satellite for a year, and switched right back to cable, citing signal lossage as the main reason, and the lackluster PQ of the local channels. Just my thoughts, of course.

02-08-2008, 01:07 AM	#5
Footloose301 Special Member Member since:May 2007 Location:Fort Myers, FL Home Theater Gallery:38 4K collection:2 Blu-ray collection:2 Blu-ray reviews: 1	Comcast is expanding their HD lineup to over 120+ HD chan.... opps! I didn't mean to let the cat out of the bag

02-08-2008, 01:12 AM	#6
Dexter Morgan Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Charleston, SC Blu-ray collection:87 Trading Score:15	I don't really have any service interruptions, and I live on the rainy, snowy, and windy Connecticut shoreline. Price-wise, my Dish setup will be about $72 a month once my free year of HD is over. This is for their either 200 or 250 channel package with a 2 room HD DVR, and non HD service in a third room. I don't remember exactly what DirecTV's pricing was, but it was a tad higher.

02-08-2008, 03:13 AM	#10
sj001 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Rochester, NY Blu-ray collection:317 DVD collection:17 Trading Score:5	Stick with cable, while satellite can be very good, I have often found in my personal experience that it has problems when you have crappy weather. Snow, rain, heavy clouds, anything like that seems to affect it... this is especially true for internet-based satellite services, which are as bad as it gets.

02-08-2008, 03:16 AM	#11
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	Do you have Fios in your area? That would be my first choice . . . I was one of the first Dish customers, and I haven't really had any trouble with it. That would be my second.

02-08-2008, 05:00 AM	#12
Todd Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:ca.	I have directv they use mpeg 4 video compression like blu ray which lets them offer more hd channels than any other carrier at this time. dishnet uses mpeg 2 like dvd's, cable also uses mpeg 2, what that mean is directv currently has the the best available lineup with about 150 channels offering hd content. I pay 97 dollars a month for 2 hd receivers and 1 sd receiver, subscribe to the highest tier package. As for service they are superior to any other carrier that I have dealt with (comcast, and dishnet work) The only time I or anyone I personally know have lost signal was due to power outage. fios would be good if you could get it but for most of america, and really probably the whole world right now it's alot like that mythical red bullet called TL51 that was suppose to kill blu ray.

02-08-2008, 05:25 AM	#13
richard lichtenfelt Power Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:I'm not drunk, I'm just tired cause I been up all night drinking. Blu-ray reviews:3	Comcast is crazy expensive. I was paying $142 a month for internet and hd cable with only about 20 hd channels and no movie channels.

02-08-2008, 08:37 AM	#17
Tanman19az Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Lake Forest, CA Blu-ray collection:57 Trading Score:23	I sold Dish Network and DirecTv for a summer in Indianapolis so I'm gonna have to go with satellite on this one. Either is good, but I voted for DirectTv cuz I thought it looked a tad better. Cable isnt truly digital even with the box. neither is satellite but it sure is close especially the main feed in the house. There is also more HD programming with satellite. Prices aren't too bad especially with their promotions. After their promotion ends tho it will be around $70-$80 a month

02-08-2008, 06:50 PM	#19
dk3dknight Blu-ray Ninja Member since:May 2007 Location:Arlington, Texas PSNetwork: dk3dknight PostCount: 0001 Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews: 2	There is a day I have yet to live out, id say many years ago lol... I was visiting my grandmother she lives in Spokane, Washington for her dish was a bad idea, I swear during our trip I thought it was either snowing, or raining or both, and it was summer.... Anywhoose it was raining that day lighting etc... boom pictures gone, heavy rain, grandpa goes out there onto the roof and just starts to adjust it, BOOM BOOM the lightning gets closer... Eventually he came inside giving up on the dish for that day. The next day it snowed Heavy, picture doing things that could only be described as attempting to get rabbit ears to work when the signal is too far away. Anyway this has permanently imprinted into my head that satellite is bad, so hence forth I have decided that is so. Maybe not right but the imagery of snow and rain have set the dish's fate in my mind.

02-08-2008, 07:04 PM	#20
TIki_Guy Active Member Member since:Jan 2008	I'm trapped in Comcast now. I bought a TIVO HD and it won't work with satellite, and for some reason I can't get DSL at my house, other people in my town have it but when I try using my address it says I can't get in on the Verizon website. Comcast will chage more for my Broadband if I don't get TV from them, so the money saved by Satellite will be spent on higher internet, also have phone from them. FIOS is comming to area's near me, does anyone know if the TIVO series 3 (Cablecard) will work on FIOS.? (Verizon TV) People I have talked to who have FIOS love it!

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