| Author |
Message |
Jeff Rife
Guest
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 Posted:
Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:42 am Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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Jack Zwick (jackzwick@yahoo.com) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
Considering I know people in Houston with CableCard HDTVs that don't have a
TW box, others use non-CableCard QAM tuners in HDTVs, and there are reports
on AVS Forum that you can use a PCI card to receive the locals as well, I
suspect the web site is like all other cable websites: intentionally
misleading to force you to spend more money than you need to.
You just have to call and ask about something other than the "digital cable"
they advertise on the site you reference. The "Basic Service" should be
what you want, and if it doesn't give you local HD channels when using
your QAM tuner (either in a PC or in an HDTV), then complain at them that
they are violating FCC regulations. If your complaints fall on deaf ears,
report them to the FCC, and CC the report to the head of the local company,
and the CEO of Time Warner cable.
--
Jeff Rife | Coach: How's life, Norm?
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| Norm: Not for the squeamish, Coach.
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Galley
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:42 am Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 15:27:30 -0700, "Greg Kamer" <gkamer@nospam.com> spewed
forth these words of wisdom:
| Quote: | You're years behind. Boxes are now free from DirecTv and DISH.
Huh? I just checked into getting the dish, and they want to charge me $4.99
a month for their DVR box. Do you mena they should not be doing that?
|
$4.99 is a monthly fee for the DVR service only. DirecTV charges one fee no
matter how many DVRs you have.
--
Galley's Music Scene
A different music topic every weekday
http://www.GalleysMusicScene.com/ |
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Jack Zwick
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 28, 2005 2:13 pm Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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In article <JqKdnU5cEckeB_zeRVn-rg@comcast.com>,
"Charles Tomaras" <tomaras@tomaras.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
"Greg Kamer" <gkamer@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:sMSdnQkAGdDJyfzeRVn-jw@centurytel.net...
You're years behind. Boxes are now free from DirecTv and DISH.
Huh? I just checked into getting the dish, and they want to charge me
$4.99 a month for their DVR box. Do you mena they should not be doing
that?
They probably want to charge you $4.99 per month for the programming
service. That would be about $8 a month less than a Tivo subscription.
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The DirecTv with TiVo is $4.99/month for the TiVo service. |
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Jack Zwick
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Oct 28, 2005 2:16 pm Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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In article <MPG.1dcb510f148b8b6998a0a5@news.nabs.net>,
Jeff Rife <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Considering I know people in Houston with CableCard HDTVs that don't have a
TW box, others use non-CableCard QAM tuners in HDTVs, and there are reports
on AVS Forum that you can use a PCI card to receive the locals as well, I
suspect the web site is like all other cable websites: intentionally
misleading to force you to spend more money than you need to.
|
Then they charge a $5 monthly fee for the Cablecard. And that in itself
can be pulling teeth, getting a cablecard from TimeWarner, their website
fails to say word one about a cable card.
| Quote: |
You just have to call and ask about something other than the "digital cable"
they advertise on the site you reference. The "Basic Service" should be
what you want, and if it doesn't give you local HD channels when using
your QAM tuner (either in a PC or in an HDTV), then complain at them that
they are violating FCC regulations. If your complaints fall on deaf ears,
report them to the FCC, and CC the report to the head of the local company,
and the CEO of Time Warner cable. |
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tq96
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:59 pm Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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| Quote: | In my area, HD channels are free with any digital cable package. I
pay no more than the guy next door who doesn't know what HDTV is.
But you pay $100s more per year for poorer service and reception than
a DirecTv customer. I know, I've been there, done that.
Dare you tell us what you pay per month for what ???
|
I just did a quick comparison at the Comcast and DirecTV web sites
selecting the most basic programming package and the HDTV option. Here's
what I found.
DirecTV
-------
Total Choice: $41.99
HD Channels: $10.99
Service Total: $52.98
Equipment Purchase: $199.00
Comcast (Northeast Ohio Area)
-----------------------------
Digital Classic: $54.94
HD Channels: $0.00
Service Total: $54.94
Equipment Purchase: $0.00
So the Comcast option is $2 more per month than the DirecTV option while
DirecTV equipment is an additional $199 up front. If I want DVR through
DirecTV, the equipment fee grows to $499 while it is still $0 at Comcast.
As others have pointed out, for the really thrifty that have QAM tuners,
they can get HDTV OTA local channels from Comcast with the $12 basic
package.
