Viewpoint #5: Whats digital about digital cable?

[Ioman]

We have just posted Viewpoint #5
Title: Viewpoint #5: Whats digital about digital cable?
Date: March 27, 2002
URL: http://www.designtechnica.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=12

If you have any questions or comments about this review please discuss them here.

[Archon]

This can be boiled down into two parts

1. You have ATT
2. You have ATT

These two reasons are equally responsible for your bad experience.

Digital Cable is superior to sattelite (in my opinion). You have no contracts, no obscure channels, you've local programming, if it snows, you dont loose TV, etc...

I had sat, and opted out of it in the trial, it was horrid. I now have Digital Cable, and am quite fond of it, infact, the same magical cable which brings me my TV also now provides me with the Internet. ;)

As for your problems with the lack of "digital" in your Digital Cable, that is because the basic programming (for me, that is channels 03-65), use the normal cable signal. It is only on the higher levels (67-612) ;) that are digital quality. All those music channels you got, are superior to VH1, for instance ;)

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Archon
This can be boiled down into two parts

1. You have ATT
2. You have ATT

These two reasons are equally responsible for your bad experience.

Digital Cable is superior to sattelite (in my opinion). You have no contracts, no obscure channels, you've local programming, if it snows, you dont loose TV, etc...

I had sat, and opted out of it in the trial, it was horrid. I now have Digital Cable, and am quite fond of it, infact, the same magical cable which brings me my TV also now provides me with the Internet. ;)

There, I just fixed the link to the article. Based on my setup, there is no way digital cable is better than satellite. I cannot find a single advantage.

[Archon]

I changed my original post ;)

and as for advantages, I can say that the program listing is a VERY BIG perk for me, I could care less if it is digital quality.

Same applies to sattelite, I have it at work and cannot tell the difference, save for the program listing.

DC is cheaper and more reliable, in my belief. But ATT sucks

[Ioman]

I do like the channels with Digital cable, I just dont think the picture quality or sound is near as good as satellite. I also do not like that only the higher channels are digital, misleading in my opinion.

[Archon]

each to his own.

But the Panda has spoken.

and when there is bad weather, and your TV goes out, I dont want you coming to my house to watch the Telitibuies

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Archon
each to his own.

But the Panda has spoken.

and when there is bad weather, and your TV goes out, I dont want you coming to my house to watch the Telitibuies

LOL, I live in Oregon, bad weather doesn't get much worse than here. My satellite rocks. It was cheaper than Digital cable, includes Dolby Digital output AND has a built in PVR with a 60 hour recording time. Beat that Panda!!! No wonder you are endagered. hehe:rotfl

[Archon]

well, like I said, you have ATT. Thats like saying "why yes, I use a mac" ;)

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Archon
well, like I said, you have ATT. Thats like saying "why yes, I use a mac" ;)

Doh....stabbed me in the chest!!

You aren't using ATT?

[Archon]

I cant get ATT here, only Adelphia.

See, we took a dead post from August and turned it into this ;)

[JB]

I install digital cable for twc, in w-s north carolina, and i regret to inform you that digital cable blows satalite out of the sky. and here we DO have s-video outs on our boxes , but that sux, because we also have HDTV digital boxes with HDTV component video outputs, sorry you dont have the good stuff

[JB]

We also have Dolby digital outputs!

[Ioman]

Originally posted by JB
I install digital cable for twc, in w-s north carolina, and i regret to inform you that digital cable blows satalite out of the sky. and here we DO have s-video outs on our boxes , but that sux, because we also have HDTV digital boxes with HDTV component video outputs, sorry you dont have the good stuff


ahhh I would love to have what you have. Please show us pictures!

When I went to CES, the hot thing was ATSC tuners, or boxes that would allow you to get HDTV broadcasts through your cable company. Here on the West Coast, Cox Communications and ATT rule the Digital Cable scene and offer just the bare minimum.

I can't wait until HDTV through cable comes out. I will be all over that! :D

[Ioman]

Originally posted by JB
We also have Dolby digital outputs!

JB, please register so we can talk some more! :D

[llbbl]

Originally posted by Ioman


LOL, I live in Oregon, bad weather doesn't get much worse than here. My satellite rocks. It was cheaper than Digital cable, includes Dolby Digital output AND has a built in PVR with a 60 hour recording time. Beat that Panda!!! No wonder you are endagered. hehe:rotfl

We have directTV with 2 boxes and don't pay that much for it. I am not too worried about loosing the signal during a bad weather cause I got a ton of saved programs too watch. The PVR is only a 30 gig and I think a Tivo would have offered more features, but it is better than nothing, since we can't get cable out here. If I lived in the city I would get cable.

[Ioman]

Originally posted by TecknoGeek


We have directTV with 2 boxes and don't pay that much for it. I am not too worried about loosing the signal during a bad weather cause I got a ton of saved programs too watch. The PVR is only a 30 gig and I think a Tivo would have offered more features, but it is better than nothing, since we can't get cable out here. If I lived in the city I would get cable.

I got a PVR through Dishnetwork for a one time $49.99 charge and I love it. They upgrade the firmware overnight too.

[mikeywalnutz]

Maybe when Comcast takes over Washington and Oregon they'll provide us with better equipment...I hope.

[llbbl]

Originally posted by Ioman


I got a PVR through Dishnetwork for a one time $49.99 charge and I love it. They upgrade the firmware overnight too.

Tivo has better menu abilities/options and you can hack it. That is why I want one.