Which Satellite service is best? Better than Digital Cable?

[northcat_8]

I'm sure Smurf is 100% dead on with the hardware specs...

...I also don't know how big my Direct dish was, it's in the garage, I could measure it...18 seems about right...it is bigger than 12".

Larger dish will provide a more stable signal. When I had my 10 ft satalite dish a strong wind would distort the signal pretty good, no other weather related occurences did anything to it...until the lightning bolt...the lightning bolt distorted the picture pretty well...turned it solid black and made the receiver smoke.

[leebo]

...until the lightning bolt...the lightning bolt distorted the picture pretty well...turned it solid black and made the receiver smoke.

How were the surround effects???

[ebenton]

Speaking of satellite and HD, I did notice that if you go to http://www.voom.com/ it appears that Dish Network is now operating Voom's HD satellite, and you can continue your Voom service through Dish Network.

[northcat_8]

...until the lightning bolt...the lightning bolt distorted the picture pretty well...turned it solid black and made the receiver smoke.

How were the surround effects???

Dolby Digital Surround Sound had nothing on that system. Audio just pierced the air...you could feel it.

[edDV]

Some additional points to consider with respect to satellite (Directv and DISH), in respect to the dish sizes - neither of the major sat providers offer a dish size even close to what the FCC specifies a consumer can have and use.

The way I see it, they found the 18" to 20" size worked just fine and kept to that cheaper offering - even though a larger dish would help the customer base depending on locale and other factors.

Even though Directv is now on record as about to offer greater HD coverage due to new satellites being launched - it raises other unanswered questions.

1) what will be the positions of these new sats? will they replace the current ones at 109, 110 and whatever? I figure they'd have to else a ton of customers will need to realign their dishes.

2) will there be new and different dish offerings? sizes?

3) how will the new MPEG-4 format be a real issue for the consumer? will present decoder boxes be upgradeable or not? and, so far, I heard that Directv will somehow address current hdtv xustomers needs - but no specifics yet.

and so on.

I saw all the DBS MPeg4 HD demos at NAB and the quality looks acceptable.

The AVS HDTV Hardware Forum and other DBS forums have all the latest info and rumors for the new Dish and DirecTV HDTV servce.

[Matt D]

Believe what you want Northcat. I've had the service for 8+ years now and the only signal loss I've experienced was a few sun related instances in about 97 or 98 and the handful of times I've had to brush the dish of snow over the years.
Now, I never said anything about hurricane's, we don't have those here, but I will agree that in the middle of one you'd probably lose signal from ANY satellite service. That's a lot different than claiming that "gusts of wind" or "hummingbird's with a bead of sweat" disprupt the signal on a DTV dish, which is just BULLSHIT, "dude".

[Ward River]

Defective or improperly installed equipment will give you problems. If your dish is set up correctly, it's as good at the very minimum, but usually better and more reliable than cable TV.

[northcat_8]

Believe what you want Northcat. I've had the service for 8+ years now and the only signal loss I've experienced was a few sun related instances in about 97 or 98 and the handful of times I've had to brush the dish of snow over the years.
Now, I never said anything about hurricane's, we don't have those here, but I will agree that in the middle of one you'd probably lose signal from ANY satellite service. That's a lot different than claiming that "gusts of wind" or "hummingbird's with a bead of sweat" disprupt the signal on a DTV dish, which is just BULLSHIT, "dude".

Great...good. I had the service since it was Primestar...so?
All I was saying...and not to you by the way...was, that I switched to Dishnetwork in August of 2004, my bill is cheaper, I get more programming and I have not had any reception loss like I did regularly with Direct. Did not lose signal this winter even with our heavy snow fall, I did not lose reception this spring during the spring storms.

"hummingbird's with a bead of sweat" disprupt the signal on a DTV dish, which is just BULLSHIT

Really You think?

It's called exaggeration there Mathew, and I'm sure anyone who read it, knew it <except you apparently>. But any storm brewing, a heavy rain, snow, or just heavy cloud cover would kill the reception.

Like I said...whatever...I've had both and in my experience...Dishnetwork is the better of the 2 providers...and it's cheaper.

and before you get all upset perhaps you should re-read my signature line and save yourself the frustration

[stiltman]

Nice thread guys. I was wondering the same thing.

Doubt I'll switch since I have comcast internet and comcast expanded basic for the price of comcast basic only.....Then again I;ll prolly be looking soon as the force eveyone to digital and relize the deal I've been getting for the past year and 1/2

[lordsmurf]

Defective or improperly installed equipment will give you problems. If your dish is set up correctly, it's as good at the very minimum, but usually better and more reliable than cable TV.

