Cable or Satellite?

[Beaverhausen]

I'm finally getting a permanent job and will soon have the funds to get either cable or satellite TV.

The Cable here is 3 mos. intro for 19.99 then it goes up to 45.99 for basic, $3 more for premium channel.

The satellite here is 29.99 month for the first 6 months.

What advice do you all have?

I'm in Los Angeles. the cable company would be Charter

thanks!

[bedtimeforbonzo]

1. Cable for internet access

it's not even close.

[dr.strangelove]

12. Satellite TV and Cable Internet w/ a note

The cable modem is 10x faster than DSL unless you live very close to the DSL origination station. I've had both Cable and Satellite and I believe Satellite provides more bang for the buck. the picture quality is the same or better on Sattellite, and Satellite is usually MUCH CHEAPER after you calculate the FCC and state taxes.

Caveat - If you get a strong signal, you will NEVER lose satellite service. My signal is probably triple what some people (just lucky positioning on the earth). I have watch TV perfectly during 22 inch snowstorms, thunderstorms and a tornado watch. However, my mother loses signal during bad snow and lightning at times. The dish service can measure your signal before you decide to go that route. I don't have the signal strength figure on me, but I'm sure they are around the net.

[ewagner]

2. I've had good luck with Charter

I have their "digital choice" prgram and their cable modem.

Their cutomer service people have been helpful everytime I've had a problem, and, if a tech had to come to the house they were on-time, competent and efficient.

Can't say enough about them.........

[ArkDem]

3. Get a radio

[tcfrogs]

4. Go Satellite!

I was a "trendsetter" and BOUGHT all the equipment in 1999. A couple of years before they not only gave you the receivers for free, but now they do free installation.

Sounds like you've got a good deal w/6 mos at $29.99. Do you have to sign up for a 2-year contract or anything?

I live in Chicago, and our satellite only goes out during MAJOR storms, and only for a brief time. Cable always seemed to go out even during the mildest of storms.

My two cents....

[underpants]

5. Well we have digital cable it is AWESOME

I am "taping" (DVRing) the very first Trading Spaces for my wife as we speak. It is great for rewinded the show your are watching in case you missed something.

Pricey yeah but worth it in my opinion. I have never had satellite and have always been able to find SOMETHING on cable.

[commander bunnypants]

6. cable

ddqm

[xxqqqzme]

7. had Satellite

for 5 years now - can't imagine why I would go back 2 cable.

[Rainbowreflect]

8. I love my Dish & have had great luck with it.

Much cheaper that Cable. We have had it for 4 years and in that time our Dish bill has gone up $2.50 while cable has gone up about $18 for basic.

[shanti]

16. yes, DISH is the way to go!

much better than COMCAST - yechhh!

[Supormom]

9. Free Speech TV and World Link

The two main reasons for choosing Dish Network.

[izzie]

10. I had a dish for 10 years and loved it.

Could get some wild stuff on it( in the news line and college stuff) but I am in a mother-in-law apt now and they wished me to have cable. It is easier but not all those good shows. I used to have to wade through snow and brush it off when I had the dish that was about a yard wide but even that stopped when they made the dishes small. I do pick up some of the stuff I lost on this PC. I would also have to get a more costly plan to rent movies on this cable.Also the town I lived in did not have cable, it went right around the town, so had to have the dish.

[Beaverhausen]

11. kick

this is now 50/50.

I need more opinions.

[Trillo]

13. C-band satellite allows you to have a la carte programming.

Big dish--it costs a bit for the equipment, but I like the ability to buy one channel at a time. I got my dish and receiver for free, by running an advertisement that I'd remove big-dish systems in return for the equipment. I removed about 4 systems, and patched together one complete working system from the parts. I did buy a new LNB with KU and C-band.

Otherwise, I think you're looking at a couple grand or more in start-up costs.

The programming I bought most recently for a whole year cost me $114. It's basic channels and news, no premium commercial free channels like HBO, I prefer to buy bargain DVDs for that.

[SmileyBoy]

14. Cable TV is a RIPOFF!!!

You can get twice as many channels of DirecTV for a few dollars LESS per month.

Yes, I have DirecTV, and I know it's controlled by Murdoch. I don't give a crap.;)

[Beaverhausen]

15. Kicking again because the job offer came thru yesterday!

YEAH!!!:toast:

OK so far satellite is the most popular format.

are there different kinds of satellite?

(My goal today is to get to 100 posts)

[northzax]

17. neither

television is free, man. you get the networks and PBS for free over the airwaves. Do you really want to spend 50 bucks a month (and it will be 55 the second year, expect 5-10 percent increased annually) for 87 channels you will never watch? for the same price, you can easily subscribe to TNR, the Economist, the NYT, WashingtonMonthly and Salon.com and get all your news from better sources.

DON'T PAY EXTRA FOR THE IDIOT BOX.

[Beaker]

18. satellite prices don't increase annually.

i've had dish network for quite some time, and I can only remember one small price increase in the past several years.
and btw- there are more than 87 channels, and i watch a lot of them. the percentage of my tv viewing that takes place on the free networks and PBS is probably less than 20%.
TNR, the Economist, the NYT, WashingtonMonthly and Salon.com can't get you "The Soprano's", The Daily Show, Chappelle's Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, South Park, Deadwood, etc...

[Beaverhausen]

19. YES!!! I miss the Daily Show

I had cable and it was shut off right before the start of the Iraq invasion and I think it was better that I didn't have to watch it 24/7.

But there is a lot of great stuff that I'm looking forward to seeing again. Including the Daily Show...and Surprise by Design!

[northzax]

21. hm, I guess you're right

and yet I seem to have survived without watching the Sopranos, the Daily show, Curb Your Enthusiasm etc. funny that.

do you really base your existence on your television watching? that is scary, my friend.

[tsakshaug]

20. Rabbit ears

9 channels. no guilt