Stay with Dish and get the 811 or go to cable With the Dish Buy back program?

[heatho]

Hey Guys, I know there has been many a debate about whether or not to get Dish Network or go with Cable... I looked and it didn't seem like there was a thread that talked about the current "issue" I'm having... So here it goes... Sorry if this is a repeat.

Currently I have Dish Network with NO HD but I am wanting to finally start getting some HD programing. The recent release of the 811 reciever at such a great price for existing customers made me start looking at getting HD again.

So here are my choices...

Stay with Dish Network
Pay $199.00 for 811 Reciever
Pay $9.99 extra per month for 4 HD channels (ESPNHD, DiscHD, HDNet, HDNet movies)
Get Second Dish to point at the 148 sat to possibly pick up the few other HD channels that we may or may not buy... We wouldn't get the HBO or Showtime HD channels.
Buy rooftop antenna to get Local channels OTA and plug in to the 811 reciever.

Get Cable with Comcast:
Take advantage of the "Dish Buy Back" program.
Comcast will give me $400 (taking $25 off each bill for 16 months) if I give them my Dish equipment.
Subscribe to a Digital cable programing package That costs $50 per month ($25 for the first 16) and get the following HD channels as of today: Local ABC, local PBS, ESPNHD, INHD, INHD2, with HBO and Showtime optional.
$5 per month rental fee for HD box.
Comcast is working on getting new channels added... more locals and others like DiscHD.

My Concerns are:

If I go to Comcast:
-PQ will be worse (than Dish) on non digital channels.
-NO DiscHD (yet)
-Can't plug OTA antenna into STB from Comcast (would have to buy 2nd STB to do this if I wanted).
-That I wouldn't be able to go back to Dish Network and take advantage of the New subscriber promotions (Free Equip.). I would be an "exisiting" customer. And would have to pay out the nose for equipment that I gave to Comcast.

If I stay with Dish Network:
-COST... Both monthly extra $ for HD programing and the initial cost of the reciever.
-Lack of Bandwidth for future HD programing... (Is this still an issue, or do they have the extra Sat (148, 61) that addresses this issue.

Anyway, any input would be great...

BTW, tv: Toshiba 42HDX82


Thanks!!

[LeeS]

heatho,

I like your 'stay with Dish' option - that is what I'm doing except I'm waiting for the 921.

Your concerns about Comcast are the same as mine. I have Comcast cable in the house already, for my broadband. When they raised prices on us I added basic cable because it was 'basically' free. The analog signals on my 65HDX82 look really really bad and everytime I ask about Comcast converting to all digital I get the same answer, 'They have no plans to do that'.

Dish has two sats in approx (I did say approx) the same locations as the 110 and 119 birds (105 and 121). I'm not absolutely sure about the locations, do a search on SuperDish. This hasn't even been addressed yet. They are part of the SuperDish setup. I don't think bandwidth will be an issue. I don't know what has happened with SuperDish, looks like its been put on the back burner.

Sounds like if you work on Dish a little you might get the 811 for $149. Especially if you 'mention' that you want to cancel and go with Comcast :).

Try to find a big screen in a store that is showing an analog cable signal :). They'd never sell another bigscreen. The forum is full of posts about people having poor PQ with analog cable. Well, full might be a tad of an exaggeration :).

Well that's my opinion and I'm sticking with it. The cable guys might have a thing or two to say about it. :D

Lee

My intention was to write a short post, I'm really trying guys. Just four short sentences like the first one addressing heatho's points. :(

[sillygoose]

My analog cable channels from comcast don't look bad at all. Analog channles from the moto 5100 don't look so great but that's not a big deal I just use my Hitachi's tuner and all is well.

[heatho]

Thanks guys for the input...

I went to a friend's house last night who basically has the same TV as mine, and who also has Comcast cable. His HD channels looked great, and the non-digital channels looked fine. I'm not sure I could tell the difference between my Dish Network and his cable.

I'm currently leaning with switching to cable... So, from what I understand, there isn't a bandwidth problem with either cable or sat?

[heatho]

I did a cost comparison and Comcast would be way cheaper over the next 16 months ($350+). After that Dish would then again be cheaper, but it would take almost 2 years to recoup the difference. Looking at cost, its an easy choice. Any other input from the Cable guys? I keep going back and forth on the issue... I won't make a move until I've completely made up my mind.

[handsworth]

As a cable subscriber in an Adelphia area, I would lean towards giving up the dish for 16 months. There will always be another promo in the satellite world. Cable has or will have most of the channels especially the locals very soon. They are also deploying DVR and VOD in most rebuilt areas. There is not much difference in PQ on the digital and premium side but analog channels should not look bad if your're using component or composite cables. Do not connect to your set using the Rf. DVI ports also will help when they're activated. After both companies are "apples to apples" then make a decision. In my opinion, I would only go hi def if sports is your thing. Watching movies in HD is like watching a DVD. Watching live sports in HD is like being there.

[heatho]

Thanks Handsworth... Sports is "my thing"... ESPNHD is going to start showing some good NHL games after the first of the year and those should be great in HD. I still haven't made up my mind yet though... Ahh!!! I beter soon!

