Digital Cable\Comcast

[Shann]

My old cable company was bought out by comcast. They are advertising digital cable and "on demand" options. I checked the website and it doesn't really explain everything and I'm basically a moron when it comes to stuff like this.

Does anybody have this and is it worth it? Why do they offer so many more channels on their "digital broadcast" than on the regular analog?

Any of you tv gurus out there, I appreciate your help.

 

[rebeltf]

I have Comcast cable and ISP , the high speed really is high speed , put my old DSL line to shame.

Why do they offer so many more channels on their "digital broadcast" than on the regular analog?

My guess is they want you to buy that service. I just have regular cable without the movie channels and so forth , depends on how much of a TV hound you are.

 

[marcinek]

I've got the same thing.

Digital cable with On Demand is cool. Tons of channels, you can watch new movies for like 4 bucks whenever you want, older movies for free, regular shows On Demand...its all pretty cool.

That said.....Comcast sucks. They are usually the only show in town, their rates seem nice at the beginning and then within a couple months they skyrocket. Customer service leaves much to be desired too.

I had the dish, and I prefered it over Comcast cable. Consider it.

If Comcast is your only choice (like me) get the digital (my Comcast is only offering digital now, anyway).

Then, save your pennies (like I did) and go HD. Awesome. Awesome.

 

[Gollnick]

I have Comcast Digital for telephone and ISP, not TV. The digital telephone doesn't aways sound as good, but it works. The internet service works great. And Comcast's tech support people are remarkably competent.

 

[John R. Fraps]

I have Comcast digital cable, broadband access via Comcast to my ISP, a brouter and wireless lan that both my wife and I use. Digital cable is nice but we don't take advantage of all the options. We don't have Hi-Def as we don't have a television set that would be enhanced by it but have seen it and Hi-Def on a good size screen is awsome!
I've had good service and seldom experience any down time. BUT, the cost is certainely pretty high...

 

[T.K.C.]

We have Comcast, tv, phone and computer. I like it. I like the On Demand stuff, a lot of free movies. And it is nice to be able to watch some tv shows that I missed; like CSI, and to be able to watch them via On Demand, but being able to pause them is great!! And watching movies via On Demand, it is nice to be able to pause them. We are happy with Comcast.

 

[Centaur]

That said.....Comcast sucks. They are usually the only show in town, their rates seem nice at the beginning and then within a couple months they skyrocket.

I found the trick in dealing with Communistcast.

When they raise the rates (for me, once a year,) just call then up and ask to speak to someone in the Customer Retention detartment.

Let the rep know that you're not happy with the rates, and will switch over to dish/DSL (and quote the going rates.) They'll drop the rates to a more competitive level.

The last time, they raised my Broadband rate to $44.95 a month. I called up, spoke to a rep, and told him that that wasn't a market price (DSL was going for $34.95.) She lowered my rate to $29.95 a month. She also lowered my digital cable rate, and threw in free HBO.

Give it a try, folks. What's the worst that can happen?

 

[m_calingo]

If you go digital cable you get a cable "box" with a built in hard drive. This allows the On Demand material to be downloaded directly into your box.

In addition, there's also the option of getting a digital recorder cable box, that essentially acts like a built in Tivo in your cable box. Costs extra, of course.

Pros, over analog cable: picture is generally sharper, tons more stations, i.e., HBOE, HBOE2, HBOSE, HBOFE, HBOCM, HBO-W, instead of plain old HBO.

Lots of movies, many free On Demand, and not free on Pay Per View. I don't go to Blockbuster anymore since renting a movie, for 24 hrs. on PPV, is more convenient as I can order a film any time I want, even if the video store is closed, and there is no need to return the movie. :thumbup:

Even if you don't have the Digital Recorder cable box, you can set the cable box to record a limited number of programs with different channels at different times in conjunction with your VCR, if you still have one. No need to leave the box on just one channel, and no more need to decide if you want to record Magnum PI , if it's on one channel, instead of Happy Days if it's on another.

Cons: additional cost, and more time spent watching TV, if you're not careful. A lot of the "free" movies On Demand haven't changed since George Bush was elected, the first one. :thumbdn: . Not all programs are available On Demand. Although many of the cable network shows such as HBO's Sopranos, and Rome are available for viewing On Demand, network shows such as 24 are not. Not yet, anyway.

Netflix is probably a cheaper way to go if all you want to do is watch movies.

As Centaur mentioned above, a little negotiating is worth a try.