Comcast vs. DirectTV

[The Ponzzz]

Anyone able to do some Pros and Cons for either or? I'm debating on making the switch. My Comcast bill this month went from $91.56 to $167.15 and all I have is the HD starter pack, DVR and High Speed Internet. I'd be cancelling just the cable and keeping the internet. DirectTV is claiming to only be $34.99 with HBO, HD channels and DVR. The HD quality and quanity is not my biggest concern.

DISCUSS!

[FNLN]

Cloudy/rainy days can fuck up your reception. In addition you're locked into a contract with them and if you decide to cancel their service prior to the end of the contract there is a penalty fee.

[Trouble]

Try calling Comcast and seeing what they can do for you. My bill recently went up like $75/mo because a promo deal I had ended. They just put me into whatever promo deal was going on and I'm about the same again.

[Griffinex]

What Trouble said, it's not guaranteed to work but I've also called Comcast in the past and asked them to extend or give me a new promotional period, and they've generally been pretty good about doing so. If that doesn't work, you could try saying you'll cancel/switch to DirectTV and see if they call your bluff. I'm sure saying that you're considering switching to DirectTV is the last thing that they want to hear.

[Fallen]

I couldn't stand DSL. I found it to be completely unreliable. I could have simply had a bad experience. At any rate, I agree costs for Comcast can become extreme. I'm looking to upgrade my internet connection speed and am considering seeing if I can't find a better rate elsewhere.

[The Ponzzz]

I have. It was originally $180, I had to cancel Sci-Fi to get it to the $167. The only promotion they will offer me is the Triple Play package with digital phone which is the same price as what I'm paying but with a free phone. However, I own my own cable modem, so my bill would go up due to having to rent their modem that has phone access jacks on the back. I would also lose my DVR.

I tried explaining I saw other promotions like I would with Time Warner in telling them of exact promotion I've heard about, but they won't budge and tell me that the promotions I am speaking of are for first time customers or people ordering through the web first time.

Regardless. DirectTV is 34.99 for 12 months. Then it goes up to $79.99. I would be locked in a contract foir 18 months. So 12 at the 35 and then 6 at 80. My Internet cost is only $46 and some change after tax.

I just really want to know the disadvatnages outside interference with DirectTV. Do they install everything? Are the box + dish included free, or do I pay? If they install, does it cost an assload?

I'll try once more with the bluff about cancelling with them, but I'd like it to be something I can back up if I have enough info on DirectTV. I checked a few websites and called them, but they all blow smoke up my ass.

[The Ponzzz]

I couldn't stand DSL. I found it to be completely unreliable. I could have simply had a bad experience. At any rate, I agree costs for Comcast can become extreme. I'm looking to upgrade my internet connection speed and am considering seeing if I can't find a better rate elsewhere.

I would not be switching my internet services, just my cable television. Unless I can't have both? I don't see anything preventing me for doing both...

[Fallen]

I would not be switching my internet services, just my cable television. Unless I can't have both? I don't see anything preventing me for doing both...

Let me ask you this right quick. Do you have a security system which is wired to connect to anyone remotely? This drove our Direct TV crazy. As for your question, I can't see why you couldn't do both, just means different wires.

[Trouble]

Check with Comcast to see how much they would want for the Internet alone, they wanted like $65/mo for me if I didn't also get cable/etc.

The Triple Play thing is what I ended up with. I don't even have a phone but since it worked out cheaper than not having the phone service, I went with it.

[The Ponzzz]

I have ADT via cellular connection (not wired to the house). That what you mean? Will the dish cause it to go off?

[The Ponzzz]

Check with Comcast to see how much they would want for the Internet alone, they wanted like $65/mo for me if I didn't also get cable/etc.

The Triple Play thing is what I ended up with. I don't even have a phone but since it worked out cheaper than not having the phone service, I went with it.

Ah, good call, I'll make sure the price stays the same if I go down that road. The triple play just doesn't save me a dime for some reason and then that is only good for a year at the promotional price, the ladt told me it goes up to $199 at the end of 12 months.

[Kyra231]

Ah, good call, I'll make sure the price stays the same if I go down that road. The triple play just doesn't save me a dime for some reason and then that is only good for a year at the promotional price, the ladt told me it goes up to $199 at the end of 12 months.

Also remember to ask if there's a fee for disconnecting the cable. I ran into that when I wanted to just have their internet service, I think they wanted to charge almost $60 to have someone come cap the wire basically.

[The Ponzzz]

Yeah, I will. They charged me $2 for just changing my service the other day. I kind of shocked by it because $2 is so petty. Just something to frustrate people into not changing is all I see that shit as.

