DISH vs. Comcast?

[KenB123]

I have been with DISH now for over three years (offered through ATT). Outside of the occasional snowstorm outages, I have been quite pleased with everything. I have the Absolute-HD package. Recently Comcast has made an offer that is quite tempting and would replace all three services I currently have with ATT (phone, DISH, internet).

Replacing the DISH part though is a tough one for me. Is there anybody here that recently switched from Comcast Cable that may offer some advice against such a switch? (NOTE: I actually came to DISH from Comcast because their prices seemed to go up every year. Supposedly this package being offered will lock-in for 2-years).

 

[andrewj0781]

I have been with DISH now for over three years (offered through ATT). Outside of the occasional snowstorm outages, I have been quite pleased with everything. I have the Absolute-HD package. Recently Comcast has made an offer that is quite tempting and would replace all three services I currently have with ATT (phone, DISH, internet).

Replacing the DISH part though is a tough one for me. Is there anybody here that recently switched from Comcast Cable that may offer some advice against such a switch? (NOTE: I actually came to DISH from Comcast because their prices seemed to go up every year. Supposedly this package being offered will lock-in for 2-years).

Well I don't have comcast but I made a mistake going to cable from Dish. I went for the triple plan. The problem was they don't offer the same channels, HD isn't as good and DVR sucks. I had to tell it to record the same show each week. So sometimes the deals are to draw you in but you got to look at service and realize after the two years you'll probably pay more for comcast then you would with dish. Not like you can't come back to dish after the 2 years

 

[Koilvr]

if you have AbsoluteHD why would you leave? its only $30 bucks where will u find tv HD for that price?

 

[TravelFan1]

I have been with DISH now for over three years (offered through ATT). Outside of the occasional snowstorm outages, I have been quite pleased with everything. I have the Absolute-HD package. Recently Comcast has made an offer that is quite tempting and would replace all three services I currently have with ATT (phone, DISH, internet).

Replacing the DISH part though is a tough one for me. Is there anybody here that recently switched from Comcast Cable that may offer some advice against such a switch? (NOTE: I actually came to DISH from Comcast because their prices seemed to go up every year. Supposedly this package being offered will lock-in for 2-years).

Reasons why I switched from Comcast Cable to Dish:
1- Now that my promo prices with Dish expire, I still pay LESS than I paid with Comcast, even whenever I was able to get a promotional price. And I have comparable packages
2- DVR: Moto 6412 box used by Comcast sucked big time. 722K is way better, plus has plenty more space, plus allow one to add an external HD
3- DVR - II : Second DVR from Comcast was, I believe, 23.95 when I left. Instead, I paid the one-time fee of 39.95 and made my 211k box to become a single-tuner DvR and plugged a 500Gb external HD there
4- HD quality - Comcast 3:1 MPEG2 compression sucks - First thing I noticed after joining Dish was how much the quality of the HD picture for the 3:1 compressed channels improved with MPEG4 dish.
5- NUmber of HD channels - Nowadays, no biggie, as Comcast of NJ II has close to, I think 80HD channels. Still, Dish has more and has a few HD channels that Comcast of NJ II doesn't carry that I like quite a bit, such as Fox Soccer Channel HD, BBC America HD, the HDNets, premiums in HD - Comcast only carries one for HBO, one for Cinemax, one for Showtime, one for Starz and that's it.

Only thing that Comcast is far better than Dish and, quite frankly, than any other provider other than Fios,are the On-Demand options.

 

[jbull1381]

I can take a short weather outage rather than multiple days outage when a tree takes down cable and the cable folks are in no hurry to repair it.

 

[KenB123]

if you have AbsoluteHD why would you leave? its only $30 bucks where will u find tv HD for that price?

AbsoluteHD has been a great deal for me, and I know once it is given up , then its gone. But loyalty aside, the offer presented to me from Comcast in a special Triple-Play package would beat this price. Not sure yet if it beats it by channnel line-up, but price-wise at least. I am doing a channel comparison check.

The Comcast price is not what can be seen on the Website. They are targetting satellite customers door-to-door in my area, enticing us to go with them for all 3 mediums (TV, Internet, Phone) at a special price.

 

[Koilvr]

AbsoluteHD has been a great deal for me, and I know once it is given up , then its gone. But loyalty aside, the offer presented to me from Comcast in a special Triple-Play package would beat this price. Not sure yet if it beats it by channnel line-up, but price-wise at least. I am doing a channel comparison check.

The Comcast price is not what can be seen on the Website. They are targetting satellite customers door-to-door in my area, enticing us to go with them for all 3 mediums (TV, Internet, Phone) at a special price.

It's a lie. I have comcast as DSL internet and hooked up there cable to my tv to get the local HD channels and still the quality sucks. I would read the fine print before signing. They told me the same thing that I would get there local tv service for $11.95 and the internet for $42.00 and I got my first bill the local TV was $16.95. still cheaper then my Teleco by $5.00 plus I get MTV VH1 and NICK where with my Absolute I do not get them.

 

[finniganps]

You need to try their DVR box and look at the HD picture quality BEFORE you switch unless you don't use the DVR. If it doesn't work well, I wouldn't switch. If it does, then by all means switch and save the money. I would lower my Dish package before I'd go back to cable if I was looking to save money.

 

[KenB123]

The replies are trending towards the two main concerns I do have with a switch: 1) HD Quality 2) HD-DVR.

Any less HD-quality would be hard to swallow. I think Dish quality is quite good. If I had to watch something noticeably inferior, I would regret the change. I will have to check that out.

From what I have researched so far, the Comcast HD-DVR supports 20-hours of HD (very small), versus my 622 at 30-hours. And I am not sure if they support adding an external HD which I do have.

