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About This Page: This is a discussion on Computers/Tech/Photo within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. I'm taking the plunge this weekend into HD, purchasing either a 46" or 52" 1080p LCD. Make/Model insignificant - what I need to know is which HD Service Provider offers
I'm taking the plunge this weekend into HD, purchasing either a 46" or 52" 1080p LCD. Make/Model insignificant - what I need to know is which HD Service Provider offers the most bang for the buck?
I currently have Time Warner Digital Cable with Roadrunner broadband internet and a wireless router. It's been great for my family with the SD content, but I'm paying $100 per month after the stupid equipment fees ($50 cable / $50 internet).
I also have 2 SD TIVOs with lifetime membership paid in full (I already earned out the monthly fees, but I think I'll regret this as we get into HD).
Looking at Time Warner, DirecTV and Dish Network. What can I expect to get in terms of HD service and equipment from these providers? Free HD Receivers or HD DVRs would be great (I hate equipment fees), as well as the most/best programming and channels - I believe Time Warner will upgrade my receiver for free.
I think DirecTV is offering the best deals right now. Check out satelliteguys.us forums for all the latest, especially all the best deals. I'm paying a lot less than I was for TW cable, and I like the picture better, especially HD.
__________________ Immorality: the morality of those who are having a better time.
You may also consider Verizon Fios if it is available in your area. They are expanding in their telephone service area. If you local phone service is Verizon then there is a chance it may be available to you. Verizon | FiOS TV
time warner only charges you more if you want their HD-DVR. and i don't think its that much more. the hd selection on time warner is anemic, but i'm too damn lazy to switch to satellite. maybe you should consider changing your phone service to time warner. that way you can get a package deal for all three services (phone + tv + internet)
__________________ Cornell Hockey - LETS GO RED!!!!
A common misconception is that TW doesn't charge for HD. They don't charge for the Standard HD Channels. Unless this has changed since I left in February, you'll have to pay extra to get ALL of their HD lineup. Switch to DirecTV.
I have all DirecTV's HD Lineup and I pay $65 per month for the first year. They mop up the floor with Time Warner, hands down.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob2716
I just want to bust her in the head with a cast iron skillet.
I switched to DirectTv over Charter Communications just last January and have never looked back. They offer the most HD channels (especially NHL Network, Center Ice, and FSN West (I live out of state)) and they offered it at a great price and gave me a HD DVR for free. I have a 52 inch 1080p LCD HDTV and the picture is very clear, not BluRay clear, but not far off.
__________________ "But it wasn’t like last year, where it was just kinda … we had trouble stopping beach balls at times." -Dean Lombardi
A common misconception is that TW doesn't charge for HD. They don't charge for the Standard HD Channels. Unless this has changed since I left in February, you'll have to pay extra to get ALL of their HD lineup. Switch to DirecTV.
I have all DirecTV's HD Lineup and I pay $65 per month for the first year. They mop up the floor with Time Warner, hands down.
There are 4 that you have to pay for in the HD tier. The rest are included with service. The ones they are adding this month & next will be included as well.
There are 4 that you have to pay for in the HD tier. The rest are included with service. The ones they are adding this month & next will be included as well.
That's good to know. It just sucks that their infrastructure is lagging so much behind Dish and DirecTV.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob2716
I just want to bust her in the head with a cast iron skillet.
I purchased the new 46" Sony Z4100. It was either that, or the 52" V4100 - but the picture on the Z looked too good to pass up. I believe it's the same panel that will be used on the XBR7 and XBR8 this year. I had a $1,000 gift card for Sony Style, so I didn't have a choice to get a Samsung...
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I called up Time Warner. The HD Receiver would be $1 more per month than the box I currently have, but he gave me $7.95 off per month for no apparent reason. Then he gave me the sales pitch on the HD DVR after I asked if the standard box is HDMI (it's not, just the DVR supports HDMI) - equipment fee will be $16.95 for it, and somehow I'm paying about $3 or $4 more per month than before. The math doesn't seem to work out, in my favor, but whatever.
He said there are 14 or 15 HD channels on the standard service. For an additional fee, there are 4 more channels - he recommended not to get this package. Then he tried to sell me HBO, Showtime, and Starz with their HD channels.
I'll continue my Time Warner service for a little while before I figure out if I can get Verizon FIOS, or if I should make the switch to DirecTV. At least until hockey season. If they don't offer Center Ice, that will force my hand and I'll have to switch over.
My wife has several email addy's under Roadrunner, one of which is for her business. So I'm not ready to switch away from TW yet.
That's good to know. It just sucks that their infrastructure is lagging so much behind Dish and DirecTV.
I agree. The sat companies don't have to deal with the cities when changes are made. It's a real problem restructuring bandwidth. They have most of the rebuilds done. Now it's time to start adding the channels. From what I'm told, they are adding 8 this Summer & some more in the Fall. I think they are looking at content as well. So many HD channels don't have much HD content & it's a waste.
Verizon FiOS HD Channels >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>DirecTV (HD Lite)>Cable (Almost SD)
I love having uncompressed HD signals (especially great for those 1080P sets)! Fiber straight to my home! FiOS doesn't have the same amount of HD channels as DirecTV, however they have announced they will have 150 of them by the end of the year. They are adding 27 in the next 2 months. They currently don't have Center Ice or MLB Extra Innings but have announced they will have them along with Setanta Sports. Currently they have more HD channels than TWC.
For $114.99 plus HBO, DVR service, and box rental (1 HD-DVR, 1 DVR, and 4 SD boxes) I have telephone service with unlimited nationwide calling, 15mpbs Down/2mpbs Up Internet, and all the basic channels available along with all the HD channels (no extra charge for the HD). Not to mention I have a Media HD-DVR that allows those with SD boxes in other rooms to access that DVR and watch shows from the DVR.
If you want a lot of HD channels now, get DirecTV. Their HD-DVR holds a lot more HD shows than TWC and their service is more reliable. If you want true HD, get FiOS if it's available in your area.
Drum4Pigs
HD Service - need help 
