Cable/Dish Inexpensive services...

[Cassie325]

We really do not watch a lot of TV these days but there are certain shows that we like to watch. The issue is that we like to record the shows that are on at night or during the day while we are at work and watch them on lunch hours or early evenings....but we are finding it getting very expensive.

We would prefer to have a DVR and internet....we are hoping to hear of some really good deals...anyone know any?

[Ooper]

We upgraded to digital for just a little bit more a month and have a DVR... we love it... it is so easy, you can copy multiple shows and everything is labeled. But I don't understand when you say it is getting expensive... VHS tapes can be used over and over if that is what you are using. You can also buy a DVD recorder or a TV card for your computer and record shows right on it. Both can be bought for less than $100. If you go with an external dish for digital TV, you will have an upfront installation charge to mount the dish and wiring.

[schotzyb]

Dish Network has a basic package with all the major networks plus some other channels; I would guess 75 or so total for a monthly fee of~$33 . As stated by the previous poster, you can purchase a DVD recorder at Walmart for under$100 and start recording.

[Cassie325]

I guess I should have worded it a little differently. We are trying to cut back on everything. Cable seems to be a luxury that is just not needed...however we want it. It is getting expensive because we kept adding services over time, our 6 month deal is over and it just doesn't seem worth it, but there are certain things we do not want to give up....

I am not familiar with the DVR (like Tevo I think is one) and I guess it would be worth looking into as well. I don't think we own a VCR anymore and our DVD players does not record.

I guess I was hoping to hear that there was an easy answer that we could just switch to. You never know what kind of info TOTVer's have...

[GMONEY]

I guess I should have worded it a little differently. We are trying to cut back on everything. Cable seems to be a luxury that is just not needed...however we want it. It is getting expensive because we kept adding services over time, our 6 month deal is over and it just doesn't seem worth it, but there are certain things we do not want to give up....

I am not familiar with the DVR (like Tevo I think is one) and I guess it would be worth looking into as well. I don't think we own a VCR anymore and our DVD players does not record.

I guess I was hoping to hear that there was an easy answer that we could just switch to. You never know what kind of info TOTVer's have...

We had Comcast and got rid of it due to cust service. We have Direct TV now and got the High Def with the DVR. We do the same we record all the programs at night and watch them when we want. Alot easier that way. There are many different packages you can get from them. Check the website for Direct TV and see what you think. I have noticed that Direct TV is alot better picture than comcast was. we used to have Dish, and glad we dont have that no more. People next door had DIsh and the other had COmcast. Now both have switched and agree with me on the picture. more channels than comcast also.
Nothing like a DVR

[Russ_Boston]

We had Comcast and got rid of it due to cust service. .....Nothing like a DVR


Just curious...How often did you need customer service that it became so bad you left them? I've had Comcast for a dozen years or more and called service maybe twice or three times. No issues with them. It's kind of weird. My son has had all sort of issues with them but others have never had to call. Hit or miss I guess.

I do agree DVR is priceless!

[JohnN]

Comcast has a very basic cable package of network channels plus a few others for about $12/month. Be specific that's what you want, because they'll try to upgrade it LOL, main networks, WGN, couple/few others,

[GMONEY]

Just curious...How often did you need customer service that it became so bad you left them? I've had Comcast for a dozen years or more and called service maybe twice or three times. No issues with them. It's kind of weird. My son has had all sort of issues with them but others have never had to call. Hit or miss I guess.

I do agree DVR is priceless!

Had Comcast for about 6 years, then went to Dish and back to Comcast. I had to call Cust Serv I dont know how many times. 2 issues. One for the Cable itself. I could turn to a channel and it tell me i did not purschase this channel. I am not talking about a Pay Channel, I am talking about like TNT or ESPN all in the HD Channels. I had to keep calling them. They kept telling me it was the box, or it was a service upgrade they had to do. They finally sent a tech to the house, we already had the newest box. He did some work and got it all set up. The next day the same thing. Channels would work then we couldnt get them no more. Then the issue with the High Speed Cable Internet. We bought a modem and a router from Best Buy, Got the service about 2 years ago. Well about 8 months ago they started charging us for a modem lease. We called them and had to fight with them about it. They told us that we had a leased modem, I told them show me the paper I signed for it. They couldnt show that since there is not one. So they credited our account. When they did that it didnt make any sense. My wife called them and the lady on the phone with Comcast, told my wife she didnt have time to explain the whole bill to her and hung up.
That was it. I called Direct TV the next Day. Got a better Package for less money, and alot more channels and the High Def is much better. Everything is alot better so far. So when I went to turn in my Comcast boxes for the cable TV. The lady had the nerve to ask me, "Sir where is the Modem you are leasing"????? And told me I owed them for past lease of it. There was a line of 7 behind me. I went off. Told them that is excatly why I am turning my stuff in. Turns out that 3 of the people in line where there for the excat same reasons. They wanted me to provide proof that I had bought my own modem. I told them show me proof that I leased it..... Again they couldnt.

