Thread: Review: AT&T U-VERSE

Forgot to mention that my node is a stone's throw from my house. Maybe 100' as the crow flies. I'm sure that helps.

Originally Posted by KAB

That IS time shifting.

by time shift I mean pause or rewind live tv.

Originally Posted by mattopia

2) Objectively I think Uverse HD quality is better. No I haven't run any tests. However I've watched the lovely ladies on HDNet and a few programs on HD Theater, and I'm impressed. I've always felt D*'s picture was a little soft.

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I think phase two has improved the HD quality quite a bit. I used to say it was 95% of DTV now I would say it's 99%. Most HD stuff looks better than DTV now but Uverse is still over compressing when the video is very dark, like a night sky with only a few stars you’ll see blocking. I'm betting they use VBR compression instead of a constant bit rate.

Originally Posted by mattopia

Thought I'd throw my 2 cents in here, it's been awhile since I've visited SatGuys.

I've been with D* for about a year and a half. While I wasn't super disappointed, I was on about a 3-month problem cycle. In other words every 3 months they came out to replace something. I went through 3 LNB's - they must have terrible QC on those.

Anyway, my HR-20's hard drive bit the dust a week ago, and I had an infuriating call with D* in which they walked me through removing batteries from my remote. This irritation caused me to look up what uverse offers existed. I was able to get $300 cash back by talking to their livechat.

Anyway, I have both active at the moment and I can say a few things:

1) I completely agree with technikal's brief review. I don't like the way skip works, their remote stinks (but I use a Harmony), and their VOD stuff is both low quality and a poor selection.

2) Objectively I think Uverse HD quality is better. No I haven't run any tests. However I've watched the lovely ladies on HDNet and a few programs on HD Theater, and I'm impressed. I've always felt D*'s picture was a little soft.

3) The 6mb Uverse package is performing better with standard web browsing than the 9mb Cox package I was on. Although it's less bandwidth, latency seems far, far better - it feels like I"m on broadband again, no more waiting 10-15 seconds for a page to load.

4) Apparently phase 2 rolled out the day I got my installation. The installer was briefly confused when the box he just hooked up said downloading update. Then he said something like "Oh, phase 2 must be out now". Apparently they've been waiting for it for awhile and didn't know it was coming. I'm not familiar with how it worked before, but the menus and guide are decent. It's no TiVo but I've come to accept the fact that nothing will be.

I haven't canceled D* yet. I'm waiting a week or two to make sure everything keeps working well. But, so far I'm pretty impressed. I always hate changing providers and learning something new, but so far it seems like it was a good move.

I have seen cash back offers from $225 to $275 with ordering online; could you give us the details on that $300 deal you got

Originally Posted by Bulldog

I have seen cash back offers from $225 to $275 with ordering online; could you give us the details on that $300 deal you got

I got the same deal. I told them I was considering leaving DTV because of all the equipment trouble and they offered an extra $100 to sign up. In the end I got a $200 check and a $100 visa gift card. Recived them both before even the first bill was due.

I would like to say, I dont know what you all said or did, but I just finished chatting with somebody for uverse and I was told that the max back was $200 and that there was no $300 back. I told them that I still had a commitment with D* until April and if I couldnt get the $300 I was not interested. They told me bye. I dont know if it makes any difference, I live in El Paso, Tx.

Originally Posted by cwbuckley

I would like to say, I dont know what you all said or did, but I just finished chatting with somebody for uverse and I was told that the max back was $200 and that there was no $300 back. I told them that I still had a commitment with D* until April and if I couldnt get the $300 I was not interested. They told me bye. I dont know if it makes any difference, I live in El Paso, Tx.

It doesn't make a difference where you live (by the way I'm in ELP also). I manged to get $325, $300 cash back and $25 in the form of a Visa card. All you have to do is use the live chat and sometimes they will offer it to you.

First time I chatted with them I was offered the extra $100 but did not take it. The next 3 times I was never offered anything and told $200 was it. The 4th time I was offered the $100 so I would say it's a hit or miss thing.

The $25 come by entering the code "EXTRAGIFT".

I will also add that I never mentioned that I wanted an extra $100. All I did was tell them I was thinking of switching but U-Verse is more expensive in the long run compared to Dish. I also asked if they had any other promos other then the current one.

I have not received anything yet and that's because I am scheduled for install today between (12pm - 2pm). I'll be on the look out for it in the Rewards Center after install tho.

I was given a U-Verse brochure from my builder about a month ago. I'm really interested in the whole-home DVR concept. Our house is being built about 1 block from where we live now so I know we have FTTP - I had to have special DSL installation 2 years ago. Currently, I have DirecTV HD DVR and the only thing exceptional for me about DTV is the extra sports you get with it (like the mix channels, etc.) However, U-Verse can bring me faster internet and a more streamlined home setup, I'm all for it.

That said, what will I need to have pre-wired for our new home? Since it is IPTV, I can just have ethernet cable lined throughout the house, correct? No need for coax? One of the other things about DTV is that I will need to get (I think) 4 lines of coax run from the satellite location to the media panel in the bedroom. Not sure if I want to go that route again.

I just wanted to say thanks for your comments. I guess that it is kind of a hit and miss thing. Like calling D* and trying to get a HD DVR for a good price. Does anybody out there have any idea if and when they(ATT) plans to have at least 3 HD streams. That is one think that is keeping me from signing up. Again thanks for the help.