Cable TV or Satellite TV??

[jtvang125]

Ok now that I got my 50" hdtv I need to feed this thing what it wants, hi-def programming. I never had any type of cable before so I don't know if I should go with cable tv or satellite tv with their hd package. I'm looking for a good amount of hd channels and a competitive price. Oh I'm in so. cal area. I am doing my own researching but looking for pointers and personal experience with the carriers.

 

[Dracos]

Right now I use cable for my HD package not too bad pricewise maybe an extra 15.00 a month for the dvr/hd box and the extra channels. Plus since I subscribe to starz and showtime I get their HD channels free.

I wanted satellite but the price out of pocket for the dvr/hd box was just too much for me.

 

[Queasy]

DISH has probably the best selection HD channels right now between the two satellite companies. DirecTV is getting better but they are taking forever to roll out their new MPEG-4 HD-DVRs.

My suggestion, print out the channel lineups and price list for your cable company and DISH/DirecTV. Pick the one that has the best lineup for the price you're willing to pay. Just be sure to include the cost of having multiple cable boxes/receivers.

DISH and DirecTV are constantly running deals for new subscribers to get new equipment for free.

 

[BAMAVOO]

I just went back to DishNetwork after giving my local Cable company another try. Dish offers more HD content and the picture quality is light years ahead of what our cable provider had to offer.

 

[secretanchitman]

comcast charges us 5 bucks a month for all the HD channels. of course, the movie channels in HD arent free though.

 

[MrChad]

Is it true that satellite providers don't currently offer local stations in HD?

 

[Fingolfin269]

Comcast has the best offering in my area imho.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Is it true that satellite providers don't currently offer local stations in HD?

Both DirecTV and DISH are rolling out local stations in HD right now. Some areas have them, some don't. You have to have a MPEG-4 capable receiver to get them.

 

[sdifox]

unfortunatly the HD channels are compressed on all subscription based service. Best feed is still OTA.

 

[shilala]

I have DirectTv. I bought it strictly because of NFL Sunday Ticket.
TV is for football.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: sdifox
unfortunatly the HD channels are compressed on all subscription based service. Best feed is still OTA.

Yep. I get my local HD channels OTA through my HD-DirecTivo. Even the SD OTA signals look better than the SD Satellite/Cable signals.

The HD channels on DirecTV aren't bad though. We've been enjoying them since we finally got HD a month or so ago.

 

[neomits]

I thought this was going to be about quality, so that's what I'll respond with.

OTA HD channels will look the best.

Cable and Sattellite HD channels still look awesome, with Cable looking a bit better (less compressed).

as far as channel lineups go I don't know who your cable provider is so it's hard to know what they offer.

TimeWarner's HD package includes ESPN, TNT, INHD1&2 and HDNet (plus locals). It's a great mix of movies, shows and sports. ESPN2 HD is going to be added in the next few months. The only other channel I know others have that I'd like to get would be Universal HD.

A year or two from now it'll be more interesting once more stations have switched. Then we'll see who has the best offerings.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: neomits
I thought this was going to be about quality, so that's what I'll respond with.

OTA HD channels will look the best.

Cable and Sattellite HD channels still look awesome, with Cable looking a bit better (less compressed).

as far as channel lineups go I don't know who your cable provider is so it's hard to know what they offer.

TimeWarner's HD package includes ESPN, TNT, INHD1&2 and HDNet (plus locals). It's a great mix of movies, shows and sports. ESPN2 HD is going to be added in the next few months. The only other channel I know others have that I'd like to get would be Universal HD.

A year or two from now it'll be more interesting once more stations have switched. Then we'll see who has the best offerings.

Not in my area, Charter HD/SD/Digital all looks worse than you could imagine. DISHNETWORK FTW!

 

[neomits]

Originally posted by: BAMAVOO

Originally posted by: neomits
I

Not in my area, Charter HD/SD/Digital all looks worse than you could imagine. DISHNETWORK FTW!

I guess this is very true. DISH and DTV will have more consistant image quality around the US (since it's using the same bandwidth and all using the same receivers for the most part)

Cable will depend alot on the wiring and receiver you get from your provider. In a perfect setup, cable has more bandwidth to provide you so the picture quality will be less compressed. As satellite adds more channels they have to compress their picture quality more and more.

MPEG4 receivers will be coming soon to both satellite and cable which will make offering more channels possible since each channle will take up about half the bandwidth that it currently does.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: neomits
MPEG4 receivers will be coming soon to both satellite and cable which will make offering more channels possible since each channle will take up about half the bandwidth that it currently does.

Both DISH and DirecTV already have MPEG4 receivers out now. DirecTV is promising a MPEG4 DVR soon. I think DISH already has one.

They're both busy rolling out locals in HD right now. Hopefully, they'll add more national channels come next year.

I don't know where the various cable companies are at in rolling out MPEG4 cable boxes.

edit: Actually, it looks like DirecTV is rolling out the new HD-DVRs today starting in California. Here is a review of it.

 

[neomits]

That's another good point. Satellite definetly wins in the receiver category. From what I've seen they have a lot better quality receivers (that work with more external devices) and the program guide is much much better. They are also a lot more quick to upgrade their channel lineups (DTV has ESPN2HD almost a year ago, TW will be getting it in a few months) and are more likely to get a better quality/build of a product (for your receiver). Plus you get the Tivo as your DVR service instead of whatever inhouse your cable company tries to push you.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Fiber TV, you guys are still living in the 90s

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Fiber TV, you guys are still living in the 90s

90's? Our cable company is still in the 80's :|

 

[Reckoner]

Don't Dish Network and DirecTV use HD-Lite?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: neomits
Plus you get the Tivo as your DVR service instead of whatever inhouse your cable company tries to push you.

Not anymore. DirecTV has phased out TiVo. The old HD-DVR (the one I have) still uses Tivo but the new one...nope. Pretty much the only way you can get a TiVo receiver now is if you pick one up on eBay or convince DirecTV to send you a refurb.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: neomits
I thought this was going to be about quality, so that's what I'll respond with.

OTA HD channels will look the best.

Cable and Sattellite HD channels still look awesome, with Cable looking a bit better (less compressed).

as far as channel lineups go I don't know who your cable provider is so it's hard to know what they offer.

TimeWarner's HD package includes ESPN, TNT, INHD1&2 and HDNet (plus locals). It's a great mix of movies, shows and sports. ESPN2 HD is going to be added in the next few months. The only other channel I know others have that I'd like to get would be Universal HD.

A year or two from now it'll be more interesting once more stations have switched. Then we'll see who has the best offerings.

Time Warner's HD package is terrible. They are slow to add channels and have one of the leanest lineups among major cable and satellite providers.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Don't Dish Network and DirecTV use HD-Lite?

DISH, DirecTV, and cable all compress their HD signals in some form or fashion. The new MPEG-4 signals are supposed to be much better (haven't seen it in person yet).

 

[neomits]

After some quick research this is what I found (could be some mistakes and most will depend on the region):

TimeWarner - Discovery, TNT, INHD, INHD2, HDNET, HDNET Movies, ESPN, HBO, Showtime, Regional Sports (some areas) - Locals (most areas)

DISH - Showtime , Starz , HBO , Animania, Family Room, GamePlay, Discovery Theater, Equator, National Geographic Channel, Film Fest, HDNet Movies, Kung Fu, Monsters, World Cinema, HDNews, Rave, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network , Rush, WorldSport Gallery, HDNet, HGTV, TNT, Treasure, Ultra, Universal, Locals - (a few areas)

DTV - TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, Univeral, Discovery, HDNet Movies, HDNet, Regional Sports (some areas) Locals - (a few areas)

Comcast - Cinemax, Discovery, ESPN, TBS, HBO, INHD, INHD2, Showtime, Starz, Regional Sports (some areas) TNT, Locals (most areas)