Directv, Dish Network or Cable?

[pac7days]

Moving as I type, looking for suggestions. I am thinking Directv but it isnt exactly cheap. Experiences?

I like the ESPN gameplan and MLB packages offered by Directv, however, the dish network is cheaper....

[buffettbride]

We've only ever had cable, although we have nothing right now (except 6 local channels).

We're thinkin' Direct TV in November for hockey season though.

[Wino you know]

I only have basic and expanded cable, and THAT'S expensive. ($48.00 per month).
Once the N.F.L and N.H.L. regular seasons start, I'll be making a lot more visits to my neighbor's house. (He has a satellite dish and can get any game he wants).

[buffettbride]

I only have basic and expanded cable, and THAT'S expensive. ($48.00 per month).
Once the N.F.L and N.H.L. regular seasons start, I'll be making a lot more visits to my neighbor's house. (He has a satellite dish and can get any game he wants).

In Iowa, if you're in the Qwest service area you can get Dish for $41.99.

[ToplessRideFL]

I only have basic and expanded cable, and THAT'S expensive. ($48.00 per month).

Thats about what ours is... plus we get the Internet wireless on Broadband for unlimited computers and tax tag and out the door evey month goes about $100

[Wino you know]

In Iowa, if you're in the Qwest service area you can get Dish for $41.99.

Thanks. I'll check into that. When I moved back here in 1996, the price of basic AND expanded cable was $28.00 per month. NOW it's $48.00.

[Pencil Thin (inactive)]

Moving as I type, looking for suggestions. I am thinking Directv but it isnt exactly cheap. Experiences?

I like the ESPN gameplan and MLB packages offered by Directv, however, the dish network is cheaper....

Dish has both the ESPN gameplan and the MLB Extra Innings package as well.

[buffettbride]

In Iowa, if you're in the Qwest service area you can get Dish for $41.99.

Thanks. I'll check into that. When I moved back here in 1996, the price of basic AND expanded cable was $28.00 per month. NOW it's $48.00.

There's a whole slew of new programs at Qwest to help bundle services and keep prices low/competetive. Just let me know if you want me to check anything out for ya. I'm not trying to be a pimp, but I DO know how expensive all the extras get, which is why we haven't had cable or dish of ANY KIND in over a year.

When we started looking into getting it again for hockey season, I was surprised at the huge jump in expanded basic as well. And to get the sports channels we need to see all the games we want, we have to get the minimum digital package--which is almost $60 a month.

I feel your pain dude.

[PHBeerman]

Caleone p*** me off so now I have dish. I really dislike having that piece of crap on my roof, but it was the only other option.

[CaptainP]

We have cable, and JUST upgraded to digital cable. Good enough for me! In one order, we went from dial-up to Roadrunner internet, basic cable to digital, and regular phone to digital (which has free long distance).

The old bills for the internet, phone, and cable used to combine to be anywhere from $140-$180 per month (depending on the long distance). Now it's $100 per month!

[buffettbride]

There's really a LOT of good deals out there right now to keep services together like phone/wireless/Internet/TV. It's really the only way telecom companies can compete right now is to offer everything in a package that people can actually afford because for a while there, it was outta control.

We get our wireless/home phone/Internet and soon to be dish all billed together by one company for the same price we were paying for JUST local phone service and Internet about 3 months ago. It's a HUGE step for telecom. Welcome to my world.

[CaptainP]

Welcome to my world.

It's scary in here.....why are there sporks hanging from the walls?

[Wino you know]

There's a whole slew of new programs at Qwest to help bundle services and keep prices low/competetive. Just let me know if you want me to check anything out for ya. I'm not trying to be a pimp, but I DO know how expensive all the extras get, which is why we haven't had cable or dish of ANY KIND in over a year.

When we started looking into getting it again for hockey season, I was surprised at the huge jump in expanded basic as well. And to get the sports channels we need to see all the games we want, we have to get the minimum digital package--which is almost $60 a month.

I was thinking of checking into getting Media.com high-speed internet service, since they're my cable company, and the G.D. dial-up on my computer is SLOWER than molasses, but the whole package would cost me about $70.00 a month, so I'll check with Qwest.
I'll let you know if I need you to use your "influence."

