Okay, I’ve been in town three-plus weeks now. Things are gradually settling into place, though everything is far harder to accomplish than it should be. Case in point, getting a TV package installed. Back in NC, I was a contented Dish Network customer. My goal was to get Dish installed here in Columbus, and I’d been offered a good package to do so; free installation, a DVR and second basic box, AT 180 – FSW, GolTV, etc. – free local channels, all for about $65-70/month, including tax. Imagine my bemusement, then, when the Dish tech informed me this morning that he couldn’t help me because, to get local channels,in this market one needs a SuperDish, which is larger than the Dish 500 I had in NC. As it’s heavier than the Dish 500, they’re not allowed to mount it on a house, only on a pole. Trouble is, such an installation is blocked by trees (my neighbor’s trees). He said he could install the Dish 500 for me, no problem (on the house), but I couldn’t get local channels (one of which is the UPN channels that shows Crew games). Sorry, but my rabbit ear days are over. I haven’t had the energy to call Dish yet. That’s next on the agenda. It seems to me that developing an “improved” dish system that can’t be installed on a house isn’t the greatest of ideas. Anyway, assuming that Dish won’t work for me, I’d like some feedback from those of you in Columbus regarding what TV systems you use. As I understand it, there are three other options: DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, and Wow. I’ve done a bit of preliminary research. Seems like DTV offers something similar to what I had with Dish with their Total Choice Plus and the Sports Pack add-on. Maybe I’d run into similar installation issues, maybe not. No GolTV at present, but I understand that it could get added at some point. The TWC and Wow websites are something less than helpful. Near as I can tall, nowhere on the TWC sites does it bother to tell you how much the various packages cost. Wow has some cost info, though I see no mention of the MLS Direct Kick package. The main reasons why I jumped from TWC to Dish in NC were (1) ever rising prices, (2) weak signal strength and (3) clueless local reps. With Dish and DTV, I’m convinced that the soccer offerings are stable and, probably, will improve over time. With cable, I always felt like I was at the mercy of the local office; I was always concerned that FSW and/or the MLS package could get dropped because, well, it wasn’t Duke or Carolina basketball so it couldn’t be at that important. Any advice you can provide would be welcomed. If this has been discussed previously, please direct me to the appropriate thread. Time to call Dish, I suppose
I don't know if this is available in Columbus, but I'll pass on a nugget of knowledge. Depending on what kind of entertainment system you have, you might want to look into Voom, I believe it is called. My brother out in LA has this. He says its the best thing ever. Then again, he does have a 50+" plasma HDTV. They offer a great deal that includes tons of channels in HDTV, they have FSW, and their own soccer TV station, which I guess might be like this GolTV you mentioned. Like I said, he loves it and he says there's always soccer on. I'm not sure if you can get the MLS package, but I know they offer all the local channels. Like I said, I don't know if this applies to Columbus or not, but it is worth looking into.
Voom has a channel called WorldSport I think it is and it has a ton of Spanish Primera Liga games on it. i think that might be the channel you are thinking of. However Voom does not have HDNet which broadcasts a bunch of MLS games in HD...including the Crew. If you have a big dish satellite you can get WorldSport already, like me! Edit: You can also get the Playboy Channel in HD from Voom!
I've got DirecTV w/ CMB Locals and DirectKick, and at one point had the "Sports Pack". Normal, 18" dish. I love it.
I have Directv. Small dish and all local channels mounted on my roof. Direct Kick is available and, unlike with some cable systems, has never been bumped for other programming. They also have a sports package that includes FSW and nearly every regional Fox Sports Net and MSG so you can see just about every MLS game even without Direct Kick. It is an extra $12.00. They also have EPL and other European stuff on PPV. When we lived in another part of town, I had Time Warner. If you upgrade to the digital package, you could get FSW and you had the opportunity to purchase Direct Kick.
I have had both DirecTV and Time Warner Digital. I liked the way DirecTV was set up much, much better. MLS package is $79.00 both places. Fox SPorts World is part of a $10.00 sports package with DTV. Can't recall the deal w?TW. But the kicker (sorry) is Roadrunner. You can get a TW digital package which includes ALL the movie channels (except Starrz) and pretty much everything else they offer PLUS Roadrunner highspeed for around $120 a month as a package. DirecTV will sell you a comparable selection of channels for the same price and you still have to go shopping for internet service. Normally, RR will run $40 all by itself (I think) Good luck, and welcome to Ohio.
