Cable vs. Satellite

[Tom7227]

Sorry if this has been posted before but I couldn’t find any prior threads.

The cable bill cracked $111 a month and it has me wondering about a switch. I have HBO and digital cable service. It looks like a could get a DirectTV for about $70 a month (ignoring the promo discount).

My house is wired with a single line feeding all 5 TV’s. Our current setup allows us to watch 99 channels on any TV, and the upper level channels and premium channels on only 1 set. At that set I can record a higher end channel program and watch anything on the lower 99 at the same time. All the TV’s are ‘cable ready’ and my kid hooked up some sort of booster jobberdo on the cable to allow good reception on all TV’s - even 3 or 4 at the same time.

I have been told that satellite systems require a separate line from the dish to each TV and some sort of converter at each TV. Correct? I have also heard stories about really shoddy installs with the lines not being tacked down and holes drilled right through the side of the house and not caulked.

I really want to be able to get OLN but I don’t see it on the list from DirectTV. Have I missed something there? Also told no ‘on demand’ feature. Right?

All of these things are a deal breaker for me. If anyone has another option I would like to hear about it.

Thanks for your time.

Tom

[Walleye Guy]

Satellite isn't much cheaper than cable in the long run. Sure the introductory deals make it attractive at the beginning.

I have 4 TV's hooked up to my satellite (Dish Network). Two are HD TV's and two are not. I have an HD DVR box tied to the HD TV's. We get Dish Networks Top 250 channels. We get no premium channels other that the Outdoor Channel which cost $1.99/month. Throuw in the HD package for $20 and our BASIC satellite bill is $87/month.

I would recommend that you stick with cable due to the wiring configuration of your house. Satellite TV and daisy chained wiring don't mix well. Rewiring the house is generally expensive or unsightly unless you have a rambler without a finished basement.

[fish2live]

when you say one line coming in and then feeds 5 tv's i'm assuming you have one cable line in then split to the 5 tv's,this is usually in the utility room. if this is the case there is no reason you can't do a dish. the only thing with a dish that you must have and they will install it for you is a second line to each tv that will have a recorder box on it so you can record one channel and watch another. i only have two tv's set up with my direct tv but, i think they can set it up for more. i'm not shure what oln is so i don't know about that channel. the rate you said you could get the sat for that is usually for one tv then it is a 5 dollar fee for every box after.

[upnorth]

Do you have your broadband through the cable service, or are you using DSL. You won't get broadband through you satellite provider.

[Iambjm]

I wish I could get cable, I have Dish Network and if there is a bad storm I get zippo....nada....can't even watch severe weather updates. Same thing only worse with my satellite internet, if it snows....no signal.....if it is raining......no signal. I am very rural and it is the only game in town or I would dump it!!!!!

[BoxMN]

I am kind of ticked at my Comcast Cable TV portion of my bill. I did just add DVR and HD, but I thik it costs more than they quoted me. I hate how they keep nickle and diming you. But service is usually great, it works great (except for a hickup in the changing of channels since I go the new silver DVR box) and cable internet is wicked fast. Also, I have tried Vonage (don't even think about that crappy service), I used to have Qwest DSL (Slowsky's is right) and now I have Comcast Phone. Comcast is the best by far for phone service.

To give you complete cost for mine, I have the FAST! Tier II (costs more than normal) internet, Phone, and Digital and HD service with DVR, and my monthly bill is about $175, plus some for on demand movies my wife watches. But that is ridiculous, and I think I might cut back on cable TV options.

Good luck.

[onthejob2]

I second what "lambjm" said, Rain, storms, etc = NO TV.

[Sandmannd]

I have directv and don't loose signal all that often. Maybe a few times a year. That being said, you aren't going to save anything. Each TV needs a cable and a box. Boxes are minimum $5/month and if you want DVR it takes two lines to it and those are $10/month. You won't get on Demand at all with the satallite.

[Farley]

When I moved to the city, I left Dish behind and use Comcast now. In those rare instances when you go through the channels and nothing catches your interest, just go to the on demand channels, they have 6 music on demand channels, history, comedy central, A&E, TLC, Sundance, Golf, also any movie channel you subscribe to like HBO or Cinemax has On Demand. It's pretty much the cat's meow. The internet is pretty reliable, probably more so than sattelite and fast. We dont have the phone service though.

The only thing I dont like about comcast is no Outdoor Channel. No more "Gettin Close with Lee and Tiffany".

[Schloogs]

BoxMN, I hear ya. For what I pay those flippin people a month I could get another car, or boat, or atv, etc.... It is ridiculous all the little fees there are. And if you have HDTVs then there really is no option than to pay. Unless you like watching std. analog cable through your fancy new HDTV. It really sucks. OK I'm done....

[MuleShack]

 Originally Posted By: Sandmannd

I have directv and don't loose signal all that often. Maybe a few times a year. That being said, you aren't going to save anything. Each TV needs a cable and a box. Boxes are minimum $5/month and if you want DVR it takes two lines to it and those are $10/month. You won't get on Demand at all with the satallite.

Not Totally true with the on demand...DTV now has a form of on demand. It's not instant, but downloads movies instead to your DVR player

When DirecTV did the software update on our HD DVR unit, there is now an option to hook up a DSL line and down load any movie you want to your DVR player.

We live a couple miles out of town and only loose picture for only the heaviest of storms...maybe 3 times a year. We got 2 HD boxes, HD service with DVR on one and HBO and SHO and the bill is over $100.

Especially if you have finished basement, i would just stay with cable...it wont be any cheaper. DTV customer service is good though.

[Tom7227]

Looks like it may be a toss up on the cost. Who do we thank for the benefits of competition - Dems or Republicans? Both probably.

Thanks for the info.

[fishorgolf]

The only reason to have satellite is because you can not get cable. Satellite is just horrible in any bad weather and that is when you WANT to watch TV!!!!

[Bryce]

We have one tv with the old rabbit ears that we can switch from satellite to get the locals on in inclement weather. WBL should be close enough in that you can do the same. Depends on your neighborhood.

[shizzy]

I have Comcast for my digital cable, voice phone and cable internet. I got the basic cable setup. I pay $107 a month for all of that. in fact the only reason I got the phone is the installation for all three at the same time was cheaper and its $7 a month cheaper to have all three.

TV rocks, I love the on demand, the internet rocks and the voice phone is amazing. it almost sounds like the person is standing right next to you.