Oh, what to choose for TV?

[gwilks98]

http://www.charter.com
I currently have charter, and I'm paying through the nose. $50-$55 a month for basic+expanded, and I get local channels in HD.

I hear as soon as you say "disconnect me, they get very flexible on their price structure. But just to be safe, I'd like to know what is preferred amongst the G|A geeks.

ATT Uverse is coming, but not available yet in my part of the area.

The other 2 options are Direct TV and Dish.

I guess no one puts their own satellite dishes up anymore, buying channels wholesale.

So who does what and for how much? I'd like to keep my TV cost at under $60 a month, but that's flexible if the reason is worthwhile.

[uncledaddy]

Go DSS. Dish sux. Had it for 3 years at my place and the only reason I didn't change is that it was so rural that you did get charged all installation fees, plus they were going to charge for equipment for cancellation.

Plus DSS has "The Sunday Ticket", with specials going on now.

[PrObLy]

I'm getting ATT U-Verse hooked up next week. I'll report back with my findings.

Faster (supposedly)internet, more standard channels, and more HD channels than Comcast..plus free equipment and HD-DVR for just a bit less than our current Comcast package.

I would have gone with DirecTV had DSL been available in my area though. I hear nothing but great things from everyone who's had it.

[MrGreg]

We're getting FiOS installed in our community in the next few months. I've been wanting it for years.

[Jenny]

I'm getting ATT U-Verse hooked up next week. I'll report back with my findings.

Faster (supposedly)internet, more standard channels, and more HD channels than Comcast..plus free equipment and HD-DVR for just a bit less than our current Comcast package.

I love our UVerse. Have had very few problems and the 1 dvr that records/streams 4 things at once rocks.

[gwilks98]

I heard that ATT Uverse can only handle one HD stream to a house at a time. (So 2 TVs, only one can be watching HD at that moment.)

Any truth to that?

And why does Dish suck?

[PrObLy]

I heard that ATT Uverse can only handle one HD stream to a house at a time. (So 2 TVs, only one can be watching HD at that moment.)

Any truth to that?

Yes, it depends on where you're located (at least, that's what the salesman told me). Since all their stuff was just laid out in my neighborhood, we have access to up to 4 individual TV streams with 2 simultaneous HD feeds. I was promised that we should be able to watch 2 different HD channels and have 2 more tv's on standard def throughout the house at the same time.

I asked if they plan on, or are capable of, supporting 3 HD streams in the future and he wasn't so sure. But, he did make a point to say that they just introduced 2 simultaneous HD feeds.

He also told me that every box you get is HD capable so you won't have to worry about switching boxes when getting a new TV.

[LPMiller]

Go DSS. Dish sux. Had it for 3 years at my place and the only reason I didn't change is that it was so rural that you did get charged all installation fees, plus they were going to charge for equipment for cancellation.

Plus DSS has "The Sunday Ticket", with specials going on now.

Pfft, i've had both, currently have Dish. Both are about the same. DTV has a better sports package, but you pay for it. Dish - today anyway - has more HD. Tomorrow, who knows it goes back and forth like stink and in the end, won't matter. Dish has the better DVR but frankly, both are good services. Installation depends entirely on who they have in your area, and can either suck or be great. Either way, cable sucks.

[DarkFury]

I heard that ATT Uverse can only handle one HD stream to a house at a time. (So 2 TVs, only one can be watching HD at that moment.)

Any truth to that?

And why does Dish suck?

Depends on where you live...

AT&T Uverse in my area recently added a 2nd HD stream capability and it does in fact work. WOOT!!!

[Cubsfan]

switched from comcast to directtv a few months ago. Couldn't be happier. Lots more HD available

[uncledaddy]

Pfft, i've had both, currently have Dish. Both are about the same. DTV has a better sports package, but you pay for it. Dish - today anyway - has more HD. Tomorrow, who knows it goes back and forth like stink and in the end, won't matter. Dish has the better DVR but frankly, both are good services. Installation depends entirely on who they have in your area, and can either suck or be great. Either way, cable sucks.

I do have to agree with you on that. Personally, my decision would have been made based on that sports package. The only thing that keeps me from it now is lower level apartment patio and a big arse tree in the satellite direction.

Except for Roadrunner Turbo, Time Warner sux. They don't even have the NFL Network.

[attgig]

yeah, my parents had both dtv and dish, and I actually think dish is a bit better than dtv and a bit cheaper.

[attgig]

and gwilks98, what kind of programming are you looking for?

Also, what's ATT uverse? is that west coast's version of fios?

[Prngr44]

I got the DirecTV guy coming over next Thursday. I squeezed them for 2 regular HD receivers and 2 HD DVRs for free. Granted, I'm currently a customer but got this deal for moving into the new place.

