I'm a CT-based Charter Comm customer and I'm considering going with satellite to improve my HD line-up and if I'm lucky, to save a buck or two. I've never been an E* subscriber so I should be eligible for a free Vip722 soon which should be a big upgrade to the SA 8300HD DVR that I currently have.

I was also considering bundling ATT DSL/Phone service to replace the Cable/Vonage solution that I currently have. Then I heard that ATT offered all three but their website is so difficult to get the bottom line of what the total package would cost in the configuration that I want.

I essentially want the E* HD DVR Advantage with second two-room tuner, 3Mb or greater DSL, Flat-Rate unlimited Local and LD Phone and I would like to pay less than $150 for all three. Is this acheivable and is it worth trying to bundle with ATT?

FYI, I don't have access to U-Verse or FIOS in my area.

Any suggestions?

Contact your AT&T phone company and have them send you an "offer". Right now I'm paying just under $68/mo. for DirecTV Total Plus with their HD package and under $30/mo for phone (no long distance - the absolute minimum needed to qualify for DSL) + High Speed DSL Internet (including all taxes & fees). I also have two cell phones (Verizon) which runs around $72/mo (with taxes). Therefore, I'm paying $170/mo for everything (from 3 separate companies).

The equivalent E* AT&T package (in my area) requires their "Top 250" version (the package price is for the "Top 100" version - which doesn't include any of our most watched channels).

I just checked my local AT&T web site. They want $100/mo for Phone (including long distance) + High Speed DSL Pro (3GB, max down, 512KB max up - what I have & it runs 2.2-2.4GB down & 360-408KB up) and the Top 100 E* (it's called the "Triple Pack w/Entertainment") . The Top 250 E* runs about $22/mo more plus $20/mo for HD plus $20+/mo for a DVR (total = about $162/mo). Then you have to add the taxes & fees, which will add another $30-$40/mo.

You might be better off getting the AT&T Double Pack (Phone w/Long distance) + DSL Internet Pro (the 3GB max down) for $60/mo + taxes (about $20) and get DirecTV Total Plus w/HD & DVRs for about $74/mo (including taxes). That will get you the closest to your $150/mo.

NOTE 1: D*s HD package costs $12/mo and you can add multiple DVRs for $6/mo. (1 or more - same price). You look for the D* "Total Plus" package and add those costs to it.

NOTE 2: D* will have its new HD satellite operational around mid-Sept. which will add a lot more HD channels to their programs. D* has problems (at least we like to complain about them), but they are the lowest cost service out there.

Sorry for the rambling, but (as you observed) there is no straight forward package, unless you ask for a quote.

Thanks for doing some research for me. I appreciate it Claus.

I just called AT&T and they bundled a E* Top200, HD, DVR + 1 additional tuner, Unlimited Local/LD phone w. services incl vmail, up to 6M 'Elite" DSL for $134.97. The CSR said that I would not be able to get this deal online as they were using a "come back" offer to reduce the cost of the phone. This deal sounds good but I have to make sure that this offer isn't a reduced price for a limited time.

Yup! That's a good price with the DVR is included (make sure it's a HD DVR though).

Also go to the Dish network web site (Google it) and check to see if the "Top 200" has all of the channels that you want to watch (it doesn't for me). Also, remember that there are taxes on top of that quoted price (they will be quite a bit, around $15+ for the phone part, around $15+ for the DSL and $20+ for the Dish service).

Yup! That's a good price with the DVR is included (make sure it's a HD DVR though).

Also go to the Dish network web site (Google it) and check to see if the "Top 200" has all of the channels that you want to watch (it doesn't for me). Also, remember that there are taxes on top of that quoted price (they will be quite a bit, around $15+ for the phone part, around $15+ for the DSL and $20+ for the Dish service).


Claus,

You think there will that much in the way of taxes? If the quote is actually upwards of $185 with taxes this is a non-starter then. I currently pay no more than $150, tax included for these services now.

The taxes for the phone service are probably close. The taxes/fees on my phone are $10.97 per month. I don't believe you'll pay any taxes for DSL. I don't and never have. The taxes on the E* service are limited to sales tax on leased receiver fees unless you live in one of the 4-5 states that tax all satellite services. My taxes on my E* bill are under $1.

I have to apologize profusely for my misleading info on possible taxes)! It's my cell phone bill that has the exorbitant amount of taxes & fees (State & Federal, not Verizon).

Mike, you are absolutely correct. I just went though my phone bill (which includes my DSL) and the taxes on the phone part (no Long Distance) was around $10/mo (it varies between $10- and $12) and there is no tax on the DSL part. The tax on my D* is $0.41 for my August bill (only 1 leased receiver - my second one was an outright purchase).

Skyeclad -- That means that you should expect to see around $10-$15 in addition to the cost quoted (mainly on the phone part). Your first bill may be higher to pay for the taxes on the "free" installation costs (you get taxed on the "value" of the installation :eek: ).