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Satellite TV Networks

I've had DirecTV and DishNetwork.

I liked DirecTV better. MOSTLY because TiVo is light years ahead of dishnetworks "DVR" service.

I have DishNetwork now, mostly because its cheaper. I pay $30 per month for the basic package which includes all the local networks. DVR service is an additional $5 per month (a total ripoff, but its the same price with direcTV).

Hmm see I switched to Dish Network because I hated Tivo, ever since they started that 1 view and then deleting it garbage I’ll never use them again.
 
My parents have DirectTV for 6+ years and I love it. The only reason I don't have it is because I'd have the added expense of installing a phone line...

No phone line necessary, unless you need to have TiVo. Which we have, but haven't plugged in to a phone line. I can still pause/rewind the station I am watching, but no recording.
 
My wife and I are in the same boat. We know nothing about cable/sat tv. We have never had anything beyond what the rabbit ears could pick up for the last 10 years. Honestly we don't watch much TV, only movies. But now that we got this big ass 50" plasma, I figure maybe we ought to get some basic package so we can watch tv like normal people.

My question is about the components, what is necessary, and where it has to go. We have regular cable outlets througout the house (the house is only four years old), but I'm not sure if there has to be a receiver at each tv so we can change channels and bring up those huge menu's I've seen at freinds houses with Dish or DTV. Or maybe Tivo.
 
Hmm see I switched to Dish Network because I hated Tivo, ever since they started that 1 view and then deleting it garbage I’ll never use them again.

WTF? I have tivo and can watch as many times as I want. I can even burn to my DVD burner.
 
Hmm see I switched to Dish Network because I hated Tivo, ever since they started that 1 view and then deleting it garbage I’ll never use them again.

WTF? I have tivo and can watch as many times as I want. I can even burn to my DVD burner.


That's news to me. If I couldn't save what I had recorded I'd be mighty upset.

Must be something they've changed in the past 4 years.
 
My parents have DirectTV for 6+ years and I love it. The only reason I don't have it is because I'd have the added expense of installing a phone line...

No phone line necessary, unless you need to have TiVo. Which we have, but haven't plugged in to a phone line. I can still pause/rewind the station I am watching, but no recording.

Thanks for the info! I'll have to check into it again. :)
 
Your cables should be fine, it is the splitters on the cables that may need replacing and the installer should check on that for you.

When I moved a few years ago, I ended up changing out a couple of the cable splitters that were on the house. They worked fine for the local cable company, but for digital satellite they needed to be upgraded. If you already have digital cable or if you home is a newer one, you should be fine.

I did the install myself and it only took me a couple hours. Hardest part was getting the dish locked in on the satellite.
 
Splitters are not the best thing for Sat TV. You need ones that will handle 2+ gigahertz for optimum quality.
 
So what advice does everyone have about power strips/surge suppression?
APC makes a reasonably priced surge protector, i have a monster surge protector (was on clearence for $50.00) and has done me well. i also have a surge protector on my electrical box (ya, i am super retentive), so the entire house is protected, my electrician buddy installed it for a few hundred. short money to have the entire house protected.
here is a linky http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US...27X-_-100396357
edit to add linky
 
Besides get one? Tripplite makes some good units too. Monster in general is crap for the money you pay but realize a good unit isn't going to be $6.99 at Home Depot either.

So what advice does everyone have about power strips/surge suppression?
 
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