Time Warner adds more HD channels (rent, cost, charge)

[BenjaminNicholas]

Originally Posted by ged_782

...I hope you got that in writing...

I did actually. It's on my agreement that I signed when the installer came for the initial install.

Like I said, it's only an offer available if you qualify based on credit score. They're likely wanting to keep their 'best customers' happy and for me, that means having the choice to cut the cord after just a year. So far, it's been great, so I'd gladly resign into something longer if they offered it (and if the price magically dropped).


BN

[ged_782]

Rewarding your most credit-worthy customers who subscribe to high-end services by allowing them to cut & run after one year, in favor of hanging on to less credit-worthy customers with lower-end services for a longer term doesn't make much sense to me from a business perspective, but what do I know?

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by texasboy1022

BenN, I ordered DirecTV and having it installed in the next week.

- Do you get MY35 (KMYSH), SD or HD? I have seen yes and no on different lineup cards. Got to have the Spurs!

The NBA website also does not indicate MY35 as being available in HD on DirecTV.
SPURS: Find Spurs Games on TV and Radio

Did you get your DirecTV installed yet? Can you confirm MY35 is actually broadcast in HD? If it is, then it looks like all the websites (including DirecTV's own) are out of date.

[texasboy1022]

Originally Posted by ged_782

The NBA website also does not indicate MY35 as being available in HD on DirecTV.
SPURS: Find Spurs Games on TV and Radio

Did you get your DirecTV installed yet? Can you confirm MY35 is actually broadcast in HD? If it is, then it looks like all the websites (including DirecTV's own) are out of date.

I put my order on hold for now. I found out that the new HR24 DVR boxes will be out soon, most likely in the next 60 days. I wanted to wait and take advantage of all the offers and the free DVRs that I would get, but I want the newest receivers. I don't want to switch over and have something that is immiediately outdated. There has also been some audio dropouts on the olders units that are not supposed to be present in the new ones. I never found out about MY35 though.

I have also toyed with the idea of keeping TWC and getting the new TiVo Premeire that will be out at the end of the month. It is expensive, but it would be worth it if I end up being happy with it. One of the biggest issues I have is the horrible DVRs that they have and lack of mobile programming. I will probably buy one and use it till DirecTV gets the 24s out in the area.

[texasboy1022]

Originally Posted by BenjaminNicholas

Apologies for the delay. I didn't see your question...

I get My35 in whatever definition the programming warrants: If the show or newscast is HD, that's how it comes across. MY35 has yet to go 100% HD and a lot of their programming says 'HD,' but it's actually SD upconverted (and it looks so-so). AI, Vampire Diaries, Top Model and the major shows are, of course, HD and in Dolby 5.1

NO rain fade for me here in King William. I've never had one instance of weather effecting my dish. I have the new Slimline-3 dish, which I recommend you asking for at the time of install. Audio has been stellar and actually one of the most impressive things about DTV. The spatial quality of the sound (through a surround-sound receiver) is incredible. It's apparent that DTV is allowing more bandwidth throughput for audio than TWC ever did.

I didn't like the user interface at first, but have gotten quite used to it. Not that it's tough to use, but it's just different. Not a big worry really and you'll come to navigate easier than Time Warner in a week or so.

I love DTV's new Multi-Room feature, allowing you to network your receivers with either CAT-5 or a wireless bridge and share programming between rooms. It's really convenient. I recommend going with any of the HR23 line of DVRs. I've got two HR23-700s and love them.


Hope this helps





BN

No problem at all, I actually just saw your response after I just made my last post. After hearing what your experience is, I will definitely switch. TWC has raised my bill again without adding any addtional service and they will never get better. All the other cable companies continue to upgrade their service and invest in better & faster technology. Some will have up to 100mbs download capabilities soon for internet. They are also rolling out new DVRs with remote scheduling, TWC isn't even really looking at it, no surprise. I have been inquiring about it at my local office and telephone customer service, for over a year and a half.

Thanks for your feedback. I will wait for the new receivers though, looking forward to all the video and audio improvements! I noticed some audio dropouts on TWC last night, on FOX and ESPN. Even some pixelation.