[buffettbride]

Welcome to my world.

It's scary in here.....why are there sporks hanging from the walls?

Because I like pokey things.

[buffettbride]

There's a whole slew of new programs at Qwest to help bundle services and keep prices low/competetive. Just let me know if you want me to check anything out for ya. I'm not trying to be a pimp, but I DO know how expensive all the extras get, which is why we haven't had cable or dish of ANY KIND in over a year.

When we started looking into getting it again for hockey season, I was surprised at the huge jump in expanded basic as well. And to get the sports channels we need to see all the games we want, we have to get the minimum digital package--which is almost $60 a month.

I was thinking of checking into getting Media.com high-speed internet service, since they're my cable company, and the G.D. dial-up on my computer is SLOWER than molasses, but the whole package would cost me about $70.00 a month, so I'll check with Qwest.
I'll let you know if I need you to use your "influence."

You betcha. I have a whole bunch of promotional materials I can send ya. Now that Qwest offers TV service we can do the same thing that cable companies have been doing for years.

Is Qwest the local phone company in your area? I know Iowa has a bunch of local phone Co-ops so it's kinda special.

[sy]

I have directv with the local channel option and some sort of semi upgrade (whatever hubby wanted). I have to say that in the five years we've had it, I have not had one problem with it, customer service has always been a joy to deal with, and the picture is crystal clear. I've had it go out maybe four times during a storm, and it was only for a brief couple of minutes.

I have a lot of friends who have dtv, too, and swear by it.

I don't know how it is in other areas, hopefully the same? But I, personally, wouldn't trade it for anything.

[Wino you know]

Is Qwest the local phone company in your area? I know Iowa has a bunch of local phone Co-ops so it's kinda special.

Qwest is ONE of the co-ops in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, but in the little podunk town where I live, it's South Slope Cooperative Telephone Co.
As far as I know, they DON"T offer high-speed internet service or any cable TV packages, so I may either check with Mediacom or Qwest. I'm thinking if I get one company to do it all, I can save some money, but in IOWA, who knows.
(Actually, our phone company is pretty good, and their rates are very reasonable, and it's kind of nice being an "owner", which, I guess, is the basic idea of a co-op company.
I'll let you know after I check into some of these other companies. Thanks again.

[buffettbride]

Is Qwest the local phone company in your area? I know Iowa has a bunch of local phone Co-ops so it's kinda special.

Qwest is ONE of the co-ops in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, but in the little podunk town where I live, it's South Slope Cooperative Telephone Co.
As far as I know, they DON"T offer high-speed internet service or any cable TV packages, so I may either check with Mediacom or Qwest. I'm thinking if I get one company to do it all, I can save some money, but in IOWA, who knows.
(Actually, our phone company is pretty good, and their rates are very reasonable, and it's kind of nice being an "owner", which, I guess, is the basic idea of a co-op company.
I'll let you know after I check into some of these other companies. Thanks again.

U betcha.

[krusin1]

I've had all three, cable, Dish, and DirecTV. Here's my 2cents...

Cable: Hated it. Expensive, not the selection of channels I wanted, no on-screen guide (maybe available now) and service people were a pain.

Dish Network: Pretty good, used to be significantly cheaper than DirecTV, but not so much anymore. Installed the system myself with no problem. Good channel selection. Good quality, pretty reliable. Decent service people. Only switched away because we moved and they wanted to charge $75+ to hook me up at the new place, while DirecTV would do it for free and provide three receivers.

DirecTV: Had it about a year now. Great deal on three receivers, and they installed it for free - super service people. Good quality, decent packages, price isn't crazy high. Been pretty much bulletproof except in heavy rain. No regrets. Local channel option is cool. Also, if you live in the sticks and can't get certain networks with an antennae, you can even potentially get network feeds from NY or LA, which is great for seeing out-of-market games, etc.

Good luck.

[CaptainP]

I've had all three, cable, Dish, and DirecTV. Here's my 2cents...

Cable: Hated it. Expensive, not the selection of channels I wanted, no on-screen guide (maybe available now) and service people were a pain.

From what I've seen, Digital Cable is every bit as good as the Dish.

The service people will vary from place to place.