Equipment confusion!

[Paul S.]

So, does a store bought STB replace a dig. cable box? If one buys a STB, do you need a dig. cable signal, or a regular one? Or, does the bought STB just replace the one they charge $5 bucks a month for (SAT too?).

Sorry, just need to clear this up!

[Gregg Lengling]

A store bought STB (set top box) is for Over The Air (OTA) signals.  You would need an antenna as these boxes will not decode the digital info from cable.  You are mixing apples with oranges here.  This includes the boxes that have the Sat receiver in them, that's why most SAT HD boxes also have the reciever so you can get the local HD stations.

[Paul S.]

Originally posted by Gregg Lengling
This includes the boxes that have the Sat receiver in them, that's why most SAT HD boxes also have the reciever so you can get the local HD stations.

That brings up another Q-

The boxes that they hand out from say, DirectTV; do those have everything you need (with the exception of a HD ANT.)?

Also, do most people here go for SAT over Time Warner? What are the advantages/disadvantages? Cost for what we need?

Thanks, as always I appreciate the info and help.

[The Law]

The Sat and OTA vs. TWC debate is akin to Predator vs. Terminator and has raged for a while.

I use TWC and am very happy.  Others use Sat. and are very happy.

Cost is another animal altogether.  Some prefer to buy their equipment up front so they don't have the monthly charge for that.  Some (like me) would rather pay the monthly fee and not worry.  I enjoy the fact if it breaks, no charge.  If a better box comes out, I don't pay extra for it...but, hey, that's me.

If you search these threads, you'll find some cost comparisons, however, it will depend on what package you get.  The basic jist is you'll get a return on investment on the sat/ota sfuff in 2-3 years (depending on what you spend), however, it's my guess that in that time you'll decide to get new stuff and it begins again - therefore, no real return...but...you've got the stuff and you could resell it on e-bay...or get sucked in so bad it becomes a hobbie in and of itself - which is either a money pit...or...a lot of fun!

I bet that, in reality, it all washes even in the end - sort of like leasing or buying a car.  Over the course of your life, it'll end up being even either way.

And for those that wonder, I leased my car for $324 a month w/$1200 down and the bought it at the end of the lease - my payments are now $329 a month - the new model would've leased out at $350 a month w/2400 down...but...I digress...

...either way.....it's all good.

[Paul S.]

LMFAO! Good comparison! Thanks for the insight :rofl:

[digdugm]

And some people don't like the principles envolved in a monopoly. The only reason that TWC has upgraded, is the pressure from the SAT co.'s and the FCC. They still don't give all there channels in digitial, whats with that? I never wanted to use a serepate box for TV  signals, but if I do I want a quaility piece of equipment. A DVR isn't new they've been around for a few years now. Sorry for the rant.
Although in the case of HDTV, I do understand why people would not want to fork to a lot of cash for a technology that is going to be changing alot in the next few years. I personally decided to go with OTA so I would have the ablity to recorded via my computer. I can live without the few channels I'm missing, with cable or sat. Personally I will never go back to cable, I know there's people that perfer cable and thats fine, it is alot cheaper (upfront anyhow) and easier (ha). OK I'm done.

[Dan the Man]

TWC vs. Direct TV, ah the debate goes on.

Personally, I dumped cable and went with Direct TV. I was sick of paying big bucks for nothing more than what I can get on Direct TV for $40 per month. Plus, the lower cable channels were still analog. On my big set, the picture looked like crap on the low channels. The true digital ones were fine.

I have 3 boxes, 2 standard and 1 HD. The standard ones cost me $50 each. The HD one with OTA DTV tuner was about $500 (last November). I was ready to make the jump to OTA DTV.

I don't like the cable company, although I have Road Runner (wouldn't live without it). I have been so jagged around by the cable company over the past 15 years of my life that I won't give them a dime more than I have to. Direct TV has been easy to work with (although I have never really had a problem).

One other thing - all that talk on TV about satelite going out in bad weather is BS. The new oval dishes work great. Don't install it if trees are in the way. Then the rain will knock it out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by Dan the Man
One other thing - all that talk on TV about satelite going out in bad weather is BS. The new oval dishes work great. Don't install it if trees are in the way. Then the rain will knock it out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

Back when I subscribed to digital cable, I got rain fade.  I think Time Warner was getting the signals from satellite.  It was kind of funny at the time, watching the commercials bashing satellite and seeing pixelation with cable.

Merry Christmas to you too,

Starving

[TurboAWD]

I'm pro-cable - but there's plenty of things to consider about both sides.

