Comcast vs. DirectTV

[MerHearted]

My family's poor so we've spent our entire existence without cable. :lol: Never really seemed like we were missing much though, well, except wrestling, but I always found ways to find out what was going on there. But now, my family feels like we are in a situation to be able to afford cable... that and we're a bunch of sick sports freaks and the Olympics are this summer and we wanna see as much of it as we can. :lol: But we don't know which to get. Should we go for cable with Comcast or satellite with DirectTV? Which is better? I know DirectTV has a contract, does Comcast? Thanks.

 

[lebernadin]

quite a few things factor in...

firstoff, Comcast doesn't have a contract whereas Directv does. But if you don't rent or expect to rent within the timeframe of the year contract then i wouldn't worry about it.

In Boston we've always had basic cable(Continental>?>?>Comcast) thru the years. A few months ago we decided to upgrade to Digital Cable. We've had a cable modem since '99 and it gives a $15 package discount for having both a cable modem and digicable. Well we were underimpressed with digicable so just last week we had Directv installed and cancelled comcast digicable. Their prices continually increase at ridiculous rates and since there isn't always someone in the Boston pad, its even more of a waste. We'd only heard good things about directv and even more about tivo. So we made the jump to satellite. Comcast now charges us $60/month just for the cable modem. But between that, the basic(with local channels) package plus HBO and then the Tivo monthly service, we're going to be saving about $20/month over what we had with Comcast's digicable. Mind you, this is also with Tivo, so a $20 savings and Tivo made it a no-brainer for us.

 

[Bill]

What about during bad weather? Don't you loose the signal?

 

[lebernadin]

Originally posted by Bill
What about during bad weather? Don't you loose the signal?

Well, like i said, we've only had it for a week or so. But i did a good amount of research from friends who have Directv or dishnetwork and they always say basically the same thing, only in very heavy rain or snow.

I think people tend to overreact when they hear that and imagine watching the most crucial show at the time it goes out. But its a rarity that causes a paranoia that Comcast and the other cable giants have banked on since their introductions.

The best advice i can give is to ask friends who have a dish in your city or general area that shares the same weather. New England receives a good amount of rain/snow, yet you see dishes everywhere.

 

[Foolish Mortal]

Since you live in the Philly area and say your a huge sports fan, if you go with the dish and want to watch the Phillies/Flyers/Sixers or anything on Comcast Sportsnet, you can kiss that idea goodbye. Comcast doesn't give sattelite companies access to that channel. And i've talked to many customers who switched back to cable from dish, saying how they eventually got hammered on billing also. Each product has it's own great advantages over the other. I can tell you, within the next 6 months/year, Comcast is going to be coming out with some amazing stuff.

 

[Erika]

Our friends have had Direct TV for a few years now and love it. They do get quite a lot of digital blips though. We do a lot of swearing at their tv, especially since these things seem to happen during the most crucial scenes on 24

We're an antenna house here. I know you're jealous. 2, 5, 7, 9 AND Fox. :sohappy: :lookaroun

 

[DMC-12]

I've got Cable and DirectTV here at the house.

I never really turn the satellite on anymore... Comcast seems to be better I think.

Except like if I wanna watch Bravo, or Disney Channel West... or some other odd ball channel.... then I have to turn on the satellite. I also get like 50 some odd digital music channels on DirectTV... but I dont use it that much. :wave:

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by lebernadin
Well, like i said, we've only had it for a week or so. But i did a good amount of research from friends who have Directv or dishnetwork and they always say basically the same thing, only in very heavy rain or snow.

Very heavy rain or snow...isn't this when you rely on TV the most?

When it's nice out...you don't mind getting away from the television...but in heavy rain and snow (we're talking Philly and Boston here...snow is common)...don't people usually just stay in and watch TV?

I, for one, had direcTV and didn't like it because it seemed like we were always losing signals...I now have digicable through Comcast and have never had a problem with a loss of signal, or troubles with customer service. Actually, the only problem I did have was dealing with the person about actually "putting in the equipment" into the house...they said that I'd need 2 separate appointments because the wires that I wanted run would go over the time for a single appointment...and they were very adamant about not giving me "back to back" appointments. Alas, when they guys came to do it. They just ran it all at once and didn't even charge us for the extra time.

 

[MerHearted]

Which costs more? Remember, poor family. :lol: