Cable/Satellite? Is there anything else?

[Eddie Haskell]

Have some problems with my satellite provider, Dish Network, ie. broken remote (from throwing it at my TV when Eddie George ended up several yards short in that super bowl several years ago), constant rebooting every time I turn the TV on ("stand by while we are acquiring information" or some such language) and other billing problems etc.

Got in an argument last night over the phone (45 minutes) with some 19 year old dork in there "customer service" department who was reading a computer screen (using monosyllabic words) as to how to fix these problems. After I advised him that his mother was a dog, I spoke to his 21 year old supervisor who repeated, albeit utilizing multisyllabic words, the same thing. I informed her that she was a female body part (it was not uterus, but closely associated therewith).

I'm tired of these rip off cable and satellite companies. Is there any alternative? I'm thinking about getting a high definition tv and wondering what packages can be purchased. Do I still have to deal with either a cable company or satelite company? If so, are there any good ones out there or am I confined to Cincinnati area companies.

Ed

 

[Trossi3389]

theres a new company satellite provider called "VOOM" its supposed to me the next big thing....

 

[rrc]

Sure hope VOOM isn't owned by Republicans.

 

[Penguinfan]

Perhaps you have looked into it and didn't like it, but what about getting a real satellite dish, not one of those directv or dish network pieces of junk, but a real satellite dish? With a decent decoder box you can easily get hundreds of station that will cost you just a bit more a month that the alternative used by the majority of the world. I don't think an 8 foot dish in your back yard looks any wors than those metal suacers stapled to the side of your house.

Penguinfan

http://www.4dtv.com/4DTV/what_4dtv.html

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Thanks guys, I will check into VOOM.

Pengie, my well oiled eastern suburb of Cincinnati will not permit 8 foot satellite dishes. Last year, at a counsel meeting, I argued that such dishes would not affect property values or otherwise adversely affect the curb appeal of the seven figure estates that dot my little upscale village in Eastern Cincinnati.

In support thereof, I offered photographs of the 8 footer you have rising from the ground (resembling a large grey sunflower) partially blocking ingress and egress to the gravel walkway, next to the singular lightbulb, hanging by a wire tied to a wooden post, leading to the front door of your doublewide in western Pennsylvannia. Upon review, they declined my request.

Ed

 

[THE KOD]

VOOM

 

[trademaster]

Telephone companies are going to go into the market going head to head with cable/satellite providers...

 

[Taximike]

http://www.voom.com/index.jsp

 

[dawgball]

When I moved into my current residence, I was pissed that the mini-dish systems were not going to work. We could only have oneline coming down, so both of our TVs would have to run the same program. Anyway, I used to be digital cables biggest proponent, but I have changed my tune. I have had excellent customer service when I have had issues, and the issues have been minimal. On some of their new services such as OnDemand, they still have a few bugs to work out, but I realize it is a new product. They seem to have been ery responsive over the last two+ years. I would recommend at least considering it as an option.

I am in no way digging on mini-dish companies because I really enjoyed that route as well in my last residence. I do think cable has come a long way, baby.

You could always go to radio shack and get a good set of rabbit ears!