Cable vs Direct

[mcSmarty]

I am currently Comcast subscriber and am thinking about switching. I need 2 HD- DVRs and regular box. For people who switched from cable - are you generally happy? Whats good and bad? Is HD box reliable?

[JClore1950]

I live in NJ and switched from Comcast to DirecTV in February 2007. I have never regretted the change for a second. Especially since DirecTV offers almost three (3) times the number of HD channels that Comcast offers.

Also, I have found DirecTV's equipment to be very reliable.

[davring]

I switched from cable over 12 years ago, mainly for lousy picture and lack of content. Price was not the main factor although D* is a far better value and the quality is without a doubt. Cable may have improved, I don't know, as I have been very pleased with D* for all these years, but I don't think I would switch if they offered me cable for free:) And yes, the HD content is the greatest quality and the largest choice out there. Go for it.

[man_rob]

In my area, the cable system is horrible. What are your choices in Houston? How many HD channels does your local cable company offer?

Comcast has those ads about the most content, (and that is limited to a few major markets) but they are misleading in that almost all of the VOD content is just repeats from cable networks. So while at any given moment you have X amount of choices, those viewing choices are available on the network channels as well. So in reality Comcast is counting much of their content more than once, and claiming that all the duplicate programming are distinct choices.

Also, when you consider at any given moment, you have the choices of X amount of programming, but it will be the same shows and movies day after day after day. Unless you are going to watch them over and over again, your viewing options keep going down.

Not that I am downplaying the role of VOD for folks without a DVR, but if you have a DVR, VOD not really that much of a lure.

[Gaily Waily]

We switched at the end of October because we knew cable had a looong way to go in terms of HD content. Also our package with D* was cheaper than Comcast. The DVR has been top notch along with the picture quality. There hasn't been anything negative about our switch either, nothing.

By the way, we just got a letter from Comcast saying they miss us, are disappointed we left, etc., etc., and want to welcome us back with a FREE CONNECTION with a value of $140. Definitely a little arranging of deck chairs, I'd say!

This is the best website too! I've been lurking for a coupla months before joining this wkend~you'll find some great info here. Thanks everyone!

[mark4mich]

Switched from Comcast to Direct about 3 weeks ago. Loving all of the HD content on Direct. Also the Direct HD DVR is much easier to use than the Comcast Motorola 6412, my wife finally sees the advantage of using a DVR.

[newsposter]

4 yrs ago i ran my cable side by side for a month with dtv...it may have improved since they but dtv was clear winner back then (and with their channels today still is in that dept)

[lifelong]

I switched from Comcast last month and I'm generally happy, though neither cable nor DirecTV is perfect. You may miss on-demand, though it is coming via broadband to DirecTV. For me, audio sync issues (do a search if interested in learning more) on some channels with DirecTV can be a pain in the butt. But I'm happy with the sheer quantity of HD programming (especially Big Ten network and NFL HD in the basic package) compared to what I had with Comcast. I think DirecTV is "better" than Comcast because of sheer HD quantity, but it can have issues just like cable can.

[dwschwartz]

I'm thinking about switching. Here are two things I hate about the new Comcast on screen programming. I'm wondering how Directv handles:

1. The Comcast DVR can't tell the difference between reruns. I record Countdown on MSNBC everyday. The Comcast DVR records it at 5PM and then records the repeat at 9PM. Will the Directv DVR know that the 9PM broadcast is a repeat and skip it?

2. You can't program the channel scrolling to skip channels. So, when I'm scrolling, I have to scroll though all the premium channels I do not subscribe to. Can you program your scrolling options to skip channels you're not interested in?

Thanks,
David in Seattle

[lifelong]

I'm thinking about switching. Here are two things I hate about the new Comcast on screen programming. I'm wondering how Directv handles:

1. The Comcast DVR can't tell the difference between reruns. I record Countdown on MSNBC everyday. The Comcast DVR records it at 5PM and then records the repeat at 9PM. Will the Directv DVR know that the 9PM broadcast is a repeat and skip it?

2. You can't program the channel scrolling to skip channels. So, when I'm scrolling, I have to scroll though all the premium channels I do not subscribe to. Can you program your scrolling options to skip channels you're not interested in?

