Does this look right?

[beckkl]

My TW bill has been increasing lately, and I want to make sure I am not being charged for things I am not supposed to.  I have the basic Digital package (The one below the DigiPC 1000), and HD DVR...  am I just being paranoid?  And if you must know, I wasn't responsible for ordering "Saved"...  

 
 AMOUNT OF LAST STATEMENT                        110.90    
 
         11/01 Payment - Thank You 110.90 CR  
 
     PREVIOUS BALANCE                                $.00    
 
     CABLE SERVICES          
         12/01-12/31 DIGITAL ACCESS Package 44.95    
     More than 155 channels of the most popular cable    
     channels, including the Digital Interactive    
     Program Guide, 46 Digital Music channels, Favorites    
     on Demand and access to Movies on Demand.    
         12/01-12/31 HD DVR Service 8.95    
         12/01-12/31 DVR Remote Control .30    
         12/01-12/31 HDTV Video Recorder 7.65    
       TOTAL CABLE SERVICES                          $61.85    
 
     MOVIE AND EVENT PURCHASES          
         11/21 Saved! 3.95    
       TOTAL MOVIE AND EVENT PURCHASES               $3.95    
 
     HIGH SPEED ONLINE SERVICES          
         12/01-12/31 Earthlink High Speed 41.95    
       TOTAL HIGH SPEED ONLINE SERVICES              $41.95    
 
     FEES AND TAXES          
          Franchise Fee 3.67    
          WI State And Local Taxes 6.03    
          FCC Regulatory Fee .06    
       TOTAL FEES AND TAXES                          $9.76    
 
     TOTAL AMOUNT DUE                                $117.51  

[SRW1000]

Holy Crap!  It costs $202.80 per year to "rent" the HD recorder and for the privilege of using it.

Sorry, I can't tell you if it's right, but it seems ridiculously high to me.

Scott (A self-acknowledged cheapskate)

[beckkl]

What other options are there if you want to record HD?  I'm not even going to bother with the math and compare it to HD Tivo....

[SRW1000]

I guess there aren't that many options right now.  I was just shocked to see that the price is that high.  I can only think of a few other choices right now.  The first would be a Dish 911, which has just come down to around $550.  It's also got a monthly fee, but only $4.99.  

I just can't get used to the idea of paying a provider for both the content and also for the full functionality of the equipment that they're selling/renting me.  It'd be like Microsoft charging a monthly fee for using Windows.

But, that's just me.  

There's this product in the News thread:

Toshiba HD recorder

It's also priced around the $500 area, but the drawback is that you have to have a Toshiba TV.  There should be a bunch of new HD recorders coming out in the next few months, and prices should start falling after about a year.  

Scott (Did I mention I'm a cheapskate?)

[gparris]

SRW1000-did you note that beckkl does not have the $6.95 HD package (who is a cheapskate)?

Note that if you have the Digipic 1000 package which actually offers 190 channels, many of them digitally-delivered, not just the analogue mess beckkl gets, the cost goes up $3 and the price of the HD DVR service drops $2, so all in all,  his budget cannot handle a few bucks for more HD channels and his billing, even if he keeps skipping the HD package, is just $1 more with more channels, digitally-delivered.

If you want to get Charlie's Dish 921 and get OTA, do it.

But even at TWC pricing, that system will take over 2 years for payoff and then it could be old technology...
Just like my old RCA DTC-100, which I will gladly give away free or to the forum as a donation.

[beckkl]

Wait just a minute....

So if I upgrade to the DigiPC 1000, I pay a buck more and analog channels become digital?

[Mark Strube]

No, the analog channels will be the same, you'll just be getting more digital channels.

[beckkl]

Like History Wings  and stuff like that.....  I see.  I would never watch those channels.. so I think I'll keep my dollar thank you very much.  Thx for the input though....

[mhz40]

Originally posted by SRW1000
I just can't get used to the idea of paying a provider for both the content and also for the full functionality of the equipment that they're selling/renting me.  It'd be like Microsoft charging a monthly fee for using Windows.

It's more like renting a computer and then paying for internet service...  The hardware fee is almost (if not exactly) the same as a non DVR monthly fee.  The functionality that the hardware provides is extra.  If the only option was to buy the unit outright for $900, I doubt there would be as many people using (and enjoying) DVR service.  Meanwhile, take that $900 or so and pull in 6% interest somewhere.  It will help offset the cost of monthly fees... and you still have the money in your pocket.

[4runnergusto]

Looks right, and actually you are paying less for High speed internet then you should be. It should be 44.95. Time warner sucks(except for a certain employee on this board, who always seems quite nice!), but I just cant come up with a better solution yet either. I like the extra HD channels like INHD and HDNet, I like the DVR, but like someone mentioned, getting an available HD dvr would take too long to make worth while, especially in this time of rapidly evolving technology. Soon enough there will be recordable blue ray or HD dvr or something. I am thinking of going with SBC for DSL, could save 20 bucks there. What there needs to be is a Cable company revolution, Everyone give up cable for a few months until they start to get prices back in line. See how much time warner would like it if they lost a few months of income. I would love to see that. What just continues to floor me is that we continue to pay more for HD channels, when it is an FAA mandate to have it all changed by whenever. So we are paying extra for getting our "enternainment ducks in a row" early. I have to stop now, sorry. Your bill looks right, but it is still wrong...

Cheers,
Mark

[oz]

I doubt there would be as many people using (and enjoying) DVR service.[/B]

The HD-DVR is by far the best thing TWC has to offer. It means that I can now use my HDTV for watching HD content almost 100% of the time. I don't think I can ever go back to not having it.

Another thing about 3rd-party HD-DVR's - the TV programming guide is a very important part of the system - will the Toshiba DVR have it's own guide, or none at all?

Ok, now I see it uses the TV Guide On Screen™ Interactive Program Guide. Does that mean it needs a phone line to download new programming information?

[Gregg Lengling]

No it's coming over the air via the PSIP, which is required to be correct from the stations by Feb 1, 2005.

[beckkl]

BTW, you all can get the broadband cost above if you go through earthlink...  At least you used to be able to.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Yes, Earthlink cable internet is still that price.  At least mine is.  I don't know why anyone would want to buy the same service directly from TWC and pay more per month.

[Greg Oman]

Oz & Beckkl,

You both have a HD recorder from TW?  How has the reliability been?  A friend has gone through 4 boxes in like 3 weeks, and considering the recorded stuff lost, he's getting pretty irritated that they can't deliver a solid unit.

Beckkl-- regarding the timeshifting/recording options, you're right, it's not easy yet.  I've been playing with a HTPC approach, but distribution of the HD signal is a bit of a challenge.  I just have not found an affordable way to do this just yet with my combination of HD sets.  Once I get it figured out, I'd consider upgrading to HD satellite or cable, but that's just more money than I'm thinking that I want to spend for TV.....

Greg O.