Best High-Def Cable options? (Bright: how much, home, neighborhood)

[gtrman]

Hi everyone,

Any fellow high-tech geeks care to share the strengths/weaknesses of the high definition options on Brighthouse/Comcast in the Indy area? I'd rather go with a Dish, but I don't want to have a local land line. Tips on either cable company would be appreciated!

[gtrman]

Someone surely has an opinion ...

As a follow-up, do either of the local cable networks offer NFL Network?

[Michelle Morris]

I have AT&T Uverse, I can record 4 shows at atime on my DVR.

[gtrman]

Originally Posted by MikiJayne

I have AT&T Uverse, I can record 4 shows at atime on my DVR.

LOL I watch too many shows already with my dual DVR! Can't believe they have 4 now. Do you need local land phone line to get the Uverse service?

[Michelle Morris]

I don't think you need local phone to get UVerse, I really don't understand how it works except that it comes through fiber optics to the neighborhood, then from their box in the area to my home through ... ??? Through phone lines? Through Cable lines? I really don't know about that.

They also have a referral program where I can earn money, so if you decide to get it, I would really appreciate if you gave them my number. Let me know and I'll send it to you in a DM.

[gtrman]

Thanks for the info Miki. I'll look into all three local options and I promise I'll drop you a message if I go with U Verse. Thanks again!

[Naptowner]

You don't have a choice between Comcast and Brighthouse; one or the other will provide your cable depending on where you live. I think with Brighthouse digital cable packages start at about 55 but I don't know how much for hi-def, receivers, etc.

I'm not sure I understand your point about Dish. You don't have to get phone service to get dish network or Direct TV or whatever. I

[Michelle Morris]

No, you don't HAVE TO have a phone line for DirecTV, unless you want to buy pay-per-views, and for updates, messages, etc. That is how the machine communicates with their main server or whatchamacallit.

Without the phone line, you can't even use the guide on DirecTV.

[gtrman]

Originally Posted by Naptowner

You don't have a choice between Comcast and Brighthouse; one or the other will provide your cable depending on where you live. I think with Brighthouse digital cable packages start at about 55 but I don't know how much for hi-def, receivers, etc.

I'm not sure I understand your point about Dish. You don't have to get phone service to get dish network or Direct TV or whatever. I

You do need the local phone for a number of things, including receiving sports programming on Direct TV (due to local blackout rules). This is according to the FAQ on Direct TV's site anyway. You also need it to order PPVs, and I'm a boxing fan, so I'd want that access.

Thanks for the tip on not having an option on the cable company though. That's disappointing news. I should just pony up the $$ for Direct TV and the land line I'll never use.

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by MikiJayne

No, you don't HAVE TO have a phone line for DirecTV, unless you want to buy pay-per-views, and for updates, messages, etc. That is how the machine communicates with their main server or whatchamacallit.

Without the phone line, you can't even use the guide on DirecTV.

That's absolutely not true. None of our receivers are hooked up to our phone line, and we can use the guide. It updates the software through the satellite dish, not through the phone. I haven't tried PPV, so maybe you're right about that, but I'm not really interested in it anyway. And when our tech was here to set it up he said nothing about hooking up the phone line to either of the boxes.

The faq says this:

Q: Do I have to connect my receiver to my phone line?
A: The system uses the phone line to transmit programming purchase information like pay-per-view movies, special season sports programming and other shows from the receiver to DIRECTV®. You can choose not to connect your receiver to your phone line but an extra charge of $5 will be apply on every phone order.