Community weekly poll: Which is better, digital cable or satellite?
- 6/27/05 3:24 PM
Yes, but LOOK at TYPE of STROMS (FL) You get.
by no9to5wdm - 6/29/05 8:23 AM In reply to: IOE that has not been the case by GrandriverYes, but LOOK at TYPE of STROMS (FL) You get.
We have had 10' sat dish for 23 years, only major storms effected TV (which I turn off Electronics even with all of the protection I have on it). Small Dish with DishNetwork for 3 years. NOW it is time to go DIRECT TV & INTERNET. In the country we have no nat. gas, no cable, poor SBC phone lines give slow up and downloads. Mid-Michigan.
I've been there done that
by Grandriver - 7/2/05 4:45 PM In reply to: Yes, but LOOK at TYPE of STROMS (FL) You get. by no9to5wdmBefore retiring and moving 7 years ago we lived out of reach of cable. We had EchoStar first and then switched to Bell Expressvu when they finally got operational (we couldn't have the older analog dish since a microwave tower nearby, as low powered as it was, obliterated the signal) and storms did the same thing to our reception they did on our MH in Florida.
Frankly, I don't think it is a big deal very often. Now, we have both digital cable and satellite - sort of the best of both worlds - if one fails we have the other (and cable does go out occasionally). Internet via cable seems to knock the socks off of the phone company's DSL though. We can't get DSL at home but do have it in our MH in Florida - our DSL is barely 1/3x the speed of our internet on cable, if that - and no difference in price.
I just keep asking myself how long I'm going to pay for cable and satellite? I have a PVR on the dish and if I drop it I'll have to get one for cable - but rather than get one from the cable company that is tied to their service, I've ordered Panasonic's DMR-E500 with a 400 GB drive and a DVD recorder. I can use it on cable and or satellite.
Florida Storms....
by kellumrw - 7/5/05 8:06 AM In reply to: IOE that has not been the case by GrandriverI'm in Kissimmee, Fl. We installed DishNetwork a few months ago with great reception.
Yes, we too loose signal during a severe storm. But in those storms it's best to turn everything off anyhow.
Your neighbors cable may not go out when yours satellite does because the cable dish is not located at their house like your system is. That dish may be 10-30 miles away. A storm in that area will knock their signal out while yours remains. Think about it.
After the hurricanes we had no cable service for three days after electric was restored. The cable compnay had no idea that service was not restored till we called.
Florida
by scuff66 - 7/13/05 6:20 PM In reply to: Florida Storms.... by kellumrwI tried satellite but returned in weeks to cable over here in Melbourne.
1. because the loss of service in those afternoon thunderstorms that flare up.
2. TW's Orlando 'Channel 13 weather on the 1's'. Frankly, I'm addicted year round but more so in our hurricane season.
3. Weather channel is not specific ... on satellite it's national weather picture only. Can't have that!!!
Depending on the angle of the Satellites
by HiDefBob - 6/29/05 3:11 PM In reply to: Storms knocking out satellites is a myth... by fixmyheadNot true! My system was professionally installed. The problem is NOT with the equipment - it is the low angle of the Bell ExpressVU's satellites on the west coast of Canada. During HEAVY rainstorms the single from the satellite is knocked out. On the other hand I also have Star Choice whose satellite are much higher off the horizon. I have NEVER suffered a loss of signal or dropouts on Star Choice due to heavy rain or even snow. However, once a thick layer of snow builds up I have to go out and knock it off because I do lose signal.
Digital Cable Much More Useful
by Thighmaster - 6/28/05 3:43 PM In reply to: Which is better, digital cable or satellite? by Marc Bennett
This is a no-brainer. With digital cable I can get TV, internet access, and telephone service all from one provider. Satellite can't offer that . . . yet.
digital cable
by HanBacca - 6/28/05 3:44 PM In reply to: Which is better, digital cable or satellite? by Marc Bennett
because i had satellite and the i always thought that it would be perfect.....until it rained =(
Cable Best for Internet, Satellite Better for TV
by radiovan - 6/28/05 3:46 PM In reply to: Which is better, digital cable or satellite? by Marc Bennett
I have used both DirecTv and Dishnet for digital TV. They offer more channels of interest to me than digital cable. It used to cost about $10 less a month for satellite but due to increases they are losing their competitive edge.