For standard TV it seems that DirecTV is a great value. But if your prime
interest is getting HDTV (especially if you want DVR), DirecTV's equipment
requirements make it a lot more expensive. |
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Gary Tait
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:32 am Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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tq96 <tq96@tq96.tq96> wrote in news:Xns96FF79ED7957Atq96@127.0.0.1:
| Quote: | In my area, HD channels are free with any digital cable package. I
pay no more than the guy next door who doesn't know what HDTV is.
But you pay $100s more per year for poorer service and reception than
a DirecTv customer. I know, I've been there, done that.
Dare you tell us what you pay per month for what ???
I just did a quick comparison at the Comcast and DirecTV web sites
selecting the most basic programming package and the HDTV option.
Here's what I found.
DirecTV
-------
Total Choice: $41.99
HD Channels: $10.99
Service Total: $52.98
Equipment Purchase: $199.00
Comcast (Northeast Ohio Area)
-----------------------------
Digital Classic: $54.94
HD Channels: $0.00
Service Total: $54.94
Equipment Purchase: $0.00
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You forgot to include the cost of box or cablecard rental.
A standalone HDTV tuner would bring the hadrware cost the same. |
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tq96
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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| Quote: | DirecTV
-------
Total Choice: $41.99
HD Channels: $10.99
Service Total: $52.98
Equipment Purchase: $199.00
Comcast (Northeast Ohio Area)
-----------------------------
Digital Classic: $54.94
HD Channels: $0.00
Service Total: $54.94
Equipment Purchase: $0.00
You forgot to include the cost of box or cablecard rental.
|
How so? For the Comcast pricing, there is no additional cost for box
rental for the first TV.
> A standalone HDTV tuner would bring the hadrware cost the same. |
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Jack Zwick
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:12 pm Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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In article <Xns96FF79ED7957Atq96@127.0.0.1>, tq96 <tq96@tq96.tq96>
wrote:
| Quote: | In my area, HD channels are free with any digital cable package. I
pay no more than the guy next door who doesn't know what HDTV is.
But you pay $100s more per year for poorer service and reception than
a DirecTv customer. I know, I've been there, done that.
Dare you tell us what you pay per month for what ???
I just did a quick comparison at the Comcast and DirecTV web sites
selecting the most basic programming package and the HDTV option. Here's
what I found.
DirecTV
-------
Total Choice: $41.99
HD Channels: $10.99
Service Total: $52.98
Equipment Purchase: $199.00
Comcast (Northeast Ohio Area)
-----------------------------
Digital Classic: $54.94
HD Channels: $0.00
Service Total: $54.94
Equipment Purchase: $0.00
|
Now try an Apples to Apples comparison of the extra cost to get all the
channels on Comcast that DirecTv offers with its Total Choice Package.
Every Comcast web site I find shows a monthly equipment charge, and
$9.95/month for DVR, as opposed to $5.99 at DirecTv for TiVo.
| Quote: |
So the Comcast option is $2 more per month than the DirecTV option while
DirecTV equipment is an additional $199 up front. If I want DVR through
DirecTV, the equipment fee grows to $499 while it is still $0 at Comcast.
As others have pointed out, for the really thrifty that have QAM tuners,
they can get HDTV OTA local channels from Comcast with the $12 basic
package.
For standard TV it seems that DirecTV is a great value. But if your prime
interest is getting HDTV (especially if you want DVR), DirecTV's equipment
requirements make it a lot more expensive.
|
I got an HR10-250 free after rebate. Free is Free.
Comcast charges high fees for installation, I got my DirecTv installed
free. |
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Fred Bloggs
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:43 pm Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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The prices for what I want are way more expensive from Comcast in my area
(San Jose).
Comcast - digital w/HBO - 73.20, 2 DVR's are 9.95 each, making the total
$93.10
Directv - Total Choice W/HBO 54, TiVo service $5 (covers both TiVo boxes),
extra room $5, for total of $64.
The channels I watch most (BBC America, Fox Sports Net and HBO HD) are only
available on the digital tiers from Comcast.
On DTV I get regional feeds of HD network channels that I cannot get OTA, as
well as HD HBO. For an extra $10 I could add a bunch of other HD channels
that I wouldn't watch but even then I am still $20 a month better off.
