Fezmid Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Some models of the Time Warner HD DVR you don't even have to open it up. Plug an external drive on the unit for extra storage space. My brother did this to his unit. EDIT: Found an article Yeah, you can do that with DirecTV's DVRs as well - but then you have an extra box hanging off, an extra power supply, and an extra point of failure. I'd rather put the drive internal to cut down on potential issues - but I suspect most people wouldn't feel comfortable doing that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibran Chandan Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 People are funny. No, I don't like the price going up. But acting as though $315 instead of $279 (or whatever) is a big deal is kind of ridiculous. Buy one less pack of smokes a week. No, your line of reasoning is funny. Why should people not be mad about a nearly 15% price increase on a stagnant service without a single competitor? And what do you suggest for everyone who isn't a smoker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Ha! You must like down-rezzed, compressed HD-Lite! The PQ doesn't come close to DirecTV HD, and that's a fact. Actually I have some tools that can look at compression in the sat signals and generally now Dish has a slightly better picture quality than DTV. Dish has been adding sats at a good pace and in fact are testing another one now that should go live soon that, at least currently, is being used for almost all HD content. The bottom line on quality is this. Cable is horrible because they have to compress the **** out of their HD because of their limited bandwidth. But the sat providers are pretty equal quality wise. However I believe Dish now has more HD content and soon should have a bit more. But for now at least if you want the sunday ticket there is only one place to go and that's DTV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernst2937 Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 https://gamerewind.nfl.com/nflgr/secure/registerform NFL Game Rewind...see any game AFTER it's played. PTR how long after the game are the rewind games availble to watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntjacks79 Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 not a negative reply - but i have had dtv for 8 years also and recently we had to go to the southern tier for my wifes' mom's funeral. we stayed at her sister's place and she had dish network - it was horrible compaired to dtv - but i hope that is not your experience. +1. I too feel that Dish Network is horrible. Cheap? Yes. Any good? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob's House Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 It's a little steep. Since a handful of games are on TV anyway, or I can't watch, I usually end up getting about 10 games out of the deal, which translates to about $30/game, for which I can go to my local sports bar and for the same price get wings and beer while I watch the game. And there I have no wife to interrupt with condescending comments questioning the intrinsic value of watching football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 No, your line of reasoning is funny. Why should people not be mad about a nearly 15% price increase on a stagnant service without a single competitor? And what do you suggest for everyone who isn't a smoker? Stagnant service? Have you not been paying any attention to the innovation that's been going on with ST? * The Redzone channel (which is now available to other providers). * Player Tracker - where you input players into your receiver and it informs you of what they're doing in real time - great for fantasy football fans * Short Cuts - Every game cut down to 30 minutes, aired the next day * Highlights - Short 2-3 minute highlights from every game, pushed to your DVR automatically * Web viewing - Watch a game with a PC from anywhere, even if you're not home (I believe this is an extra pay option this year) There's probably some others I'm forgetting as well -- say what you want about the price, but they've been adding a lot of features over the past 5 years. As for the "without a single competitor" comment -- ever heard of a sports bar? Or going to the game? Those are both competitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 As for the "without a single competitor" comment -- ever heard of a sports bar? Or going to the game? Those are both competitors. I suspect he is talking about the fact that DTV has the monopoly on the ticket and that neither Dish or any cable providers can offer it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 I suspect he is talking about the fact that DTV has the monopoly on the ticket and that neither Dish or any cable providers can offer it. I know that's what he meant, but it's not accurate - there are other competitors. How many people in this thread alone have compared the Ticket to going to a sports bar? That said, other providers haven't thought it was financially worthwhile to them - they were in negotiations years ago and didn't want to offer as much. In addition, the local networks don't want cable getting it either -- because that will reduce the money they get from advertising since (for example), nobody's going to watch the Bills vs Lions.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 I know that's what he meant, but it's not accurate - there are other competitors. How many people in this thread alone have compared the Ticket to going to a sports bar? That said, other providers haven't thought it was financially worthwhile to them - they were in negotiations years ago and didn't want to offer as much. In addition, the local networks don't want cable getting it either -- because that will reduce the money they get from advertising since (for example), nobody's going to watch the Bills vs Lions.... How is going to a sports bar a competitor to watching the game(s) that you want, be it the bills and lions or colts and cards, and switch between them or watching them picture in picture and switching games when one gets boring? You go to sports bars where people get their own TVs? So that is not a competitor. But why does the NFL give DTV the monopoly? What's wrong with allowing all the cable and sat providers the option of offering the ticket to their customers like all the other major sports do with theirs like MLB, NBA, NHL, and even MLS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 How is going to a sports bar a competitor to watching the game(s) that you want, be it the bills and lions or colts and cards, and switch between them or watching them picture in picture and switching games when one gets boring? You go to sports bars where people get their own TVs? So that is not a competitor. Yep...if the crowd at a bar says pfft - something else - that's that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 I know that's what he meant, but it's not accurate - there are other competitors. How many people in this thread alone have compared the Ticket to going to a sports bar? That said, other providers haven't thought it was financially worthwhile to them - they were in negotiations years ago and didn't want to offer as much. In addition, the local networks don't want cable getting it either -- because that will reduce the money they get from advertising since (for example), nobody's going to watch the Bills vs Lions.... Problem is, being a monopoly allows them to do things like provide (and I use that term very loosely) "customer service". I subscribe only during the season, as in my current house, I can't get their HD satellite since it's blocked by a tree in a neighbor's yard. I'm moving next month so may have better luck then. That said, their customer service is absolutely atrocious when it comes to things like scheduling service appointments. Not once, but twice, I've had a first slot in the morning appointment (8 to 12) and not only were they late, but they never showed up at all that day. Of course you have to be home to get them to hook you up, so that was two whole days burned. When you call them to complain they try to placate you with things like $60 off your bill. I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like a fair trade to me (maybe if they added a 0). If you think that has nothing to do with their having a monopoly you're on crack...