How is Satellite tv these days? Comcast is scr*wing me!

[Salvador]

I just found out from Comcast that two of my favorite channels (Speed Channel and Tech TV) are being switched over to another package with some other really lame channels and Comcast wants to bleed $5 more out of me per month. I pay enough damn money already for cable and this might be the straw that broke the Camel's back.

My questions is: How is Satellite TV these days? I know in the past they had problems with reception and weren't able to offer local channels. I'm looking for some kind of alternative here.

This is a General Hardware question sort of. Sorry if this is the wrong place for this post. I figured that it was a bit more technically hardware related than an OT post.

TIA,

Sal

 

[rb56]

Reception is better that cable in my area. Just be sure you have a clear shot at the satellites (no buildings or trees). Don't count on getting your local channels, most won't sign a release. I personally keep the basic cable package for them.

rb56

 

[Salvador]

Reception is better that cable in my area. Just be sure you have a clear shot at the satellites (no buildings or trees). Don't count on getting your local channels, most won't sign a release. I personally keep the basic cable package for them.

I have a wooded lot, so that might be a problem. Plus, the front of my house is south facing, so I might run into an asthetic problem as well. Don't you have to face the dish south? Do you know if there is any way that they can tell if I'm going to get reception before committing to it?

I just read something on the Direct TV site that says that my zip code has local channels, which is cool.

I wish that there was more competition for cable. The prices are getting way out of hand and the cable company doesn't care because what's your alternative? Direct TV sounds nice, but it obviously doesn't work out well for everyone.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[rb56]

Yes you do have to have it facing in a southern direction. I'm guessing that for you an Azimuth of 201.3 and an Elevation of 39.8 would be pretty close. Get your compass out and see if you have a clear view. Think about mounting it on the roof at the back of the house, it doesn't do any good to have it closer! (sorry couldn't help it!)

If you can get a fairly open view of the sky you might want to talk to an installer and get his opition.

rb56

 

[mrgoblin]

In Florida, Satellite tv isnt an option. Too much rain and winds to bother.

 

[Adul]

Directv is definitely better then local cable. PLus you get beter pcture quality

 

[phoenix79]

My parents live out in the middle of nowhere Tennessee. They can't get cable and are stuck with DirectTV. They hate it. It's ALWAYS losing signal. Plus no broadband internet. The DirectPC is ungodly expensive (something like $600 to get it started)

 

[lansens]

Originally posted by: Adul
Directv is definitely better then local cable. PLus you get beter pcture quality

 

[Achtung]

We've got Dish Network, and its way better than cable. More channels, better reception, great service. I'd say call up both Dish Network and DirecTV and figure out which one is better for you. They will generally be very helpful in explaining all the setup costs and the different programming packages.

 

[pdn]

There's also Dish Network.

 

[Wingznut]

DirecTV rocks... And DirecTiVo ups the ante even further.

I don't see myself ever giving another cent to the cable companies, for reasons such as the one Salvador mentioned.

 

[Rukkian]

I had never had satellite until we moved to our new house and Comcast couldnt figure out how to schedule an appointment to run a cable after 3 tries, so we went with DirectTV. We really liked it and got spoiled, then a little over a year later, Comcast had a special that they would provide digital cable (silver, with hbo, and cinemax) and cable modem for $50 a month to people that let them take their dish (to get you to switch) for 1 year. We went too it and the reception was so terrible and the service so slow and cumbersome, that with 6 months left of the lower price, we still switched to Dish network for the free PVR.

There is really no comparison in quality, and neither directtv nor dish ever have problems unless there is several inches of snow that has piled up on the dish itself.

 

[mbackof]

I've had both Adelphia cable and DirecTV. I'm been very happy with the DirecTV performance and picture. The DirecTV (combination DirecTV receiver and TIVO) is a wonderful thing. You never have to remember to change the VCR tape or rewind it, or hit the timer button on the VCR. I use Adelphia for broadband and I am happy with it, but the DirecTV is much better than the cable TV video.

Mike

 

[Wallysaurus]

Another vote for satellite. Satellite's (DirecTV) picture quality is superior to cable (Comcast, at least in our area), and as for signal loss, it only happens in very severe weather.

 

[beatle]

Do you also have a cable modem? My roommate has DirecTV which he pays for. I pay for the cable modem, which is $15 more when you don't have cable service.

 

[Alkaline5]

If you live near a major city, don't have more than 4 TVs and don't care about HDTV then satellite is the way to go. Otherwise, you can't get local sations and the service gets very expensive very quickly.

 

[kornphlake]

We never had problems with dish, we did get raped with the local channels, something like $21/month for the regular dish channels and $38 for the regular plus local. I do believe that the local channels are available in most areas but they charge you extra for them when they are also available with a vhf antenna, (no matter how crappy the reception is.)

 

[MDE]

We have Comcast for cable internet, and DirecTV for TV, and are very happy with it. When you get cable modem service you still get the TV signal, so it's always there if you need\want a backup. Just make sure whoever installs the dish knows what they're doing, if the dish is correctly aligned, you shouldn't have any problems. Our DTV connection hasn't flinched in over 3 years.

 

[klah]

Originally posted by: Alkaline5
don't have more than 4 TVs and don't care about HDTV then satellite is the way to go.

A 4x8 splitter is only $70.

What are you referring to with the HDTV comment? DirecTV has about 12 full-time HD channels and is the only place you are going to get a HDTV-Tivo.

 

[Texun]

I know someone who has a dish and the pictures are excellent as long as it doesn't rain. I've seen it get bumped by rain fade even during a light shower.

 

[Trashman]

Yeah, having a Dish, isn't perfect all the time, i have problems time to time, rain/snow storms, but it's all worth it to me, picture quality is 2x better than cable was, and like stated earlier DirectTv w/Tivo kicks!! besides that, TechTv isn't offered on cable here.

 

[21stHermit]

I have DISH and StarBand (Internet)

My $40/mo includes TechTV, Speed, & locals + ~120 other channels. Since I live in Colorado, weather is never a problem . . . even in a heavy rain you can see a mile. My sister, in Florida, gave up on Dish because it went out too often during rain.

According to Dish they have more HD channels than DirecTV, I can't say. If you want HD, Dish has a new offer for $999. It includes your choice of HD TVs (a 34" DV or a 42" Projection), the HD set top box, the antenna, delivery & installation. You have to add a $10/mo HD package on top of whatever programming you pick. Or for $1700 get the above + a 250 GB HD Tivo.

Hope this helps!!!

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: klah

Originally posted by: Alkaline5
don't have more than 4 TVs and don't care about HDTV then satellite is the way to go.

A 4x8 splitter is only $70.

Yeah, but don't you still need a reciever for each set? That's what's implied in that link provided and that would make sense...

 

[Salvador]

Think about mounting it on the roof at the back of the house, it doesn't do any good to have it closer! (sorry couldn't help it!)

Ha! The problem with putting the dish towards the back of the house though is that the lot is more wooded the further back in the lot you go. Actually, the best shot skyward would probably be at the mail box, but that would be no good. I'll have to take a look at the canopy of trees and see if it's even possible. Thanks.

I'm definitely going to have to check it out. Thanks again for the replies.

Sal

 

[Hyperfocal]

The satellites are about 39 degrees over the horizon in the Chicago-Milwaukee area. You should be able to eyeball the clearance with a compass and a protractor.

You can get the exact coordinates from this Directv page Dish Network is about the same elevation, but is a different area of the sky.

I haven't had satellite since 2000, so I can't comment on the current service, but I was very happy with it and only got rid of it after my apartment building burned, the receiver and most of my stuff was destroyed and I had to move to a building where I couldn't get satellite.

The reception problems do exist, but they are overblown. Most of the time reception problems could be traced to the alignment of the dish. It took a strong thunderstorm to knock ouf reception completely. If you are concerned about rainy weather, you can get an oversized dish -- 24 or 36 inches which will give you a stronger signal in marginal conditions.