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Thoughts on Digital Cable vs. DirecTV
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Posted by: jenbierling

I'm moving into a new house and have to make a decision on going with Digital Cable or Satellite Dish. I also want to buy Tivo, either as an add-on to Digital Cable, or by getting DirecTV with Tivo. Digital Cable is less expensive in my area than DirecTV, but I'm concerned about how Tivo works with the digital cable box. Does anyone have experience with this? Do you have to tune in both the digital cable box and set something to record on Tivo, or is it only necessary to program Tivo to record and it will take care of the digital cable piece? Is the only real advantage to going with DirecTivo the ability to record two things at once?? I'm pretty Tivo-illiterate, so any suggestions or thoughts would be helpful!

Posted by: bsoft

Definately go DirecTV with TiVo. Dual tuners is the greatest thing since sliced bread (without dual tuners I found that I ran into conflicts far too often - now it's not a problem). Conflicts are when two or more programs are scheduled to record in the same timeslot. TiVo does it's best to avoid, manage, and resolve conflicts, but the fact remains that it can only record one show at a time. For example, back when I had a stand-alone I had to tape (yes, with a VCR... uugh) Junkyard Wars so that Voyager would record. Now both Enterprise and Junkyard Wars record simultaneouslly. Also keep in mind that with digital cable and stand-alone TiVo you won't be able to watch live television when a program is recording (except for the program that is recording). You can still watch pre-recorded programs while a program is being recorded, though.

"Do you have to tune in both the digital cable box and set something to record on Tivo, or is it only necessary to program Tivo to record and it will take care of the digital cable piece?"

Stand-Alone TiVo can control your digital cable box through an IR blaster (included with the TiVo); it mimics entering channel changes on your remote. However, there is a delay on channel changes, and sometimes you run into problems - i.e. dropped channel changes. This issue may be resolved with a direct serial connection to some digital cable boxes (this is not a current feature but is expected to be included due to AT&T Broadband's partnership with TiVo). Other than that, the TiVo does a great job of getting program listings and it integrates flawlessly with your digital cable box.

"Is the only real advantage to going with DirecTivo the ability to record two things at once??"

Dual Tuners, Higher Picture Quality, Reduced service cost for multiple recievers, etc. DirecTivo has quite a few advantages. Did I mention dual tuners?

"Digital Cable is less expensive in my area than DirecTV"

Where do you live, because you must have cheap digital cable! (digital cable is a rip-off in my area because you have to rent equipment for $10 per month per TV as well as pay a $45 per month service fee just for the basic package!)

Also consider that the TiVo monthly charge is $3 per month cheaper with DirecTV, and that you only pay one monthly service charge to TiVo that covers every reciever on your DirecTV account; if you have multiple stand-alone TiVos you have to pay multiple monthly fees to TiVo.

Bottom line, go DirecTV, even if it's a few more bucks a month (unless it costs twice as much or soemthing). You'll be glad that you did!

And did I mention dual tuners?

Posted by: jenbierling

I'm in St. Louis. Cable's about the same price on it's own, once I figure in getting a box on a 2nd TV. It's about $45/month including the box, but they bundle in a really cheap cable modem deal, only $25/month when you're on digital cable vs. $50/month for DSL. And I can't live without my high-speed internet! The dual tuners do sound very cool, though! That may be worth the extra money...

Posted by: bsoft

See if your cable company will allow you to have cable-internet service without cable-TV. I'm currently an AT&T Broadband Internet subscriber but I do not have AT&T Cable or Digital Cable. They simply install a filter down at the box to block out the cable channels (but not the internet service).

Posted by: bsoft

... also consider rock-bottom prices for DirecTV with TiVo equipment - you may be able to get two DirecTV with TiVos for less than the price of one stand-alone. (You'll have to look around, though as there seems to be a shortage of DirecTV with TiVOs)

Posted by: scotty321

One word: DirecTV.

Don't even THINK about cable.

Posted by: bonscott87

DirecTv all the way.

I also have a cable modem from Charter and have to pay them an extra $13 a month (pretty much the "broadcast basic" package) as a penalty for not having a cable package. We don't mind. We get the best of both worlds by having a great cable modem service and DirecTv. It's worth the fees. Plus dual tuners on a DirecTivo is worth just about anything.

Posted by: steuert

I agree you would probably like the DirecTiVo package best. The ease with which these combined boxes can be set up for recording and playback, and the quality of the recording is not even approached by any other arrangement. Be sure to add up all the elements of each package and you will probably find the difference is at most a few pennies a day.

Also, be aware that so-called "digital" cable usually has some digital channels AND some analog channels which have much worse broadcast quality. When my local cable company (Comcast) first announced digital cable, I called them to find out about it and the CSR admitted frankly that it really wasn't competitive with true, all-digital satellite systems such as DirecTV and the Dish Network.
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2 DSR6000's, unmodified
6 years w/DirecTV; 6 months w/DirecTivo
10 years with ComCast - basic cable service for local channels.

"If you ain't got TiVo, you ain't got TV!!"