digital cable or satalite

[JordanLotoski]

i wanna know what to get bell or shaw...whats better and why..ohh also costs...i want one with alot of channels.

Thanks

[craigcd]

ExpressVu

Completley digital picture
Can bundle with mobility
Time shifting
Ability to add channels easier, with out moving up tiers
Picture in guide on all rec.
PVR HD Dual Tuner

Theres a few.....


Craig

[JordanLotoski]

i just bought a higher end plasma Tv ...would that be best for it?

[craigcd]

Is it HD? I would suggest Express Vu because all channels are digital. Shaw has some that are and some that arent.

What kinda features are you looking for in your receiver? Shoot me a PM if you have any questions.

[TrevorK]

Remember that satellite can go down due to something as simple as weather.

Whereas a digital cable outage is very rare.

[Kobe]

Originally posted by TrevorK
Remember that satellite can go down due to something as simple as weather.

Whereas a digital cable outage is very rare.

I dont rememeber a time when Express has gone down on us..

But when we had Direct and that other garbage it went down a couple times becuase of rain...

[Mr. Burns]

I have had ExpressVu for 2 years now and it has gone down once in that entire time... and only for 10 minutes.

[dmtx]

I suggest Express Vu... I switched from it to Shaw DCT but after a week, I returned my subscription to Bell. Express has better picture quality.

I've had it affected by wheather but that was for a really extremely bad wheather... in 3 yrs maybe once or twice.

[craigcd]

Originally posted by TrevorK
Remember that satellite can go down due to something as simple as weather.

Whereas a digital cable outage is very rare.

It depends on who installs it. Professional installs usually take into account a bit of weather protection.

I rarely see any problems.

[Xtrema]

Freezing rain hit the dish once and have to scrap it off to get signal.

[missblondie]

Alright... I know I might get flamed for this really bad, but have you considered Star Choice... hd channels are included for no extra charge, 100% digital picture, no 2 year contract to sign...
versitile recievers that are actually more affordable then bells, and a brand new dvr is now available...and almost every channel between the 2 companies is the exact same...

the only thing they have more of is ethnic channels

[colinderksen]

I have dish network, hasnt gone down in over a year.

[hedge]

I am currently with shaw but only because I have lots of tv's. For now they still broadcast the analog signal as well so you don't need a receiver for every TV.

That new PVR that Bell has is the cat's ass. I have the original shaw one (the 6208) and a PVR changes the way you watch tv, you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

[Ajay]

I'm using Dish Network and I haven't had any issues in over 6 months but they're switching over to a new system and alas my US satellite will be dead until someone can resolve the problem.

I have a Starchoice system as well and come Sept I think I'll be upgrading the programming since my Dish will probably be completely gone. The only thing I don't like about my Starchoice is the loading time it takes for the menu to come up. I think that might change because I'll have to upgrade to a new receiver to receive some international channels and the HDTV channels. My current receiver is probably one of the first ones Starchoice ever produced. I like Starchoice though....no problems with them so far.

[craigcd]

Originally posted by missblondie
Alright... I know I might get flamed for this really bad, but have you considered Star Choice... hd channels are included for no extra charge, 100% digital picture, no 2 year contract to sign...
versitile recievers that are actually more affordable then bells, and a brand new dvr is now available...and almost every channel between the 2 companies is the exact same...

the only thing they have more of is ethnic channels

Bells basic system starts at $49 right now. Thats cheap and thats for the brand new 4100 system.

If you wanted to go with HD it starts at $250, Bell has the most HD channels out of any provider(27)

The contract is 2 years but that gives you free install, instore price reductions and credits. You can do a one year but you loose the promos/install. If you had to cancel its 140 Appx per reciever.

Star choice doesnt offer time shifting and Bells programming is cheaper.

Craig

[missblondie]

Originally posted by craigcd


Bells basic system starts at $49 right now. Thats cheap and thats for the brand new 4100 system.

If you wanted to go with HD it starts at $250, Bell has the most HD channels out of any provider(27)

The contract is 2 years but that gives you free install, instore price reductions and credits. You can do a one year but you loose the promos/install. If you had to cancel its 140 Appx per reciever.

Star choice doesnt offer time shifting and Bells programming is cheaper.

Craig

Ok... the 4100 is net $49 dollars... so that is after $50 programming credits. The regular price of the reciever is actually $99.00.
Starchoice's basic reciever is net $0... the upfront cost is $49 and you will recieve a $50 ppv coupon and a $50 programming credit.

