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I want to choose the best one out of each pair but it's hard to find good reviews/comparisons.
DSL is cheaper than cable internet. Also one doesn't have to share bandwidth which is becoming more important now that 'everyone' is getting online. Currently I have Comcast cable and it works pretty well except for the fact that our service is dropped every few days and I have to reboot my router, etc. And, if I get DSL and a satellite tv network then I can cut out cable entirely.
As far as Dish Network vs Directv ... from what I've read it seems like Directv is better because they have more channels and also more HD content, etc. However, like I mentioned, Dish Network people get a 'free' Sirius subscription, which is nice.
Sirius vs XM. From what I've read Sirius sounds better but XM has more subscribers. For example, Sirius has more big names such as Stern and Stewart (no moral arguments please ;) ) and supposedly the sound quality is better. But XM has their nice little portable radio and supposedly is more stable financially because of the larger subscriber base.
Please keep in mind that I'm typing this all from my memory of sites and blogs I read yesterday so please feel free to point out any errors I've made.
I'd love to hear from people who subscribe to any of these services and their opinions and whether they like the service they have or would recommend the other company.
The feed conks out during thunderstorms, but I guess that's to be expected, and otherwise it is fine, very crisp picture.
There are no local channels. Even the Weather Channel does not have local weather. You also have to pay extra for PBS.
Honestly, I look forward to May when the contract will be over.
[edited by: lawman at 12:35 pm (utc) on Dec. 13, 2005]
Pros (for me): Has a "Superstations" package, which includes 3 WBs and 2 UPNs (I have neither network as a local). Since there's no more Trek I don't watch the UPNs, but having the WBs in three different time zones makes it easy to schedule DVR recordings.
Cons: No NFL package! No Tivo (the Dish DVR is OK, but it's no Tivo).
Bottom line, I miss being able to choose my own NFL games each week, but I'm happy enough with Dish that I don't want to switch just for that (plus, I really like having all those WBs).
Yes. I live in a rural area, and there's some actual law, the way I understand it, that forces TV feed providers to give local channels, but there are exceptions of some kind. So when they finally end up putting cable down my road (in the next year or so--they've already been out to measure for it), then I will be able to get the local channels, but with DirecTV, I am in some kind of blackout area where they don't provide them. I didn't think I would care, but it is actually pretty inconvenient not to have them. I don't get the local paper, so I never know what is going on locally.
If you are into the NFL and want to watch "your team", look at the difference between the 2 services...