Monopoly?  Yes, that bothers me.  Then again, there's only two sat companies out there and there are virtually no competitive differences between them.  Plus, DISH and DirecTV tried merging within the last year, so had that happened, this would be a non-issue.  Besides, I doubt all those sat subscribers who find the cable "monopoly" issue so bothersome would have canceled their satellite subscriptions, had the merger happened.

Cost?  In 1999, my standard-cable Charter bill was $35/mo, plus about $9 for 2 boxes/2 remotes.  When I switched to DISH, it went to $48/mo plus another $9 to Charter for my local channels, for a total of $57 per month.  (The 2 boxes from DISH and install were free at that time.)  Five years later, my TWC bill is about $55-$60/mo, but this is for "digital" cable, I get more channels, I get HD channels, and I get non-digital channels at up to 9 locations in my house with no boxes, giving me immense flexibility.

Reliable signal?  Be honest.  Satellite DOES drop out during crummy weather!  Maybe some folks have lucked out, or simply haven't had it long enough.  I had DISH when I lived in Jackson & during moderate to severe rain or snow, it did drop out and give me a blue screen.  It was then very slow to re-boot.  Yes, I had a clean shot at the sky.  Yes, it was professionally installed.  Yes, I had excellent signal strength.  And everyone I know (personally) with satellite admits this does happen and is very annoying.  

Quality?  I switched to DISH after getting my first RP HDTV and wanted DISH so I could watch Formula One on Speedvision with the best possible picture.  I wanted to be able to read the sponsors on the cars.  I ran to my rec-room that first morning after installation to watch qualifying and guess what?  No freakin' difference.  And because my cable (analog, mind you) was still hooked up, I could go back and forth and confirm this.  This was horribly disappointing.

But overall, is satellite BETTER?  I've ruled this one a toss-up, as it appears it depends on the equipment you have.

When I lived in Jackson, I had 5 TV's - a then-new 55" Toshiba HDTV and directviews of varying sizes.  And for about 2 months, I had both cable AND DISH.  And there was no difference in quality on any of my TV's.  Friends of mine have argued with me that "there had to be", but there wasn't and I stand by that.  However, I will acknowledge that when I moved to Muskego and I got my 2 new HDTV's set-up, I noticed a fairly big difference between digital cable channels like Tech TV or Discovery versus non-digital channels, like TLC or the locals.  If the difference I see between these channels is indicative of what other people have always seen between cable and satellite, then I will acknowledge there is a difference, or at least there CAN BE a difference, with the caveat being your equipment may be the determining factor.

I still stand by my claim that MOST people, with CRUMMY equipment, DON'T see or hear differences when they upgrade single devices.  Whether you're talking satellite TV or DVD or even CD, the "supporting" equipment a person owns has a HUGE impact on any benefit/improvement being realized.  In other words, you need a good TV to gauge an improvement in video and you need good speakers and amplification/processing to realize an improvement with audio media.  It's just that non-techy types, once they decide to drop major coin on some piece of technology, like to believe they see or hear a difference - even if they don't.

Customer Service? Nothing will change the fact that overall, customer service with TWC is HORRIBLE.  No argument there!  Then again, I've never heard the sat companies take the opportunity to promote their CS - so I have to wonder if they don't have much to sing about, either.  Hmmmm....

Personally, while I don't think too highly of TWC, they are delivering the goods, in my opinion.  I've got 8 HD channels to choose from (not counting Fox 6 or Showtime & HBO HD), and will have TNT, ESPN and HDNet within the next 6 months, hopefully.  If I want the HD PVR, it'll be $6+ per month.  A satellite subscriber wants one, it's about $700-$1000 for a similar item, with limited warranty.  At $1000, it'll take you 14 years to recoup the cost.  Yikes.

[Bebop]

At $1000, it'll take you 14 years to recoup the cost. Yikes.

Yes, but not having to deal with TW is priceless.

[Paul S.]

Originally posted by TurboAWD
Reliable signal?  Be honest.  Satellite DOES drop out during crummy weather!  Maybe some folks have lucked out, or simply haven't had it long enough.  I had DISH when I lived in Jackson & during moderate to severe rain or snow, it did drop out and give me a blue screen.  It was then very slow to re-boot.  Yes, I had a clean shot at the sky.  Yes, it was professionally installed.  Yes, I had excellent signal strength.  And everyone I know (personally) with satellite admits this does happen and is very annoying.  

Holy reply!!! :p

That was my major issue with Direct TV. Everything was set up perfectly, yet everytime it drizzled, the picture went poopy. :bang: