Happy with cable?

[Zzyzx]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Cable TV is definitely the highest quality, currently, but you do pay for it.

If you referring to reception quality, the satellite signal is 100% digital across the whole spectrum. Cable TV still has many channels broadcasting analog, making certain channels fuzzy. So the best overall picture quality is satellite.

Last month Time Warner raised my bill an additional $27.00 a month. I have the cable modem and extended basic cable. My new bill is around $115.00 a month. I'm not comfortable bundling my phone with time warner, I want to make sure I have an option in case of a cable outage.

I have a few neighbors that have direct tv and are happy with the signal & service, in addition to that it is less expensive then cable.

If FIOS ever comes into my area, I will probably jump on that as well.

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Originally Posted by statefan

Since our move, we kept our Direct TV service, but got the TWC high speed and digital phone service. When TWC installed our service, the guy left saying it will work in 20 to 30 minutes. They are activating it at the office. Well 5 days later and 3 house call later, we finally have service! But it doesn't end there. On average, it is probably down 2 times a week. I call, we are currently experiencing technical problems in the Round Rock/Hutto area, etc.

Anyone else have this problem?

I know my family (OK, maybe more just me) can't wait for an acceptable alternative, not so much based on quality, but pricing. They (cable companies) have outstripped inflation many times over with price increases, and the lack of "a la carte" channel selection because of their lobbying is truly beyond reproach.

The service has been reliable, but they recently raised our Road Runner to $45 a month from $30, so it is time to call again and threaten to leave for DSL, and this time we have our GMAIL accounts so we can actually say yes, come pick up your freakin' Cable Modem if they won't budge.

I always have to rethink if over $1200/yr. after tax income is really what we want to do with our money, but when a night of TV relaxes us, it seems to be worth it on at least some level.

[manbehindthecurtain]

I work for TWC Austin so here's a little "inside" information:

Time Warner Cable Austin recently aquired Waco/Temple/Fort Hood, etc. However, they barely hired any new customer service reps or technical support reps to take on the extra workload. Both areas are also growing... all of this equals obseen hold times and overworked employees who are at the end of their rope by the time you finally talk to one of them.

TWC isn't as big a company as you would think - most of the installers are contracted. If an installer promises you something or stays "it's not working now but it will in 30 mins" CALL TIME WARNER AND VERIFY. A lot of those guys will promise deals or schedule fake appointments they never intend to keep. If a technician can't finish something and tells you he's going to come back tomorrow to complete the install, call TWC AND VERIFY.

TWC, IMO, has not been updating their infrastructure. There are a lot of areas that are on very old cabling and equipment is exposed to the elements. The massive overbuilding of subdivisions isn't helping things. It's stressing the existing cable in the ground and construction crews blatantly ignore the "call before you dig" signs. It is the luck of the draw and some people never have problems - but if you sign up for TWC, expect outtages.

For their defense - Time Warner has been under constant pressure by the Federal Government to do some silly things like offer boxes with cable card slots and drag cable lines out to areas where there are only a hand full of subscribers who have no intrest in cable TV in the first place. Most of these "laws" have been put into place by officials who have strong ties with unions in the North East and the phone companies who are run by those unions.

[tashina]

Have had TWC bundled cable, internet, phone since Jan 2006 and it's A-OK. One phone outage for 20 minutes once. Cable outages maybe twice during storms. Internet down once every couple months for 20 minutes. That's about it.