Dish vs. Cable

[Heap]

I just got a notice from Comcast that my basic cable will be going up to $48 monthly soon. I've been playing with the idea of going with Dish Network when I move into my new (to me) house next month. I dunno if they do local channels (all I really care about is getting the local Fox Sports for Pens games and CBS for the Stillers). I do know that the price beats cable. What are the collective thoughts of you 'gloids? I'd probably have to switch from cable innerweb to dsl innerweb, but that might be another issue.

[Superbonbon]

Dish sucks. It has gotten a bit better over the years though. My best mate John lives out in the middle of B.F.E. and can't get cable so he has to go with dish. The TV aspect is ok I guess, he swears its better than cable but I don't see it. The DSL has him pretty upset at the moment, he paid for the premium (platinum-jade-whatever they call it) package for better upload speeds and they bottle necked the overall max (fap) for upload/download and it totals out to less than he could move with a 'good' dial-up. Now if you aren't moving large amounts of data I could see going with it. It is cheaper and they have gotten a bit better about carrying local stations (round' here anyway) but they also don't think much of changing the rules on folks. Like moving channels to other packages and they seem to be losing some of the more eclectic channels but if the rubic's cube channel isn't the reason your looking at it you shouldn't have a problem.

/my two cents.

[Verno]

Because of the dumb ass politicians in our county, I'm stuck with AT&T as my internet provider. DSL suffices usually, but I've had cable before and it's waaaaay better. Satellite TV isn't too bad either. The picture quality is awesome, and actually I've never had them do the channel switcheroo on me in 5 years. Besides, cable has multiple packages now too so they could do it as well if'n they wanted to.

[The BYP]

(TV) I have Dish, it's better than cable. (Internet) I have cable, it's better than DSL. (Besides you can only get "good" DSL service the closer you are to the hub".

[nate]

As a former cable guy, I'll say this: dish > cable (for tv). For roughly the same price as what they're charging for expanded basic cable these days, you can get the same channels from dish, plus the benefits of digital.

Like these guys is saying, cable > dsl for internet, although the faster dsl plans are comparable to cable. I have the cheapest Verizon plan, 768k down / 128k up for a whopping $14.99/mo and it's not bad except when I'm trying to download new eps of Top Gear. Then it blows.

[Dr. P]

If you are interested in HD, I'd go Direct TV. The Sunday Ticket in HD is quite possibly man's greatest invention. There are a shitload of HD channels out there now. It's hard to watch "low def" anymore, it feels like watching black and white.

[The Sav]

It's a tough call to make, Heaps. I've had Comcast and DirecTV and they both have their pro's and con's.

They both have HD channels, and DirecTV does carry the local channels for 99% of the big/medium sized markets. And for me, the price was about the same in terms of the specific services I was paying for....

When I had DirecTV, I was paying $50 for the dish, but I was also paying $40 for the ISP (dial up) I had at the time and my phone bill was about $55/month.... Total cost for all three services $145/mo.

Now I have Comcast and I get the Cable/phone/internet bundle for about $140/month.

Personally, I liked the menu interface, the options, and the overall service and quality of the dish. But the ONLY reason I even switched in the first place is because of that go dam dial up ISP. I was sick of that and I wanted DSL or Cable internet.

Had I stuck with DirecTV and chose to get DSL or Cable, my total cost would be about $180/mo. So for me, choosing Comcast was the best overall value. And it's also nice having all three services in one bill as opposed to when I had a Dish bill, a phone bill and a ISP bill.

With that being said, if DirecTV offered a more reliable and/or affordable high speed internet option (unlike that Direct-Star bullshit). I'd switch back in a heartbeat.

Best of Luck to ya
<hangs up the phone>

[Steve]

I'd probably have to switch from cable innerweb to dsl innerweb, but that might be another issue.

You can probably keep your Cable broadband. Most cable companies don't make you subscribe to Cable TV in order to get 'net access (and vice-versa).

[The Sav]

You can probably keep your Cable broadband. Most cable companies don't make you subscribe to Cable TV in order to get 'net access (and vice-versa).

True, but have you seen how much it costs without the bundle? Jesus, it's like $90 or something.... that's ridiculous!

[Steve]

True, but have you seen how much it costs without the bundle? Jesus, it's like $90 or something.... that's ridiculous!

What the...fuck?!? That bites ass. It's only $50/mo here if you don't have TV also. TV drops it to $33/mo. But we're talking 10.0mb/s; it's worth $50/mo!

$90 though...fuck that!

[The Sav]

What the...fuck?!? That bites ass. It's only $50/mo here if you don't have TV also. TV drops it to $33/mo. But we're talking 10.0mb/s; it's worth $50/mo!

