[Keir H]

I'm tired of seeing stuff on my cable bill that I know for a fact I did not order so I am going to one of the sat companies for service. I am at a lost to which one though. I do want HD and from what I hear Dish will be putting out a Superdish system soon but I need something this weekend. I need it for two rooms also and hoping to try Direct Tivo and be able to rent an HD box for my HD viewing. The only reason I went with cable was for the rental option for the HD box and Golf Channel. I do want a small premium lineup with locals and HD ESPN and Discovery. So should I wait for the Superdish deal and have a one sat. setup or deal with a dual lnb oval dish right now to get in HD channels? Is HDNet on Dish or Directv? I have a fully ht setup and would like the best bang for the buck so that means digital out and component connection. I am sick of changing inputs on my CAble box. Please help me decide. I am calling a local dealer later today!

[Robert Spalding]

I have a Directv Tivo and love it to death! The HD Directivo is coming out at the end of the year and will be able to record HD and SD off the Sat as well as HD and SD off antenna.

[TommyL]

directv...I had the same decision to make..glad I did it

[Steve Schaffer]

Dish is claiming the superdish will provide up to 50HD channels, and it has already been announced that it will include HDNet and HDnet Movies. Dish already has Discovery HD, Showtime HD, and HBO HD, as well as one PPV movie HD channel and a CBS HD feed that is only available if you get a waiver from your local CBS affilliate.

I did a bit of research over at AVS forum and discovered this is all contingent on the successful launch of a new satellite sometime this summer.

I have DirecTV now, with the oval dish and triple LNB. I get HDNet, Showtime HD, HBO HD, and one PPV HD movie channel as well as an occasional free NBA game on that PPV channel.

Rumor is that DirecTV will be adding 2 or 3 more HD channels in the near future, probably Discovery HD, HDNet Movies, and ESPN-HD.

If Dish does succeed with the new satellite and really does offer significantly more HD programming I will jump ship in a hurry. DirecTV has been way too slow and way too secretive about HD and I'm tired of their whole attitude. They took way too long to get Showtime HD up, and have been promising Discovery HD for years with no sign of it yet.

With the upcoming Murdoch takeover I don't look for them to do anything for us HD fans until that deal is final.

[Grant B]

Dish's Top 50 package is a cheaper package than Directv lowest package.
You can always add on later

[Keir H]

THanks alot guys for the responses so far. I called them both and it seems that there is alot of give and take between them. I thought that at least one of them would have rental HD boxes by now. Saying that, I guess I can add a decoder when i am ready. I have heard nothing but good praise from the Tivo owners out there. THey told me they have a package that includes one for $249..for 2 rooms, 1 Tivo though.all I need... Can I just add a Tivo later or the combo satbox/TIvo system when they are a bit more affordable? I really want it now but dont want to put up so much money up front...I guess I cannot have everything. Looks like I'll bite on basic plus and HBO package for now.

AS for a HD box, is the RCA DTC100 still the king?...forgive me, but I have had TWC for faaar too long... Excited, but gonna miss G4 (games) channel and GOlf Channel as well. WHat esle is there to purchase for HD besides the oval dish and decoder? thanks again everyone!

[Alan M]

Steve,directv already offers hd movies on channel 198,thats 1 channel down from hdnet.

[Eric Samonte]

So TWC doesn't offer HD at ur area? I thought they did in most markets....

[Keir H]

Yes Eric, they do and its not bad either but I am looking to get a one box solution that does HD and SD from one components (RCA DTC100?). Looks like I'll go with D* mainly because of what I see on HDNET although E* seems to offer mor HD in the long run.. decisions decisions..

[Robert_J]

Quote:

is the RCA DTC100 still the king