[Allereli]

Is your neighborhood wired for Fios (http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/FiOSInternet/?LOBCode=C&PromoTCode=FIS21&PromoSrcCode=V&POEId=VU1SP&CMP=DMC-FIS21)?

[Fallen]

I have ADT via cellular connection (not wired to the house). That what you mean? Will the dish cause it to go off?

Somehow it was interrupting our service. Internet would drop over and over. No problems with the DTVtelevision that I could remember, though. You would probably be fine. Not being able to watch clear TV because there is a thunder storm outside is pretty gay, though. It may have gotten better, but Direct TV just seemed slower, too. Scrolling through the menus is slower, moving between channels, seeing what is going to be on later in the day, or god forbid, a few days in advance.

I'm just not a fan. It is adequate, but Cable performs better.

[Allereli]

I'm just not a fan. It is adequate, but Cable performs better.

Agreed, especially in the suburbs. It's spring, the trees have leaves, and the dish stops working. It's raining/snowing, when you want to stay in and watch TV, and the dish stops working. Too much of a headache.

[The Ponzzz]

No FIOS here. I don't think anywhere in Northern Indiana has Verizon. Makes me sad.

Yeah, I would miss cable, but I'm a pretty big fan of money. Guess I'll give them a call once I'm done with class.

[Fallen]

No FIOS here. I don't think anywhere in Northern Indiana has Verizon. Makes me sad.

Yeah, I would miss cable, but I'm a pretty big fan of money. Guess I'll give them a call once I'm done with class.

I hear you. Best of luck, Ponzzz.

[Parkbandit]

Sounds like your area doesn't have much competition. I dropped Brighthouse to get FioS and they BEGGED me not to go with some pretty amazing offers. I dislike directv but I'm forced to have their service because of NFL Sunday Ticket.

One thing about Directv is that you used to have to purchase all the equipment including the dish. Not sure that is the case anymore though, but something to look into.

[The Ponzzz]

Yeah, that I think is the issue with the archaic world of Indiana. We have Dish Netowrk, DirectTV and COmcast. No one else to my knowledge.

[Parkbandit]

Yeah, that I think is the issue with the archaic world of Indiana. We have Dish Netowrk, DirectTV and COmcast. No one else to my knowledge.


Monopolies are never good for the consumer. Comcast knows it has you by the balls... what are you going to do, use dial up!? HA!

[Ignot]

Anyone able to do some Pros and Cons for either or? I'm debating on making the switch. My Comcast bill this month went from $91.56 to $167.15 and all I have is the HD starter pack, DVR and High Speed Internet. I'd be cancelling just the cable and keeping the internet. DirectTV is claiming to only be $34.99 with HBO, HD channels and DVR. The HD quality and quanity is not my biggest concern.

DISCUSS!

I think we should discuss if any provider is worth it. Is there anything on TV worth watching? Seinfeld and Family Guy repeats? I'm thinking of canceling my Directtv just because I can't find anything to watch and I have a million channels.

[The Ponzzz]

I watch Law & Order (and SVU), House, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares and pretty much anything on Discovery, History and HGTV. I don't need cable really with hulu.

[The Ponzzz]

Necro-bump, but just finally got Comcast to work with me. They wouldn't do shit for me until I finally had DirectTv ready to go and called to cancel today. Amazingly enough, I am now getting Digital Basic, Classics (Sci Fi), DVR, HD Box, High speed Internet, Encore and Showtime for $89 a month.

[ElvenFury]

Necro-bump, but just finally got Comcast to work with me. They wouldn't do shit for me until I finally had DirectTv ready to go and called to cancel today. Amazingly enough, I am now getting Digital Basic, Classics (Sci Fi), DVR, HD Box, High speed Internet, Encore and Showtime for $89 a month.

When you call to cancel any service, you usually get bumped to the "retention" dept, which usually has about 100x more power to give you stuff, just to keep you around. The standard customer service people have shit for power compared to the retention people.

[The Ponzzz]

Yeah. They transferred me to them once before and I got no where. But today I was seriously cancelling.

[Sean of the Thread]

Brighthouse gave us all HD/DVR etc and movie channels minus stars for whatever reason... top tier broadband internet and their phone service VOIP for like $89 a month for a year and then it bumped to $159ish.

Now it's like a free for all here. Verizon stepped it up finally and you can get all the shit cheap as hell.

Edit* In this ghetto apt I'm staying at there are direct TV dishes everywhere so it can't be all that bad. That and most of the sports bars use it. /shrug for what it's worth.

[Ignot]

So I have to move my directtv service from J-ville to Miami pretty soon, should I call and say I want to cancel and see if they will give me a deal? I would like to get a DVR out of it...

[SHAFT]

nfl sunday ticket makes direct tv the winner. thanks for playing comcast