[pmalve]

I had dish network the beginning of the year and switched to charter cable because they offered hd without laying out a lot of money. I was very worried about the quality of the signal as I used to have basic cable for networks while I used Dishnetwork for everything else. My picture was not very good using the cable hooked direcd to tv. I was very pleasantly surprised with the cable after they put in converter box. I had to use svideo cable for analog and standard digital channels. Picture quality is very good. HD channels are excellent. With cable I think you will get networks in HD sooner. Also am liking HBOondemand and SHOondemand. Also more channels are Dolby digital then what I use to get with Dishnetwork. They might have changed that by now.

[jigray3]

A couple of other points, heatho. Since sports is "your thing", don't forget ESPN2 in HD is set to launch in Jan. '05, so you should ask which provider will be carying it and when.

There is also something to be said for the customer service the cable companies provide. It may not be consistant region to region, but Comcast does a pretty decent job around here while the Dish companies seem to be catch-as-catch-can. I feel like neither - with the possible exception of Voom - is really prepared to deal with the "quality of image" issue. They behave more like your power company... are you getting it or not rather than how good does it look. Some may disgree on this point.

I also prefer the idea of "leasing" equipment from the cable companies, rather than buying technology that becomes obsolete quickly. I think that works out better for videophiles who like upgrading to the latest technology periodically, and worse for the cable companies. I think most folks get a cable box that sits on a shelf for years becoming a cash cow for the cable guys. Exchanging a new cable box is also a little easier to float past your bride than a new purchase for those of you that deal with that issue - certainly not me!

For instance, I've had my Motorola DCT-6200 STB for about a month, but tomorrow I will be trading it in for the Motorola DCT-6412 2-tuner DVR that just came available last week. While I can't say much for the PQ of the 6200 in SD, I'm optomistic that the 6412 will be an improvement. If I had bought the equipment, I wouldn't have this as a reasonable option.

Just a few random thoughts to chew on.

[HDTVBob]

Heatho,
I just dumped the Dish for Comcast cable and saved $70/month versus Dish plus SBC DSL internet service. For $85/mo. guaranteed for 16 months, I got a HD PVR and Digital box, Digital Standard programmin with HBO and Starz, and high speed cable modem internet service. Installation was free and since I leased my equipment, I sent the two boxes back to Dish but keep the satellite since i refused to climb up on my roof to remove the switch.

I wrote a much longer reply but it was the second one that got lost in the forumware so I will use the edit function to provide some more info. PQ is very slightly better on cable HD than with Dish HD but the digital sound is noticeably better. The analog cable channels are not as crisp as the digital ones on Dish but splitting the cable with one lead going to the HD box and the other directly to the antenna/cable input on the back of the set improve the PQ. Digital cable channels are the same PQ as Dish but are not subject to weather interference compared with all satellite programming. There are fewer channels on my cable verus Dish package but there are more that both my wife and I watch. Also the channel package tiering is better with cable than Dish since there is virtually nothing past the first digital tier on Comcast that I would want anyhow. With Dish you have to buy all three tiers to get all the channels that I watch. Depending on what you watch, this could be a consideration between the two. The one thing I miss that was on Dish but not yet on cable is HDNET which I thought had some great programming. INHD is not as good in my opinion. Also with my OTA, which is still hooked up, I can get a few more local digital and HD stations than what is offered on Comcast but since I am not a religious zealot or enjoy watching car and boat informercials from Gary, IN, it's no big deal.

[RickP978]

Glad to know I am not the only one out here wrestling with this problem. Looks like I will also be dropping the Dish and switching to Charter HD out here in central MAss. The up front costs for the 921 are too much and once you have used a DVR, you get spoiled.

Rick

[fredinva]

Ahhhhh, but now Echostar is purchasing Voom.
Heard that today on CNN.

So, this may be a bonus for us Dish users!!!!!!!!!

fred

[kevinw]

Ahhhhh, but now Echostar is purchsing Voom.
Heard that today on CNN.

So, this may be a bonus for us Dish users!!!!!!!!!

fred
most likely nothing to gain since there is no compelling HD. All we could gains is more local for small towns and more international programming. Dish is looking to get the satellite not the programming or subscribers.

[tcrews]

Get Cable with Comcast:
Take advantage of the "Dish Buy Back" program.


Just a note and something you can try.....my father did the Dish Buy Back with Cable because he was also wanting RoadRunner broadband. He told them he wanted to take advantage of the Dish Buy Back but no way in heck they were taking his equipment. They said "sure" after a little negotiating I'm sure (hey...they WANT you as a subscriber). So he has cable and all his dish equipment (DirecTV) if he ever wants to switch back :)

-Tom

[smackman]

I used the dish buy back type program with my local Time Warner affiliate last fall, thought I was getting a good deal, based on cost and some "promises" they were making me for future hardware and channels.

While comparing TWC to Comcast isn't an apples to apples comparison, let me state that I am having Dish installed this week, and telling TWC to take a hike.

I got on with Dish for basically no up front cost, getting an 811, 322, and a 500 series DVR (don't remember which one), 6 months free HD, no contract, OTA HD antenna, all installed...

I was tired of TWC lying about new channels... Their cost ended up being way higher than satellite, and their equipment (STB's) keep blowing up. Not to mention the horrible PQ on the analog stations...

IMHO, if you can work out a deal with E* or D* (they won't want to lose you as a customer, especially if you've been with them a while), stick with satellite.