Cable or Satellite tv?

[DDSBYDAY]

    My cable is on the fritz and I am thinking about changing to direct tv.  I have no experience with the direct tv so I would appreciate any comments for or against satellite tv.  One more question is can you get internet service with the satellite system?   

[The General]

Yes you can get internet service with Sat TV.  I don't have the option of cable where I live but one thing I can tell you about both of the Sat TV companies.  They care more about the new customer then keeping their current customer.  When you are signing up don't just settle for the packages they give you.  By just asking usually you can get a few more things thrown in on the deal.  Once you are locked in for those 2 years it seems either company really gives 2  about you.  For example I have direct TV and for new customers you get the football package for free for signing up.  I've been with them for a little over a year and do you think they would give that to me........absolutely not.  The best thing about Sat TV is I take the box out of my house out into the fish house and have Sat TV in there out on the ice.

[Auggie]

    I have Direct TV as well. Been with them for 7 or 8 years. Once you are out of the contract they are are pretty good to you General. I usually have some kind of free package. A simple phone call saying you plan to switch to the other guy gets them a bit of motivation to keep taking your money each month and they will cough up something. Internet is available but not very cheap. I think it was around a $100 a month last I checked. Could be cheaper now. Most cell phone companies have a cheaper option available for you that works pretty good. That is what we have done the last year or so. I now have hooked up to a new local provider, (first one on their system) but they are still working out the bugs and we have kept our Internet with the cell company too just for back up for a month or two. Hey DDS, if you do go with them, I think they still have a referral program. Let me know. I think we both would get a discount. It was like $100 if I remember right. And that would be for each of us!!!!

[DDSBYDAY]

    Thanks for the info guys.  I am going to call them next week.  Auggie I'll find out about the referral too.  Pm me your name and address so I have it when I call.

[beeker]

I usually switch back and forth every few years when my contract expires seems like thats how I get the best deals on it. once your with em for a while the incentives tend to end

[DDSBYDAY]

     I ended up sticking with Comcast for the time being.  My father has dish at the lake.  I may see about putting a dish on the fish house and using on of his boxes this winter.

[whiteoakbuck]

direct tv had been great to me good luck

[NephronRacing]

I had directTV for a long time.  Hated the rain and snow fade.  As for internet over the dish, you'll hate the performance unless they've done some amazing stuff.

My recommendation is stick with cable for tv service and see if you can get dsl.  If your dsl isn't at the limits of dsl, you'll have a more consistent internet connection.  Cable is shared bandwidth so depending on what/how much hardware the cable company has in your neighborhood, you're performance could vary greatly.