I've Finally did it!

[RLJSlick]

I finally officially gave up on TWC and I'm now an owner (not sure proud yet) of DirecTV.  There are so many things I can say about how much I hated TWC, but the list would be long.
For the most part it's the shitty service, those awful Mystro boxes, no BTN/NFL networks, and the woeful lack of HD channels.
The only thing I had to compromise with the wife is that I would keep the most basic cable, so if there is a storm we can still get the alerts. That's not a real big deal since I'm keeping my Road Runner.
So guys, I will let you know what I think on Saturday when they come in to install my dish.
This may cost me a marriage, so I hope you guys aren't wrong. LOL

[brewtownska]

If you have a TV with a QAM tuner, you might be able to drop the basic cable all-together as all the reports I've heard locally say you'll still pick up the QAM HD channels with only Roadrunner.  Just food for thought as it might save you that $14/mo (or whatever that basic package costs).

Mike

[HDefinicktion]

I agree with Mike, I dropped cable 5 years ago, but kept road runner and I still am able to pick up my cable through my QAM tuner.  The best part is the picture in picture options when you have multiple inputs.  You can use diplexers to push cable and the Directv signal through the cable.  From what I hear, in order to get road runner to the house, basic cable kinda has to follow.  I am sure there are blockers that can lay on your line, but no one ever came to my house after I canceled.

[basshive]

First of all, let me say CONGRATS. Although I am a 100% firm D* supporter, I would say the same if you switched to Dish as I believe they are far superior to TWC as well.

Second, as to the TWC thing if you go to a TWC office, drop off your boxes and say you are done with TV services but keeping RR, you will indeed have all of your basic channels and all the locals via QAM in HD. If you call them and they roll a truck out they will put in a cap and you can kiss the tv stuff goodbye. If you do continue with a basic package you will still get all the locals in HD via QAM.  We have ours hooked up to an old tube tv in the basement incase there is a weather emergency or something of the sort, of the wife is doing laundry

BTN is AWESOME. The NFL Network is ramping up for the season and I will not be missing ANY thursday night games or preseason games for that matter Tomorrow the remaining MPEG-2 HD channels get cut-over to MPEG-4 so ESPN gets a huge boost in pic quality. Many more national HD channels being added in August. We are stoked for the Planet Green Channel HD. The analog is ooogly.

Some great info etc here - http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/

This may cost me a marriage, so I hope you guys aren't wrong. LOL

You see the trick here, is that NONE and I mean NONE of our wives can ever speak to eachother. If they start sharing stories we are all doomed...........

Good luck and please post how the experience went and pics if you can!

[basshive]

HDef,

What are you using to diplex the cable with the sat run? I want to do that so I can run it to my tv in the living room. The problem is I already topped out at 2 cables running from basement to living room dvr. Are you diplexing then splitting at the tv?

[HDefinicktion]

I have two wires running to my HDDVR in my living room.  In the basement, I have the cable that comes in as well as my OTA.  I use two diplexers to insert cable onto one wire, and OTA onto the other.  In the living room, I do the same thing...put diplexers on to separate the cable and the OTA from the wire and plug them into their proper places.  So I have four connections going to the living room with only two coax wires.  There are no splitters involved, just diplexers....total of four of them.

[basshive]

If you have time can you post the brand model? I am going to pick some up and do just the same since you have it actually working.

[HDefinicktion]

Certainly...I went to Menards first, then after I got it to work I order some off the net and returned them.  I bought the Eagle Aspen DirecTV approved diplexers.  I bought just a ton of them...I think 20 because they were so cheap...I dont recall where I got them, but they were about a dollar a piece.

http://www.geekbro.com/index.cfm/hurl/page=product/itemid=733725?source=GoogleBase

[RLJSlick]

Thanks guys! I will look into it.
The basic cable thing I hope is just a temporary thing until she realize that DirecTV is more reliable then Cable

[RLJSlick]

ROFL indeed!

First of all, let me say CONGRATS. Although I am a 100% firm D* supporter, I would say the same if you switched to Dish as I believe they are far superior to TWC as well.

Second, as to the TWC thing if you go to a TWC office, drop off your boxes and say you are done with TV services but keeping RR, you will indeed have all of your basic channels and all the locals via QAM in HD. If you call them and they roll a truck out they will put in a cap and you can kiss the tv stuff goodbye. If you do continue with a basic package you will still get all the locals in HD via QAM.  We have ours hooked up to an old tube tv in the basement incase there is a weather emergency or something of the sort, of the wife is doing laundry

BTN is AWESOME. The NFL Network is ramping up for the season and I will not be missing ANY thursday night games or preseason games for that matter Tomorrow the remaining MPEG-2 HD channels get cut-over to MPEG-4 so ESPN gets a huge boost in pic quality. Many more national HD channels being added in August. We are stoked for the Planet Green Channel HD. The analog is ooogly.

Some great info etc here - http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/



You see the trick here, is that NONE and I mean NONE of our wives can ever speak to eachother. If they start sharing stories we are all doomed...........

Good luck and please post how the experience went and pics if you can!

[RLJSlick]

Well what we are doing is only installing Direct TV on about half the TV's and the rest like the one we have in the kitchen can stay basic. So when they run the Direct TV into the house, they will only use about half the jacks we have in the basement.
The rest will stay unchanged, and running the evil stuff.

HDef,

What are you using to diplex the cable with the sat run? I want to do that so I can run it to my tv in the living room. The problem is I already topped out at 2 cables running from basement to living room dvr. Are you diplexing then splitting at the tv?

[vegasvic]

Congrats on your switch.  DTV is adding even more HD on August 14 when the new D-11 sat  becomes operational.  The first wave is just a few channels and a bunch of RSN's but the more HD the better.  

Showtime Extreme HD, Showtime Showcase HD, Planet Green HD, ABC Family HD, 23 RSN's in HD and some more PPV channels.

It's funny because these new HD channels are being met with a yawn from DTV customers.  Nothing spectacular but good to have.

And yet if TWC were adding them we'd be hit with big press releases trumpeting their new HD channels and Timmy C. would be all over it in his column.  

BTW, there will be more new HD channels on D-11 and D-12 is next.

Oh and they will be broadcasting movies in 1080P by the end of the year.

ETA:  Sorry, I didn't see the thread on the new DTV HD channels when I posted this