On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:51:30 -0400, HK wrote:

In most markets, there is only one cable provider. It's by design. Keeps
out competition.

One word: Satellite.

We just switched from Comcast to Dish Networks. It's cheaper for the
same channel lineup and it works on the boat at no extra charge
(except for the antenna).

Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:51:30 -0400, HK wrote:

In most markets, there is only one cable provider. It's by design. Keeps
out competition.

One word: Satellite.

We just switched from Comcast to Dish Networks. It's cheaper for the
same channel lineup and it works on the boat at no extra charge
(except for the antenna).




I'll probably make the switch if and when FIOS gets to my 'hood. I don't
know enouh about "dish" to make the switch. Also, I have concerns about
wiring inside, and the need for each box to be connected to a phone
line. I have three TVs in the house, and none are located adjacent to a
phone jack. That means...running wires on baseboards or something
similar, no?

When I built my house, I prewired for cable TV and for internet. I
assume the existing cable TV cables would also work for a dish, though, yes?

HK wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:51:30 -0400, HK wrote:

In most markets, there is only one cable provider. It's by design.
Keeps out competition.

One word: Satellite.

We just switched from Comcast to Dish Networks. It's cheaper for the
same channel lineup and it works on the boat at no extra charge
(except for the antenna).




I'll probably make the switch if and when FIOS gets to my 'hood. I don't
know enouh about "dish" to make the switch. Also, I have concerns about
wiring inside, and the need for each box to be connected to a phone
line. I have three TVs in the house, and none are located adjacent to a
phone jack. That means...running wires on baseboards or something
similar, no?

No.

When I built my house, I prewired for cable TV and for internet. I
assume the existing cable TV cables would also work for a dish, though,
yes?

Yes

"HK" wrote in message
...
Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:51:30 -0400, HK wrote:

In most markets, there is only one cable provider. It's by design. Keeps
out competition.

One word: Satellite.

We just switched from Comcast to Dish Networks. It's cheaper for the
same channel lineup and it works on the boat at no extra charge
(except for the antenna).




I'll probably make the switch if and when FIOS gets to my 'hood. I don't
know enouh about "dish" to make the switch. Also, I have concerns about
wiring inside, and the need for each box to be connected to a phone line.
I have three TVs in the house, and none are located adjacent to a phone
jack. That means...running wires on baseboards or something similar, no?

When I built my house, I prewired for cable TV and for internet. I assume
the existing cable TV cables would also work for a dish, though, yes?


We had dish at the condo we stayed at last summer on vacation. It sucked
big time compared to cable.

JimH wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
...
Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:51:30 -0400, HK wrote:

In most markets, there is only one cable provider. It's by design. Keeps
out competition.
One word: Satellite.

We just switched from Comcast to Dish Networks. It's cheaper for the
same channel lineup and it works on the boat at no extra charge
(except for the antenna).



I'll probably make the switch if and when FIOS gets to my 'hood. I don't
know enouh about "dish" to make the switch. Also, I have concerns about
wiring inside, and the need for each box to be connected to a phone line.
I have three TVs in the house, and none are located adjacent to a phone
jack. That means...running wires on baseboards or something similar, no?

When I built my house, I prewired for cable TV and for internet. I assume
the existing cable TV cables would also work for a dish, though, yes?


We had dish at the condo we stayed at last summer on vacation. It sucked
big time compared to cable.




The signal quality or the programming quality?

"HK" wrote in message
...
JimH wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
...
Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:51:30 -0400, HK wrote:

In most markets, there is only one cable provider. It's by design.
Keeps out competition.
One word: Satellite.

We just switched from Comcast to Dish Networks. It's cheaper for the
same channel lineup and it works on the boat at no extra charge
(except for the antenna).



I'll probably make the switch if and when FIOS gets to my 'hood. I don't
know enouh about "dish" to make the switch. Also, I have concerns about
wiring inside, and the need for each box to be connected to a phone
line. I have three TVs in the house, and none are located adjacent to a
phone jack. That means...running wires on baseboards or something
similar, no?

When I built my house, I prewired for cable TV and for internet. I
assume the existing cable TV cables would also work for a dish, though,
yes?


We had dish at the condo we stayed at last summer on vacation. It
sucked big time compared to cable.


The signal quality or the programming quality?

Far too many channels and a confusing method of selecting channels. We had
moderate to bad weather a couple of nights and the picture quality suffered,
many times with the signal being lost entirely.

