Making the full switch...need input

[Maestro]

Right now I have directv and really only use in on Sundays for the NFL. Rest of the week is BHN. With the new HD channels and the VOD I am really thinking of dumping BHN and just going directv. I got a few questions for those of you who already have it...

What do you pay for the full package? (all the HD and premiums)..

How much (or how often) does incliment weather really impact the viewing?

My wife isn't sure about switching and those are really her two sticking points. Right now I am paying about 165 a month for BHN will all the premiums and 2 boxes and a cable card (both boxes are hd-dvr...) I got to imagine Directv being cheaper than that...

TIA
Steve

[Dknow]

The DOD service is free. Total Choice Premier (which has all the movie channels plus every RSN and includes DVR services) is right around $100/month. Add about $10 for the HD access and $4.99 for your additonal room and then taxes. Roughly about $135.00/month.

[Floyd]

The rain outages don't seem to be as bad as they were 5-10 years ago.
When there are two storms lined up towards the satellite that are pouring rain into the signal path(SW) you are going to lose the picture for the time it takes for either the storm to move, or the rain to fall out of the path. Mine goes out occasionally in summer rain season when the storms are really dumping out some rain, but with the DVR I don't even notice until I go to watch something later. It's not a problem for me, but then I don't watch all the games on weekend afternoons.
You used to be able to get a larger dish to reduce the rain outage, but now we're stuck with the 5-lnb dish for most new installs.

[Roger 9]

If you have Verizon as your phone carrier you will get discounts for every service you add (DSL/FiOS, DirecTV, Cell, etc). I have everything DirecTV offers (HD, all movie channels, all regional sports) and along with my phone (unlimited local and long distance) and 3mb DSL, I am around the $160 mark.

BHN internet boasts speed that are faster than DSL but there are two problems. One, that speed drops significantly at peak usage times because you are sharing a line instead of DSL where you have your own dedicated line through your phone. Two, I stream my radio and I kept getting kicked off because of speed variables. Since I went to DSL I have to re-boot my streaming just twice in last four months.

When it comes to bad weather on DirecTV, HD channels are affected first then certain segments of regular programming. HOWEVER, that only happens when the sever boomers roll through. My service has had very limited problems on days where it is just raining. With BHN, occasionally blocks of stations can drop off depending on where weather hits them at their central location so nothing is foolproof.

In all, I am completely satisfied with DirecTV because their customer service is second to none (except on NFL days), the digital picture jumps off the screen and the amount of HD channels cannot be matched by BHN or any other cable company. The also have the capacity to expand to areas cable cannot.

I resisted the change because of the stigma DirecTV had because of the weather issue but as everyone knows, the bad Florida storms do not last long and the outages are usually limited in time.

When push comes to shove, each (cable vs. satellite) has its issues and comparing the good vs. bad with each I found that DirecTV is better and cheaper when bundled.

Oh, one other thing. you get the first box free and the other boxes are $4.95 which is about a buck less than BHN. Right off the bat you are saving about $7 more a month if you have two boxes, as I do.

There is also the issue of TVs you have in the house. If you still have good working SD sets, BHN is charging a buck a month to convert to DTV to the SD sets just to get basic.

I live in a condo where I get BHN basic for free (as part of my dues) and I have all flat panel TVs in the house. BHN has some stations already digital so I can watch the locals and a couple three in near HD on the sets like the dining room, bedroom, etc.

In all, dollar for dollar and also looking down the road I think DirecTV is a better deal overall.

JMHO.

[Bschneider]

I live in a condo where I get BHN basic for free (as part of my dues) and I have all flat panel TVs in the house. BHN has some stations already digital so I can watch the locals and a couple three in near HD on the sets like the dining room, bedroom, etc.

In all, dollar for dollar and also looking down the road I think DirecTV is a better deal overall.

JMHO.

Bearing the court cases, the basic cable coming from the dues can be eliminated soon.

[Maestro]

Wow...as if a sign from above (well, from a satellite at least)...I'm having issues with the directv. I am getting the 771 error on local channels. It comes and goes, but mostly comes. It is also there on several on HD channels (non-locals) like TBSHD, NFLHD...Called D*...they have offered no help. The forums seem to have a few people with the same experience. Anyone else here having this issue? Someone said the b-band converter could be out...What?! These things break?
Anyways, any help is thanked in advance as always!
(BTW, all the connections and everything are fine....)

[Bschneider]

My guess would be the band converter too.. You can call D* and they will ship you another one for free.. at least it won't cost you anything to try.

[Maestro]

I'll give it a shot but what is the likelyhood of both dying at the same time? Seems remote...or not...

Steve

[Bschneider]

From what I heard and read, there was a bad batch of band converter that was shipped with the receivers. So it's a possiblity that you were just lucky to recevie them.

Do you have an diplexers installed? Those can also cause problems.

[Dknow]

remove the b-band converter all together....the HD locals should still come in but the "new" HD channels definitely will not. If your HD locals still don't work your B-Band Conv is fine and you either had the dish move or the LNB or Switch is bad. Check your signal strength on the 103B and the 103A. If some transponders are high and some are at 0 your LNB is bad.

[Bschneider]

Dang it.. your right.. I didn't read the post right.. I thought we were just talking about the "new" HD channels..

[Roger 9]

I tinkered with my settings and all of a sudden I was not even getting error messages on channels, just nothing at all. Since I went beck to my original settings there doersn't seem to be a problem.

I suspect you can correct the problem inside your setup panel.

I received my HD-DVR when I first installed and added an HD receiver later and the problem was just on the primary box (HD-DVR).

But there DOES seem to be a problem with ABC. Is anyone else having cutoff problems at the ends of shows? It's like the timing is off and the last few lines get cut for commercials. Happens on both of my sets.

[Roger 9]

Bearing the court cases, the basic cable coming from the dues can be eliminated soon.

Are you saying that BHN is eliminating the "bulk" packages for condos/high rise apartment complexes? Frankly, I don't see that happening.

If you're talking about condos in general where residents can pick and choose service, I CAN see that happening though.

Let me know what you hear. Thanks.

[Bschneider]

FCC Votes Down Deals Between Cable Operators, Multiple-Dwelling Units

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6495911

[Maestro]

WOW! Just had a surreal call with D*. They must not want to keep me as a customer.

I told them I needed new BBC. Fine. Then they wanted to send someone out to look at my setup...for...70 bucks! Are they insane? 70 dollars to come out and look at the faulty gear they installed? I told them if the BBC don't fix my problem then I will be happy to pay whatever the cancellation fee is to get me out of contract. Unreal.

[Roger 9]

WOW! Just had a surreal call with D*. They must not want to keep me as a customer.

I told them I needed new BBC. Fine. Then they wanted to send someone out to look at my setup...for...70 bucks! Are they insane? 70 dollars to come out and look at the faulty gear they installed? I told them if the BBC don't fix my problem then I will be happy to pay whatever the cancellation fee is to get me out of contract. Unreal.
I ran into that problem when I first installed although I fell into the free visit the first 90-days. Like BHN, I pay a nominal monthly maintainence which guarantess all future visits are free. Living in Florida the dish can get out of line with storm winds and unless you are willing to do it yourself, I find the fee worth it.