What Service to get

[jerbear]

I have TWC right now and I am thinking of changing.
Don't know what service to get DTV, Dish or Voom.
Don't look like TWC is going to add any more HD channels. They Didn't add channel 18 or 24 and there analog channels are not very good, but The HD channels are very good.
Jerbear

[jkane]

Voom if you have too much money but really want HD!  If your perspective is HD only, it's a roll of the dice.  Between DTV and Dish, they are jockying every other year in almost every catagory.  One year Dish is better, the next DTV is better.

The one thing that has remained constant is the Dish is cheaper for the number of channles you get in each package.  Dish also has UPN and WB superstations.  I know we get both here locally, but there are times when they show some stupid show instead of the national feed.  Gotta have my StarTrek, so I have stuck with Dish for their UPN superstation.

DTV has a much better DVR since it's Tivo.  But, Dish has a half the cost HD DVR making it a tough choice!

The bottom line, is you have to decide what you "really" want, and then start comparing them.  Do you want to time shift (say yes even if you think you don't), do you want HD, do you want superstations, do you want lower costs, do you want ...

[gparris]

kjane is right, some providers have some while others are different.
The thing about it is that none of them have everything for everyone...at least not yet.

Example, TWC offers the least expensive HD DVR option with locals including most HD, exception being WB and UPN, which you get OTA, easily in your area. Maybe the HD Tivo or Dish DVR will suit you best, but there is a cost outlay upfront if you want to record HD and installation for both dish and antenna.

The reason for TWC not offering WB in HD is that Sinclair Broadcast Group wants to add to the cost TWC subscribers will pay for its HD channels, but all that will end when the must carry kicks in and analogue ends, if not sooner.
UPN is not broadcast HD (or probably not even a decent digital) in Milwaukee yet anyway, so that cannot occur yet.

As for other offerings in HD, the new year could offer some surprises for all providers, sooner than later.
Example, Directv ends its Sunday Ticket in January, freeing up some HD transponders for probably more HD channels.
The new "birds" are going up in 2005 in time for even more HD channels and will be ready for Sunday Ticket in the Fall, again.

Dish will have to offer more HD once Directv does to remain competitive, too. They are launching a satellite soon, if I remember correctly for 2005 added capacity.

I would take a wait-and-see on all of it...change if you must, I don't see what the problem with TWC is for you right now...with the exception of no Universal HD Channel...

[jerbear]

I wanted to get HD DVR but it looks like TWC is having a lot of problems with it. Also the analog  channels are bad on TWC. Would they be better with a OTA?
Jerbear

[jimbop99]

I had TWC for a total of 5 days. I couldn't stand the analog channels. The HD local  channels were nice but I was having pixelization problems. I decided to stay with DirecTV and I'm happy. The only channel I can't get in HD is........................FOX ( who woulda guessed!). Hopefully that will be cleared up this summer( crossing fingers).

[jerbear]

Do you lose the picture when it rains with a dish
Jerbear

[jimbop99]

I may lose the picture a couple of times during the summer, usually during a heavy downpour. It only lasts for maybe 10 - 15 minutes.

[Chinatown]

May loose it for a total of 10 minutes through an entire year. But that far outweighs the garbage analog signals you get from TWC.

D & E are far superior in every format. Will never go back to cable

[jkane]

Lose the signal less often than I did when we had cable.  I like to say that the worst day on DBS is better than the best day on cable.  

[FiberOptic]

I have TWC and have never had satellite, but I have heard the stories about signal interferance from rain.  From what I understand you are saying is that the signal from Dish or DTV is better than the analog channels on TWC

[Chinatown]

Give you an example..........My brother & I watch the Nascar races on Fox....one week my house, the next at his. He has TWC Digital. They have a feature called "Rev it up", where the announcers shut-up, and they then open up the mikes on the track.  With D, the cars are literely in my living room.....at his, you can barely hear it..............WHY?, because not all channels on TWC are DIGITAL!!!,  By the way, he has since switched to D.

In addition, & not to be redundant, each signal is crystal clear.  If you want the most from your video/audio, then you must switch to satelite. Believe me, you will not be sorry.

[mhz40]

Originally posted by Chinatown
Give you an example..........My brother & I watch the Nascar races on Fox....one week my house, the next at his. He has TWC Digital. They have a feature called "Rev it up", where the announcers shut-up, and they then open up the mikes on the track.  With D, the cars are literely in my living room.....at his, you can barely hear it..............WHY?, because not all channels on TWC are DIGITAL!!!,  By the way, he has since switched to D.

In addition, & not to be redundant, each signal is crystal clear.  If you want the most from your video/audio, then you must switch to satelite. Believe me, you will not be sorry.

That's funny, I thought FOX HD was not available on satellite and 6's off-air signal is next to impossible to get... maybe you are comparing digital SD to analog.
Anyway, your bro must not have an HD setup, or he would have been watching the race in widescreen off 6's HD feed carried on TW 506, which includes dolby digital 5.1 when avaiable.  Oh, and the gimmick is "Crank it up".... it blows me away every time on my Onkyo system.  Can't wait for next season's 720p... Boogety boogety boogety, boys!

[gparris]

Posted by mhz40: "That's funny, I thought FOX HD was not available on satellite and 6's off-air signal is next to impossible to get... maybe you are comparing digital SD to analog.
Anyway, your bro must not have an HD setup, or he would have been watching the race in widescreen off 6's HD feed carried on TW 506, which includes dolby digital 5.1 when available."


Thanks, mhz40, for giving us the truth without the clutter once again...
Directv does not (yet) have FOX HD...only TWC HD Channel 506.

"bro" needs to set up his system with a TWC HD box and tune it to Channel 506 and use the coaxial digital output into his receiver/amp and THEN he can compare it to the compressed clutter of Directv's broadcast of analogue channel 6 in digital stereo-only. No comparison, TWC makes it real on 506!