Cox Cable or Satellite?

[Bdogg]

Hopefully this is the right place, if not I apologize.. I am moving and trying to decide what is the best move for me as far as cable goes. Which is better signing up for COX with no contract but higher prices, or going with Dish Network or another Sat provider. most of these are 3 years contracts which is why I am leary about what to do. ATT UVerse isn't out yet for my area. What do you guys think? Anyone know why one is better then the other? Thanks!

[Galley]

DirecTV has always been better than Dish Network. Dish does not carry the new MLB Network.

[NJ_RAMS_FAN]

if FIOS is around your area, try them..

[gearyt]

DirecTV is my provider of choice

[naturephoto1]

I too have DirecTV including HD. We do lose reception occasionally in bad weather in eastern PA, but it is infrequent. Reception is generally great.

Rich

[Aerodude73]

For the most part, i'm pretty happy with them and I believe you get the most (not 100% sure on this) HD Channels/content as well. Plus, when I signed up, it was just a 2-yr contract vice the 3 you mention for that other one.

[Y3k Bug]

I would say get DirecTV. I used to have COX and didn't like their services or policies. I had numerous outages (not enough to call them frequent, but a LOT more often than I feel should happen) and they had some ridiculous policies. I had my phone through them in addition to the cable/internet. The cost for phone service was $12 a month (not counting the mysterious extra $30 in fees they'd tack on every month) and they made me pay a $97 deposit...for the phone. It didn't count for the other services, just the phone. 8.5 months worth of charges for a deposit?!

Wow, I'm apparently still a little angry at them.

[MichaelMc]

From my experiences I would go with DirecTV...ive had them for over 3 years and have never had any problems,recently added there HD package and love it.Cable goes up every year for no reason and doesnt add any channels for it whereas DirecTV may go up but at least your getting something for it so I can live with that,plus they only have a 2 year agreement.

[Bdogg]

Looks like everyone recommends DirecTV so far, but what do you do about Phone and internet.. I think I'm to used to the whole "bundle" packages... Do they offer good internet at good prices to keep them competitve price wise, or should I plan to pay a little more?

[jeff92k7]

I'll throw in a vote for Dish. I would rather have anything than a local cable company. Every cable company I have had has overcharged for equipment, programming, had rude customer svc agents (if you can actually get a real person), and had horrible program guides.

I have had both Directv and Dish in the past and currently use Dish. While they are not entirely innocent, either one is better than cable. We have Dish right now for the HD only package. You can't get that with DirecTV. However, the HD picture quality on both is quite lacking. I can't stand how much they compress Discovery HD. The Planet Earth series on DiscoveryHD looked like poo through the satellite. I'm sure they compress other channels (maybe all) by the same amount but that one sticks out to me.

Their customer service has been better than cable and DirecTV and I like their DVR. Still, nothing compares to the picture quality of Blu-Ray and even off-air HD channels look better than any other TV provider (Dish included).

[MichaelMc]

Well for internet I have Road Runner which is through the cable sysytem but thats all I have with a cable company..as for a phone,all I use is a cell phone,no land line here and its no big deal to me.

[gtmorgan23]

i put cox but I actually have time warner and I am in the process of switching to AT&T.

I am not a fan of satellite and dont plan on ever getting one

[Galley]

Originally Posted by Bdogg

Looks like everyone recommends DirecTV so far, but what do you do about Phone and internet.. I think I'm to used to the whole "bundle" packages... Do they offer good internet at good prices to keep them competitve price wise, or should I plan to pay a little more?

AT&T offers "Naked DSL" in our area.

[Seeking_Alpha]

If internet speed is important to you, for streaming videos for example, then you should stick with cable internet.

For TV though I would go with Direct TV. They have more HD fare, which I assume is important for you this being a blu-ray forum and all.

For phones, well do you really need a land line phone? I still use the old technology kind of phone. I tried the new VOIP phone for a month but my 10 mbps internet slowed down to dial up speeds.

[pacificvibes]

Look and see is Verizon FiOS is your area. They are GREAT.

[brett_day]

i actually like cox a lot. a lot of HD channels now and more coming, i rarely have outages, i guess it depends on your are. i have the high speed internet, phone and top tier cable package for $132 a month! Pretty good deal!

[monkyman]

I have dish, cable was way to expensive where I am 100+ a month and I couldn't even get the speed channel!
After my research, I concluded if you like sports, go with Direct TV, if you like movies, go with the Dish network.

[Halcro 1]

Originally Posted by Seeking_Alpha

If internet speed is important to you, for streaming videos for example, then you should stick with cable internet.

For TV though I would go with Direct TV. They have more HD fare, which I assume is important for you this being a blu-ray forum and all.

For phones, well do you really need a land line phone? I still use the old technology kind of phone. I tried the new VOIP phone for a month but my 10 mbps internet slowed down to dial up speeds.

I have a VOIP phone T-Mobile 10/MO and hav no slower ISP speeds on RR

[mr2bob]

DirecTv since 1995. Have 4 of their DVRs no problems.....

[wisper9999]

I used to have COMCRAP which was well know for pixilating during peek hours. Sucked during football games and 8pm shows. I switch to DirectTV. Way better.