cable AND satelite possible?

[mar4thbpos]

I am very much a novice at all things electronic. But, I'm learning.

Here's my question: I have Dish Network satelite. Is it technically possible to also subscribe to and get basic Comcast cable as well. That is, so that I could switch back and forth b/t Dish and cable.

I live in Southeastern Mass and work in downtown Boston. Went to Dish 3 years ago. My "local" channels are "Providence RI" channels. Cannot get Boston channels from Dish which sucks. Rabbit ears failed miserably. Thinking of going to cable for local channels instead of putting up off air antenna on roof.

Is both satelite and cable even doable? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[sprintcarcrazy]

Lots of people do that, just feed your TV with S-Video and audio inputs from your dish receiver or RCA inputs and hook up the cable to the TV as you normally would. If you are using a cable rg6/rg59 from your dish box to your TV now for picture, you are getting a sub par picture and sound anyway and shouldn't be doing it that way. Then switch between cable and dish using your input button or TV video button which most TV's have had for the last 6 years or so.

 

[IceToad]

Yes. You can do cable and Satellite with a diplexer which would incur an additional cost of a Dish tech coming to the house and installing it. However, coordinating the cable install and the dish tech may be another story. I myself, as an installer, have never actually had to work WITH a cable tv installer to get both installed. I have done installs where there is already active cable and the customer wants both, however.

 

[webbydude]

I am very much a novice at all things electronic. But, I'm learning.

Here's my question: I have Dish Network satelite. Is it technically possible to also subscribe to and get basic Comcast cable as well. That is, so that I could switch back and forth b/t Dish and cable.

I live in Southeastern Mass and work in downtown Boston. Went to Dish 3 years ago. My "local" channels are "Providence RI" channels. Cannot get Boston channels from Dish which sucks. Rabbit ears failed miserably. Thinking of going to cable for local channels instead of putting up off air antenna on roof.

Is both satelite and cable even doable? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Yes. You can do cable and Satellite with a diplexer which would incur an additional cost of a Dish tech coming to the house and installing it. However, coordinating the cable install and the dish tech may be another story. I myself, as an installer, have never actually had to work WITH a cable tv installer to get both installed. I have done installs where there is already active cable and the customer wants both, however.

Depending on how your home is wired, why not just have your cable installer simply run you a feed to your television. Most receivers from Dish accept an incoming cable feed; it's simply a matter of swapping between satellite and cable by hitting your TV/Video button on your Dish remote.

 

[rcdallas]

I agree on running a new feed to the television, no diplexers, nothing fancy.

 

[mar4thbpos]

Cable and Sat

Thanks for all the responses. It's good to know that it is possible. I will now talk to my local Comcast outlet. Thanks again.

 

[roachxp]

I have an 811 at home all i did is plug the cable line into the antenna in and did a scan and got all the basic channel about 20 of them saved me money on RTPi and RAI International which are free on the local basic tier.

 

[chuckster_dude]

My Dish installer was able to do it for me without extra cost. Not sure what he did, but it works and I'm happy that I can get CBC Hockey Night in Canada on the basic ($7) cable package.

 

[sbsi]

You can have different sat providers (Dish Network and Direct TV) to come install different sat to get different programming. They set the different sat to different tv channels.

 

[JayStil]

I have what you're thinking about doing, out here in Western MA. Works great - they complement each othe well. You'll get many more channels with basic Comcast (several probably in HD) than you will with DISH locals.

One suggestion - check and see if there's any promos that include free installation, even if it's for a higher programming plan than the basic you desire. Unlike DISH, there's no commitment or penalty for downgrading your package with Comcast.