[van2van2]

O.K. It was just announced that Comcast is offering HDTV content in the Salt Lake City area.


I currently have DirecTv using an E86 receiver.


Should I switch?

What are the pros and cons of each?

Is HDNET available on Comcast or any plans to be?

Looks like INHD will be available on Comcast. Anyone know if Directv looking at picking this up?

How about the receivers - is the programming guide better on Comcast or the E86?

 

[Plasma George]

...why Comcast rules Philly, ComcastSportsnet-HD.

HDNET is overrated IMHO, great when that was all DTV had,

Discovery HD has better programming, Insectia, Extreme Machines, etc.

 

[steverobertson]

Quote:

Originally posted by van2van2 O.K. It was just announced that Comcast is offering HDTV content in the Salt Lake City area. I currently have DirecTv using an E86 receiver. Should I switch? What are the pros and cons of each? Is HDNET available on Comcast or any plans to be? Looks like INHD will be available on Comcast. Anyone know if Directv looking at picking this up? How about the receivers - is the programming guide better on Comcast or the E86?

I haven't made the switch for 2 reasons. The first being the Sunday ticket and the 2nd is the SD channels in my area are awful. I know D* is looking into carrying the INHD channels when I don't know but they are deffinetly looking at it.

 

[sangs]

Well, there are a couple of ways to view this of course.


Are you currently able to get all your major networks via antenna? If not, then Comcast carrying those networks is a big, big plus because DirecTV (most likely) never will.


Other than that, I guess you have to weigh INHD versus HDNet/HDNet Movies and Discovery HD. Personally, DirecTV is cheaper and since I love my DirecTivos, I doubt I'd switch to Comcast until they make a good PVR. Plus, the PQ is no contest - DirecTv wins this battle hands-down.


One thing you might want to look into - and this is what I do - is getting limited basic from Comcast soley for the ability to have your OTA networks available. We cannot get several of them via OTA in our area still, so that's the only reason I have Comcast right now.

 

[DDisney]

Quote:

Originally posted by sangs Well, there are a couple of ways to view this of course. I doubt I'd switch to Comcast until they make a good PVR. Plus, the PQ is no contest - DirecTv wins this battle hands-down.

Sangs, I assume that you mean the non-HD PQ? I don't think that this statement is true regarding the HD PQ, is it?

 

[justman]

I have D*tv and comcast. SD PQ on D*TV is much better than comcast. If you get all your HD Networks OTA, then I would not switch. .... If what you have is working then don't mess with it.

 

[van2van2]

Thanks..


I can get all the OTA channels. Thats not a problem.


I am surprised to hear that the SD channels are worse on Comcast.. Can they get worse than D*? (at least with a 61' inch TV and 480i to 1080i upconversion).

 

[justman]

Part of the problem with Comcast is that most of the channels are really analog cable (even though they call it "digital"). The true digital channels look good and similar to direct tv, but most of them are analog and dont look as good (I think they look terrible) On direct TV all are digital.


A second problem is with the Hardware. The Motorola 5100 Comcast uses here actually makes SD look worse thru component instead of better. Direct tv at least has better quaility receivers than this. Your local Comcast may use a different box so this may not be an issue in your area.

 

[sangs]

Quote:

Originally posted by DDisney Sangs, I assume that you mean the non-HD PQ? I don't think that this statement is true regarding the HD PQ, is it?

Yessir, you are correct. I was talking about SD PQ. Comcast's is horrible.

 

[Al Shing]

Quote:

Originally posted by justman Part of the problem with Comcast is that most of the channels are really analog cable (even though they call it "digital"). The true digital channels look good and similar to direct tv, but most of them are analog and dont look as good (I think they look terrible) On direct TV all are digital.

It's just the opposite on our system. The analog channels all look good, while the SD basic digital channels look over compressed. The premium SD digital channels look ok, while the HD channels are all outstanding.


They just moved Golf Channel from digital to analog, but it doesn't look much better than it did on digital. It looks like they're still getting it off their digital source, but just put it on an analog slot for the non-digital subs.


We have 70 something analog channels and a hundred or more digital channels, many of which are PPV.

 

[Kendrid]

I would think (and was hoping) that Comcast's analog stations would look better than D*'s local channels. D* is so compressed it looks horrible. I can't imagine it looking even worse.