That is it in a nut shell,,, Of course ALot I did not include here........

Nothing Like High Def TV..

[REH7380]

Hi GMoney...
What did you find were the cost differences between going to DirectTV and Comcast? Did you have your long distance and internet also with Comcast?

[billethkid]

from minimal per month to full boat. It is a function of choices. For hi def either one of the dishes have comcast beat. Pay per view, ditto.
Comcast has high speed internet if not on promotion it runs around $49 per month...they also have a slower speed for $24 per month which they will not offer voluntarily, that is acceptable to most who do internet browsing and email mostly.

I am currently using a Verizon air card, which many will say is slower than broadband. Well for me it is like saying going 70 mph is slower than going 80....absolutely but for most you won't feel/see the difference....it does the job very satisfactorily. I am testing it during their first 30 days is free.

Because I am dumping Comcast. Prices are going up again. Their technology is not yet up to par with the ALL digital dish suppliers. I have Dish at our home in TN and Comcast in TV. Both set up with DVR....no movie channels...pay per view, Blockbuster and Netflix is much cheaper.

When I make the change to Verizon for internet and Dish for programming, similar package to Comcast, the overall cost per month will be within $15 (less than Comcast).

My conclusion....boils down to choice of provider. We all have horror stories about any one of them. It is a function of who is on the other end of the phone.

When dissatisfied just ask for a supervisor. Most of the duds who are working there are there because folks will not turn them in for not doing the job.

My 2 cents.

BTK

[GMONEY]

Comcast we were paying 90.00 for cable tv,, i will have the Direct TV for 80.00. Only a 10.00 difference. But the Progamming is a ton better. I am into the High Def programming. It is awesome on Direct TV. They will soon start the broadcast of movies in 1080p when available. That is Blu-Ray quality. I have a 52 LCD Sony. Nothing like watching Blu-Ray or High Def on it. Comcast dont match to me. Again as BTK said it is matter of opinion. I have had Dish also, but checked out the neighbors set up with Dish, and Direct I liked better.
If you have a High Def TV, DIsh or Direct or MILES ahead of comcast. And yes Comcast was rasing the rates.

We still have the High SPeed with Comcast, It is 59.00 unless you subscribe to the TV also. I am searching for a different deal. My sister has a sprint card but it is 59.00 also a month. Might as well keep the comcast for now. But will trash that also soon.

[billethkid]

is their system allows to pick up the box/DVR and go with it. We have a lake home in TN that had DishNetwork. After I get the house set up here in FL, when ever we head to TN all we will do is take the box/DVR with us and plug it in at the house in TN.

Completely eliminates the need for a second account.

The home in TN is also the reason for going to the Verizon air card as the only internet service available in the boonies is dial up or Verizon.....no contest.

Hence I have portable internet service and television reception. The digital world...I love it!!!!!!!

BTK

[Don H]

Interesting reading about Comcast. We're still in New York and have Verizon FIOS service (the gold standard) and recently did the Lifestyle Visit. The Villa we stayed in (really nice btw) had Comcast cable, probably pretty basic service. Even with that I thought the pix quality stunk. I was shocked to the lack of definition and a hint of noise problems on their system. I thought we would get Comcast when we moved to TV since they have high speed internet service and I figured, how bad could their tv quality be? Now we're thinking more about DirectTV. We used to have it here but remember getting interuptions from passing parcipitation etc. Could anyone who has DirectTV in TV tell me how big a problem that is there since afternoon thunderstorms seem to roll in everyday during some seasons? BTW the DVR system is the greatest. Couldn't be more convenient. I suppose we could do Comcast for internet & phone and DirectTV for tv. Too bad Verizon landline services only cover the six counties around Tampa.

[Russ_Boston]

Does anyone know if FIOS will be broadcasting in 1080P anytime soon? I seem to recall that they are still 720.

Nice to hear that Direct is going to 1080.

[SNOK]

I currently live in AT&T service area. Just switched from cable (Cox) to AT&T Uverse. From what I hear, it is very similar to Verizon's FIOS. Both are transmitted via fiber. The quality of all services (tv, internet & phone) are outstanding. Although we own in TV, we will not move down for another couple of years. Hopefully, by then, one of these two fiber service providers will have access in TV. The quality is noticeably much better, but actually less expensive than cable. Oh, by the way, the customer service from AT&T has been great -doesn't sound like the old AT&T, does it?