I have had TW cable for years, and I am now considering switching. I am still a little confused with the package I am trying to get. I think the $69.99 deal they have going now is great. 4 months premium service for free, when you purchase sunday ticket for $69.99/mo.

I have HD, and want to make sure I am getting all the possible HD channels I can get. Would I have to order Superfan to get all the Sunday games in HD? Or are they all available with this package?

I have had TW cable for years, and I am now considering switching. I am still a little confused with the package I am trying to get. I think the $69.99 deal they have going now is great. 4 months premium service for free, when you purchase sunday ticket for $69.99/mo.

I have HD, and want to make sure I am getting all the possible HD channels I can get. Would I have to order Superfan to get all the Sunday games in HD? Or are they all available with this package?





I might switch to Direct TV at the end of September if Comcast doesn't add all the new HD channels arriving that same month.

"Would I have to order Superfan to get all the Sunday games in HD?"

Yes, make sure they offer your locals in HD also or you'll need an OTA antenna to get them if possible.

Anything is better than cable. Unless you like Howard Stern Video on Demand...and who does not like girl on girl action.

Ok, so I have to get Superfan to get all the NFL games in HD. I read some post about how people were getting superfan for free. What exactly did you have to do to get it for free?

I was also told that I could downgrade the monthly plan after the initial 4 month introductory rate. Not really sure we want to keep all the premium channels at $99.99/month. With DirecTV is it easy to downgrade your service?

It's easy, you can do it online or call them. I went through the same thing you did when I first signed up, ST with 4 months of premium free.

Very glad to hear that. I just hope I can get Superfan for free!

There are many ways to get superfan for free.

I would make it a requirement to come over to D* or ask for a monthly HD credit for a year($9.99/mo). Those are probably the 2 most successful methods.

Anything is better than cable, however Dish Network has a better picture and quality IMO.

I haven't seen the 2 side by side on the same TV but you won't be disappointed with DirectTv's HiDef receiver and a nice plasma(like a Pioneer) in SD or HD. I did see Dish Network SD 322 receiver on a LG 37" LCD, and SD looked terrible, but maybe their HD receiver would make SD look better, or maybe it was the TV.

Another vote for DirecTV. All of their SD channels come though nice and sharp on both my 32" LCD TV set (LG 32LC2D) and on my PJ - projected on a 106" screen. The HD channels are good too (although not quite as good as the OTA HD programs).

The problem with Dish Network (exclusive of the SD PQ noted) is that I would have to get their "Top 250" in order to get what I do with D*s "Total Choice Plus" (it's now called "Choice Extra" or "185+" - $50/mo), and it would cost me about $30/month more than I'm paying now. I currently have the D* "195+" which includes the HD channels (for $60/mo + $8/mo in taxes).

My biggest gripe with Dish's channels line-up choices is that they tout all the channels they give you in each group, but most of them are "junk" channels (by my definition - shopping channels, etc.). Their "Top 150" adds only 1 or 2 of my favorites, their "Top 200" adds a couple more, and what I consider some of my most watched channels are only available in their "Top 250". All of these are in the D* "Total Choice Plus" package

Yes, there are lots of gripes about D* service, but it still gives you the best "bang for the buck". With their new HD satellite coming on-line in about mid-September, they will have a lot more HD channels available too.

Another vote for DirecTV. All of their SD channels come though nice and sharp on both my 32" LCD TV set (LG 32LC2D) and on my PJ - projected on a 106" screen. The HD channels are good too (although not quite as good as the OTA HD programs).

The problem with Dish Network (exclusive of the SD PQ noted) is that I would have to get their "Top 250" in order to get what I do with D*s "Total Choice Plus" (it's now called "Choice Extra" or "185+" - $50/mo), and it would cost me about $30/month more than I'm paying now. I currently have the D* "195+" which includes the HD channels (for $60/mo + $8/mo in taxes).

My biggest gripe with Dish's channels line-up choices is that they tout all the channels they give you in each group, but most of them are "junk" channels (by my definition - shopping channels, etc.). Their "Top 150" adds only 1 or 2 of my favorites, their "Top 200" adds a couple more, and what I consider some of my most watched channels are only available in their "Top 250". All of these are in the D* "Total Choice Plus" package

Yes, there are lots of gripes about D* service, but it still gives you the best "bang for the buck". With their new HD satellite coming on-line in about mid-September, they will have a lot more HD channels available too.

Agreed.

About the griping.....I've had Directv now from the second or third year they were in business and have had really nothing to gripe about. The equipment has been great. The picture has been great. I had my first problem yesterday with my HR20 HD DVR....the HDMI connection quit. After talking to Directv and going through the standard questions, they are sending me a new box, $20.95 for shipping by Fedex and free shipping back on the old unit.

Any problems I've had or needs I've had, they've bent over backwards for me. Maybe it's because I've been with them so long, I don't know.

I really like Directv.

thanks for the help everybody. Looks like we might switch to DirecTV tomorrow!

cawgijoe -- I've subscribed to DirecTV since March 2002. Their service makes my old Comcast cable subscription look sick (which is why I switched - the other reason was cost, Comcast was raising my rates by 6% to 9%/year). No complaints about picture quality though.

The biggest gripes I've had were: (1) their screwup of my account when I upgraded to HD service (basically the account person, that the installer talked to, just didn't listen); and (2) the slowdown in the menu performance of my H20 after the "upgrade" - it's very frustrating. The upgrade did fix my HDMI drop-out problem though.

There are many ways to get superfan for free.

I would make it a requirement to come over to D* or ask for a monthly HD credit for a year($9.99/mo). Those are probably the 2 most successful methods.


I did this very thing. I said I wouldn't sign up unless Superfan was free. She said okay and then told me I'd need to pay for it ($99 up front) and then they would post a $10 credit on my bill for the next 10 months. I told her that was stupid and that I wouldn't sign up unless it was free period -- i.e. no paying up front to get credited later. She put me on hold for a few minutes and came back with the okay to give it to me free -- period.

:)