View Full Version : May be Leaving DISH!
cyberized
09-09-03, 10:27 AM
Hi,
I have been a "happy" DISH Customer for over 6 years and am presently really enjoying a fairly new PVR 508. At this time I do not have an HDTV capable TV - but will have one in the not to distant future. Thus, I have been watching/reading what that will entail for me as a DISH Customer. For me buying another almost $700 Receiver was/is out of the question and now I see they will charge extra for the programming. NOT looking good for this camper.
So, I had been wondering and thinking that CABLE might be in the perfect position to give Satellite Companies some real competiton when it came to HDTV. It appears I may be right, don't know for sure yet, but if this is true I may be "forced" to leave DISH in the not to distant future. Because yesterday I used me "Google Search" and found out that COMCAST is presently starting to offer HDTV in San Francisco, L.A. and now Seattle. The Cost (at this time) is quoted as $5 extra a month and that includes a high tech Decoder. WOW! If this is going to be the case here in Oregon pretty soon - I just may be selling my DISH Equipment finally yo COMCAST and getting an HDTV set.
If COMCAST doesn't blow it and get overly GREEDY (like usual) they will be in the "driver's seat" on this one and may really do a number on Satellite TV (looks like to me).
Anyone know anymore about this situation????
TKS Michael :confused:
dmodemd
09-09-03, 10:33 AM
The biggest problem I have with cable is the limited programming. Dish has always had a much larger portfolio of channels to offer, especially in the HD department. When something new comes along, it is Dish that works to bring it out quickly. Cable companies seem to be very slow on changing their content. I am not sure if I have seen a Cable HD offering yet that provides all the local digital stations on their system. Often PBS or FOX is lacking for example.
Also, the equipment provided by the cable company is limited (usually to one type of receiver) and has a bare minimum of features. The equipment does not keep up with technology. This is true of DVR and HD receivers. Now, more than ever it is important you have the latest technology because things are changing quickly right now.
Lee
jayhawk
09-09-03, 10:39 AM
You also need to check the bandwith of transmission from the cable company vs satellite - it is usually higher on satellite which menas a better picture...
jayhawk
09-09-03, 10:39 AM
You also need to check the bandwith of transmission from the cable company vs satellite - it is usually higher on satellite which means a better picture...
DarrellP
09-09-03, 02:14 PM
Be careful with cable. Most cable companies require a high cost digital tier to ge their HD channels. They are not free. The extra $5 is for the box. Take advantage of the $199 6000 offer coming up, all you need to do is sub to AT50 + Hd package, total cost=$34. Big whoop! Let's see cable top that price!
Plus, once you see HD you will NOT want to watch regular Dish programming, it really stinks on a HD set.
cyberized
09-09-03, 05:00 PM
Are you saying that ALL I'd have to do to get this "DEAL", is sell or store my PVR 508 (which I LOVE), Downgrade from AT100 to AT50. purchase a 6000 model for $199, and then ad $9.95 a month for 4 HD Channels.
I think I am going to have to keep doing what I am doing - and that is, watch my present DISH offerings through my PVR508 w/o my glasses on, and then when I put them on, I 'd swear I had HDTV now. (HeeHee) It's all way too expensive for what you get right now FOR ME!
Laters, Michael ;)
Well, I just got Comcast, partly because their total package including broadband internet was less than what I was paying Dish and SBC, but more importantly because they offer my HD locals, and satellite will probably never do that.
I don't get Comcast HD yet (waiting for their HD DVR which will probably be the Motorola DCT6208), but, like E*, they do charge for HD. I don't have the number handy, but vaguely recall it was in the $5 to $10 range per month, not much different from E*. The main difference is that I don't need to sign up for any programming packs (I was on a locals-plus-one-intl) and I don't have to buy any equipment and still pay an extra fee.
It has been stated (correctly) by others that my situation is not typical, and E* doesn't particularly care about my kind of subscription, so they weren't competitive for me. But I've never had any complaints about the service, and if my situation were such that they were competitive, I'd still be there.
