OK - I have COX Digital Cable TV and Internet, I'm gonna keep the Internet but I'm wondering about the Satelite TV - anyone have any opinions that have had both?

Thanks...

John I used to install Direct tv. As the weather conditions deteriorate so does your signal strength. As the signal strength goes, you start getting freeze framing, digital blocks, eventually if it gets low enough you lose reception all together. The LNB on the end of the dish has to be kept clean of snow. If you get a good signal strength say 80 or above you should have few problems. You will need an unobstructed view 230-235 degrees sw, I think the angle up was 15-30 degrees. You can make a simple tool to use to sight from differant areas, and make sure that you will get a clear shot over trees. Also I know there are ways to program a card using a home pc, so you can get all the channels. If you buy in a store shop around for a store that does'nt require a credit card. Some require you to have a credit card so they can bill you for a year. If you plan on using more than one tv, get a dual LNB dish. That is good for 2 recievers, more than that you need to get the distribution amp.

When we were in Vermont from 1986 till 2000 we had no choice, due to the area we lived in, but to go with the big, 12 foot Dish System. It gave good service, wide variety of stations, etc. When Ice would come we had to go out and break the ice to keep the dish "On Location". When it snowed we could forget the TV until after the storm and the antenna was cleared of the white stuff.
We finally got rid of the "Big Dish System" and went to the "Small Dish System", which I installed myself in a couple of hours one afternoon.
I built a wooden roof thingy over the top of the 18 inch dish to keep the snow and ice off the dish and never had a problem with the small dish system.
When we moved back here to Mass. we were pre wired for the cable and we got combined with the high speed internet connection through the cable company and have been very happy with the system.
Good Luck
Chet

digital cable is probably still the way to go for consistent programming reception but if you want to receive hi-def signals than satellite is your only option right now.

i know that as soon as i drop 7 bills on a satellite system with a hi-def receiver that the cable companies will start offering hi-def service...:smash:

btw, do they still make the heated satellite dishes to deal with the snow issue:confused:

John,

I had the complete cox package cable-internet and 3 phone lines via cox. The package price was great and worth every cent. All my neighbors had a dish. IMO the dish has better TV recetption. I built in a home theater room with a 65" HDTV and digital cable was OK (not great but OK), I wired the room for a dish but never got it installed (moved) so I did not have both running at the same time. IMO If you have a 55"+ HDTV and like DVD quality and are interested in HDTV...get a dish, if not stick with cable. the Dish has a sweet football package if you are into that. Cox has some too but it is not as good.
If you are thinking about internet via sat....well the upload speed stinks compared to cable. It is still WAY better then any modem but there is a slight delay that I found annoying...sort of like listening to CNN reporter in the mid east. Download speed is pretty good but the price is WAY better with cable.
my 2 cents

I'm just shocked at how much the cable portion of my bill has been getting. Decent selection plus HBO and one movie was 80 for the month. If I was able to get the History Channel/Discovery/NESN & FSNE plus the Sopranos, that's all I would need. I've also heard of better rates via Sat packages in addition to higher quality signals... Mainly just P.O.'ed that they are getting that much a month from me.

Hey Specialist, I'm also thinking of building a DVR on one of my Linux boxes :p

HAVE THE DISH INSTALLED BY 2 OF THE 3 STOOGES.NEVER RIGHT THEY FINALLY SENT FACTORY PEOPLE OUT OF MASS TO RESET.TOLD ME I WOULD NEVER HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM-THYAT NITE HEAVY RAIN AND GOOD BYE SIGNAL.THUNDER STORMS OR HEAVY RAIN GOOD BYE NO LOCALS NO YES NETWORK.CAN,T WAIT TILL MY YEAR IS UP SO I CAN GET OUT OF IT WITHOUT PENALTY.

I've got both Direct TV & Digital Cable, as well as Cable Internet (I'll never go back to Dial-up). I have both because I'm in the 'Biz...and thanks for watching!

I've never had any problems with the dish...no snow or rain fade. It really depends if it is in a protected spot.

On my Cable system (ATT), the Digital Cable has most everything, but if you rent a PPV it's not the all day ticket that Direct TV offers. Also, I don't think Cable has all of the sports packages.

I only switched to Digital cable because my wife wanted HBO and it seemed to offer the best package.

As for HDTV....cable will offer it real soon, if that's a concern.:)

Just completed installing a new 54 inch HDTV And home theater system.I also looked into satelite but, the price difference is only about 15$ a month for comparable stations so, for the peace of mind from signal loss and problems Im staying with the cable. My brother in law who works for cox told me that HDTV Is on the way soon from cox.The digital cable box that cox has is ready to recieve the signal so you dont have to spend $600.00 bucks for a reciever/decoder.

Its also worth the money to stay with cox because they offer service which satelite doesnt,snow rain and other things dont affect the cable.

I have the bundle of all 3 phone/cable/internet and you cant beat the price for all three,My phone bill alone used to run me $120.00 a month now I pay $160.00 for all 3! I will save an extra $15.00 a month from owning my cable modem outright. So for $145.00 I have everything,I think its a great deal.

Hey Bill - :) - How ya doing?

Before you get the cable modem, call me, I know where they can be purchased pretty cheap - legally :eek5: , I'm going to order one too, install it and get rid of the recurring charges from COX.

Damn 54" HDTV - Gwen would kill me if I mentioned it, at least before the basement gets finnished...

I'll call you

I have a direct tv sat. dish and have no complaints at all. Hardly ever lose signal unless it is a real driving rain. Cable prices are outrageous. Sat. is cheaper plus you can get the sports stuff (NFL and NHL :) Do DSL for internet access if you can. Just my opinion.