[michaelp68]

I'm considering signing-up for DirectTV.

I live in the greater Hartford area and currently have Cox Cable.

I'm wondering if someone could compare the two for me and I'm wondering if anyone familiar with this area has any strong recommendations about either option, one way or the other.

If it helps, I currently have, via Cox, HD and DVR service, and I'd be looking to do the same with DTV, as well.

Thank you.

 

[Pink Fairy]

Honestly, I had so many problems with Cox out here in Oklahoma - when I got the chance, I switched to D*. I keep them for their internet, and phone, cause it is cheap. But comparitavely speaking for just regular television (didnt have HD or DVR service), my service with cable was out every other week, and the only answer they would have was that it was a known issue, no ETA, etc. Since dropping the television part, the outages have diminished, although I still have LOTS of problems.

For me it was a no brainer. But my experience with Cox cable - (I spent 2 1/2 hours on the phone the other night with one person just to have a relocation since they will not install the line for internet in two rooms at once) was that is sucks majorly. If there was better internet and phone (vonage is ok) I would drop them completely.

I have an R15 DVR unit, which I have had some problems, yes, but overall, it has been a great thing for my house. With 5 adults that work crazy schedules...It's the only way to keep the peace at times!

As for HD, not tried it, although I will once they start offering hd locals.

 

[JLucPicard]

I have an R15 DVR unit, .... With 5 adults that work crazy schedules...It's the only way to keep the peace at times!

I can't imagine a house with 5 adults and only one DVR! :lol:

 

[Pink Fairy]

-giggles- yes, well, we hope to rectify that situation soon! With a new one sometime next month! And imagine it without one!

 

[DawgLink]

I had Cox for years down here in New Orleans

I didnt mind the service too much really. ESPNHD was good and ESPN2HD just came back and was good.

But outside of those 2 HD channels and a few others, that is all they offer and plan to offer for awhile.

D* at least has a potential to add quite a bit more in the future AND offer the Sunday Ticket AND hopefully MLB

 

[untouchable]

Cox is awful...I am just about to drop the internet and phone...I wouldn't recommend Cox to anyone unless you have an undying wish to be miserable all of the time...I couldn't watch anything because the picture would drop out and the audio would be distorted...the tech came and told me "it's on your side, not ours" and then come to find out it was a problem at the hub in my area...my neighbors were having the same problems too...then, internet service is always dropping out, their techs never can fix any of the problems...I dropped their programming service like a rock about 2 years ago and started with D*. Since then, I've had 1 replacement receiver, 6 techs to my home (1 initial install 3 upgrades, 1 service call, and 1 movers connection)

I am having another service appointment with Cox today for the fourth time in 2 months since I've moved...each time they can't fix the problems with internet, so no...like I said, if you want to be completely miserable, or have a death wish,then yes it may be the right choice...but I would definitely go with D*.

 

[comptr]

I am also planning to switch from cox out here in phoenix to direct tv since cox has just raised their prices. But cox internet is perfect out here and it is fast.

 

[nollchr]

I'm considering signing-up for DirectTV.

I live in the greater Hartford area and currently have Cox Cable.

I'm wondering if someone could compare the two for me and I'm wondering if anyone familiar with this area has any strong recommendations about either option, one way or the other.

If it helps, I currently have, via Cox, HD and DVR service, and I'd be looking to do the same with DTV, as well.

Thank you.

I live in CT. Dumped Cox about 3 or 4 years ago for DirecTV. My driver at the time was price and STB technology. The digital cable box from Cox at the time was very slow compared to what other cable companies offered and had a crappy interface.

I have 3 TVs in my house

With Cox:
1 TV with digital cable, 2 TVs with analog cable + HBO

With Directv:
3 TVs with effectively same as Cox digital cable (but better box at the time) + HBO

I believe I ended up saving about 8$ per month when I switched. However, I have Internet via telephone company and phone via telephone company, so I was not getting any kind of bundled price break.

I now have:
1 TV with R-15 DVR, 2 TVs with my original Hughes receivers + HBO

I will soon be buying an HD TV and looked at what it will cost me to get DirecTV HD DVR vs going back to Cox. If you ignore any initial lease pay-down fees, monthly bill for Cox still works out higher (again about $8). I don't know if my account history with D* has enough "kung-fu" to wangle a deal, but I'm going to try. I actually prefer the pay up front method with D* (although I think the HR-20 is overpriced) because when you go to the Cox web site and start adding features, they charge you to death for everything including like 0.48 for a remote each month. These rental fees for equipment quickly add up, especially if you have more than 1 Tv.

My gut feeling is for next year or so at least, DirecTV will offer better HD service assuming at least some portion of their CES announcement comes true.

Currently, I would judge Cox and DirecTV in CT offering for both HD and SD as about equal. I had no issues with Cox quality of service. I do get occasional rain fades with DirecTV, which for some reason seem to occur most frequently when my wife's shows are on.

 

[michaelp68]

That's helpful. Thank you.

I suppose my two biggest worries are the rain fades (my wife would kill me if they're too frequent) and failues with the HD DVR (especially if she's trying to watch a recording of Grey's Anatomy....)

I'm inclined to make the switch to DirectTV, but I'm just not sure yet, so I'm gathering information and experiences.

Anyone else?

 

[michaelp68]

**bump**