Thanks,
David in Seattle

not sure about #1. but the answer to #2 is yes. you can setup a channel favorites list so that only the channels that you want appear in the guide.

[DrZaiusATL]

go for it

[paulman182]

I'm thinking about switching. Here are two things I hate about the new Comcast on screen programming. I'm wondering how Directv handles:

1. The Comcast DVR can't tell the difference between reruns. I record Countdown on MSNBC everyday. The Comcast DVR records it at 5PM and then records the repeat at 9PM. Will the Directv DVR know that the 9PM broadcast is a repeat and skip it?

2. You can't program the channel scrolling to skip channels. So, when I'm scrolling, I have to scroll though all the premium channels I do not subscribe to. Can you program your scrolling options to skip channels you're not interested in?

David,
1. Sometimes the DirecTV DVR knows the difference and sometimes it doesn't, based on guide data (I am told.)

2. You can set up two favorites lists that contain only the channels you want.

[randyk47]

We switched to DirecTV back in 1999 up in Northern Viriginia because of the picture quality, lost signal, etc., from Cox. As I remember the cost was pretty much the same, maybe even lower, but considering we could actually get a great picture made it all worth it. We did stay with basic cable back then to provide locals and RoadRunner internet. Moved to San Antonio in March-April 2003 and suspended our DirecTV account until we found a new place and figured out which way we were going to go. Get here and we can't get TWC to come out and check about hooking the house up for RoadRunner. Their answer was "no service to your house" which was funny since the connection box is in my front yard and the neighbor had TWC and RoadRunner. That made the decision for us and we went back/stayed with DirecTV and picked up DSL through SBC (now AT&T). At this point I can't think of any reason to switch to cable....ever.

[carl6]

1. The Comcast DVR can't tell the difference between reruns. I record Countdown on MSNBC everyday. The Comcast DVR records it at 5PM and then records the repeat at 9PM. Will the Directv DVR know that the 9PM broadcast is a repeat and skip it?



For that specific show, the DVR will probably record both. The problem is in the guide data not properly indicating first run or rerun. The DVR can only work with the information provided. The guide data originates with the network, not DirecTV.

However you can set a recurring manual recording to record from 5 to 6 pm (or whatever time you want), rather than recording by show name, and that will result in only the desired showing being recorded.

Carl

[n3ntj]

I've had D* since I got married 10 years ago, never personally had cable TV. My parents have TW cable w/HD and their PQ is terrible. They only get 8 HD channels, but 2 are actually only digital (not HD), although they are advertized as HD.

D* rules...more HD national channels, HD sports, etc.

[Milominderbinder2]

If you get to the point of considering placing your order, see HD DVR FAQ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=76617):

What do I need to know about HD DVR ordering and installation?
→ Ordering Tips (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=839938#post839938) ● Installation Guide (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=67769)

- Craig

[tonyd79]

I run Comcast and DirecTV side by side. (Cost is incremental because I use Comcast for my ISP.)

Comcast has improved but I prefer DirecTV for most of my watching. (I had an SA8300 for DVR for Comcast and hated it. Bought an HD Tivo recently so I will at least use what is coming into my house.) And now that DirecTV has so much HD, I used Comcast for practically nothing except some local stuff.

If you like HD, HD movies or HD sports, DirecTV is the place to be.

[braven]

We left Comcrap back in April and couldn't be happier. The Comcrap Motorola DVR box is junk.

[Skins Fan]

As I type this, my H20 is going through it's monthly re-boot. No ryhme or reason, it just likes to reboot itself every few weeks. Like it has "had it up to here" with my surfing, menu changes and switching back and forth from DirecTV locals and OTA. Last night the audio sync delay on the D locals was as bad as I have seen it recently. I am lamenting because I will be moving in June to a community known as "Worman's Mill" in Frederick, Md. This is kind of an exclusive community and satellite dishes are seen but in most cases are well hidden. You don't see them on roofs. My new house site will not have a clear shot at the SW sky unless the dish goes on the roof. I hate to think about going back to cable, it has been 12+years but I have been checking out some of my friends Comcast HD set ups and I must say I am tempted. Their service has been at least as reliable, if not better then my DirecTV has been. The Comcast boxes leave alot to be desired, and the guide is laughable. The cable HD looked better than I expected. I am really confused as to what to do. Go with the clean look house entry of cable w/acceptable picture and reliablity or a dish on the roof w/excellent picture, acceptable reliablity and service? Anybody else on here that happens to live in the Worman's Mill community that may have some comments?:confused:

[Scott J]

I'm much happier with DirecTV than Comcrap.

