HDTV Alternatives to TW.

[budda]

Of all the different services out there, cable is the only one that offers you significant choice in DVR equipment. You can choose to go with the cable company option, or you can go the CableCard route and get a TiVo, Moxi, or you can build or buy a Windows Media Center based home theater PC.

What I meant was. Not how many other types of DVR's. But what features am I missing out on, or don't have or can't get. Sorry that was pretty broad request. Beside buying stuff to get what I have. Whats new? Features?{fart}

[lmoretti]

Anyone have a link to more info on the slingbox deal?  I don't see it listed on Dish Network's site.

Our in-laws have Dish Network and my wife loves their DVR, so We're probably going to go that route, but I'm not a fan of the 2-year agreement.

[PONIES]

What I meant was. Not how many other types of DVR's. But what features am I missing out on, or don't have or can't get. Sorry that was pretty broad request. Beside buying stuff to get what I have. Whats new? Features?{fart}

Unlimited space, up to 8 tuners in a single PC, native high definition guide and DVR interface, perfect, flawless speed navigation, no monthly DVR fees, better picture quality, more high definition channels (probably. The last time I checked Dish/DirecTV's HD lineups they were pathetic. I distinctly remember thinking to myself: This is what all the hype is about? Really?)

[budda]

Good thru January 2012

[brewtownska]

With the Dish sling adapter, the key is calling customer service or doing an online chat.  I made the mistake of just ordering the adapter on their website, then waiting for the magic link to the rebate to show up in my account.  When I called to ask, they explained it has to be done by a customer service rep.  I was still able to get the rebate, just a little extra work on my side to follow up.

If you're ordering service new, I imagine it'll be easier as they can add it right on your initial install package.

[kevbeck122]

Anyone have a link to more info on the slingbox deal?  I don't see it listed on Dish Network's site.

Our in-laws have Dish Network and my wife loves their DVR, so We're probably going to go that route, but I'm not a fan of the 2-year agreement.

I think you can pay Dish $99 to go contract free.  You might lose out on some of the initial offerings though, such as free premium channels or 1st year discounts.

[MrZMaster]

I agree with everything PONIES has to say here. A CableCARD and the Ceton InfiniTV4 or SiliconDust HDHomerun Prime with WMC is the bomb. It makes TWC's boxes' software look entirely pedestrian. I can't say how it compares to Dish.

I have heard complaints about AMC's low bitrate from friends all across the country.. I have no clue what that network is thinking. They have some of the best shows on television, yet when it comes to their broadcast quality, they are a bunch of morons!

[PONIES]

I'm just glad AMC seems to be reliably releasing their shows on Blu-ray. Except Rubicon. What the hell, AMC? You cancel the show and don't even give us a nice Blu-ray season set to remember it by. You leave us hanging with some crappy 720p iTunes downloads as the best quality we can get the show in. Damn it, AMC.

Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Killing, The Walking Dead, etc. all seem to be reliably released on Blu-ray so I have a policy with AMC: "Good things come to those who wait."

Now that I think about it, maybe I'm playing into their hands. Maybe the poor quality of their HDTV channel feed is a scheme to push sales of higher quality copies of their shows on iTunes and Blu-ray...

[gparris]

Yes, AMCHD might not be the best in terms of quality,  but my brother has Directv and so does his neighbour, so the other day, just for this discussion, Breaking Bad was on and I asked for him to put it on on his 47" HDTV with Directv service...it was almost unwatchable. Then his friend stopped over to drop something off, also his neighbour and I asked casually, what TV service he had and it was TWC, so I asked if  we could compare the difference and he was DVR'ing it at the time as it was. The result was the AMCHD picture was good and watchable, not BD quality, but watchable and the Directv SD-only picture was not.
While not a side-by-side comparison, a notable one, nonetheless. This is what Directv, once the "leader" in HD, is mostly a good provider, but for me, just doesn't get it why folks like me won't switch to them when AMCHD - and BBCAHD are still not being offered and DishNetwork does offer them...they just don't care to add these, and I'm sure other HD "cable" networks, as well.
IF you want to change your service, get Dish - or Directv - based on what you like to watch, what you want to pay and the service level they provide.
I tell the Directv people, who constantly hound me in the Best Buy stores, to leave me alone until my two favourite channels - AMCHD and BBCAHD - are available, otherwise leave me alone. Directv offers 6 HD locals I'd watch off the dish and DishNetwork doesn't, so that is why I would pick them - but Directv isn't interested in my channels, which is okay, but that is how I made my personal decision, for example.  Maybe those with Directv should wait for the DVD or Blu-ray set to come out to watch these AMC programmes, as the crappy SD picture is not enough on Directv to watch it then.

[Jack 1000]

Here's my opinion of TWC service, which I have had for about 25 years

+= Good

-= Bad

0=Varies (Need more Information)

For TWC:

+:  Like to bundle services
+: willing to renegotiate deals to keep customers happy.
+: awesome Digital Phone
+: awesome High Speed Internet
+: Caller ID on TV
+: Best HD channel selection.


-: Outdated cable boxes and DVR's
-: Unreliable cable boxes and DVR's
-: Cable guide is lacking essential features of current technology such as:

Keyword Search
Permanent Guide Filtering
Manual Recording

-: Stupid independent contractors for new installs. (Only Signature Home uses top techs for new installs.)  Only certified TWC techs should do both repairs and installs.

-: Level one customer service is caring in my division most of the time, but is not competent or trained to handle questions about most of the technology.

0: Remote DVR Manager is so much better than the boxes for searching.  But it goes in the variation category, because when it works it works well, but there are many times when it doesn't work, you can't log in, or it freezes.

0: I-Pad Guide: A relative of mine has this feature and it works well for him, but I have read that many divisions have problems with it.

0: Inconsistency across TWC divisions for customer service courtesy, tech promptness, and knowledge of equipment.  Some reps are awesome, others are awful.

0: How much training does the average TWC Independent Contractor have?  The average in-house tech?  A level 1 CSR?  What steps can be taken to improve communication in areas that are lacking?

Jack