Officially switched from D* to TWC

[MathWiz579]

My story:

My contract with D* was up.  Since I was in a better position to negotiate for HD and DVR service, I did so and had the tech. come out to my apartment on Monday to install HD.

Unfortunately, my complex won't allow me to install the OTA antenna on the roof of the apartment so HD with D* was out.  Combine that with the fact I don't have a regular phone line for DVR service, and D* was posing a problem for me.

So I call TWC to get rate information.  I get transfered to a special department for people switching from satalite to cable.  They offer me this:

HD-DVR box
DVR box
DigiPic 1000
HD Package
HBO Package
Roadrunner

for $95 a month before tax guaranteed for 2 years with no service contract.  For my regular D* service + cable modem I was paying around $90 after tax before the switch.  TWC's DVRs don't require a phone line.

Tech. came out today and installed everything.  HD is great! We are having a couple problems with the audio optical out giving slight pauses at times but this should get figured out soon.  Standard channels do not come in as well as they did with D* but I'm going to tweak my TV some and hopefully get them to come in better.  I'm sure I'll be able to figure out some tweaks and get this thing working like a champ!  And at the price it can't be beat!

[Tom Snyder]

Don't count on any improvement in the standard channels. The poor picture quaility on those is the main reason (and the fact that there is no ESPN-HD) that I haven't completely switched yet myself.

But the $95 for what you're getting is a good deal...

[MathWiz579]

I'm just glad that all local programming comes in quite nicely on the HD channels if the programming is not HD.

It was either (1) wait until moving from my apartment to a place that would allow me to do what I need for the OTA or (2) get TWC now and be able to switch back if need be.

Just watched a lot of Discovery HD today... all I can say is "Wow"

[Steve Mann]

That does sound like a nice price point. I have RoadRunner, so that package is attractive. They're cetainly trying to lure some satellite folks in. However, being the sports nut I am, I'm not leaving D* until NFL Sunday Ticket, ESPN-HD and MLB EI are available on cable. IOW, it looks like I'll be with D* for a long time.  

[gparris]

Although it may be less expensive to have some satellite service with promotions and all, especially if OTA HD locals come easy for you, as with some folks in our forum, I wanted both cable and Directv to get my "HD fix" and the combined service would have set me back over $230 a month and the spouse gave me no choice to cut back on one of them.

As it was, Directv denied me the movers clause when I tried to use it after moving from an apartment to the new house, cancelling my account instead of putting on temporary hold.:mad:

So they actually gave me a reason to have TWC for all my needs.
Currently, I have $97.35 for Digipic 4000 including Starz/Encore ($8.95 + $3.50) and the HD package of $6.95, plus $29.80 for two HD DVRs including the HD DVR service and remotes with my RoadRunner discounted to $40 due to the subscription to Digipic 4000 (or 2000, too). Pretty cool, too.
The service with the premium packages are the same as I had with Directv for many years, as I kept standard TWC service without boxes all along for local weather and Chicago stations, including RR. The only difference having cable premiums are I get more of the channels with each HBO, etc package than before when I had Directv: 31 vs. 58 with TWC.
This equals about $167.15 plus tax/fees.
If I went with Directv, got the 2 HD DVRs, added the extra box for the other bedroom with the Total Choice Premiere package at $90.99 plus the two extra receivers at $4.99 each and included the HD package of $10.99 it would equal $111.96 plus the TWC package of $47.99, 2 HD DVRs (to record locals without OTA) at $29.80 plus a non-discounted RR at $44.95, a grand total of $234.66 for both, assuming I could cough up a couple grand for two HD Tivos.  Why? To get the best of both worlds like ESPN-HD and local HD recording from where I live. Note: you must have digital service to have DVRs, it says so in their info pages.
So I figure the spouse is right that we save $67.61 before taxes and fees each month going one way: TWC cable for HDTV, recording and internet access.
Thank you, Directv, for cancelling me!

[Steve Mann]

Originally posted by gparris
...going one way: TWC cable for HDTV, recording and internet access.

Yeah, but how do you get NFL ST? And ESPN-HD?  

I pay about $168 dollars a month on average including my NFL ST and MLB EI packages, two Tivos, HD package and the Premier DirecTV programming package. The only thing I'm missing is the HD recording. After a few of the bugs are worked out in the HD Tivo, I'll be looking for one of them, probably around the holiday season.

I am fortunate enough to be able to receive all of the local digital/HD signals OTA.

[gparris]

NFL ST? And ESPN-HD?  No...and it doesn't matter to me.
If that is all Directv has to offer that is different, then it is a matter of preference.