Wait. I lied. I had to pay $5 per receiver as a leasing fee.

[DarkFury]

Also, what's ATT uverse? is that west coast's version of fios?

AT&T Uverse is a fiber/ethernet based delivery of Television and Internet services.

I know that they are in the Midwest... I dunno about the West Coast though.

Read more about it here: https://uversecentral1.att.com/uvp/home/explore

[attgig]

IPTV? so, does that have nothing to do with existing wiring as long as you have enough bandwidth?

So, it's only out in the midwest?

[DarkFury]

Here is a coverage map that I found of where Uverse is currently available: (just to give you an idea)

[Jah Rulez]

Also, what's ATT uverse? is that west coast's version of fios?[/QUOTE]

Seems like it from waht DF and other's say.

[gwilks98]

and gwilks98, what kind of programming are you looking for?

I guess I don't really care about NFL sunday ticket. If I can hang onto my girlfriend, it'd be nice to get auburn football games, but it wouldn't be for me.
I honestly would like to get into HD tv, and I wouldn't mind a more movie channel based setup if it wasn't too pricey. I want to get into the DVR market, though I hate the idea of it being leased as a fee per month. (I should be able to buy one like a VCR and just use it for free after that.)

[mojo]

Either way, cable sucks.

that can vary, depending on the area

Also, what's ATT uverse? is that west coast's version of fios?

uverse uses IPTV (or delivery over IP), whereas FIOS is fiber and uses the same technology as cable

[LPMiller]

no, cable always sucks. It's written down in stone somewhere, I've seen it.

There are very few markets where cable offers up as many HDTV channels as either satellite companies. Also, for reason I don't understand since cable should actually have MORE bandwidth, the HD they do offer is more compressed and they don't have near the amount of channels running in MPEG 4 format. Now, they ALL compress, you have to currently due to bandwidth limitations. But cable hasn't been near as quick on the MPEG4 uptake as as either D* or DTV.

Also, their home boxes and DVRS are not near as good as either satellite company either. Especially those using the Scientific American one. Though the ones FINALLY getting TIVO at least are getting better.

[mojo]

it really depends on the boxes they have. most of the boxes out there support mpeg 2 video. in order to change to the new format, they'd have to have different boxes.

there are other technologies that are coming out that will change a lot of the issues regarding HD offerings. one of them being that analog is going away, so they will be able to reclaim that bandwidth.

[uncledaddy]

no, cable always sucks. It's written down in stone somewhere, I've seen it.

[attgig]

There are very few markets where cable offers up as many HDTV channels as either satellite companies. Also, for reason I don't understand since cable should actually have MORE bandwidth, the HD they do offer is more compressed and they don't have near the amount of channels running in MPEG 4 format. Now, they ALL compress, you have to currently due to bandwidth limitations. But cable hasn't been near as quick on the MPEG4 uptake as as either D* or DTV.

I believe the bandwidth limitations are due to the analog channels they have to send. Supposedly, the < 100 analog channels takes up 70%(ish) of the available bandwidth.

What I hate is how I HAVE to rent a box from a cable company, where I can buy boxes from satelite companies. I think that's getting challenged in a court somewhere.

[Cubsfan]

I believe the bandwidth limitations are due to the analog channels they have to send. Supposedly, the < 100 analog channels takes up 70%(ish) of the available bandwidth.

What I hate is how I HAVE to rent a box from a cable company, where I can buy boxes from satelite companies. I think that's getting challenged in a court somewhere.

You're actually leasing that satellite box. You pay $200 for the privilege of leasing it.

[attgig]

You're actually leasing that satellite box. You pay $200 for the privilege of leasing it.

wow that sucks....
*checking directv*
geez, you're right.... free for the first one, 5 bucks for each additional.
*checks dish*
geez...


makes me rethink everything now...

I've actually been thinking about going to satellite with directv giving free nfl with its highest programming for 4 months, and then switching to another package after that. but worried about how much things are going to cost after the 4 months are over...

[DarkFury]

AT&T Uverse still has 3 free boxes with your package (free as in always free no extra charge).

If you want addtional boxes after the first 3, then they charge you $5 per month.

[attgig]

AT&T Uverse still has 3 free boxes with your package (free as in always free no extra charge).

If you want addtional boxes after the first 3, then they charge you $5 per month.

unfortunately, not around here... I'd definitely consider it if they were here.

[mojo]

What I hate is how I HAVE to rent a box from a cable company, where I can buy boxes from satelite companies. I think that's getting challenged in a court somewhere.

yeah, here's the story

the funny thing is, that guy is saying he can "buy" a cable box for $30 or $40 max.

he obviously didn't do his research, because those boxes cost over $400. used, maybe less.

maybe he wants to buy a cable CARD for that much. but then he won't get interactive services.

eh, some people