I have to cancel E*...options/opinions?

[klen]

When E* came out to do my HD upgrade, they could not get a signal. (trees) Another installer came out...same story. Also recently, the trees around my house and my neighbors have gotten so bad that my regular E* signal only comes through about 75% of the time. Lots of "aquiring signal" messages.

So, it looks like I will have to go to D*. (I have a clear view for them)
It looks like they will have a lot more HD channels in September.

In the meantime, I also got a real good offer in the mail from Comcast (cable). I can get my current setup (1 hd dvr + 1 hd receiver + 1 sd receiver) for $67/month for 12 months. (no commitment) It also includes free HBO & Starz/Encore for 1 year. (I don't have any movie packages now with E*). Right now with E*, I pay $72/month with no movie packages.

I am tempted to jump on the Comcast deal for a few months, just to wait and see how D* improves their equipment and programming and to see if D* & E* get more aggressive on pricing.

What would you dudes do?
Sign up for D* now and be done with it, or take the Comcast deal and switch to D* a little further down the road?

Thanks.

 

[tsduke]

I'd pull out my chain saw and start cutting the tree down.

 

[mdonnelly]

If Comcast doesn't have an obligation period, why not give them a shot?

 

[klen]

I'd pull out my chain saw and start cutting the tree down.

Don't think I didn't consider it. But there are about 5 of them (one is my neighbors), and they are all about 80 feet high.....

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Dont think you are going to do better with DirecTV. After all 2 of the satellites DirecTV uses are the same slots Dish uses (110, 119)

 

[BigTimMN]

I had comcast, and had no problems with their service. The HD DVR is a bit clunky, and had some bugs, but whenever it really got weird they would come out and swap it no problem.

I left only because they wouldnt work a "deal" for me on my internet when i wanted to add phone service... they wouldnt give me a $10/month break for a year, if they would of done that, I would probably still be a customer... but they didnt so i explored other options and now instead of $130/a month from me, they get $0. not the correct business decision if you ask me...

 

[goaliebob99]

Don't think I didn't consider it. But there are about 5 of them (one is my neighbors), and they are all about 80 feet high.....

Dont think you are going to do better with DirecTV. After all 2 of the satellites DirecTV uses are the same slots Dish uses (110, 119)

Scott is right... Not only that with Directv HD you have to hit 5 slots their dish which is massive for consumer grade dishes. The chain saw route is your only option unless you can some how some way put the dishes on the opposite side of the property and shoot over those trees, or on a peak of the roof.

 

[Van]

Well if the tree's are old and diseased then there is always a legitimate route for removing them, if not and they are clean ( no nails or other metals imbedded in the trunk ) then you might find a logger depending on where your at that would want to take the tree's for a smaller fee.

 

[klen]

Dont think you are going to do better with DirecTV. After all 2 of the satellites DirecTV uses are the same slots Dish uses (110, 119)

The installer that came today also does D*, and he said we had a clear shot of all 5.....

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

If you have a clear shot at all 5 then you have a clear shot at Dish.

Again Dish and DIrecTV both use 110, 119

 

[RandallA]

"The installer that came today also does D*, "

Hmmm, maybe he gets better pay if he installs D*.

 

[minnow]

I went with TWC for two years for a significant savings over what I was paying for Dish, the phone company and TWC for internet and lifeline cable(Dish still does not provide our area with locals. When we lost DNS that's when I seriously looked to change providers. Even went with AllAmerican for a few months but the PQ was no where's near as good as the old DNS out of NYC and LA). I'm still in year #1. When year #3 comes and the discount disappears, I'll look at the options at that time. But for the money I'm saving it was worth it. I get many more channels than what I did with Dish(only had AT60). I'll admit that the TWC 8300 DVR is not as user friendly as my old 508's but it's a small sacrifice to save $40 bucks a month for more content.

 

[jessshaun]

You know, Minnow, I attempted to do the same thing with Mediacom. Phone, TV, internet, free DVR for a year. All for only 89.85 a month. Then I got to use the DVR and it was a nightmare compared to Dish's. After the internet was out for a whole weekend I switched back to Dish. I was with Mediacom for a week. I'm glad the account specialist talked me into Dish Pause ibstead of cancelling. She even gave me first month free.

Bottom line... I learned not to be "suckered in" to those cable deals.

 

[webbydude]

Dont think you are going to do better with DirecTV. After all 2 of the satellites DirecTV uses are the same slots Dish uses (110, 119)

The only thing I can think of is if your installer is referring to the 129 or 61.5 slots. Either/both of those could be obstructed by the trees, and as such affect your HD signal.

 

[brad15]

If you have a clear shot at all 5 then you have a clear shot at Dish.

Again Dish and DIrecTV both use 110, 119

You also have to remember, DirecTV Satellites are higher up than E* Satellites.

Here, the elevation for a DirecTV dish is ~9 degrees higher than E*

that's why i cant get all of my channels from E*, but get everything just fine from DirecTV

 

[jayn_j]

You also have to remember, DirecTV Satellites are higher up than E* Satellites.

Here, the elevation for a DirecTV dish is ~9 degrees higher than E*

that's why i cant get all of my channels from E*, but get everything just fine from DirecTV

This makes no sense to me from a physics standpoint. A satellite orbits around the center of mass. Unless the satellite is placed in an orbit directly above the equator, the elevation would change constantly during the day. In other words, it would appear to wobble north-south.

Scott, I would assume that the installer couldn't find the common HD sat in the OP area, either 129 or 61.5. Is there any possibility of hitting the other bird? You don't list your location, so unless you live in New England or Florida and can't receive 129 or the west coast and can't hit 61.5, I would try to see if they can get a lock on the other one. I know that the typical installer that comes around here only does 129 for HD, and would have to be reminded about 61.5.

 

[webbydude]

This makes no sense to me from a physics standpoint. A satellite orbits around the center of mass. Unless the satellite is placed in an orbit directly above the equator, the elevation would change constantly during the day. In other words, it would appear to wobble north-south.

All of E* and D*'s birds are in a geosynchronous orbit. W/o all the goobly-gock and physics, they stay "still" relative to their position above the planet. The military has been using that same sort of feature for over 30 years.

 

[Mr Tony]

You also have to remember, DirecTV Satellites are higher up than E* Satellites.

not if you live on the west coast

Here, the elevation for a DirecTV dish is ~9 degrees higher than E*

The satellites are in conjunction with your longitude so the farther away you are form it the lower it will be.

 

[klen]

"The installer that came today also does D*, "

Hmmm, maybe he gets better pay if he installs D*.

Both installers that looked at it said the same thing about D* being a wide open shot for me. (one looked like they worked for E*-at least they had a very official looking van)

Also, my looking at the angle of my neighbor's D* dish, it would make sense that I could get it. Don't ask me why.....

 

[digiblur]

Again DirecTV also uses 110 & 119 which DishNetwork uses for their core programming. If you can't get Dish then I can bet you'll be missing the 110 and 119 channels for DirecTV.