Does Directv have IControl, an in-demand feature that allows you to access dozens of movies, shows and specials from HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and TMC from the corporate hard drive at no extra cost to you, in seconds?
NO.
 How about Golf or DIY indemand, etc?
No?
Well, here lies the difference with cable vs. satellite service..
I don't even need a DVR sometimes, if I miss Six Feet Under (by forgetting to record it or erase it by accident) I can simply go to channel 1300 and get any played episode, for weeks...no additional charge!:cool:

[Matt Heebner]

No Sunday Ticket OR ESPN-HD now that the Thursday college football schedule has been announced ?

I guess priorities will be different amoungst us.......

Football is life....

Matt

[mhz40]

No, Packer football is life.
Let the games begin!  Enjoy the upcoming fall (football and HD TV) season all!

[jimbop99]

I just wanted to thank MathWiz579 for posting his deal. I called up TWC and asked them if there were any deals for DirecTV users. After a couple of minutes of being  quoted "standard" prices, I told the nice gentleman on the other end of the phone that I was currently paying ~$90/ month for satellite and cable internet service. He put me on hold for a minute and came back with the same package as MathWiz579, so I jumped on it. The funny thing is I opened my mail and here is a letter from TWC with a similar deal. It included the Digital Access Package, HBO, HBO on demand, and HBO HD for $36 plus equipment charges.Hopefully in two years when this new "deal" ends, DirecTV will offer local channels in HD and a HD Tivo won't be $1000.

[Hophead]

I unfortunately had to cancel my Voom subscription, I live in Caledonia and was having issues with Fox 6 (of course) and CBS, some nights they would come in no problems and other nights not at all, I occationally had issues with 18-1 and 36-1 as well.  Voom upgraded my antenna, yet I still had problems, I played with the antenna myself and could pull in Chicago stations, so I was planning on putting a rotar on the antenna so I could get CBS out of Chicago and had resinged myself to not getting 10 of the Packer games in HD.  But, my wife who is 3 months pregnant was not in favor of this, even though I told her she would be able to watch CSI and Survivor on the Chicago CBS station, she still thought this was too much of a headache to have to use the rotar.  

I saw mathwiz579's deal and got the same letter as jimbop99 got from TWC.  So I called them told them I was satelite subscriber and I already had Road Runner for my internet and got their letter, but what else could they do for me.  I don't really need the extra DVR box, I just wanted the HD DVR box, so the deal I worked out with TWC is:
HD DVR box
Digipac 1000
HBO package
HBO On Demand
HBO HD
the HDNet package
3 rooms of Basic cable
R.R. for $29/month

My total bill with taxes included will be $89, my current cost with Voom and R.R. was $110 (I have R.R for $29, but after 6 months it was to go up to $45, now I have it for $29 indefinitely).

I hated to cancel Voom, their HD programming is great, when I called to cancel they offered me $25 off my next 2 months of service (a $50 value), but that would not appease the wife or get the locals I need.  The service rep I talked to told me the only reason they seem to be getting for cancelled service is lack of Local stations and that they are currently in negotiations to include locals with their service, they will also be oferring a HD DVR to their customers this fall.  So I will continue to monitor their web site and get their monthly news letter and hopefully sometime in the near future I will be able to go back to Voom, in the meantime at least all is peaceful on the homefront and my wife can watch the season premier of CSI in HD in 2 weeks and I will get the Packer games.

[MathWiz579]

glad my post could help

[borghe]

wow.. cable is really desperate.. I don't mean to say anything bad.. you guys all got really great deals, but man.. cable is paying $xx per subscriber to the various programmers and right now you guys are paying late-80's/early-90's prices..  I can't imagine they are making a single penny on any of you, especially considering each of you is grabbing at least one $1200 DVR..

oh well, glad you guys are happy.. just an observation on how desperate cable seems to be to stop its increased churn that has been reported over the years.

[Joseph S]

If I had access for the sat, there's no way I would pick TWC. With TWC I have no ownership of the equipment. The Hard Drive size is random and insufficient. The cable PVR has no means to dump to archives or to be upgraded. With the HD Tivo there are so many more benefits that will never be achievable with TWC as long as they refuse FW on the PVR.

[Hophead]

I really did not want to cancel my Voom subscription and go with TWC, but not being able to pick-up OTA's consistently was an issue in my household.  I was willing to continue working out these issues for a while longer, but unfortunately my wife was not, and in order to maintain marital harmony, I made the switch.  I hope it is only temporary and I will be able to go back to Voom in the very near future, they seem dedicated to being the leader in HDTV and i would like to contribute to their success.

TWC does have some benefits that I was lacking with Voom, HD-DVR, Pay-per-view, Premiums on Demand. But I lost ESPN-HD, BravoHD, plus the Voom Originals, with Voom I had 28 HD channels altogether (not including locals) with TWC I get 8 (not including locals).