That's totally false ... at least in terms of "that's the only reason you can get signal errors". I've seen MANY satellite setups, in many areas. There was one in particular that confuses me to this day. No matter what you tried, the signal REFUSED to go higher than 70-80% ..... regardless of receiver, dish (both of which worked 100% at another location) and clear line of sight.

Something about that area would case the slightest cloud cover or flock of birds flying overhead to distort the signal. That guy eventually went back to cable, digital this time, and I do not blame him.

The only possible guess is it was in an area that had lots of ku traffic, so the satellite signal (also ku) may not have been able to penetrate all the terrestrial traffic. There were cell towers and air traffic control equipment in the area (within a mile for cell, within 5 miles for small airport).

[Redd]

I don't think the small airport has anything to do with bad reception. I've had Dish for three years, the first year I lived with in 1/2 mile of a small airport with no problems. I get great reception with excellent digital quality picture. I'm not saying your friend didn't have problems...but I doubt if it was due to the airport. More likely due to faulty equipment or even faulty service on how his dish was set up.
Cell towers...I wasn't near any cell towers so I can't speak on that. What I can say is I'd never go back to cable...especially Comcast. Like the original poster in this thread I got sick of them, their bad service and poor quality picture and non-existent service. When I did have them I also had cable modem. When I quit their TV cable they raised my internet charge from $38. per/mo. to $62. per/mo. I told them to take their modem and stick it where the Sun Don't Shine. So now I have SBC DSL for $24. per/mo.

Screw Comcast the arrogant Son's Of B%#$@*'s.

[sammie]

Defective or improperly installed equipment will give you problems. If your dish is set up correctly, it's as good at the very minimum, but usually better and more reliable than cable TV.

That's totally false ... at least in terms of "that's the only reason you can get signal errors". I've seen MANY satellite setups, in many areas. There was one in particular that confuses me to this day. No matter what you tried, the signal REFUSED to go higher than 70-80% ..... regardless of receiver, dish (both of which worked 100% at another location) and clear line of sight.

Something about that area would case the slightest cloud cover or flock of birds flying overhead to distort the signal. That guy eventually went back to cable, digital this time, and I do not blame him.

The only possible guess is it was in an area that had lots of ku traffic, so the satellite signal (also ku) may not have been able to penetrate all the terrestrial traffic. There were cell towers and air traffic control equipment in the area (within a mile for cell, within 5 miles for small airport).

I've seen the same effect, but never to the extreme you mention LS. The worst I've ever seen is here where I am now. With a lot of work (way more that you'll get out of a "free" install) I have been able to tweak it up to where I get 3 birds >90. But even then the half ass job was still all 3 over 80 and I never saw problems there till I got the HD set up except for the rain fade during the hurricaine.

Also, keep in mind that small dishes aren't terribly expensive. You can get a slightly larger dish which will defintely improve the gain over the basic 18 inch. A 24 or 30 inch dish will tremendously increase your reception in fringe areas and it's supposedly against federal law to regulate dishes below 1 meter (yeah I know tell to my subdivision board, but most won't notice the differnce between an 18 and 24). But as you go up in size the the functional wind speed goes down. An 18 inch is typicaly rated at 80 mph, a 24 or 30 at 70, and as you start pusing a meter it drops to to 50 or 60 mph depending on the manufacturer. Thus my comment to Northcat_8.

BTW dude sorry on the fry job. I saw Richard Harris on his farewell Camelot tour at an outdoor theatre in a perfectly timed thunderstorm, but I think you win hands down on the nature induced special effects category.

As a P.S. the did (do?) make 12 inch dishes. I just haven't ever seen one actually installed, probably for obvious reasons.

[Ward River]

Defective or improperly installed equipment will give you problems. If your dish is set up correctly, it's as good at the very minimum, but usually better and more reliable than cable TV.

That's totally false

Actually you're just full of shit and don't know what the hell you're talking about.

[canadateck]

Defective or improperly installed equipment will give you problems. If your dish is set up correctly, it's as good at the very minimum, but usually better and more reliable than cable TV.

That's totally false

Actually you're just full of shit and don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Sat more reliable than cable TV? This is a steaming pile of ****, Sat better??? YES., more "reliable" than cable TV,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,NO<><.

[jetfan]

Here's my 2 cents, I had both Directv and DISH, I had DISH first and was happy with it, I had a signal strength of 126, with Directv, I can't manage more than 90. I am on Long Island, NY if anyone cares. I had problems with dropouts and loss of signal whenever we had very heavy rain or heavy snow only. Directv rarely ever has dropouts, even with a lower signal strength. I liked DISHES PVR better, but I feel that Directv has better programming, but used to enjoy Charlie Chats with Dish.

Someone also said that he hasn't seen TIVO in HD for satellite, I HAVE one and it works great.