Im gonna disagree on the speed, at least for my setup. I have DSL, and I can hit full bar Vudu HDX which looks GREAT, I think it's either the Roku's 720p (Amazon looks good though), or Hulu plus just needs some work.
Fiber Optic Service (FiOS)Isn't Fios DSL?
Yea my Cable Company is Blue Ridge Communications, They have a 1.5mbps,5 mbps,10 mbps and a 15 mbps.
DSL is 1.5 and 3 mbps plans only.
I'm really thinking of switching to cable for everything.
Right now I can get Unlimited phone and G10 service which is 10 MBPS with cable for $50 for 1 year, with NO commitment, Then its $80 after that. Still not bad IMO.
I pay that now with slow DSL and Vonage.
I Agree, Blue Ridge Cable has come a long way. Their HD PQ is just as good as D* as well.Hey small world, I'm at the in laws today in Northeast Pennsylvania, in Lords Valley (Near Hawley) and They have Blue Ridge Cable for TV, and crappy 1.5 mbps Verizon DSL for internet.
I like the SA boxes, at least the passport software seems pretty speedy and refined compared to the software that other cable companies use. Everything moves around the screen pretty smoothly with screen elements fading in and the grid sliding very smooth. They have quite a few HD channels we don't have on DirecTv either. Last night the wife was browsing Blue Ridge on demand and she said "I really miss on demand". We used to have Comcast before we moved, but picked up DirecTv because Comcast wasn't in that area.
I don't think D12 is a disappointment totally, But the amount of locals in my "Real" DMA is really lacking against cable, and Cable right now after using my nephew's HD DVR "Scientific Atlanta" it works way better then any HD DVR I've used yet from D*, and his equipment and install was totally free with Digital cable.
Now you can expand their DVR capacity as well.
NFL ST, is really the only thing keeping me here.
And even that's not really a factor, since my Eagles are in my DMA.
Right now, I feel D* isn't really lacking too much Except , Limited locals,VOD,Comcast Philly, and the HR 23's that I want to toss out the window sometimes.
I'm really getting near the end of my satellite tv road.
I shouldn't have to pay D* anything extra for a properly working HD DVR.I hope the cable tv in your area implements switched digital video better than mine. I see lots of complaints about it in my local area thread on avsforum. Stuff like heavy pixelation and times when the signal is out completely. I also understand your frustration with the HR23 (the HR22 in my bedroom drives me insane sometimes) but I wish you give the HR24 a try. Everything you read indicates it is much better than the other D* HR2xs. However, I'm aware that you haven't been willing to pay for the pleasure and I can understand that. For me, I anticipate getting a work bonus at the end of this year or the beginning of next year and if I get that, I intend to replace the last two SDTVs with HDTVs and replace my two R16s with HR24s for use in my living room and bedroom while the other HD DVRs get relocated elsewhere in the house.