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I'm switching! Digtial cable vs Dish vs DirecTV
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Posted by: bgthom01

I am currently a happy Tivo owner - 140 hours of recording time with Analog Cable (Inisght). However, I'm about to move and I'm thinking of switching. Cost is as much of an issue as quality and I don't want to have to buy a new Tivo.
What are your thoughts?

Switch to Digital Cable - I've never been impressed with the quality - seems worse than regular analog for many channels - delay when changes channels (surfing) is annoying, and the on-screen guide blows compared to Tivo's. On the upside it has locals, reasonable premium packages, and I could combine my modem access for a good deal. I've read threads about problems with Digital cable and Tivo - is it a pain or what? Do you use the IR Blaster to change channels (I'd have to order one....)?

Switch to DishNetwork - Decent Prices. I'd have to pay extra to keep my cable modem with Insight. I've read that picture is not as good as DirecTV. Does it interface ok with a standalone Tivo? Uses IR Blaster? No locals here in Louisville...bummer.

Switch to DirecTV - using my Standalone. This will connect via serial right? I've read that's better that using IR Blaster. More expensive, great quality, and again NO locals...

Keep analog cable - which I've satified with, and add HBO or something. I like not having to have a cable box but Insight is trying to muscle into Digital Cable by increasing the cost of my cable modem if I don't use Digital Cable....

Thanks for you opinions!

Posted by: adamblast

Honestly, I'd probably keep analog and add a premium or two... No locals on satellite is a deal-breaker for me. Ditto any solution that begins with "surfing will be a major pain... but you won't surf much with a TiVo..."

Sounds like they're trying to muscle you into the cable box--most companies are, these days... At which point I'd probably settle for digital cable as my "least bad" option, and become a bitter old man... :)

Posted by: DJRobX

See the DirectTV forum (search for 'moving') about how to acquire locals even if they're not supposed to be available in your area. If you prefer to do it by the book, you can have a DirecTV receiver and standalone TiVo, and also connect the very cheap "lifeline" analog cable for the locals and use DirecTV for everything else. TiVo will merge them together "seamlessly".

Personally, I would 'move' for locals, get a DirecTiVo, and sell the SA. The quality difference of direct digital recording and dual tuner capabilities are nothing short of extraordinary. You may even make money on the deal.

-- Rob

Posted by: adamblast

Not to make this a personal gripe-athon, but Comcast, for example, refuses to provide "lifeline" cable service... (Probably because they know it would encourage satellite usage in our no-locals area...)

I agree that if you feel comforable lying about your address to DTV and selling your current TiVo on ebay, Rob's option would provide you with the nicest service by far...

Posted by: steuert

IMHO, DTiVo's are such a quantum improvement over almost anything else that they're the way to go unless you absolutely, positively can't afford it. As a new DTV subscriber you can probably find a reasonably good deal although they are getting scarce.

I still have Comcast "lifeline" service (about $12/mo) for the locals, and use my SA to record them. Not the most elegant arrangement, but overall I am pretty well satisfied.

Posted by: ctcaldwell

Most of the new subscriber deals aren't available to NRTC customers. What is the deal with that?? I have trouble understanding why the NRTC exists anymore. The fact that I pay 34.99 for a DirecTV package that is nationally advertised at 31.99...and that I can't (or others in my area can't) get a 99.00 DirecTiVo as a new subscriber really annoys me...just because I live in an area where there is a middle-man between me and DirecTV.

Guess this was a little off-topic...sorry for the rant. But the bit of on-topic info is that not everyone can get the sweet deals on DTiVos.

Todd

Posted by: jerryez

DirecTiVos will not record off of cable, so no locals. With a SA and Dish you can keep just the basic cable for locals.

Posted by: Tsar Chasm

I am going the opposite direction. I live in an apt so, the dish thing isn't really an option.

I had digital cable but the IR blaster drove me nuts to the point that I just used the Tivo off of my Enhanced Basic cable and use the digital cable for a second option when the Tivo is recording. I was using the digital channels so infrequently that I am taking my digital box back to the cable provider.

It was my understanding that by "Digital" it would be 5.1 with s-video at a minimum. Psyche! All in all, I have been very dissatisfied with digital cable.

Posted by: bgthom01

quote:
Originally posted by adamblast
Honestly, I'd probably keep analog and add a premium or two... No locals on satellite is a deal-breaker for me. Ditto any solution that begins with "surfing will be a major pain... but you won't surf much with a TiVo..."

