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Comcast sucks to no end. I had their cable internet about 2 years ago when it was $49 a month for 6MB download speed. About two months later they jumped up $10. Gave Comcast the boot.
I used to have Directv back when their service first launched, but eventually migrated to Dish since their packages were a bit cheaper. I'm not a sports person so I didnt care for all the sports stuff Direct had.
I have the Vip722 DVR box from Dish and really love it. You can actually record two shows at once while watching a third (via over-the-air antenna connection), and you have more flexibility in setting the timers when recording your shows. I just ordered the Samsung LN40A550 1080p LCD set to take advantage of the HD channels. Cable just dont have it anymore. Too expensive and the picture quality is pretty mediocre, and as Janipoo mentioned, they have a bad habit of jacking up the channels so that they can try to make you spend more for the 'digital' package which really isnt.
Out in my area though, services are very limited. No cable nor DSL is available out here, and the only landline phone provider is Verizon, and they are too expensive. Satellite internet from what I read and heard isn't good either, plus you get hit with their ridiculous FAP (Fair Access Policy) crap, not to mention paying a premium bill for slow speeds. No thanks.
If you have cable, you definitely should not need converter boxes. we have older tv's and all is well with the cable. I am interested in hearing how satelite service works in stormy weather? We currently use cable and are pretty happy. I just think it is getting way too expensive!
If you have cable, you definitely should not need converter boxes. we have older tv's and all is well with the cable. I am interested in hearing how satelite service works in stormy weather? We currently use cable and are pretty happy. I just think it is getting way too expensive!
What they are doing is taking channels off of their basic cable and putting them on the digital tier, so you need to upgrade to digital cable and get the box. They are taking away channels but not lowering our bill. I refuse to allow them to bully us into paying more for what we were already getting.
Location: The Raider Nation._ Our band kicks brass
1,853 posts, read 9,690,453 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sgresident
If you have cable, you definitely should not need converter boxes. we have older tv's and all is well with the cable. I am interested in hearing how satelite service works in stormy weather? We currently use cable and are pretty happy. I just think it is getting way too expensive!
The Clark Belt is 23,600 miles out. That is where the satellites are in geostationary orbit. There are ConUS beams, and spot beams.
ConUS beams are broad beams that are aimed at the entire Continental US. Spot beams are aimed at certain cities.
You may be asking why would you care about all of this. Really you wouldn't, I just like talking about it.
No, no, I'm kidding. ConUS beams are important to you because you live in Illinois. You are smack dab in the middle of their aim point. You would get the best signal where you are. The people on the fringe of the signal are the ones that have the most rain fade, and weather problems. They are in Newfoundland, Canada and the islands South of Cuba. My cable goes out more than my satellite does. It takes a very heavy rain to lose the satellite signal.
Most people don't realize that the cable companies are picking up the same satellite signals and compressing them into their cable network. They are subject to the same weather that you are. Compression also degrades the signal. Most cable is 720i instead of the full 1080i.
The only advantage of cable is highspeed internet. Satellite internet is way too expensive to be competitive. If you have another source for internet, satellite would be worth looking into.
The Clark Belt is 23,600 miles out. That is where the satellites are in geostationary orbit. There are ConUS beams, and spot beams.
ConUS beams are broad beams that are aimed at the entire Continental US. Spot beams are aimed at certain cities.
You may be asking why would you care about all of this. Really you wouldn't, I just like talking about it.
No, no, I'm kidding. ConUS beams are important to you because you live in Illinois. You are smack dab in the middle of their aim point. You would get the best signal where you are. The people on the fringe of the signal are the ones that have the most rain fade, and weather problems. They are in Newfoundland, Canada and the islands South of Cuba. My cable goes out more than my satellite does. It takes a very heavy rain to lose the satellite signal.
Most people don't realize that the cable companies are picking up the same satellite signals and compressing them into their cable network. They are subject to the same weather that you are. Compression also degrades the signal. Most cable is 720i instead of the full 1080i.
The only advantage of cable is highspeed internet. Satellite internet is way too expensive to be competitive. If you have another source for internet, satellite would be worth looking into.
Just had Dish installed and I cannot believe how much better the picture is. We don't have an HD TV either. Our 1 TV is over 20 years old and the picture is great. I really could care or less but this is a noticable difference.
Just had Dish installed and I cannot believe how much better the picture is. We don't have an HD TV either. Our 1 TV is over 20 years old and the picture is great. I really could care or less but this is a noticable difference.
We have direct and the difference is AMAZING! Cable has nothing on them.
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