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rds24a
Teach Your Children
Premium
join:2000-12-13
Springboro, OH
clubs:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Issue 2: Channels 2-75 are still analog to be backward-compatible with normal televisions.
Issue 3: TimeWarner advertises that digital is only a few bucks more than regular cable, but only in the fine print do they mention the extra charge for each converter box.
Issue 4: I have to use a converter box at all...that's annoying.
Issue 5: 250 of the 500 channels are pay-per-view. Plus, how many home shopping networks do I really need?
Issue 6: With my broadband internet connection, who has time for television?
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»www.brittanyrescue.org | |
|  
Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Yes, I agree...the fact that channels 2-75 are analog with TWC stinks. Having to switch your receiver when you hit the higher channels is lame.... | |
| | 
Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
 ·EarthLink
·AT&T Midwest
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by Karl Bode  :
Yes, I agree...the fact that channels 2-75 are analog with TWC stinks. Having to switch your receiver when you hit the higher channels is lame....
I don't understand exactly what you mean, but if you get channels above "75", using your example, you must already have a "box". So you're already using that box to view channels "2-75", right ??
What TW doesn't say is that customers who get their "Basic Plus" package, basically channels 2-75, is that it's not really digital. But ask 'em and they'll tell you it is. They spew "digital, digital, digital" all the time. Then again, that just goes back to the clueless people that work for them (not all of them, mind you).
Also, they raised the cost of ALL packages "because of the network upgrade to digital", but their two lowest tiers did NOT change, so why raise the cost ?? One, 'cause they can and two, 'cause they've mislead people.
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-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =-
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 11:42:38] | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Talking about audio. The higher tier digital channels broadcast in 5.1....the lower tiers in stereo....
Yet the way the Scientific Atlanta Explorer is configured, it doesn't intelligently alert your receiver of the difference....
SO you need to manually switch the audio if say you WERE watching local news, and say switch to Starz to watch a film in 5.1.
Not a big deal, but combined with what I like to call "Sun F$#@" distortion, the quality leaves a little to be desired. | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money get a pioneer av tuner... it knows to select analog when digital is not available, then back to digital when channel 101 or higher is selected. Took me about 6 months to figure this out. | |
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Speedy8
Premium
join:2002-08-22
Alliance, OH
clubs: | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Then you still have worse picture quality on the analog channels is the other problem. I got rid of my cable anyway, I'm much happier with directv and DSL. | |
| 
Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
 ·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
| said by rds24a :
Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Same with satellite providers. Their PVR isn't free. However, from people that I talk to, the PVR changes the way you watch TV. Sure, it costs a little more, but if you get your moneys worth out of it, then you are happy.
quote:
Issue 2: Channels 2-75 are still analog to be backward-compatible with normal televisions.
It would be nice if those lower channels were digital. However, that would kill analog cable. It will take time to get it to all digital.
quote:
Issue 3: TimeWarner advertises that digital is only a few bucks more than regular cable, but only in the fine print do they mention the extra charge for each converter box.
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
quote:
Issue 4: I have to use a converter box at all...that's annoying.
Same with satellite
quote:
Issue 5: 250 of the 500 channels are pay-per-view. Plus, how many home shopping networks do I really need?
Same with satellite
quote:
Issue 6: With my broadband internet connection, who has time for television?
I agree. I don't watch much TV to begin with. 
I wasn't going through each arguement to point out fallacies. Merely the point that Satellite and Cable TV have got similar issues. To have cable go all digital would really upset a lot of people who just want analog service. However, that is the direction this is all going. All digital format will eliminate cable theft from illegal converter boxes that descramble analog signals (at least till the next descrambler comes out).
It is definetly a difficult situation.
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My Domain
Nightfall's Hockey and Life Journal
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 11:32:33] | |
| | 
puritan
@63.99.x.x
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money You must have only shopped DirecTV. With Dish network, you do not purchase the equipment. You lease it, also like cable. That includes the PVR, and there is no monthly fee for the PVR like TIVO. There is a one time $50 payment for the PVR. Not a big deal.
I do however agree that I do not need 40 sports channels, and I do not need the shopping channels.
