Who has Digital Cable TV?

**poundwise** · 09-08-2006, 06:53 PM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

They really stick it to you with the 'rental' fees for the set boxes and the DVR as well as the DVR programming service. I have Time Warner (not digital, by choice) and when the time comes that I get around to getting a DVR, I will buy it (own it) and it will be one that works independently of a pay-for service.

**greedy4chips** · 09-08-2006, 07:02 PM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

We have digital cable from Charter Cable. I think it is great and really can't wait until more channels go to HDTV! We do not have the DVR though because it would be filled with even more reruns that we really do not need to see.

**Broken Arrow** · 09-08-2006, 07:09 PM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

I don't.

Would love to, but that's just it.

I'm afraid I'll get sucked back in again.

Then, I'll also want a new widescreen HDTV on top of that. So I can watch HDTV, not just DTV. But not just any HDTV. It has to be up to spec to display full HD resolution.

Then I'd want at least 5.1 surround sound. Ooh yeah, must have that. THX certified.

DVR is a must of course, but I'm one of those people who would never be content with TiVO. No, I'd have to roll my own.

Which means a PC hooked up to it. Or maybe just a PC capable of HDTV and DVR. Ooh yeah.

And if I'm putting down the greens for a HDTV-capable PC, then I'd want it for gaming as well.

I'd also have to build my own. Not content with a pre-built. I'd have to buy all the components. Completely modular. Even the power supply. Future proof!

And broadband.

And MMO subscriptions!

EEK!

It's really best that I just stay completely away. Really.

**Sivart5** · 09-08-2006, 08:04 PM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

We have digital cable through Charter and we have Tivo. Tivo is great and can be set several different ways depending on what you want recorded. We hardly ever watch tv shows when they are on TV, we record them and watch them later so we can flip past all the commercials.

**Bookie** · 09-09-2006, 03:55 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

Originally posted by Broken Arrow

I don't. ( . . . )

It's really best that I just stay completely away. Really.

I believe it was William Blake who wrote, "The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom."

**greedy4chips** · 09-09-2006, 07:40 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

Originally posted by Broken Arrow

Then I'd want at least 5.1 surround sound. Ooh yeah, must have that. THX certified.

EEK!

It's really best that I just stay completely away. Really.

They have 7.1 surround sound systems now.

You forgot the leather couches (with the 6 pack fridge built in), set up theater style, for all your friends to come over and watch the big games (whether you want to have them or not they will be there!).

I would like the Tivo so I could skip the commercials and replay all the plays in football games they don't replay when they decide to show the coaches on the sidelines instead or a fan in the stands (unless she is super cute, then I would replay her too!). The rewind and pause live TV feature is great too!

Gotta call the cable company right now! BRB...

**rickatheslicka** · 09-11-2006, 12:52 PM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

We have digital and we love it. Here's how the costs break down...

$10 for "basic" analog cable - gets us NBC, etc plus a couple of real "cable" channels like TBS
$10 for digital cable - gets us Discovery Home, BBC, Bravo, Do-It-Yourself, etc but does NOT include the extra analog cable channels like regular Discovery Channel, Sci-fi, USA, Comedy Central, HGTV, TLC, etc (although every channel you get will have the digital on-screen guide and such, only certain channels are actually digitally encoded)
$15 for the DVR (well worth the extra bucks!!! Who wouldn't pay $5 a month to be able to avoid watching commericlas?)
$45 for cable internet - regularly $60, but we get a $15 credit for having digital cable (so in a way, the DVR pays for itself, he-he).

Total - $80 for both cable and internet

Ask your carrier if you can get digital cable without the "expanded basic" package (the rest of the analog cable channels, like Discovery, Sci-fi, HGTV, TLC, ect) - here that package would add another $35!!!

It took me about a month to get used to not having TLC and HGTV, but now I figured out that the digital channels also play most of my favorites, like Trading Spaces, so I'm not in withdrawal anymore. I just set up the DVR to always have a handul of episodes recorded - works great!

And if you're going from no cable to digital, you wouldn't really miss the extra analog cable channels anyway! With the on screen guide and DVR, you can type in a TV show you like, and it will tell you when it plays and on what channels - you're going to love it!