There high definition is again net $250.... after programming credits... the starchoice hd reciever and the bell hd reciever before credits are both $299.

With starchoice there is no 2 year contract and you still get your free installation and satellite dish...

And yes.... Starchoice does have time shifting... us networks come from detroit or buffalo and spokane or seattle... for canadian timeshifting there are canadian channels from each different time zone.

On the other hand, bell does have more high definition channels available, for an extra cost of $10 per month.

[Doomsday88]

I'm running both satellite systems at home.

You may want to take the following into consideration.

- extra rcvr fees. Starchoice has one as well, but they include a lifetime warranty with their multiple rcvr fee. Bell's extra rcvr fee does not (they charge extra for the rcvr warranty)

- Bell basic programming is cheaper, but does not include US networks, Starchoice does.

- To maintain Bell's dish maintenance is an extra fee. Starchoice offers free Service calls and maintenance for the first 2 years.

- Both companies offer Free dish installs.

- Bell has more HD channels, but charge extra for them. TSN HD, and Discovery HD are extra on top of the $10, if you don't have corrensponding bundles that include those channels already. Starchoice current line up is at 12 channels, but all free.

- Bell has more ethnic channels. Starchoice is very limiited. Channel line-up on both sides is nearly idential. (Except a handful of channels)

- Dish technology is not as weather sensitive as cable users make it out to be. I've had less than 10 minutes downtime in the last 4 years, from either system.

Your best off looking at which provider suits your needs for the better price, since both providers channels line-ups are pretty much identical.
If you can maintain the dish on your own, bell maybe your better option, as they have more channels to offer.
If you're looking for overall warranty coverage and maintenance coverage, starchoice maybe a better offer for you.

Hope this helps.

[missblondie]

Originally posted by Doomsday88
I'm running both satellite systems at home.

You may want to take the following into consideration.

- extra rcvr fees. Starchoice has one as well, but they include a lifetime warranty with their multiple rcvr fee. Bell's extra rcvr fee does not (they charge extra for the rcvr warranty)

- Bell basic programming is cheaper, but does not include US networks, Starchoice does.

- To maintain Bell's dish maintenance is an extra fee. Starchoice offers free Service calls and maintenance for the first 2 years.

- Both companies offer Free dish installs.

- Bell has more HD channels, but charge extra for them. TSN HD, and Discovery HD are extra on top of the $10, if you don't have corrensponding bundles that include those channels already. Starchoice current line up is at 12 channels, but all free.

- Bell has more ethnic channels. Starchoice is very limiited. Channel line-up on both sides is nearly idential. (Except a handful of channels)

- Dish technology is not as weather sensitive as cable users make it out to be. I've had less than 10 minutes downtime in the last 4 years, from either system.

Your best off looking at which provider suits your needs for the better price, since both providers channels line-ups are pretty much identical.
If you can maintain the dish on your own, bell maybe your better option, as they have more channels to offer.
If you're looking for overall warranty coverage and maintenance coverage, starchoice maybe a better offer for you.

Hope this helps.

You know your stuff hey!!! I have worked at Star Choice for over a year now and some people that work with me aren't even that good!!!!

One thing though.... starchoice's basic programming is $20 a month and does include tsn and the us networks... Bells basic programming is $25 but includes ytv and treehouse and also has tsn and the us networks, so they do have a few extra popular channels included

[googe]

ive had both bell and starchoice and recommend starchoice. i will say that the starchoice PVR does suck compared to bells though.

Star choice doesnt offer time shifting and Bells programming is cheaper.

thats wrong, and wrong.


starchoice also has higher bitrate (better picture quality).

edit: SC is adding 4 more HD channels in sept/oct also. even though bell appears to have more, they dont really have more actual HD programming.

[missblondie]

Originally posted by googe
ive had both bell and starchoice and recommend starchoice. i will say that the starchoice PVR does suck compared to bells though.



thats wrong, and wrong.


starchoice also has higher bitrate (better picture quality).

edit: SC is adding 4 more HD channels in sept/oct also. even though bell appears to have more, they dont really have more actual HD programming.

Well, Star Choice has committed to adding more hd programming by christmas, but they haven't commited to the number of channels it will be. As you probably noticed in the recent change all of Star Choices hd channels are now true channels, and not a mix and match between hd programs, which I think is much better.

In regards to the pvr... the new downloads should be out shortly so you will see a nice change in that reciever