I have Insight Digital (Time Warner) with Road Runner. I bought into a package a while back that includes digital basic, sports pak (FSW), entertainment (more dated, one to three star movies than you can shake a stick at) for around $90 that's due to go up to $120 a month soon. I'm considering WOW (Wide Open West) digital with their 2MB broadband for around $87 (less if I buy my own cable modem) - basically the exact same as Insight except theoretically less speed (although I rarely get more than 2Mbps anywhere except when downloading directly from Time Warner servers, so why pay for it). If I remember right, TW has a local special for Internet around $30 until 2005 where it will go up to $61 or so ($10 discount for just cable). Insight digital cable is pretty good, IMO. Quality signal, only down once since I've had it. The MagRack has some yoga and workout onDemand (free) stuff that I've used. Insight HDTV was a bust. They just got FOX and I was lured in initially with the promise of channels like ESPN HD and HDNet (the only reason why I got the damned thing) but they added those channels as a special HD Pak (that's extra $) so I'm pissed. Insight broadband has been 99.9% stable for the years I have had it. You might want to also try dealing with these people to get lower rates, it pisses me off when I sign up for service only to see a Gdamn ad then next month that could have saved me $100...
Also, Insight has AT&T local phone service for $9 a month through them, which is VoIP I'm sure. If I stay with Insight, I'll probably go with that and dump the expensive land line in favor of a pair of cellular phones.
I hate Time-Warner as a company --- however, they do have the best internet/cable/phone service package around. I refuse to deal with them anymore because of shady business practices; but I still recognize that they provide the best all-around package. As to the Dish system -- call Dish again and talk to someone different. I have the basic 500 because I am happy with rabbit ears for local channels. However, a buddy in Dayton has the SuperDish mounted on his house. We call the damn thing SETI because it is monstrous when compared to other dishes. However, the fact remains that Dish Network installed it on his roof.
Grouchy: Yeah, I got screwed on the HD package too. Got a $500 Hughes Platinum HD Receiver and hooked on to DTV's HD channels. About six months later they annnounced they were going to start charging extra for it. When I switched to TW, on factor was that the eight or ten HD channels were free. We signed up on January 23, and on Feb 10 they made them a $10 option.
I have TW Digital Cable with DVR, with HBO/Skinemax, and the Variety Package that gets you FSW. I also have RoadRunner. My bill is outrageous....$110 ish If I drop Skinemax, it should be around $102. Now, I've priced the same package with WOW. It has a DVR, but not sure what model it is. It also has Stars free for a year I think, for $90-95. I need to call TWC and get my price reduced...they will do it, I've just been lazy.
WHAT???!!!! Give up pointless 2 AM movies starring marginally unattractive people having badly simulated sex and trying not to look bored?? NEVER!!!!
I figure that is what I will do, when the special contract is up just explain that I really would like to keep Insight but if I can save $10, $20, $30 by going to someone else I will. Dump Skinemax, you can find the equivalent or better on the Internet that you are already paying for. Just curious, does the TW DVR require a phone line (like Tivo)? And, is it a separate unit (from the digital box). I already have these two huge components, digital and HDTV, and was wondering if I'll be adding a third. When they installed it the tech mentioned that everything will be in one unit in the future; which would be nice.
Grouchy, for Time Warner DVR the tech guy came out and replaced my digital box with the DVR box; it was a straight swap. Also, it doesn't require a phone line. I don't know how it interacts with HDTV, though.
TW has a HD DVR coming. It may already be out. I think WOW already released theirs. For prices, click here, and click "cable tv" just above the music choice logo. You won't get prices for premium channels though, which apparently are some well guarded secret.
You have to get an HDTV DVR...the only problem is the progams are space whores. The model I have has an 80GB HD. Now that's great for straight up programming, probably get 30-40 hours, which is plenty. But for HDTV, it's around 6 ot 7, if it's the highest resolution. The difference between the TW/WOW DVRs is they are not as full featured as TiVo...no program suggestions...season ticket isn't as smart. However, it's plenty for me. Rumor has it, Scientific Atlanta's next revision DVR will contain a DVD burner so you can record your movies to DVD, and take your old DVD player and put it on your basement TV. In addtion, it is supposed to have technology that will allow you to route recorded shows to another TV in the house, as long as you put a cable box on that TV.
Yummy. Of course, it'll probably be cable box fee + DVR fee + DVD burner fee, but once again, it'll be worth it.
I went with DirecTV; the deal that gets you their new Tivo-ready DVR with a dual tuner. Assuming installation goes smoothly, I'll be back in business on Tuesday afternoon.
yea, especially when you are still living with mom and dad like yourself, and they'll still pay for it.
Damn you! You stole my thought and posted it an hour before I read Krypto's post. You sonnofabetch, I'll get you next time!
I switched from TW to DISH and got myself the Spanish Language package. Got a 522 double DVR and an HD box for about $100/mo. Kept RR from TW and saved about $10/mo from the previous setup. Gained the HD channels and the Spanish main channels - which include (for example) all Copa America games. Did lose Fox News and FSW in the transition (have FSWE). But do have Playboy Espanol for free.