I'm thinking of switching from Comcast for a variety of reasons, and although I've tried to research the satellite alternatives, it's very confusing. For one thing, it's almost impossible to figure out what anything costs, since they insist on quoting you "specials" that will eventually go away.

I've got 6 TVs, one of which is HD. Right now, I'm paying about $65 for digital service with only one cable box - the other 5 don't need boxes, but also don't get a lot of the digital channels.

I'm concerned about cost. With 6 TV's with a similar plan (digital and HD, but no premium channels) isn't Directv going to be substantially more expensive?

Second, I'm concerned about weather outages. Here in Houston, there is frequent bad weather. Anyone in Houston have some experience with satellite and want to comment?

Third, I'm also looking for something extra that I don't have with Comcast, like the ability to play DVR recordings on any TV in the house (or on a networked computer), and the ability to remotely schedule recordings. Anything like this with Directv or Dish?

Finally, the sites I've visited are coy about contract terms. I'd be reluctant to sign up for more than one year. Is that possible?

Thanks for any help.

How are you receiving digital cable channels on the other 5 TV's without Comcast's cable box? I'm in the same predicament, my local cable provider's HD programming sucks, so I was thinking of switching to one of the dish's, but I hate the idea of a receiver box for every TV, some of which are mounted in bedrooms and there is no place to put any type of box.

As someone who had to switch - rental company banned comcast - you have to have a receiver on every TV... DishNetwork has a receiver that does 2 rooms but it takes funky wiring and I'm not even sure it's still offered. With DirectTV however you have to pay $5 for each TV beyond the first. However the nice thing is that you get all channels on every tv. Also, I think but I'm not sure, you don't get charged extra for extra HD - so you can get HD on any TV's for that same extra $5.

It's very situational, I have 3 TV's so it's not bad, my parents have 9 - so they stick with comcast.

I can't comment on the reliability but over the last month it's only gone out during one summer thunderstorm. I have also read that the farther south you are the more reliable it is. If you have any neighbors with a dish I'd ask them.

How are you receiving digital cable channels on the other 5 TV's without Comcast's cable box?

Well, I guess technically it's being converted to analog, but it's channels 1-100. Without the cable box, you won't get anything beyond 100.

Unfortunately with 6 TVs both the up front equipment costs and continuing monthly bill will be considerable. DirecTV's basic packages start around $40 a month. There is an additional HD fee, which I believe is currently$11 a month. So minimum without any "special" channels such as HBO would be around $50 to $55 a month. In addition, there are "mirroring fees" of $5 for each additional TV. If you want a DVR, there is an additional $5 a month for DVR, but that is for one or 6 DVRs. Currently the best price for a DVR is $99. I believe you can get the basic HD receiver (no DVR) free for at least some of your TVs. So you are looking at a minimum of nearly $90 a month for a very basic system and possibly several hundred dollars or upfront equipment costs. You can go to D*'s (and probably Dish's) website to get current pricing information for all of their plans, so you can get an accurate number.

Plus, you have to consider installation and wiring. Cable is only one coax cable and probably comes in your house in the basement. It may use only RG-59 coax cable. RG-6 is necessary for satellite. A satellite dish will likely be mounted up high or on your roof, and it may not be feasible to enter the house where cable is now, and you will likely need 4 cables coming into the house (unless you get a new "single wire" dish). You will then need to run these cables to a central place where you can put a "multiswitch" to run the cables to the rooms where your TVs are. Also, unless you are using a special switch, anyplace you put a DVR will need a second cable to enable you to record two different programs at the same time or watch one live while recording another. Then you will also need to make sure all the cable runs in the house are RG-6. Satellite does not work well with RG-59 which the cable companies used when they first starting wiring houses. If you need to upgrade, there will be an additional cost and hassle to run these wires.

So you see it can get expensive and somewhat confusing. At least the people here can help.

SMK

"Then you will also need to make sure all the cable runs in the house are RG-6. Satellite does not work well with RG-59 which the cable companies used when they first starting wiring houses"

If you use the SWM solution this is a moot point, it was designed for situations like this.

If you're planning on free installation from DirecTV, the SWM is not available in all areas at this time, so the point is not moot. I requested a SWM installation but it was not available in my area, so I have the four downlead Slimline 3 instead.

I changed from Charter Communications (horrendous) to the Verizon Triple Bundle. We are not ready to give up the home landline yet, so it makes sense. I'm going to save between $70-$80/mo with this package. The DSL speeds, while not as fast as cable when lightly loaded, are much more consistent, and pretty much equivalent when cable is loaded down, which is during peak times in my area. The DirecTV picture is stunning. I haven't had a bad storm yet to judge outages.

One thing I did before the tech came was to pull fresh RG6Q cable to all TV areas, label them at both ends, and leave it hanging out of the wall. Use two runs where you have a DVR, and add either a hardwired Ethernet drop or a wireless gaming adapter, depending on your home network. This lets you schedule recordings remotely, even from your phone. Works great.

Make sure the installer peaks your dish to the best possible numbers. I told him I'd do all of the finish work, i.e. mount the wall plates, clean up, etc. if he would spend his time getting the dish right.

My service costs $139.95/mo for the landline with unlimited local and long distance, 1.5M/384K DSL (you can get 3.0/768K for the same price if you're close enough to the CO), the DirecTV Plus HD DVR package, one HD DVR, one HD receiver, and three SD receivers. I have a 6th TV split off the back of one of the SD receivers. Total installation costs were a little over $200.

The deal is good for a year. When it gets close to renewal time, I will call their retentions department and ask for whatever bundle price they're offering at the time, and renew. They will not want to lose a customer. I left all of the cable infrastructure in place in case I have to switch back.

Good luck.

You can buy your own SWM if it's going to make life easier for you vs rewiring the whole house, the SWM-8 goes for about $140 online. Which solution you go with is going to depend on the existing wiring and how hard it's going to be to replace of course.

Actually I think the wiring in the house is mostly RG6 already. The cable comes through the attic, not the basement (here in Houston, we call basements "indoor swimming pools"). It looks like it's going to be expensive, so I might just wait until Comcast gets its act together (right).

And what's SWM, other than single white female?

Single Wire Multiswitch, it lets you feed up to 8 tuners off of one feed split in the house.