Thinking about switching back

[SychoBC]

I currently have Cox Digital Cable and I have become unsatisfied with it. I'm looking at adding DirecTV back after not having it for about a year, but I have a few questions.

1. Does anyone know how far away Omaha HDTV locals are?
2. How hard is it to keep both cable and DirecTV? Can the installer figure out how to do it?
3. Do all new installs come with the 5 LNB dish?

[Dr_J]

I currently have Cox Digital Cable and I have become unsatisfied with it. I'm looking at adding DirecTV back after not having it for about a year, but I have a few questions.

1. Does anyone know how far away Omaha HDTV locals are?
2. How hard is it to keep both cable and DirecTV? Can the installer figure out how to do it?
3. Do all new installs come with the 5 LNB dish?

1. Don't know.

2. I have both DirecTV and bare-bones, limited basic cable ($11/month) for locals and channels I can't get on DirecTV, plus as a lifeline in case there's a rain deluge at a critical moment, so it can be done.

3. Only if you want HD, I believe.

Good luck! :)

[longrider]

1. Only D* knows for sure, you can guess by where you are in the DMA ranking but they are not following that exactly.

2. That is no problem at all, the installer will have to run new wire to every location but that is included in a standard installation. The only issue could be how you select cable or sat at the TV. Possibly component for one and HDMI for the other or if you are lucky enough to have multiple HDMI inputs that would make it easy.

3. If you order HD you will get a 5LNB. If you dont order HD I dont know but it would be logical to put in a 5 so they dont have to change it when you upgrade.

[Tom Robertson]

From Salt Lake, Omaha HD locals are very far away. :)

As to when will they launch, I don't know. I'm hoping that many more HD locals will launch in the next few months with the new satellite going operational soon, but I can't guess on Omaha.

I too have DIRECTV and basic, basic cable. Basic cable is virtually free with Internet so I took it. Since I did the install, the installer knew how to deliver both without a problem. :)

And 5lnb only if you order HD is also my understanding. So order HD. :)

Cheers,
Tom

[Stuart Sweet]

Definitely call or e-mail customer service, they have been adding a lot of channels lately and are adding more HDs very very soon. You may not need cable.

[SychoBC]

One more question.

I had the old 3 LNB dish and I would like to know if any trees are going to be in the way for the new 5 LNB dish. Is there anyway to figure this out. I know the installer had a little tool, but is there any other way. I'd hate to have him come out only to say there are trees in the way.

[boba]

One more question.

I had the old 3 LNB dish and I would like to know if any trees are going to be in the way for the new 5 LNB dish. Is there anyway to figure this out. I know the installer had a little tool, but is there any other way. I'd hate to have him come out only to say there are trees in the way.3 LNB covered satellites from 101 to 119 5LNB covers 99 to 119 so you need only 2 degrees to the EAST beyond what the 3 LNB covered.:)

[SychoBC]

Also will I need a multiswitch for only one receiver? The HR20?

[CCarncross]

Nope. The 5lnb dish has 4 lines coming out from the built-in ms, so it can be used for up to 4 sat inputs, 4 regular receivers, or 2 dvrs or any combination in between.

[EdL]

SychoBC,

I'm set for a DirecTV install on Monday (for the NFL Superfan HD pakg.), but Cox will be kept for a while, so I can let you know how having both goes. I have an Impact component video switcher, so I'll be able to do A-B comparisons to see who really has the better picture.

EdL

[SychoBC]

SychoBC,

I'm set for a DirecTV install on Monday (for the NFL Superfan HD pakg.), but Cox will be kept for a while, so I can let you know how having both goes. I have an Impact component video switcher, so I'll be able to do A-B comparisons to see who really has the better picture.

EdL

Thanks, what receiver did you order?

[EdL]

Thanks, what receiver did you order?

The H20 with the built in OTA tuner.

[smokes20]

SychoBC,

I'm set for a DirecTV install on Monday (for the NFL Superfan HD pakg.), but Cox will be kept for a while, so I can let you know how having both goes. I have an Impact component video switcher, so I'll be able to do A-B comparisons to see who really has the better picture.

EdL
:lol: :lol: :lol: I was with Directv for 8 years and switched to Cox thinking I would save money. I dumped Cox after 17 months of problems last September and came back to Directv. Cox doesn't even come close to the quantity or quality of Directv HD. Before I cut off Cox service I had Cox employees (friends) who said Directv HD was superior to Cox HD.

[bobinboise]

3. If you order HD you will get a 5LNB. If you dont order HD I dont know but it would be logical to put in a 5 so they dont have to change it when you upgrade.

The tech has to confirm before leaving that the dish is working at all 5 orbital locations (or at least that's the rules. Good techs follow that rule). In order to do that, the customer has to have an HD-compatible TV and HD or HDDVR receiver. So, no, unless you order HD service, you don't get an HD dish. It's kind of a waste of money, because they usually don't reuse the dishes that they swap out, but that's just how it is, for technical reasons.

Bob