Satellite or Cable?

turbotalon1g · 01-15-2007

Direct TV= Over 155 Channels with HDTV, DVR upgrade for free.
$39.99 for TV, plus $10.99 for internet
Comcast= Enhanced package, with your usually watched channels.
$48.98 a month, plus $42.95 for internet
Comcast package= $99, for digital phone, internet, enhanced cable + on demand.
- This breaks down to $33 for each service.

The contract time is 12 months for both, but satellite doesn't include phone. Which i don't know is needed since we all have cell phones.

Now i am not looking for crazy TV packages, something with the most popular channels i doubt i will have enough time to laze around and watch TV a whole bunch.
With that said i am leaning toward the satellite, but i have 0 experience with them and only know the rumors/hearsay, bad weather no tv, etc.
Thx for all the help
Aaron

more info: Both are for 12 months.

SLOW_V · 01-15-2007

what are the contract terms?
Direct TV could have a 2 yr contract vs Comcast.

A//// Guy · 01-15-2007

We looked into this as well and Satellite turned out to be a better deal. You sacrifice having downtime though, if storms roll through.

HiImBrian · 01-15-2007

cable ftw!

FattyBoomBatty · 01-15-2007

I'd go with cable, but that's just my preference and I'm a little partial because my uncle is the manager at the cable company in fargo, heh.

cable internet = really fast, though, and i've never had downtime here. and I spend a lot of time on the internet here because there is nothing else to do.

**Kracka** · 01-15-2007

Satelite is a much better deal, my dad just switched too and love DirectTV much more than Comcast. Better picture, more channels, DVR, less money.

AJ · 01-15-2007

If you guys are sports freaks you'd want Direct TV.

The downfall with the weather is like this:

When it's bad and you want to be inside watching TV or on the net anything Dish will be a pita due to the signal. When it's really bad, neither will probably work due to the power being out.

My parents have Dish and in reality I've never see much of an issue with it, but if I had to pick and choose, I'd stay with cable.

Here's a good link for ya:

http://www.moveutilities.com/cable_vs_satellite.html

**JET** · 01-15-2007

The dish internet is pretty crappy, Direct TV is hooked up with Qwest for DSL though. Not as fast as cable, but still pretty good. I am with Comcast right now and have checked out the options in the last month. I am sticking with Comcast for now, but they aren't cheap.

**Kracka** · 01-15-2007

Comcast internet is really quick, but their customer service is horendous and it seems like I'm calling on a monthly basis due to billing errors.

curt_gendron · 01-15-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2kracka

Comcast internet is really quick, but their customer service is horendous and it seems like I'm calling on a monthly basis due to billing errors.

You can say that again... I got fed up with Comcast for internet when they could not fix my intermittent outages. I also switched over to Dish Network for my TV because they offer a lot of HDTV stations. So I've clensed myself of ever having to put up with Comcast.

The satelitte companies put Comcast to shame on price and customer service.

later,
Curt

**Halon** · 01-15-2007

I too have Comcast, but just internet. I pay $60/month to the bastards for just internet. Qwest had where I could get Direct TV, and DSL 2.5Mb connection, for like $65/month. I was excited for that. Cancelled Comcast, then got a call back from Qwest saying "sorry we made a mistake, we don't offer it there yet". Bah. So I'm stuck getting screwed by Comcast.

AJ · 01-15-2007

Curt, is Charter not available to you in Rogers? So far, Charter has been top notch for a cable service for us.

DoughtCom · 01-15-2007

I heard charter blew from a close friend (internet was slow and outages), comcast for me has been awesome as far as internet speed and billing and their HD PVR is the bizzomb. But hearing other people say that they suck concerns me that I'll get f'd in the a, so I'll have to keep an eye open.

As far as satellite, yeah if it's raining fairly hard your signal will start to break up and you'll get digital black boxes everywhere.

**Halon** · 01-15-2007

Comcast has been awesome with billing? What are you paying a month? I feel like I'm getting raped at 60/month for internet.

DoughtCom · 01-15-2007

60 dollars a month for 12Mbit/second down burst is a pretty decent price IMO. It was the same price (maybe a LITTLE cheaper) with timewarner for 6Mbit max down. I'm about to upgrade to their premium or whatever package and get the 8MBit-12Mbit down with a higher upload for 15 dollars more which would put me at about 60 dollars. I also like the fact that my IP is more or less static, the same as it was with Timewarner. As long as my power doesn't go out or my cable doesn't go out (which has happened ONCE in the past 7 years I've had it) then my IP stays the same.

It sounds like you already have the expensive package... you could downgrade to the $42 + modem rental service and save some money. Or it could be more in your area, I have no clue. Regardless for the performance (ie. 1 megabyte downloads I frequently get) I'm happy paying 50 dollars right now.

I also like the fact that they upgrade your PVR (if you obvioulsy already have the service) to an HD PVR with twice the hard drive space for free and give you local HD channels with Discovery HD for free... to me that's pretty pimp.

**Kracka** · 01-15-2007

Charter has to be the worst company ever incorporated! I had nothing but problems with then in Duluth (far worse than Comcast), and my sister is lucky if her internet is working 2 weeks per month out in Madison. She has spent hours on the phone, written letters, etc.

AJ · 01-15-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2kracka

Charter has to be the worst company ever incorporated! I had nothing but problems with then in Duluth (far worse than Comcast), and my sister is lucky if her internet is working 2 weeks per month out in Madison. She has spent hours on the phone, written letters, etc.

Werid, they must have the "Hughes" name on the "Lets fuck wit em" list. LOL I've never had much for issues. I've questioned billing a few times, they never seem to hesitate to take money off the bill. I had one bad round with some prick and called back to get someone else and wanted to cancel. Was givien a very nice discounted rate and every movie channel available. That with DVR and On demand makes me wet in pants. Too bad I will probably cancel next year and go to Dish for the NFL Nework and NFL Sunday Ticket.

DoughtCom · 01-15-2007

Oh to answer your question more directly I'm paying 120 per month for internet, PVR service, premium channels etc. But plan on disabling the premium channels when I get my stuff to "borrow" satellite TV to save a buck or 2.

**Halon** · 01-15-2007

I don't have a 12MB connection, I have the 6MB connection.

turbotalon1g · 01-15-2007

Thanks for all the input guys, it is really appreciated. At this point we are leaning toward cable, cause its easier to deal with and my bro doesn't like satellite cause of the whole bad weather thing. But we will talk more, because if i can pay 1/2 price for basically the same service then i will.
Thanks again
Aaron
(Big Brown)