HDTV With Only Basic Cable

[borghe]

I'd like to know how many people use a box from 94'. If they do they don't belong on this forum.

I know a number of people who use their first receiver ever. Mine from 5 years ago is in use at a friend's house right now. Another friend has an HDTV with DTC-100 decoder (RCA integrated DirecTV 38" direct view set). That set was added onto.... surprise, his first ever box. To put this topic to rest, I actually know only one person besides me who upgraded from his original DirecTV box to a non-Tivo box. Everyone else who has satellite is either using their original boxes and/or replaced/added a DirecTivo.

So what if the DTC-100 is slow. I don't get it. Does it get channels in? Yes. Does it take 1-2 seconds to change channels? No. I just don't get your angst with this box, especially considering you've never used it.

As for your confusion with all of the boxes I've listed... That really goes a long way toward making my point.. You have plenty of options out there if you want to go with OTA. Want last years Samsung? No problem? Want this years? Again, no problem. Want a low end DirecTV box? You go it, no problem. Want a high end one that displays time, channel, and music info? There's one of those also. You really have almost a dozen boxes to choose from between $399 and $899, and if you try not too hard, you can probably even find a stock pile of demoed DTC-100's for $200-$275. (I know American had them a few months ago).

With TWC you get the 3100HD. No choice.

But again I am just trying to give people information. I don't really feel in this topic that my view has at all been slanted. I think the slant comes from the fact that, staying on topic, going with TWC solely for local HD channels is a waste of money. Going with TWC for local SD channels really has very little benefit, and HD almost completely takes away what little benefits there are. I suppose to some it is worth $240/year to get channels that you are able to pull in for free, but after 5 years, I feel I would have better uses for that $1200.

And to be honest, it isn't just TWC that I feel this way about. After HD DirecTivo comes along, you can be damn certain that locals on DirecTV are going away also. The only reason I have locals on DirecTV is to timeshift them with Tivo. Once I can timeshift OTA HD, there is no need for me to pay $4/month for them on DirecTV.

[gparris]

You are VERY correct-the DTC-100 is a very good value. Had it since May of 2000 and never regretted it. TWC offers NO choice and for the long-term, a waste of money. If TWC offered a CHOICE of HD boxes-that is-if it got its act together-and you even got a rent to buy or just buy the box program going-great. Being in the "returns and exchanges dept." is bad business, even for a cable company. The FCC has been  pushing for consumers to be able to buy boxes OUTSIDE the cable company for awhile...even going as far as making just a card to be  inserted (in the future)  for ANY programming, on all-digital sets-no box required. So choice and long term costs-are all very important issues.

[sp44again]

Originally posted by borghe
I know a number of people who use their first receiver ever. Mine from 5 years ago is in use at a friend's house right now. Another friend has an HDTV with DTC-100 decoder (RCA integrated DirecTV 38" direct view set). That set was added onto.... surprise, his first ever box. To put this topic to rest, I actually know only one person besides me who upgraded from his original DirecTV box to a non-Tivo box. Everyone else who has satellite is either using their original boxes and/or replaced/added a DirecTivo.

So what if the DTC-100 is slow. I don't get it. Does it get channels in? Yes. Does it take 1-2 seconds to change channels? No. I just don't get your angst with this box, especially considering you've never used it.

Check the thread I started "How many people have a RCA DTC-100?" Looks like everybody has something negative to say about it. Why do you think American has so many demoed RCA boxes, cause they are good?

[borghe]

if you are talking about this thread, I only see one overly negative review of the box. On the contrary, aside from the speed of the box most people seem very happy with it, and I would hardly consider speed as a singular reason for not purchasing an HD box at all..

As for why American was getting rid of them.. look at the word "demoed". They were demo units that they now have to sell at demo prices. What does that tell me? That American was demoing a ton of HD (nostly HDNet) on separate sets initially and have now switched to a component distribution system instead...

The box is great for its currently deep discounted price. The linked to thread shows how much (almost) everyone likes it. And at as low as $200 is certainly a viable option for local OTA only.. Heck, that unit will pay for itself in 10 months...