Cable is awesome for Internet, very fast and depending on location very reliable. Satellite Internet services are way too expensive. If you are one of the lucky few able to get DSL it's cheaper than cable.
I agree...
by Julie Allen - 6/28/05 6:21 PM In reply to: Cable Best for Internet, Satellite Better for TV by radiovanSatellite has gave me the edge for TV due to the Major League Baseball packages.
But the latency of the signal for broadband makes it secondary to cable modem service although Comcast is a theif; their prices are abhorrant.
Satellite wins
by Kleet - 6/28/05 3:47 PM In reply to: Which is better, digital cable or satellite? by Marc Bennett
Simple. Satellite is much more stable.
When I was a cable subscriber, I could count on my cable going down when it rained or snowed. Somewhere down the line, and exposed above ground cable would snap or lightening would stike and the cable company would say "weather related" if you could get through to them.
With satellite, it has been a rare occurence in five years to lose the signal. If you do lose the signal, the dish reaquires the satellite in seconds.
Oh, and the cable companies were just so arrogant until they got some competition. I didn't like that.
Sat VS Cable
by Benf - 6/28/05 3:47 PM In reply to: Which is better, digital cable or satellite? by Marc Bennett
1: Cable has incredibly unreliable service
2: Satellite gives you more channels for less money
3: Cable has incredibly unreliable service
4: Satellite is 100% digital.
5: Cable has limited digital service.
5: Cable has incredibly unreliable service.
6: I take my satellite service on week end trips to the river or skiing or camping in my trailer, no cable service there.
71: Cable is the poster child for abismal customer service and there track record for keeping there service working cant possibly be any worse.
Ben
Re: Sat VS Cable
by Thighmaster - 6/28/05 4:53 PM In reply to: Sat VS Cable by BenfI'm sorry to hear about your problems with your cable provider. Where I live (Oahu), though, it's exactly the opposite. Cable has incredibly reliable service (especially since they started providing VOIP telephone service). And their customer service is great. When I go to spend time outdoors I do NOT want to take my television with me. What's the point?
Celeste
Both have their benefits
by cloudmar - 6/28/05 3:52 PM In reply to: Which is better, digital cable or satellite? by Marc Bennett
I have had HDTV and internet via Cable from Time Warner Austin. Now I live where the cable will never go and have HDTV and Internet via DirecTV and Directway. The cable quality wasn't always great on HDTV; lots of pixalation but I had play back on command that is a feature not available on satellite. The cable software/hardware that was supplied did not support chasing playback as DirecTV Satellite does (While recording you can start viewing at the beginning). When they work the quality is excellent on both systems. Internet wise the cable was faster and they don't use a "fair use" policy. However cable's speed was time sensitive and satellite isn't. One point against Satellite is local programming in HDTV. I have to use an over the air antenna for this where it would be HDTV on cable. One point against cable was crappy signals deliveried to the local cable head (non digital). I always had mutipath phasing on TNN. Tech support agreed it was there but I was told to contact TNN directly. If quality is most important get satelite. If content on demand is most important get cable. As far as installation goes cable never ran it the way I wanted. Satellite was DIY and Directway did run it to my liking.
TV rots your brain
by patches16134 - 6/28/05 3:55 PM In reply to: Which is better, digital cable or satellite? by Marc Bennett
To the 19 percent that said TV rots your brain, bet you have at least 1 TV in your home. Now>>>>the major question is....what the heck are you doing with a computer? I gotta say, that a computer takes up more of my time then a TV. I really wopuld like to hear the 19 percent input on this.
Haven't had Satellite or Cable in almost 5 months...
by Julie Allen - 6/28/05 6:34 PM In reply to: TV rots your brain by patches16134I used to really enjoy satellite because of the Major League Baseball packages but I moved and this bldg.(I rent) & my new bldg. doesn't have it. I refuse to deal with the only cable choice here which is the major rip off artist Comcast.
I can pick up about 8 channels and the only one I really watch with any regularity is PBS because they broadcast things that are for the non moron.
My p.c. is connected to a network that is provided by my new place I rent from; hey this is The San Francisco Bay Area - internet access is the #1 priority here & webcasts are getting practically as good as TV.
I watch some really good webcasts off the History Channel and other nerd/geek stuff which makes me happy.
I just can't get any Star Trek reruns but I'm going to buy them on DVD so really is no real pressing need for TV anymore IMO.
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