Getting the HD locals for me is hit-or-miss with an antenna, so I was thinking about switching to Comcast when HD is in my area (soon).


I need to find a neighbor with Comcast and run a coax from their house to mine so I can check it out. Too bad my neighbors all have D*.

 

[Budget_HT]

I wonder why all of your neighbors have D*? Could that be an indicator of the desirability of Comcast in your area?

 

[samiam95124]

For readers of the DTV news, you know there have been stories of

Comcast using 10mbps rate for their channels, instead of 19mbps,

and that CBS has refused carriage with Comcast because of the

cut down rate. Comcast wants mainly to be offering HDTV at all.

They need to address these quality issues squarely.


I could paper my walls with the Comcast HDTV announcements they

mail me, and they charge me $10 or so per month because I am NOT

a Comcast cable TV subscriber. But I will be first in line for a DTV

HDTV Tivo, and don't expect to switch for years, if at all.

 

[samiam95124]

Quote:

Originally posted by sangs Are you currently able to get all your major networks via antenna? If not, then Comcast carrying those networks is a big, big plus because DirecTV (most likely) never will.

Sure, Comcast serves a big need for people who can't (or won't) get

OTA via antenna.


But lets understand how backwards the argument is now. Comcast

cable is now LOWER quality than off the air ! Say, didn't that used to

be the opposite ?

 

[drhill]

Most people seem to say that Comcast HD looks the exact same as a good OTA signal, and that their HD channels look a bit better then D*. I would think they (comcast) is taking HD seriously since they launched their own HD sports channel for the Sixers/Flyers and O's/Caps.


Now non HD channels are hit and miss. I think the premium digitals (HBO, SHO, etc) look good (not dvd, but still good). The non premium digitals are compressed too much (Playboy channel is a bit too compressed too ). Some of the analogs look good to fine while others are just bad. Depends on your area and your lines.

 

[Kendrid]

Quote:

Originally posted by Budget_HT I wonder why all of your neighbors have D*? Could that be an indicator of the desirability of Comcast in your area?

I believe the reason they all have it is Football, Football and Football. I know two of them are very disappointed in the PQ of D*. They are also curious about Comcast. No one has been fed up enough with the bad PQ to switch.

 

[MSilla]

van2van,


I'm personally waiting until Comcast expands their lineup. As it stands, there is no compelling reason for me to turn of the D* flow, so to speak. I still have issues with FOX13 reception in the evenings but to be quite honest it just isn't enough for me to through my hands up in the air yet over.


What are you going to get that you can't get on D*? InHD? You should read the InHD vs HDnet thread in which Mark Cuban gave a pretty lengthy response to peoples questions about HDnet's future. For the time being it may sway things in favour of keeping D* (that is until Comcast carry's it )


I am not even on the fence over this one - yet. It is easier for me because Clearfield ain't got the hook up yet. Even then, I'd be pissed about having to switch receivers evrytime I wanted to watch CBS - and that occurs alot during the week.


Michael.

 

[trbarry]

One of the reasons I've mostly liked cable better than sat is because I have cable ready TV's all over the house, a left over habit from my stock trading days. And I still like being able to just plug in TV's anywhere.


But with the FCC approving the digital cable ready TV connections standard today (whatever that was called) we might expect we will be able to do that again with cable HDTV's. Smaller HDTV's are already

But Comcast sure is taking its own sweet time about carrying the rest of the channels in my area.


- Tom

 

[Al Shing]

Quote:

Originally posted by MSilla What are you going to get that you can't get on D*? InHD? You should read the InHD vs HDnet thread in which Mark Cuban gave a pretty lengthy response to peoples questions about HDnet's future. For the time being it may sway things in favour of keeping D* (that is until Comcast carry's it )

I checked the INHD page for the upcoming schedule, and the HDNET page for their upcoming schedule. It's not even close. HDNET is like a more advanced form of PBS HD, while INHD is showing the same old movies and documentaries over and over. There are MLB games until the end of the month, and some minor college football games. Also, there are many repeats of tennis matches, from Tennis Channel, I guess.


Those not getting INHD at launch aren't going to miss much because everything will be repeated many times over the rest of the month.