You can do a Google search to find a way to hack the remote to add a 30 second skip forward button (otherwise you have to fast foward the slow way). Here is the link for Comcast

http://dcortesi.com/2005/05/04/motorola-dct6412-comcast-dvr-30-second-skip/

One other thing, about once a week, I peruse the movie channel listings (Encore, etc) and set the DVR to record any movies I'm interested in seeing - saves on rental fees!

**scrava** · 09-11-2006, 02:51 PM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

just like our package. Um, is Encore part of this package? I'm going to go and see! That would be nice.

$10 for "basic" analog cable - gets us NBC, etc plus a couple of real "cable" channels like TBS
$10 for digital cable - gets us Discovery Home, BBC, Bravo, Do-It-Yourself, etc but does NOT include the extra analog cable channels like regular Discovery Channel, Sci-fi, USA, Comedy Central, HGTV, TLC, etc (although every channel you get will have the digital on-screen guide and such, only certain channels are actually digitally encoded)
$15 for the DVR (well worth the extra bucks!!! Who wouldn't pay $5 a month to be able to avoid watching commericlas?)
$45 for cable internet - regularly $60, but we get a $15 credit for having digital cable (so in a way, the DVR pays for itself, he-he).

Total - $80 for both cable and internet

Ask your carrier if you can get digital cable without the "expanded basic" package (the rest of the analog cable channels, like Discovery, Sci-fi, HGTV, TLC, ect) - here that package would add another $35!!!

It took me about a month to get used to not having TLC and HGTV, but now I figured out that the digital channels also play most of my favorites, like Trading Spaces, so I'm not in withdrawal anymore. I just set up the DVR to always have a handul of episodes recorded - works great!

And if you're going from no cable to digital, you wouldn't really miss the extra analog cable channels anyway! With the on screen guide and DVR, you can type in a TV show you like, and it will tell you when it plays and on what channels - you're going to love it!

You can do a Google search to find a way to hack the remote to add a 30 second skip forward button (otherwise you have to fast foward the slow way). Here is the link for Comcast

http://dcortesi.com/2005/05/04/motorola-dct6412-comcast-dvr-30-second-skip/

One other thing, about once a week, I peruse the movie channel listings (Encore, etc) and set the DVR to record any movies I'm interested in seeing - saves on rental fees![/QUOTE]

**rickatheslicka** · 09-12-2006, 07:00 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

Yeah, at least with our package, I think we get 4 different Encore channels, it's great! Also, on the weekends, the network channels often play movies (with commericals though).

**creditcardfree** · 09-12-2006, 07:48 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

Wow, I don't even have any cable tv, let alone digital. I would never see my husband or kids and I barely do now! I do have internet service through the cable company...so I'm still a customer.

**Ima saver** · 09-12-2006, 08:59 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

Wow, Broken arrow, I don't even know what you are talking about. obviously I don't have any of that stuff, but i don't care for tv! The only thing I watch are the local people here where I live, on the Jerry Springer show!

**Broken Arrow** · 09-12-2006, 09:58 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

Originally posted by Ima saver

Wow, Broken arrow, I don't even know what you are talking about.

In a word?

$$$

**junger** · 09-12-2006, 10:43 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

We have digital cable -- although we don't watch all 800 odd channels, we need it to get the HD channels. And there are some channels the wife loves -- Travel Channel, Food Network, etc.

**Gruntina** · 09-12-2006, 10:53 AM

Re: Who has Digital Cable TV?

I am a live in attendant for my second job hence living at the consumer�s home. I do not have a choice on the home having cable or not. Consumer wanted cable and by contract we split all utilities and cable by three ways so I am outta luck there. I did end up watching TV all day yesterday but only because I was really sick with kidney infection and got dizzy every time I try to lay down flat.

Rarely I watch TV and also dating a gentleman who does not even have cable at his home and we spend many wonderful times together when we can meet. We cook, have coffee, and go out on after dinner walk up the mountains. I love our chat during our tea and coffee time and during cooking and eating. For being a girl from a big city with all the entertainment and rich people around, I would not change a thing with my bf and how things are.

Who has Digital Cable TV?