HDTV question

[imauafan]

Don't buy Monster cables, you are getting ripped off. I agree with the poster above, www.monoprice.com is a great place to get quality cables for very good prices. I've been using them for several years and have known others that have used them with great success too. I purchased a HDMI cable from them a few months ago for around $5-$6 and it works great.

 

[bamar]

well, let me throw my two cents in here. i am a dish network retailer, and install directv as well. the best HDTV promotion going now is dish network. we have twice the channels for high definition as direct, a bigger availability of local markets for instance, huntsville, and birmingham. and as a new customer you can get all the equipment for free with installation. dish also has a combination hdtv and dvr receiver system available that costs a little extra on the promotion. you can also get a hdtv and dvr free with their promotion. remember, you must have the delivery receiver for everything to work. access to the hdtv channels. check dishnetwork, you get 96 channels of standard tv, plus 23 hdtv channels, including locals for $49.99 per month. please compare.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Err

ummm

If these cables made a signifcant/measurable diff, they'd be using them at NASA and in medical equipment. They aren't.

Strange how no one has ever passed a double-blind test (either for audio or visual cables), dontcha think?

Let the man worry about his carrier - up here, DirecTV's HD sucks, while TWC looks amazing. No comparison.

 

[skibama]

I just switched from Directv to Dish HD. I have to say the HD channels are awesome. I actually liked the Directv setup a little better, but it's probably because I was so used to it. I get all my locals in HD plus a DVR...which is quite awesome as well.
I'm very supprised that somone said Comcast is better than satellite. I have friends with comcast HD, and while the HD broadcasts look good, their analog channels look like total crap...and the customer service is THE WORST!! Frankly I'm supprised they're still in business with some of the stunts they have pulled.
Anyway, I agree that if you have component cables, you should get a good quality cable, but I don't think it's quite as important with an HDMI cable. Digital is digital.

 

[uafan4life]

Err

ummm

If these cables made a signifcant/measurable diff, they'd be using them at NASA and in medical equipment. They aren't.

Strange how no one has ever passed a double-blind test (either for audio or visual cables), dontcha think?

Let the man worry about his carrier - up here, DirecTV's HD sucks, while TWC looks amazing. No comparison.

The most important thing is the contacts and shielding. The crappy $2 cables that come with the tv are much more succeptible to interference, especially the longer the cable. In some cases, you can use the cheapies and no problem. In some cases, you can have poor quality. I've had to replace cheap cables because they were causing problems, and I've seen cheap cables work just fine. I've never seen a problem with the good ones.

Oh, and don't confuse expensive with quality ... two completely different things.

 

[playball31580]

I just switched from Directv to Dish HD. I have to say the HD channels are awesome. I actually liked the Directv setup a little better, but it's probably because I was so used to it. I get all my locals in HD plus a DVR...which is quite awesome as well.
I'm very supprised that somone said Comcast is better than satellite. I have friends with comcast HD, and while the HD broadcasts look good, their analog channels look like total crap...and the customer service is THE WORST!! Frankly I'm supprised they're still in business with some of the stunts they have pulled.
Anyway, I agree that if you have component cables, you should get a good quality cable, but I don't think it's quite as important with an HDMI cable. Digital is digital.

Say, exactly how much better is Dish HD compared to DirecTV HD? I've heard from a lot of people that if you are a sports fan, you have to go with DirecTV. I'm leaning towards DirecTV, unless somebody convinces me that Dish is the one to go for. I'm looking at this from a sports fan (Bama fan) perspective as my fiance doesn't really care what I do with this. For now, I can't afford the TiVO from DirecTV because of my budget, but maybe will get it down the road. I just need to find something soon to keep me really entertained during the college football season!

So, DirecTV? Deal or No Deal?

or Dish Network? Deal or No Deal?

 

[CrimsonDollar]

At my parents house in Huntsville they have Knology and LOVE it.
At their house in Northport, they have Dish DVR w/ HD and like it a lot.
At my house in Tuscaloosa, I have Comcast Digital, and am so sick and tired of their lousy customer service program, their runaround, crappy channel quality and the fact that this POS "On Demand" thing does not work, that I am ready to take my Digital box and put it through their window...

Whew... I feel better.

-W$

 

[uafan4life]

Say, exactly how much better is Dish HD compared to DirecTV HD? I've heard from a lot of people that if you are a sports fan, you have to go with DirecTV. I'm leaning towards DirecTV, unless somebody convinces me that Dish is the one to go for. I'm looking at this from a sports fan (Bama fan) perspective as my fiance doesn't really care what I do with this. For now, I can't afford the TiVO from DirecTV because of my budget, but maybe will get it down the road. I just need to find something soon to keep me really entertained during the college football season!

So, DirecTV? Deal or No Deal?

or Dish Network? Deal or No Deal?

It depends on which sports you're talkng about. As far as college football goes, there's no difference. For NFL, DirecTV is better. For regional sports, Dish is better. Just look at both websites and compare the programming packages and available ppv packages, and decide what's best for you. For HD, right now, Dish is better. Personally, I think Dish is a little bit more bang for your buck, but that's just my opinion.

 

[destin_tide]

Right skibama, digital is digital. NO WAY would I buy Monster or any other high priced cable to transport 1's and 0's. The bits either get there, or they don't. There is no way to send them with better quality, efficiency, or any other such nonsense that they may try to justify to get you to spend $100.00+ dollars on a friggin cable.

I bought a Radio Shack HDMI cable ($39.00 or so for 6 feet if I remember right) and have been very pleased with it.

 

[USAFTide]

I noted that you live in St. Louis. I live just across the river in Swansea, IL. Direct TV does not offer the local channels in HD in St Louis yet. I did get permission from Fox to receive the Fox New York HD channel. The other networks denied permission. You will need an off-air HD antenna to receive the local HD channels. Ultimate Electronics in Fairview Heights, IL sells a terrific multi-directional HD Off-Air Antenna for around $70. I paid their technician $90.00 to install one in my attic. I get terrific HD reception on all the regular local channels, (2-1, 4-1, 5-1, 11-1, and 30-1). I do not receive the PBS HD channels most of the time. One of the great things about having an off-air antenna is that I have yet to lose the local off-air stations during a storm, even when the satellite is down, unless there is a power blackout. Your Direct TV receiver will include your off-air channels in the on-screen program guide and allow you to switch to them just as you do the satellite channels. I think you will love HD on an off-air antenna.

 

[bamanut_aj]

At my parents house in Huntsville they have Knology and LOVE it.
At their house in Northport, they have Dish DVR w/ HD and like it a lot.
At my house in Tuscaloosa, I have Comcast Digital, and am so sick and tired of their lousy customer service program, their runaround, crappy channel quality and the fact that this POS "On Demand" thing does not work, that I am ready to take my Digital box and put it through their window...

Whew... I feel better.

-W$

I hate that you've had that kind of trouble with Comcast....I've been nothing short of happy with them!