After Voom, what do you recommend?

[Guest]

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

For people that have experienced both Cable (comcast) and DirecTV, what
do you recommend for HD?

 

[Guest]

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

Larry Bud wrote:

> For people that have experienced both Cable (comcast) and DirecTV, what
> do you recommend for HD?

Depends on what Comcast offers for HD in your area. Comcast has been
the leader in cable companies in adding HD the past several years, but
not all Comcast local systems have been upgraded for digital or HD yet.

Currently DirecTV aggressively compresses the HD channels to squeeze
it into their bandwidth. There are a lot of complaints about the HD
picture quality and the limited selection of satellite HD channels. The
ability to get local digital stations OTA depends very much on where you
live. But DirecTV will be upgrading their system starting later this
year to use Mpeg-4 encoding which will allow them to add more HD and SD
channels. You will need an Mpeg-4 capable set top box to handle this, so
you many want to wait if you are going to buy the HD gear.

I have Comcast and get about 12 HD channels, most with 5.1 sound (when
available). The cost is not bad: $5/month more for the HD set top box
and another $5/month for the HD DVR. Picture quality is whatever the
cable or local station provides them, which in most cases, is very good.

Alan F

 

[Guest]

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

Alan, can you provide a source (e.g. link) that says DirecTV
"aggressively compresses" the HD signal and complaints of HD picture
quality. A coworker thinks DirecTV HD is superior to Comcast HD. Thanx

 

[Guest]

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"Larry Bud" <larrybud2002@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1113483052.822146.214850@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> For people that have experienced both Cable (comcast) and DirecTV, what
> do you recommend for HD?
>

If you have a choice, you will get local channels over Comcast now, vs. some
time in the future with DirecTV. If you already have OTA reception setup,
then that may not be an issue.

Brad H

 

[SlimJim]

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

A friend tells me DirecTV has a better picture. I don't believe it.
Personally, I find them both pretty much the same.

Toss a coin?


"Larry Bud" <larrybud2002@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1113483052.822146.214850@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> For people that have experienced both Cable (comcast) and DirecTV, what
> do you recommend for HD?
>

 

[Guest]

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

_cygnusx-1_@excite.com wrote:

> Alan, can you provide a source (e.g. link) that says DirecTV
> "aggressively compresses" the HD signal and complaints of HD picture
> quality. A coworker thinks DirecTV HD is superior to Comcast HD. Thanx

I have not followed the issues with DirecTV closely as I currently get
HD through Comcast and OTA. There are DBS satellite specific topic
forums on the net, but complaints about DirecTV HD picture quality
routinely come up in the HD programing forum at avsforum.com. There is a
current thread with a poll on whether people prefer compressed HD or
fewer HD channels with full bandwidth here:
http/www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=529634.

Alan F

 

[Guest]

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Brad Houser wrote:
> "Larry Bud" <larrybud2002@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1113483052.822146.214850@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > For people that have experienced both Cable (comcast) and DirecTV,
what
> > do you recommend for HD?
> >
>
> If you have a choice, you will get local channels over Comcast now,
vs. some
> time in the future with DirecTV. If you already have OTA reception
setup,
> then that may not be an issue.

I do already have OTA which works fine, so that won't be an issue if I
get DirecTV...

Do you have to buy the gear from DirecTV??

How about INHD compared to HDNET as far as programming?

 

[Guest]

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

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Bud" <larrybud2002@yahoo.com>
Newsgroups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:50 AM
Subject: After Voom, what do you recommend?


> For people that have experienced both Cable (comcast) and DirecTV, what
> do you recommend for HD?
>

Hi Larry,

We recently switched from DirecTV to Comcast. Part of that reason was that
we had trouble getting consistent reception of DirecTVs current High Def
offerings, but we did get to see Showtime HD a few times. So, we didn't
have lots of experience with DTVs HD signals, but FWIW here's some thoughts:

From the few DTV HD shows we did watch, I find the Comcast HD signals to be
brighter and more vivid. INHDs programming, while very repetitive, is
quite lovely to look at because they show lots of shows shot for IMAX.
Overall I'm satisfied with Comcast's HD selection (they just added TNT HD
too) for the time being, and assume they'll continue to add channels on a
regular basis.

The analog channels on Comcast are noticeably grainy, but the digital non-HD
channels are quite nice. So, channel picture quality (other than HD) is
inconsistent, with some channels being decidedly worse than DTV, and others
being as good if not slightly better in my opinion.

We loved our DTV Tivos (non-HD versions), and the Motorola 6412s (HD
dual-tuner PVRs) Comcast has are fine. They're certainly cheaper than DTV
HD Tivos, but their options/features aren't as slick or well-thought out as
Tivos. But, they're functional and have a couple nice features like showing
a reduced picture while you peruse the DVR menus. Also, Comcast has their
deal with Tivo which should lead to changes for the better in '06. (And
DTV seems to be dropping their Tivo connection, which was another minus for
us...)

The on-demand feature Comcast has shouldn't be underestimated either. They
have a pretty wide range of free stuff (not just PPV). If you subscribe to
HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc. they usually offer most of the movies they're
showing that week on an on-demand basis, which can be very convenient too.
The HD on-demand stuff that I've seen so far has been PPV, but I still
really like having all the other programming available even if it isn't
HD....

Overall, we're happy with our decision to go with Comcast. (But we are also
keeping an eye on Verizon's upcoming FIOS and TV services....since Comcast
has no contract or cancellation penalties it'll be easy to switch if that
should prove compelling later on this year or next.)

-Eddie