There are some extra HD channels that I would get with Comcast - like PBS
and I believe Fox Sport Net, but these aren't worth $30 a month to me. The
$360 a year savings more than makes up for the start up costs of Satellite
over cable.
This could all change next year when the MPEG4 streams come on line - it
will be interesting to see how DTV pricing changes and what the upgrade
program is for HDTiVo's.
"Jack Zwick" <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:jackzwick-B58188.07124431102005@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: | In article <Xns96FF79ED7957Atq96@127.0.0.1>, tq96 <tq96@tq96.tq96
wrote:
In my area, HD channels are free with any digital cable package. I
pay no more than the guy next door who doesn't know what HDTV is.
But you pay $100s more per year for poorer service and reception than
a DirecTv customer. I know, I've been there, done that.
Dare you tell us what you pay per month for what ???
I just did a quick comparison at the Comcast and DirecTV web sites
selecting the most basic programming package and the HDTV option. Here's
what I found.
DirecTV
-------
Total Choice: $41.99
HD Channels: $10.99
Service Total: $52.98
Equipment Purchase: $199.00
Comcast (Northeast Ohio Area)
-----------------------------
Digital Classic: $54.94
HD Channels: $0.00
Service Total: $54.94
Equipment Purchase: $0.00
Now try an Apples to Apples comparison of the extra cost to get all the
channels on Comcast that DirecTv offers with its Total Choice Package.
Every Comcast web site I find shows a monthly equipment charge, and
$9.95/month for DVR, as opposed to $5.99 at DirecTv for TiVo.
So the Comcast option is $2 more per month than the DirecTV option while
DirecTV equipment is an additional $199 up front. If I want DVR through
DirecTV, the equipment fee grows to $499 while it is still $0 at Comcast.
As others have pointed out, for the really thrifty that have QAM tuners,
they can get HDTV OTA local channels from Comcast with the $12 basic
package.
For standard TV it seems that DirecTV is a great value. But if your
prime
interest is getting HDTV (especially if you want DVR), DirecTV's
equipment
requirements make it a lot more expensive.
I got an HR10-250 free after rebate. Free is Free.
Comcast charges high fees for installation, I got my DirecTv installed
free. |
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Jack Zwick
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:13 pm Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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While any unbiased observer concludes DirecTv, based on pricing,
Reliability of signal and customer service is better now, things could
be different in about a year.
Comcast is supposed to come out with a Box that uses TiVo, while DirecTv
is going away from TiVo.
====
Also the Government has mandated that the SBC/ATT merger include within
a year the availability of "naked" dsl (Dsl not requiring a landline
phone), so a sometime incentive of combined service discount
cable/broadband, could go away. |
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Jack Ak
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:55 am Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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"Jack Zwick" <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:jackzwick-6B91DB.06135601112005@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: | While any unbiased observer concludes DirecTv, based on pricing,
Reliability of signal and customer service is better now, things could
be different in about a year.
Comcast is supposed to come out with a Box that uses TiVo, while DirecTv
is going away from TiVo.
====
Also the Government has mandated that the SBC/ATT merger include within
a year the availability of "naked" dsl (Dsl not requiring a landline
phone), so a sometime incentive of combined service discount
cable/broadband, could go away.
|
Why did the FCC require "naked" DSL offering to be available for ONLY 2 YEARS?
This suggests that after two years new DSL customers won't be offered
a "naked" DSL service option.
See 3rd bullet item from bottom on third page of the PDF file...
www.fcc.gov Headlines:
10/31/05
CORRECTED FCC Approves SBC/AT&T and Verizon/MCI Mergers. |
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Richard C.
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 04, 2005 9:27 pm Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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X-No-archive: yes
"tq96" <tq96@tq96.tq96> wrote in message
news:Xns96FC2753ED799tq96@127.0.0.1...
| Quote: | FREE, nonsense, you have a monthly rental, and you have higher costs
across the board to hide the true hardware cost.
In my area, HD channels are free with any digital cable package. I pay no
more than the guy next door who doesn't know what HDTV is. I couldn't
imagine paying hundreds of dollars just to get the same thing with
DirectTV.
============================== |
I can't imagine sat OR cable!
I get all my HD OTA free. |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:35 am Post subject:
Re: Directv HDTV Upgrade |
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DirecTV is launching a satellite today to deliver local channels in
HD.
The launch might be shown on channel 399. Check the program guide
for the program scheduled today. Start time is within 2 hours. |
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