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
puritan | |
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puritan
@63.99.x.x | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Oh yeah, and there is no monthly activation fee for each box like DirecTV. DirecTV makes you buy the equipment and then charges you $5 per box to hook them up. With DISH, you just pay the $5 a month and they give you the equipment.
puritan | |
| | | | vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by puritan:
Oh yeah, and there is no monthly activation fee for each box like DirecTV. DirecTV makes you buy the equipment and then charges you $5 per box to hook them up. With DISH, you just pay the $5 a month and they give you the equipment.
puritan
The dish sucks for that one. Thats where they are taking a "little off the top" how hard is it to include a CAM ID in a satellite downstream? 5 bucks is a rip, but still cheap.
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!! | |
| | | | tomertl
join:2002-09-01
Fairfax, VA
| Where have you been? DirecTv gives 2 free boxes and instalation FREE! Cable customers in my area (Northern VA - Cox Cable) have to pay $9.00 per digtal box a month, plus digital cable is about $20 more than DirecTv with a lesser quality signal.
DirecTv in our area is a no brainer. | |
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phxmark
What Country Are We Living In?
join:2000-12-27
Glendale, AZ
| said by puritan:
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
puritan
On my Hughes DirecTV Receiver, I can set up four different Favorite lists. You just have to set one of the Favorites lists as Childrens and just add the channels you want them to see to it. Then on top of that, I can lock down a good portion of the system.
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Still living on Dial-Up. | |
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newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
| Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by Hall :
No one's mentioned this either, but the equipment isn't "free" with DirecTV *unless* you also sign up for a one-year contract.
A contract has it's advantages. A recent $2.00 per month price increase on DirecTV was held back on my account until after the remaining 9 months of the contract. Because of the contract, I don't pay the price increase.
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The Rules of Spam | Maryland's New Anti-Spam Law
Where are we going? And what's with the hand basket? | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| said by puritan:
You must have only shopped DirecTV. With Dish network, you do not purchase the equipment.
??? Most people purchase it. I haven't heard about a lease deal, but I'll take your word for it. So you can either buy it or lease, you choose. quote:
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
You sure about that? My receiver (older model, now) had the ability to password channels and delete channels from the guide so they didn't display, too.... However... I think you could still manually "dial" them if you knew their channel #'s. So you'd have to manually password out and hide each one. UNG, that would take awhile....
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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puritan
@63.99.x.x
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money I think I got a pretty good deal when I signed up. I got a 4 room system. 3 of the 301 receivers, the 508 PVR, the dish, and installation. There was a $99 up front cost, then I got 49.95 back on the first months bill. I pay $70 a month for their top 150 package, which is every channel except for the pay channels.
When I had it installed, I specifically asked about removing the channels from the list. The install dude told me that I could lock them, but not remove them. I wasn't entirely happy because I want to have like 10 kids channels on the list so my kids could just hit the channel buttons to change.
But the programming package is $40 a month, which includes one receiver lease, then add $15 for the lease on the remaining 3 receivers, $5 for local stations, and $3 for the superstations.
puritan | |
| | | | | 2farfromCO7
join:2000-10-14
Farmington, MI
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Actually, you didn't. There hasn't been a good DHP deal since the first half of 2002. Back then, you got 3 months free of your basic package(AT50,100, or 150) + locals. It's gotten worse and worse ever since. It then went to 1 month free of everything, now it's not even 1 month free for most people. Yeah, for 4 receivers it's the only way to go, but it's nowhere near as good of a deal as it used to be. BTW, I don't charge my customers the $49.95 and I give them an additional $50-$120 upfront. That made DHP one hell of a deal when it was 3 months free. Today you're better off just doing a 2 receiver plan and worrying about getting the 3rd and 4th ones later. | |
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aztecnology
O Rly?
Premium
join:2003-02-12
Murrieta, CA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| said by puritan:
My only real complaint about satellite is that I cannot customize the box. I want to set up a short list of channels for my kids to watch, and eliminate the rest. That isn't available yet.
Dish allows 4 favorite lists per receiver, I have one with just the channels I prefer, the wife and kids each have their own.
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.:|:. Starband 360 ~ W2KAS ~ DLINK DI-714P+ ~ XPro ~ XPro | |
| | | Asshat35
join:2002-11-14
Fitchburg, MA
| You absolutely can customize Dish Network. I actually just upgraded from Dish to DirecTivo (had bad experience with their support so I switched, assclowns would not replace a receiver that was giving a horrible signal, green spots everywhere. Move good rec to tv and it's fine. They wanted to bitch about cabling, emi, anything but fixing the problem so I switched.)