JimH wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
...
JimH wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
...
Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:51:30 -0400, HK wrote:

In most markets, there is only one cable provider. It's by design.
Keeps out competition.
One word: Satellite.

We just switched from Comcast to Dish Networks. It's cheaper for the
same channel lineup and it works on the boat at no extra charge
(except for the antenna).


I'll probably make the switch if and when FIOS gets to my 'hood. I don't
know enouh about "dish" to make the switch. Also, I have concerns about
wiring inside, and the need for each box to be connected to a phone
line. I have three TVs in the house, and none are located adjacent to a
phone jack. That means...running wires on baseboards or something
similar, no?

When I built my house, I prewired for cable TV and for internet. I
assume the existing cable TV cables would also work for a dish, though,
yes?

We had dish at the condo we stayed at last summer on vacation. It
sucked big time compared to cable.

The signal quality or the programming quality?

Far too many channels and a confusing method of selecting channels. We had
moderate to bad weather a couple of nights and the picture quality suffered,
many times with the signal being lost entirely.




Well, too many choices and selection processes are only a problem until
you figure it all out. I keep reading about satellite signal losses
during storms, cloudy weather, heavy snow, but I also read that these
outages are rare.

Verizon has no interface that will tell me when or even if FiOS will
reach my area. Other than that, though, we like Verizon for phone services.

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:53:31 -0400, HK wrote:



Well, too many choices and selection processes are only a problem until
you figure it all out. I keep reading about satellite signal losses
during storms, cloudy weather, heavy snow, but I also read that these
outages are rare.

I'm thinking about going satellite TV, DSL internet instead of the
Comcast cable I now have. I have to look a bit harder at available
options. My son has DSL and says it's no different speedwise than
cable unless you're doing large downloads, which I seldom do.
Just got off a "live chat" with Comcast because MSNBC has no sound for
a couple hours now. No ETA for a fix. So basically I'm paying for
crippled service. This is *not* unusual for cable TV here, and I
doubt satellite is worse. Comcast broadband has been generally
reliable, but a few times the cable's been dead so I have no TV, no
Internet, and no phone. If you don't have a cell (I do) you couldn't
even make a complaint.
I'm thinking satellite TV, wired DSL, and cable phone might be the way
to go for communications redundancy.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:53:31 -0400, HK wrote:



Well, too many choices and selection processes are only a problem until
you figure it all out. I keep reading about satellite signal losses
during storms, cloudy weather, heavy snow, but I also read that these
outages are rare.

I'm thinking about going satellite TV, DSL internet instead of the
Comcast cable I now have. I have to look a bit harder at available
options. My son has DSL and says it's no different speedwise than
cable unless you're doing large downloads, which I seldom do.
Just got off a "live chat" with Comcast because MSNBC has no sound for
a couple hours now. No ETA for a fix. So basically I'm paying for
crippled service. This is *not* unusual for cable TV here, and I
doubt satellite is worse. Comcast broadband has been generally
reliable, but a few times the cable's been dead so I have no TV, no
Internet, and no phone. If you don't have a cell (I do) you couldn't
even make a complaint.
I'm thinking satellite TV, wired DSL, and cable phone might be the way
to go for communications redundancy.

--Vic


We live in a cell "fringe" area, and cell service in our house is
"maybe." Outside, in the front yard, it is a bit better. We're not that
far from a cell tower, maybe two miles, but the foliage coverage (trees
and such) is thick, and while I know zip about cell signals, I wonder if
the trees are interfering. Well, the trees are staying. So we're staying
with landline telephone service. Plus...we have NEVER lost landline
telco here, but we often have brief and sometimes lengthy power outages
and occasional cable outages unrelated to weather.

I had DSL at my office in Virginia. It was pretty reliable, except when
a water main broke between my office and the telco central office and
then we were s.o.l. for two weeks.

I think my best hope for service and price improvement is the telco's FiOS.

Deregulation of the cable industry has only helped the cable industry,
not the consumer. That's generally true of virtually everything that
might be considered a "utility."

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:10:13 -0400, HK wrote:

I have concerns about
wiring inside, and the need for each box to be connected to a phone
line.

Our Dish Networks installer ran new coax at no extra charge. The
phone hookup is optional but you do pay an extra $5/month without it.
I believe the phone connection is basically there to monitor viewing
habits, spyware of sorts. It also facilitates pay-per-view. Needless
to say we have no phone hookup on the boat.