I would recommend the following if you are going to switch to minimize installation and install issues which can be frustrating.

1. Call the install company to confirm work order, equipment, ladder requirement for your roof. etc.

2. Have the installer run new coaxil cable for DirecTV.

3. Keep your current service active until you are sure that your new set up is working.

4. Schedule the install for the morning to avoid cancellation if the other installs run late or out of equipment.

If you do have any installer or equipment issues this will allow you to have TV programming while they get them worked out.

[Skins Fan]

I'm much happier with DirecTV than Comcrap.

I would recommend the following if you are going to switch to minimize installation and install issues which can be frustrating.

1. Call the install company to confirm work order, equipment, ladder requirement for your roof. etc.

2. Have the installer run new coaxil cable for DirecTV.

3. Keep your current service active until you are sure that your new set up is working.

4. Schedule the install for the morning to avoid cancellation if the other installs run late or out of equipment.

If you do have any installer or equipment issues this will allow you to have TV programming while they get them worked out.

I agree 100% per my past installs. The only thing I have not been able to control and one that would scare me about a new install on a new house is ------the installer you will get. I have had two good ones out of maybe 5. I guess that is almost a 50/50 chance but to me that is still too much of a gamble.

[Stuart Sweet]

Having used Comcast's latest and greatest, I can feel confident saying you'll like the DIRECTV hardware and programming better. The only thing that Comcast conceivably has is Music Choice. DIRECTV has XM without the pretty slides and trivia.

[BattleScott]

I am currently Comcast subscriber and am thinking about switching. I need 2 HD- DVRs and regular box. For people who switched from cable - are you generally happy? Whats good and bad? Is HD box reliable?

A few points that I would make having recently gone from SD to HD DirecTV.

1) DirecTVs new HD DVR (HR-21) does not support OTA. If you need or want to receive and record OTA then you will have to seek out your own HR-20 via retail or eBay (I got one at CircuitCity).

2) At this time all the HD talk is more hype than substance. Many of the proclaimed 'HD Channels' that they are now advertising are not yet showing any HD content, just the same 4:3 content upconverted to 1080 vertical. Even worse is that a few of them are trying to pass off 'stretched' 4:3 as HD, they will even list it as 'HD' in the program guide.

[LarryW]

mcSmarty,

Welcome to DBSTalk.com. Go with DirecTv. I have been with them since 1996 and now all the major local stations (except PBS) are offered in hi-def. Picture is great and so far the local DirecTv representative is ok.

Larry W

[venisenvy]

I made the switch around the time of the World Series, i was unhappy Charter was not getting TBS HD and there was no plan for the future on when they would get HD. The only reply I ever got is that they would get them when they got them. After making the switch I have not missed anything EXCEPT On Demand which recently Directv has started to get. It is still missing some channels I really want and need but it's in beta so I'm not complaining. Once the On Demand feature is working well there is absolutely nothing that I will miss about cable, except being able to go to my local office to get the new boxes and not having to wait a month until a tech. can make it.

[66stang351]

I'm thinking about switching. Here are two things I hate about the new Comcast on screen programming. I'm wondering how Directv handles:

1. The Comcast DVR can't tell the difference between reruns. I record Countdown on MSNBC everyday. The Comcast DVR records it at 5PM and then records the repeat at 9PM. Will the Directv DVR know that the 9PM broadcast is a repeat and skip it?

2. You can't program the channel scrolling to skip channels. So, when I'm scrolling, I have to scroll though all the premium channels I do not subscribe to. Can you program your scrolling options to skip channels you're not interested in?

Thanks,
David in Seattle

For that specific show, the DVR will probably record both. The problem is in the guide data not properly indicating first run or rerun. The DVR can only work with the information provided. The guide data originates with the network, not DirecTV.

However you can set a recurring manual recording to record from 5 to 6 pm (or whatever time you want), rather than recording by show name, and that will result in only the desired showing being recorded.

Carl
1. It shouldn't record the second showing even if it is listed as first run. The DIRECTV DVR has a no re-record clause, if a show is listed in the guide as the same episode it won't record it again for ~90 days even if you have it set to record reruns. Now if the guide data is different then it might record again.

2. As mentioned above, yes, you can set up 2 favorites lists that contain only the channels you want to see.

[newsposter]

2) At this time all the HD talk is more hype than substance. Many of the proclaimed 'HD Channels' that they are now advertising are not yet showing any HD content, just the same 4:3 content upconverted to 1080 vertical. Even worse is that a few of them are trying to pass off 'stretched' 4:3 as HD, they will even list it as 'HD' in the program guide.

maybe it's because i have crt rptv but ALL SD on the new HD channels looks significantly better than the directv SD channels.

I realize the technology may greatly affect this but will never record anything on the SD channel if it's on the HD channel..period.

[JerryElbow]

I made the switch just a couple of months ago from Time Warner. At their best, I'd say the HD picture quality is about equal between the two providers. At their worst, I'd say DirecTV has audio synch issues more often but TW had total picture dropouts and breakups far more often. THe sheer number and variety of HD stations is way, WAY in DirecTV's favor.

For non-HD stations (though I'm finding less and less need to watch any of them with the collection of HD stations DirecTV has), DirecTV has WAY better quality than the analog tier of cable stations TW has (some channels like National Geographic and Travel were unwatchable due to video noise) but I'm really surprised how much better DirecTV is even compared to the digital tier of channels I was getting from TW. I basically didn't even bother watching non-HD digital tier channels on TW because they broke up with ridiculous frequency (despite several attempts by TW to remedy it with new cables, connectors, etc.). I could never watch The Science Channel, for example and now I watch it frequently (having it HD is just icing on the cake). As far as phone support, I found them about equal as well, which isn't saying a whole lot. I've been passed misinformation from CSRs at both companies. As far as on-site support, that was one thing TW always did pretty well. So far, other than installation (which was actually done by FireDog folks through Circuit City), I haven't had any onsite work done from DirecTV so I can't compare. Price-wise, it's hard to compare as I'm doing the NFL package primarily to get the Premium package at a reduced rate, so I'm perhaps paying a bit more right now than I was with cable but I'm getting a boatload of movie channels (many in HD). I'll probably drop down to something less than the Premium package at the end of the promotion so the prices should be comparable. My receiver (the HR-20) is supposed to be able to do OTA tuning, something my cable receiver could not do. However, my location prevents me from getting hardly anything over-the-air, so that isn't a big advantage to me. As far as the DVRs, I think the HR-20 is perhaps a bit more complex to use than the Scientific Atlanta 9300HD I was using but not overly so. The big deal for me is that the SA9300 claimed "up to 20 hours of HD recording" where the HR-20 claims "up to 50 hours of (MPEG-4) HD recording", so you get more capacity right off the bat. Add to that the ease of expansion by adding an external eSata drive (something TW in my area disables, desite the hardware's ability to use it) and now I've got perhaps 30 or so full-length HD movies recorded plus a handful of HD and SD shows and the drive is still 80% free. The only down side I'm seeing is that I can't toss a splitter inline and run cable to a cheap TV tuner in my PC for occaisional viewing. Since I hardly ever used that ability with cable, I can't call that much of a loss. However, I DID just upgrade to a 1920 x 1200 computer monitor and I'm now getting tempted to get another DirecTV reciever to run into the monitor's HDCP-enabled DVI input...

Good luck and enjoy whatever you decide to go with.

[Stuart Sweet]

...and another thing, I was at a house this weekend with a brand new cable installation and the receiver was the same Scientific Atlanta box I had when I signed up with that cable company in 2000. DIRECTV has had 3-5 generations of hardware depending how you measure it since then.

I remember that device being dog slow in tuning too, and running so hot it fried a DVD player I mistakenly put 1 shelf above it.

[Doug Brott]

I remember that device being dog slow in tuning too, and running so hot it fried a DVD player I mistakenly put 1 shelf above it.

Ouch .. and no doubt in the days when DVD players weren't as cheap as they are now.

[minsco92]

I am currently Comcast subscriber and am thinking about switching. I need 2 HD- DVRs and regular box. For people who switched from cable - are you generally happy? Whats good and bad? Is HD box reliable?


Made the switch a long time ago, and I will never switch back if it is up to me.

[John in Georgia]

I am currently Comcast subscriber and am thinking about switching. I need 2 HD- DVRs and regular box. For people who switched from cable - are you generally happy? Whats good and bad? Is HD box reliable?

So far, I've left cable (Comcast) twice. They fooled me once. Second time there was no option. Been with DirecTV for many years now. Compared to Comcast -- good, good, good and the HD is awesome.

As Monty Python has said, "Run Away!"

[1948GG]

The one bad thing about DirecTV, and most if not all here will agree, is that the contract installation companies leave a lot to be desired.

The thread that starts out "I couldn't be at home for the install, but my wife...." is usually a dead giveaway to a full-blown 'tale of woe'.

Then again, there are probably just as many cable installers that generate large scale problems as well, it's just that 99+% of homes are 'pre-wired' for cable, so that eliminates 99+% of the problem(s) (doing the drop from the pole is the only possible hitch, and I've seen cable guys screw that pooch).

At least 90+% of the referrals that the companies I do consulting for, are potential customers that the contract installers have either mucked up, or took one look at the home and made the pronouncement from on high that, "Can't get the satellite from here" type of nonsense. The number of those that actually couldn't, due to trees and such, is extremely low in number. The ones that could utilize a multi-dish system like some are working on (multi-AU9/Slimlines) maybe would get half of those; but we're talking 150' Evergreens completely surrounding the dwelling (i.e., a pure 'hit' when the wind storms come!). We've done several where the garage (100'+ from the home) was in the clear, and the dish was put there with x feet of direct burial coax running to it.

I do the occasional 'sight check' with my portable AU9 dish and an HD/H20 receiver. I wish the DirecTV contractors would do this; my eyeballs are pretty calibrated having done sat work (commercial) for well over 35 years, but nothing confirms as well as something close to the 'real thing'. There are several threads here (old perhaps, but with pictures!) of installs that were refused by the contractors, that were easy as pie to someone who 'knew what they were doing'.

[DX9100]

OK So what about the quality of the picture? I have to say my local cable HD (however limited in# of channels) looks good. If the dish is set up correctly will the picture quality be the same? I have a new home with all RG-6 quad shield installed to 11 jacks in the house. My wife is the primary TV watcher but I don’t want to sacrifice quality for quantity on HD. If a new slimline were to be installed on my roof the line of sight SW would be clear.

[bgottschalk]

I'm thinking about switching. Here are two things I hate about the new Comcast on screen programming. I'm wondering how Directv handles:

1. The Comcast DVR can't tell the difference between reruns. I record Countdown on MSNBC everyday. The Comcast DVR records it at 5PM and then records the repeat at 9PM. Will the Directv DVR know that the 9PM broadcast is a repeat and skip it?

2. You can't program the channel scrolling to skip channels. So, when I'm scrolling, I have to scroll though all the premium channels I do not subscribe to. Can you program your scrolling options to skip channels you're not interested in?

Thanks,
David in Seattle


For #1 I've found that in that case it doesn't really seem to depend on whether the guide shows it as first run or repeat. If it has already recorded the show, from my experience it doesn't record it again.

That's one thing that annoyed me as well with Mediacom. So far, my HR-20 has not recorded duplicates (and there have been times I thought it would). Maybe I've just been lucky?



As far as a cable comparison. I switched in Sept. and I couldn't be happier. The HR-20 is at least as stable as my Motorolla DVR from Mediacom was and it way more functional from searching for shows to Media Sharing and everything in between. Not that the Motorolla was a bad box, but the HR-20 is way better IMHO.

With all the Qwest bundles, I saved $50 last month (won't be quite as much once the introductory rate runs out, but still $35 less).

I'm loving the 70+ HD channels vs. the 10 or so I had with Mediacom.

Picture quality I would say is comparible for the HD channels and SD digital channels - way better than the analog.

[1948GG]

OK So what about the quality of the picture?

Once you get into those kind of questions, you're dealing with way to many variables (type/quality of display, the amount of experience the viewer has, etc.).

I've been in and out of broadcast television for those 35 years (now retired). All told my 'experience' is around 6 years, but another 6 were doing Mpeg2 design and build during what now can only be described as the 'stone age' of digital video (1987-1993). But I was an FCC 1st Class licenced engineer from my first year of undergraduate college until Regan and the Supreme Court decided that they didn't really need to put such things as actual quality into the process of broadcast media.

Be that as it may, when DirecTV first started doing Ka/Mpeg4 spot-beams of locals into my area (my AT9 dish was actually installed the very day Seattle went active (31 May 06), I've done many A/B comparisons with my systems (H20/HR20, and two broadcast grade HD CRT monitors). Luckily, I live between 30-40 miles from the transmit towers of most Seattle stations, and receive them just fine OTA, so was able to do that.

The largest problem was, in the beginning, was several stations (in particular the PBS station, but also the FOX affiliate) dinging the PSIP (look it up). But that was a year or so ago, things have gotten much better since, and that was of course with the OTA section, not the DirecTV part. Now that we have all 4 'majors', only with a really superb source (like live sports done with top-line production equipment), and one just barely, and only every once in a while, see any difference.

I program up my programmable remote to choose the input randomly, and try to pick out which source it is. It's an almost 50/50 deal. The 'new' Ka/Mpeg4 national channels are indistinguishable from the C-Band/Digital/Mpeg2 sources. Period.

Versus HD Cable? Can't do it, and never will. The ground loop problems that coaxial cable television introduces to a well installed audio/video system is something I'm not going to subject my $20K audio and video system to. Period. I got rid of it in 1982 when I built my first C-Band system (5meter Paraclipse, those were the days!), and never looked back. When DirecTV became available in 1994, I drove from Ft. Wayne where I was rebuilding a Central Office down to Indianapolis to grab literally the last set on initial sales. Still have the 18" dish, RCA receiver gave out in 2001, after logging a goodly 50K miles around the U.S. subjected to the airline gorillas shipping. Finding a good temporary apt. with a southern exposure was always a treat! n:)

Note that 'cable' now advertises 'quality digital picture' when for years they called it 'sub-standard'. Right.

[Heem(JimmyG)]

We had a bad install from cable once. The installer decided to leave his cable then politely asked for a plunger. We asked him to leave.

[tonyd79]

The one bad thing about DirecTV, and most if not all here will agree, is that the contract installation companies leave a lot to be desired.

This is different from cable how?

Comcast managed to use my sister's component video cables to connect her HD cable box to her HD TV in SD configuration.

The guy who came to put in my cable box took one look at my setup and said "Whoa, that's a lot of wires" and had no idea what to connect where. I had to show him every connection.

[dwschwartz]

Thanks to those who replied to my first posting. Here's another question for you:

I currently have a TV in my garage for when I'm out tinkering and want to follow a game or the news or whatever. There's no cable box on it, just the coaxial cable connected directly to the TV and I get whatever channels are broadcast within the TV's channel range. I probably only have it on 3 hours a month.

Is there a way to replicate this with Directv? Or, do I have to have a receiver on every TV I ever want to use and pay the monthly fee?

Thanks, David

[BattleScott]

Thanks to those who replied to my first posting. Here's another question for you:

I currently have a TV in my garage for when I'm out tinkering and want to follow a game or the news or whatever. There's no cable box on it, just the coaxial cable connected directly to the TV and I get whatever channels are broadcast within the TV's channel range. I probably only have it on 3 hours a month.

Is there a way to replicate this with Directv? Or, do I have to have a receiver on every TV I ever want to use and pay the monthly fee?

Thanks, David

You can connect the coax to the output one of the receivers in the house, but that receiver would have to be set for what you want to watch.

[newsposter]

the nice thing about the HR20 is all outputs are HOT.

I have a walmart modulator hooked up to the RCA cables and use my rg59 to watch a small tv in another part of the house. for 3 hours a month this sounds very much like what you would want to do.

there's no way a tv alone can get any directv channels

[Rakul]

I made the switch from Comcast to DirecTV 5 years ago because Comcast didn't have coverage at my new house, it was 100% improvement from day one and I will never go back to cable unless they make some major changes :D