[BenjaminNicholas]

Do keep in mind that newer isn't always better... Case-in-point:

If you go here, you'll read that DTV has put out numerous, older receivers that are fan favorites against the newer stuff. Bigger hard drives, more reliable, better ability to hack into the box, etc. I've got two new HR23-700s, which are the newest boxes currently available, allowing me to do everything that the HR24 will do (Multi-room streaming, equal hard drive recording space, remote scheduling), so there's little need for me to wait for something 'bigger and better.'

Do your research. If you can snag the HR23-700 from an installer, instead of something older or less powerful, I'd say pull the trigger now. The deals that DTV are offering have never been better. I see many of the new customer incentives going away when the new HR24 debuts.



BN

[texasboy1022]

Originally Posted by BenjaminNicholas

Do keep in mind that newer isn't always better... Case-in-point:

If you go here, you'll read that DTV has put out numerous, older receivers that are fan favorites against the newer stuff. Bigger hard drives, more reliable, better ability to hack into the box, etc. I've got two new HR23-700s, which are the newest boxes currently available, allowing me to do everything that the HR24 will do (Multi-room streaming, equal hard drive recording space, remote scheduling), so there's little need for me to wait for something 'bigger and better.'

Do your research. If you can snag the HR23-700 from an installer, instead of something older or less powerful, I'd say pull the trigger now. The deals that DTV are offering have never been better. I see many of the new customer incentives going away when the new HR24 debuts.



BN

Thanks, I will check it out. I think I have until early July. Do you find your HR23s slow or lagging? I am sure you have seen the threads that people have complained about such issues. That is one thing that has me on the fence about switching now. I definitely like the MRV and remote scheduling. I have CAT5 at my house, seems like that is the way to go. Who do you use for internet? Can DirecTV and say Roadrunner be present on the same lines?
Thx

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by texasboy1022

Can DirecTV and say Roadrunner be present on the same lines?
Thx

I don't think so. DirecTV requires an RG6 coaxial cable connection from the dish to the back of your receiver. Sometimes people just disconnect the CATV cable from the grounding block outside the house, then connect their satellite dish, utilizing the existing cable that enters the house. There are special splitters available that let you use a single cable for your DirecTV signal and an outdoor TV antenna for OTA broadcast channels. I never tried this method myself, but I've heard it degrades the signal.

Speaking of broadcast channels, there is an off-air tuner available (model AM21) that is compatible with some DirecTV DVRs that would allow you to use a conventional antenna to pick up free local broadcast channels, and pass them through your DVR. The channels will then show up in your on-screen guide, and you can also record programming from them on your DVR.

Some people use these tuners when DirecTV doesn't offer broadcast channels in their market, doesn't offer certain ones, or doesn't offer them in HD. This might be something to consider if it turns out that MY35 is in fact not in HD on DirecTV. DirecTV's website also doesn't show the local CW station, or any of the Spanish-language stations as being offered through them in HD. With the AM21 module and the right antenna, you could get your local channels in HD, regardless of whether or not DirecTV offers them, and record them on your DirecTV DVR.

[BenjaminNicholas]

MRV is fast. I'm running it on wireless-N bridges and it's snag-free. I can stream a high-def program with Dolby 5.1 with no issues. Love it.

My HR23 is super quick and keeps getting quicker thanks to auto firmware upgrades. I wouldn't worry about the HR23 being slow or lagging. It's top tier.

With CAT5, you'll use MRV with no issue and lightening speed. No worries.



BN

[texasboy1022]

Originally Posted by BenjaminNicholas

MRV is fast. I'm running it on wireless-N bridges and it's snag-free. I can stream a high-def program with Dolby 5.1 with no issues. Love it.

My HR23 is super quick and keeps getting quicker thanks to auto firmware upgrades. I wouldn't worry about the HR23 being slow or lagging. It's top tier.

With CAT5, you'll use MRV with no issue and lightening speed. No worries.



BN

Thanks for the feedback. I need to get this installed now!