As it is, I've been playing with the possibility of getting my HD locals OTA, and if that can be done from my location, I could still go back to E* and eventually get a 921 and get both E* and my HD locals. Still, the thought of paying $1K for a receiver plus the additional fees for both DVR and HD, plus lay out $$$ for a superdish really irks me, and I most likely won't do it. It's just way too expensive, and I just can't sign up for any of the programming packs for a year to get any of the "free" deals.
x
Mike Richardson
09-09-03, 06:10 PM
Sorry to hear you got Crapcast xgrep.
cyberized - downgrading to AT50 is NOT mandatory. Selling or storing your 508 is NOT mandatory. Yes, you'll need a 6000 or other HD receiver, and yes, it is $199. Yes, the HD pack is $9.99. You get HDNet, HDNet Movies, Discovery HD, and ESPN HD, with the likely possibility of more channels later. You can get CBS HD with your locals package if you qualify. You also get HD PPV and HD Events for free (PPV movies $3.99). Does Comcast even offer HDNet?
DarrellP
09-10-03, 08:57 AM
cyberized, I see you are in Beaverton. In case you don't know, we get ABC, CBS, NBC, OPB in HD every evening and FOX 480P widescreen. WB just came online and in about a month all of there material will be 1080i with most Primetime HD. UPN is currently down with transmitter issues but all in all we have some outstanding HD in the Portland area.
Even if you do not yet have a HD capable set, the local digitals and Dish HD can be downconverted to your current set and look fabulous, like watching a DVD for all of your programming.
Check out this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2651903#post2651903) site for local Portland digital station issues/discussions.
Does Comcast even offer HDNet?Not in the Bay Area, if they do. Nor Discovery HD, which I would like. From their web site, they offer ESPN, KGO (ABC), KNTV (NBC), KQED (PBS), HBO and Showtime, and the cost is $5/mo for the HD receiver (the content is not extra). I wouldn't mind HD Movies, and would probably sign up for the $9.99 HD pack, but I'm far more interested in my locals, or at least PBS HD, which are not offered by E* at all.
x
Even if you do not yet have a HD capable set, the local digitals and Dish HD can be downconverted to your current set and look fabulous, like watching a DVD for all of your programming.I can confirm that. Maybe even better than many DVDs, though it depends on the broadcaster and what they're sending. Some stuff isn't so hot (old Seinfeld reruns in HD? right ...)
x
Mike Richardson
09-10-03, 04:43 PM
Not in the Bay Area, if they do. Nor Discovery HD, which I would like. From their web site, they offer ESPN, KGO (ABC), KNTV (NBC), KQED (PBS), HBO and Showtime, and the cost is $5/mo for the HD receiver (the content is not extra). I wouldn't mind HD Movies, and would probably sign up for the $9.99 HD pack, but I'm far more interested in my locals, or at least PBS HD, which are not offered by E* at all.
x
It doesn't generally matter if DISH offers your HD locals or not. Because you can usually get them off the air! And for the most part who cares where you get them from as long as they work. Off the air is FREE. Bundle that with HD Pack and AT-Whatever and there you go.
There have been rumors of Comcast starting up in the Portland area this fall. What they carry varies by city. You may get ESPN, but don't count on it. OTA HD is on six channels now, and could be a good add-on to your Dish networks setup. I use it in addition to cable, until Dish comes out with their new products (I'm just north of Beaverton in the Bethany area).
It doesn't generally matter if DISH offers your HD locals or not. Because you can usually get them off the air! And for the most part who cares where you get them from as long as they work. Off the air is FREE. Bundle that with HD Pack and AT-Whatever and there you go.Unfortunately, it's not always so easy to get locals OTA. That was one of the reasons I (and many other people - just look at the demand for locals!) get DBS in the first place. We are in a location that has bad multipath and geographical features, and OTA is not easy, though I'm still working on it.
I agree, though, *if* I can get my HD locals OTA, I might consider Dish's offering (at enormous expense), but if not, Comcast is a solution.
x
styxfix
09-11-03, 12:45 AM
While I agree, OTA HD in the bay area can be challenging for certain areas, but for the most part, with right setup you should be able to most all OTA HD channels with the right antenna. I live in Fremont and I can get pretty much all (20+) of them and they are FREE. I would only recomend Comcast if you live in a hilly area (Livermore, Plea., Dublin) AND you couldn't put up an outdoor antenna.
Check out this link: http://www.choisser.com/broadcst.html and also join the Yahoo Groups "HD-in-SFbay". Lots of good information there.
ride525
09-11-03, 06:09 AM
While I agree, OTA HD in the bay area can be challenging for certain areas, but for the most part, with right setup you should be able to most all OTA HD channels with the right antenna. I live in Fremont and I can get pretty much all (20+) of them and they are FREE. I would only recomend Comcast if you live in a hilly area (Livermore, Plea., Dublin) AND you couldn't put up an outdoor antenna.
Check out this link: http://www.choisser.com/broadcst.html and also join the Yahoo Groups "HD-in-SFbay". Lots of good information there.
