gave up on Direct Tv

[Timgb]

Try TWC.  Had Direct TV and I am very happy with Time Warner HD.

[Tom Snyder]

I actually have both... While both have good points, both also have serious shortcomings. Just don't know that I could totally recommend or completely dimiss either one. I'm glad the forums here continue to have the kind of dialogue to allow everyone to have all the info they need to make an intlelligent and informed choice based on what they're loking for...

[gparris]

Not everyone can enjoy both like Tom can, but he's right.

Directv and TWC have their share of shortcomings and neither is perfect. I had both at one time like Tom has, and it was great having the best of both worlds, but it got a little costly keeping both, at least for me, then I moved...twice in one year. Ouch!

Directv has digital delivery on all its channels vs. cable and its analogue offerings in the 2-99 range are for some, uncomfortable viewing at best.
If a cable goes down or a power outage occurs along the TWC line (rarely happens), you get no service or bad service if you have older cables, which some forum members have experienced, you will embrace Directv because all you have to do is buy a box of your choice, Standard (free in many offers) HD or Tivo (now, HD-Tivo) and aim that dish worryfree.
Competition is another plus: satellite companies pull cable customers away to them and cable has to come up with better product and services.  

The consumer wins.

HD delivery will eventually be what will make or break either one as satellite has to be allowed to offer HD network shows from all the networks from at least the NY or LA feeds like it tries to do with CBS and soon, FOX to all consumers without permission from affilliates required. Ergan is right (Dish Network) that if you as a local broadcaster cannot or will not offer HD locals and a distant local can, it is unfair to prohibit HD network feeds to the viewer that cannot get them locally or cannot obtain cable or OTA reception.  
Here again, satellite is a good choice for those in our country (or SE Wisconsin) that cannot get HD cable. If the local operator does not or cannot (Sinclair) deliver HD channels locally, why stop the HDTV owner from getting someone else's HD channels? The laws written to enforce locals-only were written in a time before HDTV/Digital channels existed, to my understanding. and should be rewritten by Congress or some governing body to further push the DTV/HDTV "envelope" and get on with the transition.

But don't knock either cable or satellite as they are great delivery systems and offer competition. My point being unleash satellite to allow for HD network feeds you cannot get locally for all networks.
On the other side, make the cable boxes cheap enough to wipeout the analogue channels altogether for all TVs, let the government stop making them available on cable systems (if this is the case) so the addtional bandwidth allows for more HD channels (and SD digitial) can be offered on cable and that "140 HD and 140 SD" extra capacity mhz40 mentioned, not too long ago, actually occurs. It seems the government wants its DTV changeover, yet it ties the hands of the satellite and cable companies at the same time. :bang:

[borghe]

gparris' TWC shortcomings are EXACTLY why I won't go back to TWC. Customer service.. mhz40 may be a great addition to this forum, but your typical CSR at TWC is crap. And this isn't from some lousy experience 15 years ago, I still deal with them multiple times a year for RR.

I may pay a little bit more for HD on DirecTV, and may pay a hell of a lot more for HD Tivo, but a cheaper bill combined with NO downtime (I lost DirecTV for 45 minutes total last year due to rain vs. Road Runner/cable signal out for days to our duplex, literally).

DirecTV I feel is hands down the better service... However, HD is usually cheaper to start up (though now DirecTV is MUCH MORE competitive than before), and it is certainly more convenient given that almost all of Milwaukee is wired for TWC...

though let it be said tha tDirecTV's install deals are usually incredible. Free installation, usually within a few days, and moving couldn't be easier (a VERY happy participant in the Mover's Connection program).

That being said, if I didn't have so many problems with TWC in the past and that was all I ever had, I probably wouldn't see much of a reason to swtich...  I would also probably go with them if I wasn't able to afford this HD lifestyle I have.

[gparris]

I was checking the employment sites the other day for a friend of mine and Spherion staffing has CSR positions in Racine and Kenosha for TWC customer service personnel to handle those calls, heck, they aren't even REAL TWC CSRs...just automated "robots" to handle calls...no wonder the service gets a little wacked sometimes.
I guess this is why some subscribers get bad customer service from TWC when they call in lately.
I am sure this staffing place doesn't do a darn thing about training people at all.:mad:

Service is what you are selling, cable service, not a piece of equipment (because the boxes are rentals), and if you can't get that right, satellite has the right to take business away from you, TWC!:guns:

Thanks, borghe!:)