Either way, Sat > Cable by far. Tivo/any PVR improves your TV experience. Since I've had Tivo, I've spent less time watching more programming. The ease of recording future events, season passes, pausing live TV, it's an amazing tool to have. Currently own 3 Tivo's with DirecTV (record 6 football games at once ) and a normal Receiver as well. I don't pay a lick for the Tivo service as long as I keep on subbing to the Premium Package. I did not pay for any of the equipment (incentive deal to get me from the Dish and my 2x PVR setup with 2 normal receivers) or install. How can you go wrong with a deal like that? I do keep $10/month cable basic service for local channels (also get locals on Sat but I like the PiP viewing of sporting events) as well. That's about all Comcast will get from me, well until they offer HSI.
Anyways, Cable needs to bring alot more to the table than they currently offer to get Sat users to switch over. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money said by Asshat35 :
I don't pay a lick for the Tivo service as long as I keep on subbing to the Premium Package.
Surprise! the cost of that is factored into the price you pay for that package! you arent getting anything for free (specially with the media companies)
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
| | | | | Asshat35
join:2002-11-14
Fitchburg, MA | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money Actually the premium service with or w/o Tivo is the same. Yeah, I know it's factored in there somewhere but do I care? Not really. I don't pay any more $ than the guy w/o Tivo so it's a wash in my book. | |
| | | | | vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD
| Not true.:) Satellite has alot more channels than most typical cable systems. You buy equipment but you get a full rebate or its free off of the top. The quality is excellent compared to that of digital cable. I had both at the same time, and we talked about this in the satellite/cable forum. Cable companies have to use alot moer compression because alot more data (VOIP, Internet, Analog etc.etc.) fact still remains that most time Digital Cable wont stand up to most (I say most not all) Satellite Systems.
I know you like cable, but there is no way you can sugarcoat my 59.99 dollar bill that is missing half the channels. 32.99 is the actual basic for the dish, 39.99 is 2nd teir. Cable is too expensive, no fault of the cable company (on second thought....;)) but its difficult to roll out and maintain, and they have analog and digital which puts them at a disadvantage to satellite.
I dont like either, I miss my "special";) analog cable.
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I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!!
[text was edited by author 2003-06-17 12:29:02] | |
| | 2farfromCO7
join:2000-10-14
Farmington, MI
| said by Nightfall :
said by rds24a :
Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Same with satellite providers. Their PVR isn't free. However, from people that I talk to, the PVR changes the way you watch TV. Sure, it costs a little more, but if you get your moneys worth out of it, then you are happy.
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
THAT'S NOT TRUE!!! Don't spew lies and cable FUD. With DISH, there are NO PVR MONTHLY FEES!!! Buy what equipment up front? Right now with DISH you get a 2 receiver system installed for free + 3 months free AT100+HBO+Cinemax, plus I'll give my customers an additional $70. | |
| | | | | | tomertl
join:2002-09-01
Fairfax, VA | Who are these people who keep saying "with DirecTV you have to purchase the receivers"?? NOT TRUE! DirecTV gives you 2 free receivers and instalation!
Research before you post! | |
| |
KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| said by Nightfall :
said by rds24a :
Issue 1: The DVR doesn't sweeten the deal here with TimeWarner. It costs extra.
Same with satellite providers. Their PVR isn't free.
Dish Network has PVR's in some receivers that have no monthly fees. DirecTIVO's have no fees if you have a premium package etc (I think). Personally, I bought a ReplayTV and lifetime sub. DBS smokes cable! quote:
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
There's almost always a special running where when you commit to a year's service agreement you get all the equipment upfront and installed free. When I started with DISH Network I bought my equipment online. I paid $200 for it. *Included Free* was one year of America's Top 50 package and music channels. It was a no brainer--- that was more channels then cable even offered at the time in my area, for the equivalent price of $16.65 a month... and the hardware was mine. Cable was around $45 per month at the time...
Point being you don't shell out hundreds of dollars upfront in equipment before you even can get service. In many cases, you can actually get a DBS system up and running and have paid less then a Cable Install and beginning service costs.
--
"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
| | mglunt
join:2001-09-10
Fredericksburg, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| said by Nightfall :
Satellite providers advertise $39.99 a month for 150 channels, but only in the fine print do they mention you have to buy all the equipment up front.
LMAO - Watching too many Comcast/Cable TV commercials? I recently moved to an apt that can't get DTV.. I signed up for Comcrap "Digital" Cable. Let me tell you - there is NO comparison. Even the digital channels look like crap compared to DTV.
As for the equipment? You can get a FREE 2 room install if you are a new customer.. you just have to agree to keep service for a year - service that is about $15-$20 cheaper than "Digital" Cable TV... and a lot better, better sound, more channels.
Even if you buy the equipment, it's only about $50-$80 and comes with free installation. If you are switching from "Digital" cable, that pays for itself in only a few months.
No comparison - which is why companies like Comcast began punishing HSI customers who switch TV service to dish/dtv by hitting them with a $15 fee. Comcast knows they can't compete in quality/price... so they use their monopoly (in many areas) to try to keep customers.
Comcast would be better off going all digital, or dropping their rates to something reasonable. Analog is $43 where I live! | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money don't forget more money for local channels, and around here the local stations have extra cable stations that are not available on sat. Plus, I am probably one of the few people that see some value in cable access channels. | |
| | | gpancner
join:2001-09-27
Nine Mile Falls, WA | Care for some cheese with your whine? | |
| 
Julio
Bachatero y Que?
Premium
join:2003-03-19
Brooklyn, NY
clubs: | yes, i hate the fact that like 300 channels are like pay per view. they also hit you with hidden fees that they dont tell you when you upgrade. | |
|
Freshie
@207.61.x.x
| In my area [Toronto, Canada], 2 to 75 are digital with the converter. And believe me, it makes a difference.
We also don't have to get a bundle. The box, and 2-75 are $35CAD per month.
Each digital channel I want can be ordered separately, for $2CAD per month.
I can add channels or remove them anytime I want 24/7 via the internet, and by the time I've verified my decision to add a channel to my line-up, and gone to my remote, the channel is active.
I think it's pretty cool. I can order the Scream channel on Friday for the weekend to watch a horror-a-thon, and cancel it Monday. All without talking to a drone at a desk to do it. | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | hdtv rxer for direct tv $530+... cable tv additional 7 dollars a month. Plus, if and when it breaks its about a 8 minute drive to get a new one. | |
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sabersaw
Premium
join:2001-08-21
Dayton, OH | the first service that will do HDTV with a PVR will be where my money goes to. until then they both are lacking. | |
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rds24a
Teach Your Children
Premium
join:2000-12-13
Springboro, OH
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money My understanding of HDTV is that the picture uses bandwidth on the order of a DVD movie. Thinking generally that a DVD holds ~4 Gb of data, how are you going to get a PVR to hold that much data without losing quality, thereby defeating the purpose of HDTV.
There are some other discussions in this topic about DVR picture quality, and from what I've heard from friends who have TiVo it is comparable to a decent VHS tape.
If TWC would go 100% digital and offer HDTV in the $52 package, I probably would buy that and a new TV. Otherwise, it's status quo.
EDIT: And satellite is not an option. Been down that road. Signal quality is terrible in inclement weather, local channels are a joke, and I still cannot get any of the "local cable" channels that TWC offers. Also takes too damn long to tune a channel...slows down the flipping.
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»www.brittanyrescue.org
[text was edited by author 2003-06-18 09:37:22] | |
| stridr69
join:2003-05-19
San Luis Obispo, CA
| Not only that, if one has digital cable, your VCR/DVDR can't record on one channel while you're watching WWE wrastling on another channel. Plus, half the time, say your watching Fox sports wherever, you get duplicate channels w/digital, thusly wasting your monthly $$$ on nothing. Just like having the "Dish"
I currently use Charter Pipeline(silver package), with their analog package(No converter-means HBO, Cinemax are out..as well as Pay Per View) and pay roughly $80 a month. For me, I don't watch that much TV and rent DVD's for my movie experience, but prefer the broadband experience just so I can be interactive with my otherwise(sic) meaningless lifestyle.
Plus, if, say my local NBC affilate(KSBY) broadcast's analog only, then whats the point? | |
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