Good news for me...I also live in Fremont....I waiting to get an HD Dish receiver.....have large RS antenna on rotor
styxfix, which receiver do you use to get HD?
The problem with cable is that their HD is not real HD. I just read a good article about it and wish I had the info still here to share with you. The Video expert said that many cable systems offer HDTV under the 15 million whatever that makes it HDTV. This man called 3 different cable companies and asked what bit-rate or whatever they call it and all three said they get back and never did. This expert compared his DBS HD to a friends cable system which they own the same TV and he said the picture quality wasn't even close. DBS won hands down. This cable system only offered 10 million whatever when 15 million is required to be true HD. So the bottom line of the article is that if you want true HDTV then your best bet is DBS or OTA.
The problem with cable is that their HD is not real HD. I just read a good article about it and wish I had the info still here to share with you. The Video expert said that many cable systems offer HDTV under the 15 million whatever that makes it HDTV. This man called 3 different cable companies and asked what bit-rate or whatever they call it and all three said they get back and never did. This expert compared his DBS HD to a friends cable system which they own the same TV and he said the picture quality wasn't even close. DBS won hands down. This cable system only offered 10 million whatever when 15 million is required to be true HD. So the bottom line of the article is that if you want true HDTV then your best bet is DBS or OTA.Very interesting discussion.
First of all, you guys in Fremont are lucky. We folks on the peninsula have plenty of hills, and while it's possible to get UHF with a good antenna/rotor, it hasn't been good enough for me to get all the stations I want. There's a hill between us and Sutro tower, and I'm not particularly interested in what's on the other transmitters.
By the way, thanks, styxfix, for the link. I did know about it, and it's excellent info.
Re which receiver, I'm currently testing the Samsung SIR-T165, and this is a truly wonderful box. Some functionality is a bit inconvenient, but it's possibly the best receiver at the moment for picking up hard-to-get stations. PQ is awesome. But even if I can get the stations I want, I'm still undecided over (1) keeping the Samsung and getting some combination or cable or dbs for my other non-HD needs, (2) getting a 921 when it comes out and using its OTA plus E*'s HD pack, or (3) all cable. I really want a DVR in the mix.
Speaking of PQ, I recorded some 720p material that I managed to get from KQED-HD at virtual channel 9-1, and the picture is marvelous, but the bit rate was only about 12.5Mbps. So I have clear evidence that OTA is no guarantee of 15Mbps, either. And I can tell you that the PQ on other HD OTA is visibly worse than KQED (KGO is mostly a joke except for sporting events where they crank it up a bit, but still not what I think it should be). I haven't checked around to see what people are seeing on other providers, notably E*'s HD offerings. Anyone have any numbers?
x
cyberized
09-11-03, 05:39 PM
I EMailed Comcast Support here in the Portland, OR area and asked If/WHEN they would be joining the other majore cities on the West Coast and roll out their initial HD Offering here.
The response was they figure in OCTOBER.
About HD OTA, Charlie was so non-chalant, Oh, heck, you can get your Local HD for FREE, just get an HD antenna. Sure sounds good doesn't it. TOO GOOD to be true for many I'm afraid. I live where there are NO obstructions and after 5 years of trying to save money by FIGHTING to get my Locals over various outdoor and indoor antennas - I gave up the fight and started paying DISH $5.99 a month for my Locals. So - I can't quite buy into just get your Local HD Signals off an antenna - U Bet!
Going to be interesting watching the latest rounds of competition between DBS's and Cable now that HD's time has arrived.
Regards, Michael
styxfix
09-11-03, 11:20 PM
styxfix, which receiver do you use to get HD?
Well, I used to have the 6000 receiver which I later added both modules. It cost me around $100 as a first time sub a while back, but I didn't have a HD TV yet. I was hoping to get one soon. Sold the 6000 this summer w/o ever getting that HD TV. Tomorrow, I'm finally getting the Philips 55" Cineos LCoS HD TV delivered to the house. I hoping to connect a 921 DVR receiver to it. I don't why I buy things back wards. I also bought speakers before getting an audio receiver.
I live where there are NO obstructions and after 5 years of trying to save money by FIGHTING to get my Locals over various outdoor and indoor antennas - I gave up the fight and started paying DISH $5.99 a month for my Locals. So - I can't quite buy into just get your Local HD Signals off an antenna - U Bet!
Tuning digital is very different than tuning analog. Digital goes further... and if you get the signal more often than not, it's perfect.
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