Satellite versus Local Cable

[zerosoma]

Hey fellas,

my wife and I are moving in a couple weeks to a more rural area. I have been researching our options for cable/internet/satellite services and it doesn't look pretty. We're not real concerned about cable, in fact we don't necessarily need it...but we do need internet for every day activities and Netflix.

Right now I'm looking at Dish Network, but I've heard they are horrible with scams and overcharging customers. To be frank I don't feel safe giving them my CC number or signing a 2 year contact with them - but they are cheapest by far ($49.95 a month for cable/7 mbps internet for first 12 months) when compared to my other option, Venture Communications. Venture offers their basic cable internet at 1 mbps (not very fast) for $40 a month. Then it's an extra $5 from there on for every extra 1 mbps beyond the first. It doesn't tell me what the cable packages cost, but I assume I would end up paying $70-80 before it's all said and done.

Dish offers no set up fee; I'm sure Venture will charge hook-ups and installation fees. Already researched Direct TV as well, but their rates are not what I'm looking for. Those are the ONLY three options in my area.

What is a guy to do here?

 

[JimPghPA]

Dish 112 channels has one or two channels that are worth watching. The rest are pure junk. It is amazing how many junk channels they can pick up for nothing and bundle them together to get customers to sign up for a low cost, and then find themselves with nothing worth watching, and their only alternative because they are locked into a two year contract, is to upgrade so they get some good channels. You may have to upgrade two level depending on how many good channels you are use to.

It is a real scam the way the low cost package basically is totally useless, but gets customers to sign on because of low price.

 

[JimPghPA]

If you have to try dish, try to get a deal where you are not locked into it for any specific length of time.

 

[Garak]

I used to be a DirecTV customer when that was "permitted" in Canada. Setting aside all the political nonsense that goes with that, I was very satisfied with their programming and technical quality. It was far superior in relation to signal, quality of programs (which is subjective, of course), and the general technical side of things than anything Canada offers, and it's many years later now. Of course, price is an issue, but sometimes you get what you pay for.

For reference, up here, getting a fairly loaded satellite or cable TV service (including east and west feeds, excluding HDTV and PVR) runs in the neighbourhood of $120 a month. Yes, you read that right.

 

[The_Jeff]

Will you be using the satellite for internet? There may be a cap which you'll hit watching netflix.

I'd get the 1 mbps cable. IDK who Venture is but they're either a friendly coop or they're about to be bought by time warner or comcast. I got by fine with 764k for streaming content.

 

[Pablo]

IF you can get cable, do it.

 

[Turk]

I had Satellite for 15 years & it usually fails when storms roll in. Definite bummer.

 

[riff1006]

I have DirecTV and wireless internet from a local company. Both are overpriced, but we're happy with the programming. There's usually something on we can watch and if not, we have the DVR set to record our favorites. You really have to watch your bill with satellite or they'll stick you with charges you don't deserve. Be prepared to wait on the phone getting it straightened out too! You'd be getting a better deal than we are for internet. We pay $50/mo for 1MB and it jumps to $75/mo if we want faster (but not much faster.) That being said, it's worth it to live in the country. We hated living in town.

 

[pbm]

Funny...I'm thinking of giving up cable altogether.
I pay $150 a month for Optimum cable/phone/computer.
When I look at the bill closely I see that $80+ is for
television (which is watched very little in my house).
I think I'm going to make some changes after football season is over.....

PS: When I had 'dish' a few years ago I wasn't happy with the
'freezing up' of the picture on a fairly regular basis..

 

[tdpark]

One good thing about Satelite is that you are not dependent on any wire except power. Last year when we got hit with Snowtober we lost phone, internet and even cell phone but still had power and satelite was working so we knew what was going on.

 

[bigmike]

I've never owned pay TV. I think my parents had it for 3 or so months when I was in middle school. That's all I can remember of it.

I'm lucky enough to pick up around 22 channels with an attic antenna for free. Good enough for me.

I think it's just another middle class stumbling block.

 

[tomcat27]

I've had satellite in 3 different houses. picture is great. if the dish is mounted with some intelligence (blocked by the wind where possible) and aimed with precision the outages are few. but since you care mostly about internet.... is it for email? general browsing? if you are streaming video or wanna skype you will want more than 1 mbps. what is the cost for Dish after the promo period?

 

[Blaze]

We had Wildblue before DSL came out here. You have bandwidth limits in the various contracts...its get REAL expensive if you get the better packages to watch vids and downloads etc.

 

[Nick R]

Almost makes me glad for what I can offer customers =|

New customers anyway: ~$115 for a basic triple play with tax/equip
and one box, no premiums, standard internet (10/1) for 12 months.

Standard internet alone is $35 right now with a promotion. Normal pricing is $55.

 

[SEMI_287]

We've had Dish Network since the mid 90's. The only time the picture goes out is a REAL bad storm or snow accumulates on the dish. 120 channels plus locals for $59 doesn't break the bank. I wouldn't get satellite internet. There IS a data cap that Netflix will find. My ex found this out the hard way downloading musuc.

 

[jcwit]

We've had Dish Network also since the 1990's, we have the 250 package, we also receive the locals, and CinaMax, Showtime, HBO, and Encore, all for approx, $65 per month. I'm completely satisified with the service.

Would I switch, NOPE.

 

[exranger06]

Dish Network recently dropped AMC. That would be an instant deal breaker for me right there.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
Dish Network recently dropped AMC. That would be an instant deal breaker for me right there.


That they did, BUT, they also made available to me free of charge the ROKU unit that streams many many carriers of AMC programming. Then they gave me a $35.00 refund to cover the subscription fee of Amazon so I could receive AMC programming, then they gave me a $5.00 discount each month for 1 year for my troubles.

Again, Would I switch? NOPE

 

[dja4260]

I've had dish for 1 year, in a 2 year contact. I payed $32 total for the first 12 months, then $55 total for second 12 months. I'm moving and they are moving and setting up my equipment for free. It has gone out once due to 70+ mph winds that moved the dish the slightest bit. I get 130 HD channels and feel for the price its hard to beat.

The reliability of your dish is going to be determined by the installer and clear line of sight for the dish.

 

[The_Jeff]

If you have issues with your dish you can always get a bigger dish. The multi LNB dishes are a compromise in focus; you can get individual larger dishes and switches for the LNBs that work the same but get a better signal.