$90 though...fuck that!

Holey shit! I wish it was that low with or without the bundle, where I live. I'm looking at my bill right now and here's the breakdown.

Cable TV:
Digital Plus - Silver package; $15
HBO - $12
DVR upgrade - $5
HD upgrade - $10

Digital Phone service - $40

High Speed Cable Internet - $65

Taxes (for entire bundle) - $13

3-way bundle discount 10% (-$16)

Total bill: $146

[Steve]

They do a "triple play" here, $33 each for net/tv/phone, but only if you want all three of course. Heh.

[Heap]

Thanks for all the input, guys. I've looked over Dish Network and it seems like they've got the best to offer for minimal scratch. The cable/bundle package is nice and all, but I've got no need for a "landline" number, and won't for the forseeable future.

I'm also guessing that I'd have to add new coax cables through the house if I decide to go dish and keep cable innerweb?

[The Sav]

That's what I'm on, but they still break it down like how I listed it above as a constant reminder of the sweet deal that they're giving you. I pay more in total costs because of the different upgrades I've added on to the Cable TV portion of the bundle.

[Pull Out Method]

Thanks for all the input, guys. I've looked over Dish Network and it seems like they've got the best to offer for minimal scratch. The cable/bundle package is nice and all, but I've got no need for a "landline" number, and won't for the forseeable future.

I'm also guessing that I'd have to add new coax cables through the house if I decide to go dish and keep cable innerweb?

You sound like you're in the same boat as me Heap. I want the bundle from comcast, minus the phone, but they won't give me the good rate that way. Screw em, I use Blue Zone (http://www.thebluezone.com). It's cheap, and there is no contract.

I've had dish network for five years, and have no complaints other than they won't give me any of the new deals that they offer new customers. But nobody does that, so oh well.

[The Sav]

I've had dish network for five years, and have no complaints other than they won't give me any of the new deals that they offer new customers. But nobody does that, so oh well.

Really? I guess that Dish Network doesn't care about their customers then. Because When I was with DirecTV, I called to cancel my service twice because I found a better deal with another provider and they offered me their "n00bs only" price both times.

Then when I finally did give up DirecTV, I went to Comcast. A year later, they raised my rate by about $30/mo. because my dish buy back promotion had expired. So I called Comcast to cancel with them. I told them I was going back to DirecTV because they were less costly. So Comcast gave me their "n00bs only" promotion for another year.

My goal is to eventually keep working them down little by little until one day I'm watching cable/satellite for free!

[The BYP]

I pay $57 a month for cable internet only.

[TheWagesofSin]

total monthly bill- $0.00

http://i22.tinypic.com/bia5b4.jpg

[Dr. P]

Dude, say you're fucking with us.

[TheWagesofSin]

I honestly don't have cable 'cause I wouldn't watch it. I watch stuff on DVD if I'm gonna watch at all. And Laker games are broadcast locally, so why waste my money? More beer $$$

edit- that's not my real setup, russ...I've at least got a relatively new TV

[Franks n Beans]

Bust out loud laughter!!

[PeggyLove]

edit- that's not my real setup, russ...I've at least got a relatively new TV

http://www.trupp.com/natasha/nov5tv.jpg

[Pull Out Method]

Really? I guess that Dish Network doesn't care about their customers then. Because When I was with DirecTV, I called to cancel my service twice because I found a better deal with another provider and they offered me their "n00bs only" price both times.

Then when I finally did give up DirecTV, I went to Comcast. A year later, they raised my rate by about $30/mo. because my dish buy back promotion had expired. So I called Comcast to cancel with them. I told them I was going back to DirecTV because they were less costly. So Comcast gave me their "n00bs only" promotion for another year.

My goal is to eventually keep working them down little by little until one day I'm watching cable/satellite for free!



No shit? they don't ever want to deal with me, but I'm planning on moving within a year, so I don't want to get a new contract right now just to have to move it. It all seems like such a hassle... maybe I'll just try stealing it like a few buddies do.

[Jdiggity Dee]

total monthly bill- $0.00

http://i22.tinypic.com/bia5b4.jpg

Do you get good reception or do you have to stand next to the tv twiddling the rabbit ears to watch tv?

[I know that's not your set but I'm trying to get a visual.]

[TheWagesofSin]

Do you get good reception or do you have to stand next to the tv twiddling the rabbit ears to watch tv?

[I know that's not your set but I'm trying to get a visual.]

I figured out a good techique while tuning in the ALCS game last night: hanging the rabbit ears from the doorknob in my bedroom gives me perfect reception.:tipofthecap:

[Jdiggity Dee]

Once you get your system working you are golden.:poke: