Tv Cable vs Satelite Antenna

[Alar]

At this time I have a package deal with Rogers for:
TV/Digital - Ultra Lite Internet (512Kbps) - Home Phone.
The cost before taxes is $!06.67/month.
This past week, Bell has jumped into the picture (due to deregulation), and is competing for the same three services as Rogers, with a price tag of $102/month.
For the TV service they would install a Dish antenna, and one gets to chose the channels.
The internet speed would be same as Rogers (512Kbps). The phone features would be the same. Cost per month: $102.00
Here's what concerns me:
1/ Would the TV picture and sound quality be the same?
2/ The Internet I believe uses another format (DSL?) What are the advantages/disadvantages compared to Rogers.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

[smirnoff]

Tv
In theory cable has a better signal but in the real world for most this tends not to be the case since its often going through cables older then 10 years old.
This varies greatly depending on your area.

For bell as long as the dish is aimed correctly one tends to get a perfect picture in any area although the rare major storm can block this signal tell it passes and a receiver is needed for each tv unlike normal cable which doesn't (digital cable needs a receiver for each tv too).

Phone.

No real difference here

Internet.

Since speeds are the same for that deal dsl has the advantage of its never changes speed.
With cable your sharing the connection with everyone in your area so if they all go on at the same time as you it all slows down.
Dsl isn't shard so no matter how many are on in your area your speed stays the same

[Ken_ver_1_5]

I see no real reason to change.
Bells customer service is garbage

[lovey]

I had everything with rogers and found there tech help to be crap,I have been using bell for 5 years now without any problems from there tech help

[BillD]

The feature I like best with cable is the On Demand, and for that reason alone, I prefer the cable. That would be worth $4.00 a month to me. As far as tech help, I haven't needed any, and Bell has outsourced just about everything, it seems, so I wouldn't count on service to be excellent.

[Thaiwoo]

Just make sure it's not a 3 or 6 months special and then you get "hammered" afterwards.

[Moor]

Remember that on dish it is only possible to watch and record the same tv program.You cannot watch one and record another!

[dbusguy]

is DSL available in your area?
When checking my phone number with Bell, I can get up to 5Mbps
But when hooked up, I only get 700k
Up to is the key.
Check with a neighbour to see if they have DSL and ask what they get.

Ok, you're only talking 512, but that could end up being 56k if you're too far away from the CO

[Alar]

Thank You all for your great response. Having looked through all of your comments, I've decided to stay put, for now. Despite the fact that just over 2 years ago Rogers pulled a fast one by making promises,and then breaking them. They have a long record of being devious in their marketing methods. Negative billing, just one example of their determination to outdo the customer. In the meantime, I shall stay alert for any other possibilities to switch from "R". :)

[linuxguru]

Another service to check out is Look Communications. Not available everywhere but it offers TV somewhat cheaper than the others and has both DSL and Satellite options available. Not the same technology as Bell for Satellite it uses tower to tower microwave type signals. Weather never effects it.






Thank You all for your great response. Having looked through all of your comments, I've decided to stay put, for now. Despite the fact that just over 2 years ago Rogers pulled a fast one by making promises,and then breaking them. They have a long record of being devious in their marketing methods. Negative billing, just one example of their determination to outdo the customer. In the meantime, I shall stay alert for any other possibilities to switch from "R". :)

[smirnoff]

Stay as far away from look as you can get.

They have gone under twiece already so were not talking a great company and there tv sig weak when you only 5 miles away from the tower.

[grs7]

For TV, you could go to a FTA (free to air) satellite system. It has no monthly subscription price. Picture quality is better than I used to get with Rogers.

Then get your internet from anyone offering a good deal.

[peavyjay]

They both SUCK for tech service. I find rogers better for tech support. I can understand what the rogers tech say, unlike the bell techs. I have Bell for my tv, and rogers for my internet. No bundling here!

Cheers

[Bogie]

If it ain't broke - don't try and fix it. If Rogers is working OK for you, stay with it. Bell's (Sympatico) email nightmares over the past few years have driven many away from them.

Costs are around the same and, as mentioned, your proximity to the DSL CO will make a big difference to your speed.

Rogers tech support has improved over the years - not perfect, can still be frustrating at times, but isn't all low paid tech support no matter where it comes from?

Look? NO ... as stated by Smirnoff, not a good choice at all. In a weak moment a couple of years ago I decided to try Look for TV as their antenna is located on the CKVR (A-Channel) tower and if it fell it would hit my house. So distance was not a problem ... but installation was. Had line of sight but was too close and too low LOL. Apparently they knew it but sold it to me anyway! Was a nightmare getting out of that one. Their tech support is, well, let's just say, "Tech support?".

[FBI]

I have to agree with grs7 FTA for your Tv. I personally use the FTA dish to pickup my specialty channels. Then Use a HD UHF antenna to get the rest from the CN tower, along with Buffalo Rochester, and even Hamilton. On a very clear day I even can pickup Cambridge. I think its Mohawk College broadcasting there.

[Alar]

I'm just overwhelmed with all this information coming at me guys, Thank You. Now a question to FBI: Combining the two systems, which channels are you able to capture?

[grs7]

On my FTA system I get about 560 channels. Pm me if you want more info.