[mr_yeti]

This is getting ridiculous.

sp44: If you want to use cable to get your local HD signals, go right ahead. For someone who doesn't want to erect an antenna or invest in an HD box, cable makes a lot of sense. Understand though that renting a cable box is assuredly a zero-sum game.

But there are other options, and all of them have drawbacks and advantages. This is why we have a free-market economy so that you, the consumer, can choose what's best for you.

Recently you took me to task in another thread for my frequent rumblings about Time Warner. I was, at the time, unhappy with the service I was receiving and my inability to elicit evan a cursory answer to a simple question. I am now less unhappy with Time Warner, but still plan to make the switch to satellite at such a time as that becomes practical. Likewise, many others have made the decision, be it satellite, cable, or OTA that was right for their situation. Be happy that these options exist for us to choose from.

[sp44again]

I don't see any Directv HD box that is cheaper than $350. If anybody can find a good deal let me know. I'm sure American still doesn't have RCA DTC-100 demos unless they had like 200. Borghe keeps saying Best Buy has $400 Hughes but it's $499 actually. I don't trust anything open or used at Best Buy. If not I'm going to just buy a regular box or Tivo and use TWC for HD. Cause like I said earlier I  really don't want to put a baking rack with wings above the TV. I still have it in my closet from the first time I had HD.

[John Polulach]

On basic (analog) TWC, NBC is channel 4, CBS is 5, PBS is 10, ABC is 12 and HBO is 66.

After switching to their digital package I'm also able to receive HBOHD on channel 500, NBCHD on 504, CBSHD on 505, PBSHD on 510 and ABCHD on 512.

I really doubt TWC offers HD channels (the 500 range) without the digital package (about $80 / month).  So, OZ, I think the TWC rep was confused.

John

[borghe]

I'm sorry but I never said the Hughes was $400. The Samsung SIR-T151 is $400. The Hughes is $499 but you can usually find it on sale for $475 every other week. As for American, if you are at all interested you should give them a try. When I was there (admittedly in June) they had around 9-12 boxes at each store, ranging from $225-300 depending on the physical condition of the case and with remote or not.

What do you mean baking rack with wings?

[sp44again]

I tried American and they had two but were using them. Bums. I asked and they said they were actually using them. The Radio Shack 15-623 antenna looks like a baking rack. It's usually called the "double bowtie". Good design. Not!

[borghe]

Yeah, the DBT isn't the prettiest thing, but damned if out of 5 indoor antennas that thing wasn't literally 5-6 times better than the next best one, most of them costing 4-6 times more... Function over form for me in this case.

[sp44again]

It's a nice antenna. It does the job. It's also an eye soar unless you can hide it in the attic or something which I can't do.

[oz]

How well does an antenna work if it's in an attic? I would much rather install it there than on my roof, especially in the middle of winter. I live in a two-story house in Waukesha, does that matter?

[borghe]

let's put it this way oz... An antenna in the attic is usually better than an antenna on a lower floor indoors.

[Gregg Lengling]

There are many things to consider...roofing and shingles will attenuate signals but not as bad as aluminum siding.  If you have it pointing out a gable end with Aluminum Siding you will have very poor luck...if you are going through the roof or wood you are doing better.  If you are pointing through the roof, snow and water on the roof will also attenuate the signal.  Depending on the amount of signal you have available at your location will determine whether you can reliably receive the lower power stations, however in the future when all stations go high power this should not be a problem.

I know antennas can be ugly or beautiful....I'm an Amateur Radio Operator and have a 50' tower next to my garage, so I have 2 TV antennas and 1 satellite dish on the tower....I feel the more antennas the better it looks....however my wife is a little different, she hid the tower by growing a Wisteria on it....now if you don't look up 35' feet you don't see the antennas or the tower just a growing vine (with a stump that is over a foot in diameter, apparently it loves the tower).

I would go with an outside antenna for now!

[oz]

I couldn't wait anymore. I called TWC and ordered an HDTV box (HD HBO or Showtime was not required). The box plus my basic cable package comes to $19.26/month with tax. I'm picking it up tomorrow to install it myself and hopefully I'll have everything working before Sunday.