 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
1 edit | Frivolous I'm no fan of the cable companies but if you really don't want to pay the box rental fee, then don't get service that requires a box. No one is holding a gun to your head to force you to get things like premium channels or expanded digital cable. Not to mention that if you get satellite TV, you must buy all the equipment you want.
What's next, a lawsuit against cable companies for "requiring" you to buy a TV? Come on.
But as for buying such boxes, here's my personal reasons why I would not buy a box (if I were still a Cable TV subscriber)
1. Absolutely horrid build quality. The rental boxes are absolute junk. In the last 3 years that we had digital cable, we went through 5 boxes.
2. Related to #1, there's no way such boxes are worth more than $10 retail, since they must be replaced so often. Make a better box and sell it for a little more instead.
3. But if you do #2, you run into the problem that even within the same cable company's service footprint, different types of boxes are used. I don't want to spend $200 or so on a box and then be left with a useless brick should I move to a different area (sorta the same problem you get with satellite now).
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Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. |
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| ...the company's business practices "are straightforward, fair and in full compliance with applicable state and federal regulations."
Notice they didn't mention "ethical". |
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pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | said by 8744675:...the company's business practices "are straightforward, fair and in full compliance with applicable state and federal regulations."
Notice they didn't mention "ethical". Sure they are ethical, for the shareholders of the company.
Legal standards are the only ones by which parties in court should be judged.
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Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. |
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 MajestikWorld TravelerPremium
join:2001-05-11
Tulsa, OK | reply to pnh102
It's true. Nobody is forced to upgrade.
Basic Cox cable came with my condo. Never upgraded so never needed any box.
TV is just not that important to me.
Always been fascinated at how much people are willing to pay for tv.
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The adventure continues...Sanctuary.... |
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pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | said by Majestik:Always been fascinated at how much people are willing to pay for tv. I have to say I do miss cable TV.
But I can't justify paying the steep price for it. Even if the money wasn't an issue, I just can't look at that bill and say "yes, this is worth an extra $120 a month."
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Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. |
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Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | reply to pnh102
said by pnh102:I'm no fan of the cable companies but if you really don't want to pay the box rental fee, then don't get service that requires a box.
Where I live there is no longer cable TV (except a few unencrypted QAM channels) without a box or DTA. Comcast includes one standard box (not a DVR) in the monthly subscription charge. They allow people to use their own cable modem (if it's on the approved list) for internet service but those who choose their digital phone service must rent a Comcast EMTA. The trend is toward more rented boxes or no service. |
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MajestikWorld TravelerPremium
join:2001-05-11
Tulsa, OK | reply to pnh102
I never liked the idea of paying for cable tv when I only really watch less than ten channels. Commercials are too long and too many info commercials.
And I don't watch sports.
Haven't owned a tv in over ten years.
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The adventure continues...Sanctuary.... |
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 GuspazGuspazPremium,MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC
kudos:20 | reply to pnh102
I want to watch television. Let's examine potential options:
1) Over The Air: Unavailable. There is no reception whatsoever in or near my apartment.
2) Satellite TV: Unavailable. My lease expressly forbids the dish, and even if it didn't, I have no line of site to the satellite.
3) IPTV: Unavailable. CRTC regulation prevents IPTV providers from offering service outside their own physical last-mile, and Bell won't sell you IPTV unless you switch to their internet, which has a cap too low for my needs.
4) Analog cable: Unavailable. Because it's a deprecated service, the cable companies that still carry an analog signal will not sell it to new customers.
5) Digital cable: Available. Lower image quality than everything except analog cable.
So, if I want to watch television, perhaps catch a hockey game, my only option is one service from one company. Yeah, nobody is holding a gun to my head to force me, but since one company has an effective monopoly over the entire class of service, I don't have any other option if I want to watch many things.
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Developer: Tomato/MLPPP, Linux/MLPPP, etc »fixppp.org |
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| #2, if you have line of sight they can't "forbid" you from using a dish. It is against the law. The only thing they can forbid you from is attaching it to the dwelling. You can run a pole that is in an 5 gallon bucket of cement up to 15' above (if I recall correctly) the roof line and there isnt a single thing they can say. |
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| In Canada? |
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| reply to C_Chipperson
Re: Frivolous I cant speak for Canada, where is that?  |
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 Dude111An Awesome DudePremium
join:2003-08-04
USA
kudos:11 | reply to pnh102
quote:
I'm no fan of the cable companies but if you really don't want to pay the box rental fee, then don't get service that requires a box.
Exactly what i was thinking when i read this thread bud!!!!
They can charge for whatever they feel is adaquate! (Even though i dont agree) |
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