[Canuck]

I wonder why some members here are giving out the option of an FTA. This kind of "option" should be offered through PM and not openly through the board. It is not 100% safe-proof. I wonder if Les has a lawyer, this type of FTA discussion could lead to a non-friendly letters. Keep in mind that Les is in Oshawa, ON. I read that 3 people in Durham Region got busted; one being in Oshawa. I also read that those FTA sites were mentioned in the law suits allegations by Echostar and Nagrastar.

[Mouse]

So, we should just roll over and play dead??

I don't think so.

[smirnoff]

I wonder why some members here are giving out the option of an FTA. This kind of "option" should be offered through PM and not openly through the board. It is not 100% safe-proof. I wonder if Les has a lawyer, this type of FTA discussion could lead to a non-friendly letters. Keep in mind that Les is in Oshawa, ON. I read that 3 people in Durham Region got busted; one being in Oshawa. I also read that those FTA sites were mentioned in the law suits allegations by Echostar and Nagrastar.

Actually there is nothing wrong with fta being discussed here as its totaly legal.

The moment files for modding the receivers get hosted here or people start telling others how to do it then its breaking the law.

And those people who go arrested did so because they where modding bell and star choice receivers not for fta.

For now tell the law is changed its not illegal to get a fta and even change its software and get the signal (talking about it and hosting is go figure).

This is due to the changes made in the law during the direct tv days where the law was changed to state if you are stealing there programing its illegal or if your using there hardware to get the signal its illegal.

Bell owns none of the programing (unlike direct tv which has rights to some) and fta are not bell hardware.

Down side of all this is you can be very sure that there going after the fta dealers for other things to shut them down and that the law is going to be changed.

[Canuck]

I highly doubt also that all of the people here or outside are running True FTA on their FTA boxes. I looked at one and it is total garbage. So everyone who buys an FTA 95% are going to modify it.


I know that Dishnetwork will not sue the user, but you need to realize that Nagrastar or Nagravision owns the encryption and they don't care if you are getting Dish in Canada and that there is no laws about it. Nagrastar can still sue Canadians, but surprisingly, they haven't yet.

I was just telling you guys to watch you say on the board. Hash-Hu and other known sites members recieved letters from lawyers. I dont think Les would be too happy if he does recieve one. Again, it will not be from Echostar but it could possibly be from Nagravision or Nagrastar.

[smirnoff]

I highly doubt also that all of the people here or outside are running True FTA on their FTA boxes. I looked at one and it is total garbage. So everyone who buys an FTA 95% are going to modify it.


I know that Dishnetwork will not sue the user, but you need to realize that Nagrastar or Nagravision owns the encryption and they don't care if you are getting Dish in Canada and that there is no laws about it. Nagrastar can still sue Canadians, but surprisingly, they haven't yet.

I was just telling you guys to watch you say on the board. Hash-Hu and other known sites members recieved letters from lawyers. I dont think Les would be too happy if he does recieve one. Again, it will not be from Echostar but it could possibly be from Nagravision or Nagrastar.


I don't think you understand changing the software isn't illegal and you can't be sued or put in jail for soing so.

Nagrastar has totaly no rights to sue anyone as they sold the rights to the dish/bell parent company.

You can talk about fta all you want and i would hope you would do your homework before making such statements.

Yes hash hu got letters and raided just for the same reason the others got shut down, modding bell/dish hardware and using there plastic to get the tv.

Your talking about something that you plainly no little about so i would do alittle homework first.

To put the final nail in the coffen is that this whole thing was discussed last year and it was determined what the legal to talk about all you want.

You have only posted five times so it would be a good idea to use the search fuction to see whats been talked about.

[Exmortis]

Actually, there are laws that allow Bell to sue anyone decoding their signal without paying for it, but getting the irrefutable solid proof for the court is next to impossible to get unless you give them free access to your house at their leisure to take pictures. Bell not owning the content is irrelevant, it's still their signal. I remember cases many years ago where cable companies were suing homes for splitting one account between them. These cases were easy as you could see the split from the street.

The laws are there, but are practically unusable. The US has the DMCA to add a new layer to this. It outlaws any copyright protection circumvention and that's a very broad brush that can be used in many evil ways. One of them is to make illegal the import/selling of FTA mods. Then again, from the strict definition of the DMCA, a pencil is illegal too or even your own hand since both can be used to copy a book. We're still good in Canada.

[smirnoff]

True enough you can be charged with decoding the signal but not with the content of the signal unless you own some of the programing so that part is hardly irrelevant.

Its had the only criminal cases tossed out since its next to impossiable to do one without the other.

To that end dish/bell have gone after a few of the providers in a civil suit but thats nothing more then a fishing trip.

Yeah its sure a case of them making the law and shooting themselfs in the foot with it and makes one wonder what there going to do next.

Fortunaly its still perfectly legal to talk about it tell they get around to chaning that law....lol.

[FBI]

I’m able to capture all the 7 Toronto channels like city and cbc. then from America I get abc fox channel 5 and 7, wned stuff like that.. Then from Hamilton CHCH. that’s on UHF. on the dish. I get all the stuff listed above. 570 odd channels with movies and all the good stuff..

And I do not have a rotor motor

[Exmortis]

With a good ChannelMaster antenna, you can get free HDTV over the air from the CN Tower and the US. Yes, full 1080i HDTV for free. I have a cheapo P4 computer with 4 tuners to do the capturing and strip out the commercials. I have all the channels I need that way without paying a penny.