Fox 6 Digital on TWC

[Tom Snyder]

OK... hope is fading for a receivable FOX 6 digital signal before next spring. I just realized that I'm paying 5 bucks per month to DirecTV for local channels, which I am now getting OTA digital for free, (with the exception of Fox 6).

I understand I can get a digital cable box for just the local HD channels for $6.95 per month.

Any reason anyone can think of not to cancel locals from DTV and just get a Digital box from TWC for channel 506 for less than $2 per month more?

[StarvingForHDTV]

Yeah I can think of one.  It will end up costing you ~$20 per month with TWC.  I don't think 6-1 is worth it.  You won't be impressed with their picture quality IMO.  If/When they send out 720p, it will probably be worth doing whatever it takes to get the signal.  Especially if they do the NFL in HD.

JMHO,

Starving

[mhz40]

I agree with Starving... IMHO, it's not even worth messing around with your setup just to get one more channel.
Besides, it'll cost more than a difference of $2/month.  The box rental is around $6, then you add the service on top, for a total of around $20.
Maybe wait a few more months & get the HD PVR instead?  Then you get added features as well...:confused:

[Tom Snyder]

I'm already paying $13 a month for basic cable for all the other TV's I've got around this joint.

Does 6 pass through any widescreen? Specifically Widescreen Football?  Football is the ONLY thing I watch anymore on 6.  Even if the PQ is only as good as the DirecTV local PQ, I'm already paying $5 per month for it, so I figure I might as well get those extra few inches of picture for the extra few bucks.

Definitely getting a HD PVR (DirecTV version) when they come out. And by the time Fox is shooting out a 720p, I have to believe WITI will have an OTA signal I can get out here.

[Mrtanner]

Fox shows two games a week in enhanced widescreen.  I realize this is not HD, but it's 480p 16x9 and surrouond sound.  How many people who put this down, don't complain about how DVDs look on their HD sets.

It is quite impressive.  I started following NASCAR for the first time in Fox widescreen and then stopped watching when NBC started covering without the enhanced widescreen or surround sound.

Get the box.  You'll like it.

[nateerb]

If you already have TWC and the difference is only $2 then I would get it and drop the DirecTV locals. I felt the locals on DirecTV had become quite noticeably overcompressed since their introduction, and to me the TWC 500-series channels are better looking than their DTV equivalents.

This is coming from someone who used to HATE TWC with almost as much passion as I hate SBC/Ameritech/WisconsinBell these days. Moved to apt, had to give up dish a few years ago and get cable - and now TWC has somewhat redeemed themselves in my eyes. They finally have decent hardware that compares to whats available to satellite users, my roadrunner blows away any DSL installation I have used, and the techs I have had to deal with (2 - one for my move and one to get the HDTV box) were pleasent and courteous.

SBC on the other hand...

Go for the box.

- Nate

[Tom Snyder]

So someone has actually seen Fox Widescreen football on TWC channel 506?

[borghe]

yes, Fox6 passes through all Widescreen programming.. Usually though we only get one game at most as the packers are usually never the A or B game.

As for switching from DirecTV, if the locals are really costing you $5 from DirecTV I would save go for it.. $2 more is worth it, especially if some channels out there (6, 58) give you problems from time to time.. For me I am holding out.. I do DirecTivo and my wife would kill me without the ability to record four shows simultaneously on a night or two. I am holding out for the HD DirecTivos and hopefully by then will have splurged for a rooftop and Fox6 will have been moved to the main tower...


hopefully.

[JoeK]

Tom,

The Fox widescreen football is very good.  I have watched it on a front HD projector and now a plasma.  It's not HD but unless you compare it to HD most people would not notice the difference.  By most people I don't mean most people on this forum.  I mean most normal sane people that would wonder what I am doing typing a reply at 6:00 AM on a HD forum.

Joe

[The Law]

Football games in Fox Widescreen are a half-step above SD.  The long shots are not that great at all, but I'm watching on a 65" screen which magnifies the grainyness.  Otherwise, it's like SD on a really good day just wider.  Flick between that and an HD game and it's night and day.  It's probable that smaller screens look sharper

TV shows that are on 506 that a wide - i.e. 24 look quite good.

[Tom Snyder]

I was all set to pop into the TWC office on Mayfair road today and pick up a box when I begin to contemplate how to integrate their digital box into my audio and video chain.. now my head is starting to hurt.

My media closet is about 17 feet away from my TV and unless the Cable box has a component in so I can run my DVD player through it, I'll have to run a separate 17 feet of Component cable from the box to my second component in on my TV.  Yikes...

[Gregg Lengling]

Gee and I just happen to have a spare 25 foot Component cable I'm not using that I'd swap for a shorter one>>>>.

What say Big Boy???\
:bow:

[gparris]

Not too long ago when I lived in a house, I had the option of using both Directv HD, a DirecTivo box and the TWC HD cable box all the same time with ONE connection to the HDTV component in.
Of course, for some SD programmes, I used a S-Video input to the back of the HDTV also, as component-input  didn't always look so good.
:p

My point is - does your amp/receiver for surround offer a component-video switching like my Pioneer does? This way, only ONE component cable is used for DVD, HDSAT and HDCable and the unit does all the video and audio switching for you.


Most newer audio receivers incorporate a least 2 component inputs with the monitor output for this reason, if not 3. :cool:

Just thought this would help eliminate the cable runs... good luck-enjoy TWC channel 506....:wave:

[Snard]

Originally posted by gparris
Most newer audio receivers incorporate a least 2 component inputs with the monitor output for this reason, if not 3. :cool:

Just thought this would help eliminate the cable runs... good luck-enjoy TWC channel 506....:wave:

I thought about doing what you suggest, since my receiver does do component video switching. However, that would require me to put my cable box next to my stereo, instead of on the shelf under my TV, and I'd need to check if it would still take channel changing commands if the remote isn't pointed straight at the cable box. If that makes sense...

[d_bohne]

I just have one thing to add...
The $5/month for locals for DirecTV is a little misleading.
If you have the Total Choice Package, locals are $5/month extra (for a total of $38.99).
However, if you have the Total Choice Plus Package, locals are only $2/month extra (for a total of $39.99).
Total Choice Plus is the package that they offer with free installation and equipment for new subscribers and is the package that most people subscribe to.  Plus, including the local channels, it's only a differance of $1/month for 15 extra channels (Biography Channel, Boomerang cartoon channel, many of the Discovery Channels - like Discovery Kids and stuff...)
So if you have Total Choice Plus, you'll only be saving $2 a month by ditching the local channels.  Or you could drop the price down to $33.99/month by ditching the locals and downgrading to Total Choice.  If the extra 15 channels aren't worth it to you.
Or maybe you already know all this and already only have Total Choice...