Comcast On-Demand is much better (as TravelFan1 pointed out). Even when I left a few years back it was better than what Dish is still offering. But this is not a deal-breaker for me. There is enough for me to watch without On-Demand. Nonetheless, if you are with Comcast it is a nice thing.

 

[FitzAusTex]

The replies are trending towards the two main concerns I do have with a switch: 1) HD Quality 2) HD-DVR.

Any less HD-quality would be hard to swallow. I think Dish quality is quite good. If I had to watch something noticeably inferior, I would regret the change. I will have to check that out.

From what I have researched so far, the Comcast HD-DVR supports 20-hours of HD (very small), versus my 622 at 30-hours. And I am not sure if they support adding an external HD which I do have.

Comcast On-Demand is much better (as TravelFan1 pointed out). Even when I left a few years back it was better than what Dish is still offering. But this is not a deal-breaker for me. There is enough for me to watch without On-Demand. Nonetheless, if you are with Comcast it is a nice thing.

Hey, as far as DVR storage capacity...not sure how many hours Comcast DVRs *actually* hold, but I believe E*'s calculations were based on when they were using still MPEG2 encoding, rather than MPEG4, and I know on my 622 that I get *at least* double the 30 hours (60 hours) when recording E* channels. Now, if I mix in OTA recordings with E* channels on my 622, that more than double capacity reduces, as the OTA recordings pretty much take up exactly what E* says they will/do. So I feel the 20 hrs (Comcast) vs. 30 hrs (E*) isnt really apples to apples. Just something else to consider in your decision...

 

[Jim S.]

One thing to keep in mind (unless it's changed recently): Comcast has two different technologies deployed, depending on where you live. One system is from Motorola, the other is from Scientific Atlanta. I don't know anything about the Motorola hardware, but the SA systems are seriously ugly compared to Dish. Heck, when I had one, it was ugly compared to DirecTV.

 

[Bobby]

and the Motorolas just suck....

 

[janko]

I switched from Comcast to Dish 3 years ago. Main reasons: Vip 722, more HD channels, NHL Center Ice in HD. Comcast will never have this. Only onne thing what i liked on Comcast was better HD picture quality than Dish.

 

[JEFFinINDY]

and the Motorolas just suck....

Yes, they are the worst DVRs imaginable.

 

[andrewj0781]

One thing to keep in mind (unless it's changed recently): Comcast has two different technologies deployed, depending on where you live. One system is from Motorola, the other is from Scientific Atlanta. I don't know anything about the Motorola hardware, but the SA systems are seriously ugly compared to Dish. Heck, when I had one, it was ugly compared to DirecTV.

Cisco Explorer 8300HD DVR - Support - Cable TV Set-Tops - Consumer - Cisco

If you'd get this one you'll be sorry you switched. This is the one I had from Atlantic Broadband. Now I'm not sure if it was the receiver it's self or how Atlantic Broadband adds data to the program guide (almost 7 days) but each week It wouldn't remember to record America's Most Wanted. I set it for new episodes, All episodes no luck wouldn't show in red each week. It did it with other shows as well. Left Dish for a triple plan and after getting tired of this I knew Dish had better DVR I came back to Dish. Now won't leave for Cable again. Maybe Comcast has better luck with those who knows.

 

[sbsi]

If you are subscribing to HD, Dish Network cost cheaper.

For non HD, it does not really make a major difference since Dish raises prices on all receivers last month. Cable TV does not require you to get a cable box to get the basic cable channels like ESPN, CNN, USA, TNT..... Cable TV do provider 1 cable box to get the digital cable stations starting from 100+. Only a few bucks more on Comcast, but you are getting the higher channels.

 

[SparksPA]

I am going to switch from Comcast to Dish very soon. Comcast customer dis-service is horrible! They have an antagonistic relationship with their customers that has caused me to look at alternatives and led me to Dish. I can't wait to fire them. As soon as I complete the structured wiring upgrade in my home I will be a new Dish customer. I expect my Dish bill to be slightly lower than Comcast but the hardware and program package will be much better. It also sounds like the HD picture quality will be better.

Anybody want to help me pull a couple thousand feet of wire so I can get this thing done?

My suggestion, DON'T SWITCH TO COMCAST!

 

[KKlare]

I just got a newspaper ad for Comcast (Santa Fe, where they may have HD) saying
10X more HD than satellite
3 months of HD free
Starter XF Triple Play $99/mo. for the first 12 months
$200 Visa Prepaid Card.

I find it hard to believe 10X unless they count some video library.
It is moot and they have zero HD here, yes digital at extra cost.
I would get Internet vs DSL and I-net phone vs a true land line.
Not a chance, they would have to take my 722 "from my cold dead hands."
-Ken

 

[Koilvr]

I switched from Comcast to Dish 3 years ago. Main reasons: Vip 722, more HD channels, NHL Center Ice in HD. Comcast will never have this. Only onne thing what i liked on Comcast was better HD picture quality than Dish.

You my friend need to run and see an eye doctor FAST! I have comcast HD and Dish HD on the same TV and my friend comcast is not good at all.

 

[whatchel1]

fine print

How long before the "deal" from them changes to full price. They are sending people around house to house because that's the only way that they can get customers. There ads just aren't working. I have E* for vid and cable for net. I have a QAM tuner in both my TV & PC and local cable just doesn't cut it for HD channels. They either have to compress them even more than E* or use switched channels setup. It's know as limited bandwidth over cable systems. I looked into U-verse recently as it's available here. Nice idea but the price almost sent me to the hospital. I have absolute like the OP and so far there is little that would get me to dump the 722k. Especially EA since they are running even better PQ on it.