Author Topic: Cable or Satellite?  (Read 25060 times)

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Offline Evil_Conservative

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Cable or Satellite?
« on: September 04, 2012, 09:08:58 PM »
I posted this on Facebook too, but I need lots of opinions!!

OKAY! I need some opinions from my highly opinionated friends. Since we are getting ready to move, I am shopping around for the best TV packages. We have always used our local company (Cox) because it's been included in our rent package since... forever. Now that we are free to chose what we like, should I go with cable or satellite? I get a discount if I go with Direct TV (through employer), but I don't want to take a service just because I get a discount. I want it to be worth the money. I shy away from satellite because of the contract agreement. What say you? If you have satellite, do you love/like/hate it? Is it just better to stick with a local cable provider?

I just need to know the pros/cons of a satellite.  We've never had it.  We don't have many weather problems here, except for high winds in the spring and fall.
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Offline Jasonw560

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2012, 09:17:47 PM »
I have Dish. Customer service is good. Channels are awesome. I haven't paid extra for channels because I threaten to go to Direct TV every two years. And I don't have to pay extra for HD. They really stay consistent.

The bad is they did away with AMC.

Plus, with the HD package, there's just one dish on the house. And we have 3 receivers for 5 TVs.
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Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Re: Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2012, 09:20:06 PM »
Love Directv.  Have had it since about 1998, back when you had to pay for the boxes and they threw in the dish for free.  The only time it goes out is for an approaching heavy rainstorm, and then only for a few minutes.  Great customer service from my experience.
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Offline Airwolf

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2012, 10:54:56 PM »
My parents have had DirectTV since I worked at best buy back in 94 or 95. They have only had to upgrade the receivers and antenna to get the local channels and if mom wanted to get HD on her new flatscreen we would have to upgrade again. The bill for having the basic and HBO/Showtime and Encore/Movie Channels been about 120/month. It has only gone off with power failures and heavy rains. 
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Offline Undies

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2012, 11:00:50 PM »
I've had AT&T U-verse for four years.  I like it.  The internet is fast too.

Offline Zeus

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2012, 11:10:54 PM »
Just go with wireless internet. HDMI cable to connect your computer to the tv. You can stream and/or download any TV show/movie,including shows on premium channels for free. :yahoo:
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Offline Thor

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2012, 11:13:00 PM »
Living where you do, satellite wouldn't be too bad. Satellite has one problem that cable does not; "rain fade". Meaning; that the signal deteriorates in moderate to heavy rain. (I'm not exactly sure where that threshold is). You may find it just as cheap to have cable TV & internet, vs Satellite & a separate internet. You know, the whole "bundle" thing.
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Offline Kyle Ricky

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2012, 07:36:59 AM »
Directv is the best. They are constantly upgrading it to make it better and their whole home dvr is awesome. Dish hasn't upgraded in a couple of years.

Directv also has one dish. And have more HD channels than Dish.

Offline marv

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2012, 08:42:57 AM »
If you have multiple TVs, be sure to get an AB box. The advantage of cable is that 5 TVs can tune 5 different channels with a single feed. With satellite, you can only tune to what channel the satellite box it set to. The AB satellite box has two sides. The A side for IR, and the B side for RF.

We have DISH, and live in an area where the local cable company says it's too far string up the wire.
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Offline Lacarnut

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2012, 09:58:35 AM »
I have had all three and I prefer Direct TV:

Cox--easier to to use, less channels, no contract, picture quality not as good, cost about the same as satellite.
Dish- had dish for a few years---many, many channels and harder to use, wanted to chg me for a service call so I changed to direct tv. 2 yr contract
Direct TV--specials running for free HBO and NFL games. Many stations. If you are a movie or sports addict, this is the one for you. After the 2 yr contract, they will probably offer an incentive package of free stuff. Call them and mention the word cancel and they will give you all the free stuff again and require you to sign another 2 yr contract. The only downside to Direct TV opposed to cable is that with all the stations, it is harder to use and in very bad weather it goes off more often while searching for the satellite signal. Customer service is very good.   

Offline debk

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2012, 10:51:10 AM »
Have had Dish, DirecTV and Comcast, now have knology.

Dish was awful, DirecTV wasn't much better, but it may have had as much to do with our location as anything because we were down in a low spot surrounded by very tall trees. We could lose connection if the wind blew too much. But cable wasn't available so we were stuck.

Comcast was good, but expensive. We bundled tv, internet and 1 phone line.

Knology is working out well, but the On Demand selection isn't that great. It is also bundled, and the best thing about it? It's $200 per month less than Comcast!!!
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Offline FiddyBeowulf

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2012, 11:57:45 AM »
+1 for AT&T Uverse. So long as the power has been on I have never lost a signal. When I had DISH there were times when the signal would have issues when it rained.

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Offline Ballygrl

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2012, 12:19:41 PM »
I know a lot of people like Dish, I happen to like Cable. I got a special deal for $160 a month, I get tons of channels and movies and 6 Boxes, phone service and internet are included.

Can I also make another suggestion to you? especially since you have a child, think about getting Roku, I have the purple box which is under $50, I have 2 right now and I'm going to ask for a new tv and a roku for the kitchen, it's absolutely awesome. I use Roku with my Netflix and Prime subscription, but there are tons of free stations available, it really increases your viewing choices:

Roku:

http://www.roku.com/

List of channels, click on a channel to see which ones are free or subscriptions:

http://www.rokuguide.com/channels
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Offline Wayne

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2012, 01:40:39 PM »
  No  cable here . Had Dish , meh , Now have Direct. Pretty good but they pester you to death with offers..