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills_fan_in_raleigh Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Problem is, being a monopoly allows them to do things like provide (and I use that term very loosely) "customer service". I subscribe only during the season, as in my current house, I can't get their HD satellite since it's blocked by a tree in a neighbor's yard. I'm moving next month so may have better luck then. That said, their customer service is absolutely atrocious when it comes to things like scheduling service appointments. Not once, but twice, I've had a first slot in the morning appointment (8 to 12) and not only were they late, but they never showed up at all that day. Of course you have to be home to get them to hook you up, so that was two whole days burned. When you call them to complain they try to placate you with things like $60 off your bill. I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like a fair trade to me (maybe if they added a 0). If you think that has nothing to do with their having a monopoly you're on crack...... my installers have always showed when they were supposed to and would call if running late. I have never had an issue with customer service, when i call even if its over a major issue I start off with a friendly conversation, seems to help show the CSR your a reasonable person etc. When I was with cable good luck on them arriving at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundy249 Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 I was a direc tv customer for years with Sunday ticket and nhl pass...they kept raising the prices so no more.. I not only did not renew last year I canceled the whole thing. You can find places to watch the games..even online. Someone needs to do something to get this monopoly away from Directv..they are raising all the prices and I was tired of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Stagnant service? Have you not been paying any attention to the innovation that's been going on with ST? * The Redzone channel (which is now available to other providers). * Player Tracker - where you input players into your receiver and it informs you of what they're doing in real time - great for fantasy football fans * Short Cuts - Every game cut down to 30 minutes, aired the next day * Highlights - Short 2-3 minute highlights from every game, pushed to your DVR automatically * Web viewing - Watch a game with a PC from anywhere, even if you're not home (I believe this is an extra pay option this year) There's probably some others I'm forgetting as well -- say what you want about the price, but they've been adding a lot of features over the past 5 years. As for the "without a single competitor" comment -- ever heard of a sports bar? Or going to the game? Those are both competitors. Don't you have to pay extra for most of those services? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Don't you have to pay extra for most of those services? Only web viewing. The rest are a part of the package -- and all games are in HD. Web (and smartphone) viewing is $50 this year as an add-on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Only web viewing. The rest are a part of the package -- and all games are in HD. Web (and smartphone) viewing is $50 this year as an add-on. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Yes, like I said, I do have a DVR charge on my bill of $10 each month. Let me check with my sister tomorrow and see if she is being charged for a non-DVR box. I asked at lunch today, she couldn't remember the exact price, just that it was $7-8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 How is going to a sports bar a competitor to watching the game(s) that you want, be it the bills and lions or colts and cards, and switch between them or watching them picture in picture and switching games when one gets boring? You go to sports bars where people get their own TVs? So that is not a competitor. But why does the NFL give DTV the monopoly? What's wrong with allowing all the cable and sat providers the option of offering the ticket to their customers like all the other major sports do with theirs like MLB, NBA, NHL, and even MLS? could be that DTV was willing to pay just a wee bit more to the NFL for the "exclusive" rights, since you know if everybody had it - who would pay for DTV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Not once, but twice, I've had a first slot in the morning appointment (8 to 12) and not only were they late, but they never showed up at all that day. Of course you have to be home to get them to hook you up, so that was two whole days burned. When you call them to complain they try to placate you with things like $60 off your bill. I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like a fair trade to me (maybe if they added a 0). If you think that has nothing to do with their having a monopoly you're on crack...... I've had one appointment that had to be canceled (they notified me) and like you said they gave me $60 off my bill. How is that bad customer service...? And haven't you ever had a cable installer miss an appointment? I have - and they gave me NOTHING. In fact, when I had my broadband installed in my current house I was LITERALLY on the phone with Comcast every day for an entire month, a minimum of 2-4 hours a day, before they set things up properly... Guess what they gave me? NOTHING! Oh, but the helpful billing person said, "We won't charge you for the month you didn't have service." Gee, thanks. So it has nothing to do with the "monopoly" you call it -- subcontractors for cable, DTV, and Dish aren't always reliable; just like other contractors, there's good ones and bad ones. How is going to a sports bar a competitor to watching the game(s) that you want, be it the bills and lions or colts and cards, and switch between them or watching them picture in picture and switching games when one gets boring? You go to sports bars where people get their own TVs? So that is not a competitor. You need to go to a bigger sports bar then. But why does the NFL give DTV the monopoly? What's wrong with allowing all the cable and sat providers the option of offering the ticket to their customers like all the other major sports do with theirs like MLB, NBA, NHL, and even MLS? The NFL didn't "give" anything to DTV. A few years ago they opened it up for bidding. The cable companies refused to pay what the NFL was asking. DirecTV didn't refuse, and signed an exclusive deal. It's business 101. Like I said, there's other options to watch football - free local, sports bar, go to the game, Sprint phone (I think you can watch games, no? Maybe it's just highlights, not sure). Oh, and not all providers have access to all of the major sports. AT&T U-Verse, for example, does not offer Center Ice. It's funny that people think TV is a god given right to them. could be that DTV was willing to pay just a wee bit more to the NFL for the "exclusive" rights, since you know if everybody had it - who would pay for DTV? As was stated earlier in the thread -- there's millions of people with DTV and not Sunday Ticket. It's the crown jewel and the major differentiator for them, true, but the company would survive just fine without the ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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