I won't surf much - but the wife insist on watching live TV some nights...

Thanks!

Posted by: cwoody222

I agree...other than my cable company (Adelphia) ONLY offering some channels with their Digital systems, I don't see the reason to switch.

Right now I only have analog and no premiums...I hate boxes plus I share with my landlords who don't want premiums.

We might switch to DirecTV now, though, since locals were just offered (about a week ago).

If I could get all the same channels as with my Digital (like Game Show Network and SoapNet) with my analog, I'd never switch...I just don't see the reasons too...

Posted by: Tivowner

Until DirecTV starts adding more channels- I'd say that Digital cable has more viewing options now.

Posted by: aaronw

quote:
Originally posted by ctcaldwell
Most of the new subscriber deals aren't available to NRTC customers. What is the deal with that?? I have trouble understanding why the NRTC exists anymore. The fact that I pay 34.99 for a DirecTV package that is nationally advertised at 31.99...and that I can't (or others in my area can't) get a 99.00 DirecTiVo as a new subscriber really annoys me...just because I live in an area where there is a middle-man between me and DirecTV.

Todd

The NRTC thing is basically that in exchange for NRTC ponying up $100 million+ to DTV to subsidize some of the start-up costs, DTV/Hughes allowed NRTC an exclusive distribution area.

Not that it makes sense 100%, or even if you like it, but that's how it is.

http://www.nrtc.org/navigate.cfm?page=DIRECTV

Posted by: eison

Local channels are available on Dish in some areas, list is at http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/...als/index.shtml

Upsides:
I have the Atlanta channels on Dish, run TiVo via an IR Blaster (what do you mean you'd have to buy one? Comes with your SA TiVo, check the box again), and am reasonably happy. The IR Blaster has never missed a channel change since I first built its IR tent the day I set it up *unless* I was trying to quickly flip channels, which I quickly learned not to do.

Downsides:
I have had two problems where the Dish box decided it lost my signal and wasn't going to do anything about it until I enter some config screen and manually run a test, which is annoying as heck. And if you enter a channel you don't get then you can't leave it until hitting channel up, so you have to make sure TiVo's list of channels you receive doesn't include any channels you really don't receive.
Channel flipping is really slow with Dish, and slower with the IR blaster, so you basically can't do it.

Overall, I've had *more* uptime with a year of Dish (even with the box wanting me to run that test twice) than I did with a year of cable service just from the cable service going out, and it's cheaper for me.

In the end, I'd let the decision come down to cost if local channels are available for your area. The IR blaster shouldn't make or break it *provided* you don't channel flip (who channel flips with a TiVo anyway? Use the guide to browse). You don't have to get a DirecTiVo, but that's not a bad idea either.

Posted by: jcblack

bgthom01, me too. I'm in lexington, w/ insight as well, and dangit, the prices keep going up! ..and with Verizon moving out of town my dsl is rasing 17 bucks per month! I'd get cable modem but its not cheap if you don't have digital cable, you know that. AND of course insight has no HDtv incentives either, and tell me that there aren't really any in sight (no pun intended).

I'm thinking seriously about dumping analog cable and getting directtv. I'm not going to get digital here b/c, frankly, I think it sucks.

Still, the whole idea of using tivo through a cable box / direct tv box is a pain, ir blaster etc. Directtivo is the way to go, but I'd have to sell my lifetime sa box. ...and if i go hd get another direct tv tuner. oh the humanity of it all!

(sorry, I'm not much help)

Posted by: DarkHelmet

quote:
Originally posted by bgthom01
I am currently a happy Tivo owner - 140 hours of recording time with Analog Cable (Inisght). However, I'm about to move and I'm thinking of switching. Cost is as much of an issue as quality and I don't want to have to buy a new Tivo.
What are your thoughts?

One thing you didn't mention.. Do you have over-the-air reception that is acceptable?

If you do, then another option could be to keep your standalone, get a cheap dtv receiver on the s-video port, and then get over-the-air on the RF input for your local stations. Or if there is a really cheap basic cable service then maybe that could be usable instead of antenna.

Remember, you can have two sources going into your tivo! One on the composite video/s-video, and one on the RF tuner. The tivo will happily "merge" the two sources together. Or you can try the "move" thing to get local stations from somewhere else - but beware of spot beam restrictions. I saw some spot beam coverage maps somewhere.