Offline Kyle Ricky

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2012, 02:48:42 PM »
The biggest issue with Directv is that it is so sensitive that it has to be installed properly. Over they years they have upgraded the way it is installed, ie; not using metal staple and such. Directv also has a requirement that the installer has to be certified in some area to install their system. They are trying to get it where all installers have to be certified.

When I was working tech support with Directv, you wouldn't believe the number of calls I got for signal issues and here turning out to be because that there was a kink or a crack in the line.

Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Re: Re: Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #15 on: September 05, 2012, 02:56:44 PM »
The biggest issue with Directv is that it is so sensitive that it has to be installed properly. Over they years they have upgraded the way it is installed, ie; not using metal staple and such. Directv also has a requirement that the installer has to be certified in some area to install their system. They are trying to get it where all installers have to be certified.

When I was working tech support with Directv, you wouldn't believe the number of calls I got for signal issues and here turning out to be because that there was a kink or a crack in the line.

I learned most by of that by trial & error back when they didn't have reliable service/expensive service calls.  Those who provide service now seem extremely knowledgeable and reliable.  Not meaning to be a shill for Directv, have just had it for years & can't imagine switching to a different service.
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Offline Kyle Ricky

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Re: Re: Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #16 on: September 05, 2012, 02:59:09 PM »
I learned most by of that by trial & error back when they didn't have reliable service/expensive service calls.  Those who provide service now seem extremely knowledgeable and reliable.  Not meaning to be a shill for Directv, have just had it for years & can't imagine switching to a different service.

Yeah, I remember those days also. They have improved drastically over the years. I love Directv. I will probably never leave it. I, in fact, even own stock in it lol.

The only complaint I have about Directv is the music stations. They suck. I been trying to get them give us XM Radio back. But they won't do it. Then seeing that XM wanted $500 million to keep the contract, I can see why. That is o.k though, I can listen to Pandora on it. So that makes up for most of it.

Offline rich_t

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #17 on: September 05, 2012, 05:44:59 PM »
For those of you with satellite, what are you using for internet access?
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Offline Evil_Conservative

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #18 on: September 05, 2012, 05:51:00 PM »
For those of you with satellite, what are you using for internet access?

That's what I would like to know too.

I see on the Direct TV website that I can bundle internet in with my TV.  My in-law's do that and their internet is really fast.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #19 on: September 05, 2012, 06:06:40 PM »
That's what I would like to know too.

I see on the Direct TV website that I can bundle internet in with my TV.  My in-law's do that and their internet is really fast.

My parent's have AT&T U-Verse and their internet speeds suck IMO.
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Offline Ralph Wiggum

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Re: Re: Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #20 on: September 05, 2012, 06:22:12 PM »
For those of you with satellite, what are you using for internet access?

Centurylink, used to be Qwest.  Locked for $20/month, seems to be fine.
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #21 on: September 05, 2012, 06:23:16 PM »
That's what I would like to know too.

I see on the Direct TV website that I can bundle internet in with my TV.  My in-law's do that and their internet is really fast.

DirecTV is pretty good in Las Vegas. I have had some great service techs come out of Vegas to my house when I had to use the movers service. The mover's service was a pain in the ass, but I went up the food chain and was able to get their attention quickly. Service technicians from my town were actually deleting things off the work order and that is why they were not getting done. I was at work, and had my mom there to let the guys in, so they were being lazy and pulled a fast one...well, they ended up getting in trouble also... :rofl: Now everything I pay for works and I was able to get a nice refund.

 I use a high speed wireless internet provider called Keyon, but Vegas has more options. I was not able to bundle with DirecTV with internet due to the location of my house. I really do live in a secluded part of town. I do have a DirecTV hardwired into my internet modem for DirecTV on Demand. It's very rare to have any type of service interuption, even with our high winds. I have two HD dishes and six receivers.

I am not a fan of Dish due to the fact that one receiver is used for two TVs. One will get HD, and the other will only get standard defintion signals. (At least that is what it was a couple months ago when I looked into it) Dish is also being sued by the Federal Gov't.

On the other hand, if you have been happy with Cox, I would continue to use them. I also see CenturyLink being advertised a lot on the Las Vegas stations. http://www.centurylink.com/

When DirecTV gives you the free NFL package for signing up, it's a good idea to ask them to block that, otherwise it will renew each year automatically and you will get caught with a high bill....My mother went through that before she moved in next door to my house. She's never watched a game of football in her life.

So to sum it up.....DirecTV or stay with Cox

Offline Chris_

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #22 on: September 05, 2012, 06:25:48 PM »
DirecTV is pretty good in Las Vegas.
At least you won't have to worry about rain, snow, leaves, cloudy days, or any other inclement weather aside from the occasional dust storm.
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Offline RobJohnson

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #23 on: September 05, 2012, 06:28:14 PM »
At least you won't have to worry about rain, snow, leaves, cloudy days, or any other inclement weather aside from the occasional dust storm.


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Offline Evil_Conservative

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Re: Cable or Satellite?
« Reply #24 on: September 05, 2012, 06:29:16 PM »
I'm okay with Cox... sometimes.  They make me mad some days, but not enough for me to be like, "OMG I AM CANCELING BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE ASS BAGS" or anything like that.

Build my own bundle (with no house phone, because we really don't need one...) is $176/mo after the six month promotional deal.  I don't even know about satellite dishes & the HOA yet.  I should just go (and stick with) Cox to avoid any possible hassle with the HOA.
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