Comments on: Comcast vs. DirecTV

By: chris

chris — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:50:11 +0000

This happened to me today! I watched the guy cut off my DirecTV cable! (that was protruding from the wall above my cable input). Who does that? I feel like I should have stabbed the guys tires on his van.

By: maharat

maharat — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:43:46 +0000

The Comcast Installation – It’s a crap shoot:

FYI Dish companies use more contractor work than Comcast does. If you pay attention you will also notice that most Dish systems are not grounded per NEC code. If your Dish is grounded properly (i.e. to power ground) you most likely had a Dish employee do the install. If it’s not grounded it was most likely installed by a contractor and you should call the company to have it grounded or risk loosing your reciever, TV and all to a voltage spike.
The same guys that install dish also have installed cable at one time or another and vice versa. Installers are no better with one company than another. It’s a crap shoot on who your installer is. Not with what company it is.

By: maharat

maharat — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:57:09 +0000

Running a cable through an outside wall is typical. If you wanted cables fished through the interior walls you should have called an electrician to do the work prior to calling your Satellite or Cable company for hook-up. Otherwise your going to get a ‘standard install’ not a ‘custom install’.

By: maharat

maharat — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:42:15 +0000

I have worked for both Dish Network and Comcast as a Tech. Cutting off cable ends in nothing to get excited over. Both Satellite and Cable companies do this. However I do not recommend going to Radio Shack and buying stuff to put your own RF connectors on. If improperly done you can cause all types of issues. Don’t know how many times I have had to redo every connection in a house due to ‘do it yourself’ electricians. On a Cable plant that bad fitting you put on can take your entire neighborhood out due to off-air frequencies getting on the cable from your bad connection. Just let the Satellite or Cable guys put new ends on for our sake. Thanks.

By: Terry White

Terry White — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:33:08 +0000

Chuck, I’ve never heard of this happening but it doesn’t surprise me. The cable ends are standard, so any cable installer should be able to put new ends on or if you buy the necessary hardware you can do it yourself.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:52:59 +0000

Last week I decided to cut DirecTV after 10 years for the lower price of Comcast. The very afternoon it was installed, I canceled because of the (’90′s tech DVR” quote from Comcast salesperson) DVR. DirecTV DVR was far superior.
Anyway, I wanted to go back to DirecTV so I thought I’d just reconnect the dish cables and the DVR unit. The DirecTV cable ends had been CUT OFF by the Comcast installer.
I called Comcast and the women denied that could happen and has never heard of it happening.
Have you heard of this?
What might I do now?
Thanks

By: Paul Corsa

Paul Corsa — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:16:55 +0000

Ok, I just got rid of Dish because I was tired of paying for 250 chanels to get the 15 we want to watch.I hesitate to switch to cable. What would be a recommended set up using a mini mac(or two) to provide HDTV for a 52″ Sharp LCD and a 32″ CRT(HD ready) in the bedroom? I have access to an outside antenna and DSL. I’d buy a TIVO HD if necessary. Any ideas/suggestions on how to set up a system. I’d love to get the basic 4 networks, PBS(via antenna), and covet “Lifetime, TLC, SPEED” in HD if possible.Thanks for any ideas/suggestions. Paul in MI.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:56:50 +0000

Good article, Terry.

I’m searching around for Comcast vs. DirecTV comparisons…

We’re on our fourth (free) DirecTV box; it’s our 3rd high-def.

Each time it keeps glitching somehow – losing the ability to sync sound and video, blackouts, artifacting, etc.

Fact is, they’ve been good to us and kept replacing the box for no charge after a little bickering on our end.

Unfortunately, once again, the digital artifacting is ruining most recorded shows, and all shows recorded during rainy/storming weather.

I don’t think we’ll give them another chance this time – we already use Comcast high speed internet and phone, and have pretty good success with both.

thanks again,
Andrew

By: Clarold Rogers

Clarold Rogers — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:05:37 +0000

I have Direct in my FLA home, recently had comcast in my GA home, had both in my TX home, had Comcast for years when living in CT, had comcast when they bought out Adelphia in FL on My Sport Fishing boat, had Time Warrner for a while elsewhere etc. etc….

I’ve had many (except Dish) and recently switched to AT&T Uverse. Actually switched to Uverse in TX as well but could not get it in GA but just last week got it installed.

Wow what a great service, now, I have no TiVo experience so can’t compare with the Uverse DVR function, but what a great service the Uverse is if you can get it!

I am not as tech savvy as Terry so don’t do the downloads to computer or my iPhone but the TV is really good and I did not have to buy a bunch of TiVo boxes. Could be a good alternative service if you are not on the cutting tech edge like me… perhaps some of the features of TiVo are there but I just don’t know how to access them.

Like Terry I’ve had very bad luck with Direct and also with Comcast tech folks and customer service! I had to write Comcasts CEO to get two problems solved. and Direct is just generally slow and not very customer helpful in my experience.

I’d be curious if you have any experience with Uverse?

Best,

Roge

By: Terry White

Terry White — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:36:34 +0000

Deb,
I would say you may be better off sticking with DirecTV if you’re NOT going to go with a TiVo HD. The Comcast DVRs are functional at best. No bells and whistles and while you may be able to add external storage to their box, it’s not officially supported and could be killed by a firmware update at any time. Other than my one bad customer experience day with DirecTV, I’ve had really good service from them. Rumor has it that they will be getting TiVo service later this year. So you might want to sit tight for now.

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:58:53 +0000

I currently have DirecTV(their best package-total choice premier-including HBO,etc.) plus HD DVR and their protection plan all of which costs me about $130-a-month. I have Comcast for high-speed internet. I’ve been considering switching to Comcast but if I did,I’d have to stick with their DVR as I,unfortunately,can’t afford to spend $299(or $599 for a Tivo XL DVR) right now!!! What can you say either for or against switching? Also,is what their rep(during an online chat) told me about me being able to add an external hard drive to expand the DVR’s storage,true? I just wish DirecTV would add that feature and then I would be satisfied(mostly) to stay with them. Would it be worth it to call DirecTV and tell them I’m thinking of switching or won’t they care? What do you think Comcast will say if I tell them I’m thinking of adding their TV service in addition to their internet service? I have heard conflicting info about pricing after any promotional period plus all taxes(which we can’t do anything about) and any fees they might tack on. My head is starting to spin after trying to figure this out on my own!! In closing,I wish I could afford Tivo but I can’t so PLEASE help me figure out whether I should switch to Comcast or not!! THANKS in advance for any help!!!

By: terrywhite

terrywhite — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:59:51 +0000

Jon.Hersh,
I haven’t looked at it yet, but I plan to.

By: Jon.Hersh

Jon.Hersh — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:18:38 +0000

Terry,

Have you ever looked at (considered) the Moxi box? .
It has a VERY sweet high definition interface.

By: arrakian

arrakian — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:13:11 +0000

Terry,
Thanks for the heads-up on the features. Now I know where to go if I decide to cut back on the satellite budget. A DishNet card slot would be great though.

By: Tony Pettis

Tony Pettis — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:47:47 +0000

Terry…

I love TiVo as well, and it has really caused me a dilemma since I love DirectTV as well. I have one of the old Hughes DirectTV TiVO boxes that I refuse to get rid of because it does its job so well. The interface is just short of perfect and it works all the time. I think it has crashed maybe once in four years of use. I will record just 80 hours of standard def, but I can live with that limitation to keep TiVo. My DirectTV DVR on the other hand … Well, let’s just say that the interface is clunky at best. I much, much prefer my TiVo box.

But I love DirectTV. Channel lineups, price point, everything is pretty much what I want. And Comcast where I live is beyond terrible from a customer service standpoint. Everyone I know who has Comcast also has at least one horror story about dealing with their customer service or their techs. I’m hopeful that the story you linked to above will come to pass, because I’d re-up for a new DirectTV TiVo box in a heartbeat.

I just hope that because of Comcast’s less-than-stellar customer service rep that you don’t regret putting all your eggs in their basket.