Advice: DirecTV or Dish Network for HD?

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

avoid voom as I been posting to the group their economic numbers do not look
sound and yet you cannot get the large number of channels you can with either
Dish or Directv. I got Directv and no complaints. Their adding new high def
channels at a brisk rate now
End higher ticket prices! Go to local college games!

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Jay Swartzfeger" <jswartzfeger@*spam*cox.net> wrote in message
news:jswartzfeger-AC53AD.19060515082004@news.west.cox.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I'm moving to a rural area where I'll no longer have digital cable/HD as
> an option. I'm now comparing various satellite services but there are
> still a few questions I have...
>
> 1) Is satellite HD better/worse/same as digital cable HD? I've heard
> that satellite services compress more than digital cable -- is that true?

Essentially no difference. Cable and satellite basically pass on the same HD
bits. SD channels will be all over the place. They have more control over
compression, and they use it.

>
> 2) Is there a difference in signal quality between DTV/Dish?
>

Depends on the channel.


> 3) Do Dish or DTV offer DVI?

AFAIK, no.

> Do they offer firewire (I'm currently
> recording HD to my Macintosh via firewire on my Scientific Atlanta
> 3250HD box).
>

Same answer.

> 4) Any thoughts on Voom? Their website pissed me off, plus the hardware
> looks pricey. I doubt I'll even consider them.
>

The most HD channels of any satellite, but not the locals. Reception on the
west coast could be a problem, due to line of sight issues. Finances are
uncertain.

> So far, it looks like I might be leaning toward Dish -- I can get 120
> channels + the regional fox sports, HBO, Cinemax and HD service for $67.
> IIRC, I have to pay $91/month to get the fox sports channels with DTV.
>

Don't just count channels, many are PPV. Also, look at the packages,
especially if you watch a lot of sports. Also, PVRs (Tivo) are a must have
for me, which you can get with both Dish and DirecTV, but I think you can
only record two shows at once with DirecTV.


> Bottom line, I'm most concerned about the best HD quality + having HBO
> for Deadwood. Having the regional Fox channels for sports is a big bonus
> too. About the only advantage I'm seeing right now with DTV is their box
> is $100 cheaper (I might consider the NFL package too, so I suppose
> that's a bonus).

You should be happy with either then.

Brad Houser

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Jim Waggener wrote:
> "> > 3) Do Dish or DTV offer DVI?
>
>>AFAIK, no.
>
>
> They have DVI and component on their Model 811 HD receiver


Jim,

As does the Dish 921 HD DVR.

Jerry

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 09:23:28 -0400, "Rich" <rich@nospam.com> wrote:

Not really. Voom also has already built a solid reputation
for having the absolute worse possible customer support. I
read somewhere that 4 of every 5 subscribers cancel within a
few weeks. They only reason they are still in business now
is because they are owned by a huge rich parent company. But
sooner or later they will cut their losses.

>The Magic 8 Ball says, "Too soon to tell".
>