The push to digital cable is inevitible though, the cable companies want control of the delivery mechanism back again (damn those tv's with cable-ready tuners!) and they could reuse the analog bandwidth for signigicantly more compressed, secure, digital video. No more need to send a van out to connect/disconnect cable taps - it is all encrypted and remote controlled. They can turn you on/off in a few seconds.

Personally, if the cable company is pushing you to use a General Instrument/Motorola DCT-2000, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! You will have no end of misery trying to use the remote control, let alone the tivo IR blaster. This particular set-top box series redefines the bottom end of IR usability. Just about anything is better than this wretched heap of junk.

Posted by: bgthom01

According this spot map at http://www.scottandmichelle.net/scott/dtv.html it looks like Louisville might be able to recieve a spot beam for some locals if I "move". Has anyone tried that around here? Anywhere? What if I was willing be satisfied with NY channels - would that be easier?

Posted by: bgthom01

quote:
Originally posted by DarkHelmet

Personally, if the cable company is pushing you to use a General Instrument/Motorola DCT-2000, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! You will have no end of misery trying to use the remote control, let alone the tivo IR blaster. This particular set-top box series redefines the bottom end of IR usability. Just about anything is better than this wretched heap of junk.

Wouldn't you know - that is EXACTLY the box they want me to use. Has anyone had better luck with this box?

Posted by: Tivorengo

I recently moved to KY and also am not happy with the pricing from INSIGHT. After weeks of investigating, I decided to go with the analog cable with no box.
Their cable modem service is way out of line, so I ended up going dsl from the phone company. Very happy with my decision so far.
Direct TV was only through pegasus here, eliminating good offers for 1st time purchase. Dishnetwork pricing wasn't what I'd like for the channels I wanted. And two different people I work with are waiting for the 12 months to expire so they can get rid of their satellite contract. Way too many times when weather disrupted their signal.

I'm still considering satellite but want better pricing.

Posted by: SuperRob

As a former DirecTV subscriber who is now on Digital Cable (moved where there wasn't a satellite LOS), I can firmly say that DirecTV is outstanding and you'll love it. You'd love it more with a DirecTiVo unit, since there is NO picture quality loss, but the quality is so much better than Digital Cable it's silly.

Posted by: linh

quote:
Originally posted by DarkHelmet

Personally, if the cable company is pushing you to use a General Instrument/Motorola DCT-2000, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! You will have no end of misery trying to use the remote control, let alone the tivo IR blaster. This particular set-top box series redefines the bottom end of IR usability. Just about anything is better than this wretched heap of junk.

When I was with AT&T Digital Cable about 2 years ago, I was using the DCT 2000. It was ok. Didn't have any problems with changing channels or lag.

Posted by: drewman

I know people that have their DirecTV bills go to other places outside of those restrictive areas they live in - if you know what I mean...

Andrew

Posted by: MighTiVo

Depending on the content you want, if you use a SA TiVo then there really isn't any difference between DirectTV and Dish. I have seen discussions both ways for quality, service, and support.

My experience was that after year with DirectTV and calling to complain that the picture quality was degrading they would never admit it was a broadcast issue. I switched to dish and get more channels for less money, the picture quality on the channels I watch seems much improved, customer service is great and the CEO hosts regular programs where he explains where the service is going, what channels are being added, what channels are going away and why, and what channels need better bandwidth and when and how he is going to fix it. Then even sent me a nice (about $50) outdoor antenna when a local channel refused to let Dish carry it for a while. They also currently offer a free second dish if you want to get some of the local religious stations that aren't on the main birds.
I never had that kind of service from DirectTV!

Posted by: adamblast

quote:
Originally posted by CoosCoos
I have 'lifeline' cable from Comcast...

I wonder if this is the kind of thing where Comcast doesn't offer it unless forced to by the city... It's definately not available on our local system, unfortunately, and never has been...

Posted by: bscald

quote:
Originally posted by bgthom01
According this spot map at http://www.scottandmichelle.net/scott/dtv.html it looks like Louisville might be able to recieve a spot beam for some locals if I "move". Has anyone tried that around here? Anywhere? What if I was willing be satisfied with NY channels - would that be easier?

I "moved" to Cleveland from Lexington. I also thought about "moving" to Cinci or Columbus but at the time Cleveland was the only one with all six networks.

-ben