2006
Glen Ellyn Comcast billing statement for December list the following increases for 2006.

Basic Service - Currently $15.99 increased to $16.49
Standard Cable - Currently $39.99 increase to 44.04
Digital Silver - Currently $69.99 increased to $75.99
Digital Gold - Currently $79.99 increased to $83.99
Digital Platinum - Currently $93.99 increased to $99.9

Each Additional cable box - Currently $4.99 increase to $5.99

2005
Comcast will be raising there rates this January by 6% for basic packages and 3% for premium network packages.

Expect to see a $2 to$4 increase on your Comcast bill this January.

Is anybody deciding on switching to WOW, Dish, Directv, or Voom? I also like to point out that satellite companies usually increase there rates toward the end of Q1 (2% to 8%).

I am switching from digital plus to basic service which only cost $15.99 a month. Anybody else downgrading there service?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BrotherJPW,

I was thinking about going back to basic cable atleast until the Sopranos are back.

I saw a WOW installation truck yesterday and thought about checking it out. I have never heard of VOOM but will check it out. Thanks

Does Voom supply anything other than Hi-def TV?

This week I received my notice from WOW that their prices will be increasing as of 1-2005.

Hey, Ruydah....what do you pay for your dish? And is it a pain in the chones...or no?

Egad. DirecTV really stinks.

It's around 90 bucks for full package (minus any specialized sports packages) plus another 99 bucks for a TIVO (not necessary, but recommended).

Still, I'm on the verge of switching to Comcast. Rumors abound that DTV is dropping their integrated tivo box and replacing it with one of Rupert Murdoch's own custom-in-house-boxes (which spells bad, bad news if you own a tivo and understand how nice a tivo is).

Plus, the whole satellite dish thing is annoying. Rain fade, ice fade, wind problems -- blech. It ain't worth it. (Plus, DTV is falling behind in channel selections. WOW, I think, has many more channels than DTV last time I checked -- especially movie-type stuff.)

Satellite, in the long run, just ain't worth the trouble. (And it's not really any cheaper anymore.)

I've got Dish Network, with DVR and HDTV receiver and pay just under $100 a month, including receiver fees. I love DISH and think they are the best bang for the buck. The picture winks out about 4 times a year in heavy weather, but it never lasts more than 10 minutes. I have never had the fade problem you speak of and I'm not sure what you mean by wind problems?

I have Directv with DVR. I had to make the decision between them and Comcast over the summer. Here were the key points:

Comcast would have had to string a line off the utility pole across the street and come in about 8 feet off the ground to the back of my house. Installation was $29.99 for 1 box...additionals were either $16 or $24 depending on if they were pre-wired. DTV install was free for up to 4 recievers.

DVR subscription was $9.95/month for Comcast, $4.95 for DTV.

Comparable packages, minus movie channel subscriptions were $51.98 (and going up) for Comcast and $42.99 for DTV.

DTV also upgraded me to the premium package ($90) for the first 4 months for free.

I know from past experience that the occasional wet snow messes with reception, but who can pass up the adrenaline rush of a late-night climb up an icy roof, risking life and limb, to clear off the dish, all so your wife doesn't miss one moment of "Desperate Housewives"?

What a man Ruydah! My husband would tell me to wait for the repeat!

Serious though...I have Comcast with DVR as well as Comcast internet...I have been looking into Dish with DVR, but it would not be cost effective until SBC finally installs their DSL in our area of Glen Ellyn (possibly the end of December).Even then the prices are a close call..
We currently pay 104 for comcast internet, digital cable (no movie channels), a regular receiver and a dvr receiver.

If my calculations are right it would be 50 for Dish with the channels that include noggin and then 30 for SBC DSL.

With installation fees involved the 24 dollar savings may not be worth the change.

On a different but related note.. Just got Sirius satellite radio and it is fantastic. If you are a radio listener... it is worth every penny. I was skeptical (I mean... subscription radio???? c'mon....), but have quickly become a huge fan.

You get Sirius radio with Dish network's 180 package

Does anybody subscribe to Superstations with Dish Network? It is a hiden package and it is available for all Glen Ellyn residents
3.99 on top of locals
KTLA WB
WPIX WB
KWGN WB
WWOR UPN
WSBK UPN

You can get SIRUS with AT 120

That sux re the Comcast price increase, but I think we're unfortunately stuck with them. In our old house, we had DirectV w/ DVR. We were happy w/ them. We were going to sign back up in GE. But when the installer came out, he told us that the dish wouldn't work on our house because our neighbors had....dnnnn dnnnn dnnnn duuuuhhhh.....yep, you guessed it, TREES. WTF?!?!! I mean c'mon. They acted like it was the strangest thing they ever had seen. 'Yep, I'm sorry, Ma'am. It looks like there are too many trees around here. Unless all your neighbors cut their trees down, we can't help you.' Needless to say, I felt a little uneasy accepting this explanation. But they sent out his supervisor and he confirmed. I think it's really firkin'd up that your average variety tree could screw everything up. And ironically, before GE, we lived in Beverly - tree capital USA and had no problem. Must be something with the GE office. I'm thinking about chopping down all my neighbors' trees in the night to get DirectV back.

quote:

But when the installer came out, he told us that the dish wouldn't work on our house because our neighbors had....dnnnn dnnnn dnnnn duuuuhhhh.....yep, you guessed it, TREES. WTF?!?!! I mean c'mon. They acted like it was the strangest thing they ever had seen. 'Yep, I'm sorry, Ma'am. It looks like there are too many trees around here. Unless all your neighbors cut their trees down, we can't help you.' Needless to say, I felt a little uneasy accepting this explanation. But they sent out his supervisor and he confirmed. I think it's really firkin'd up that your average variety tree could screw everything up. And ironically, before GE, we lived in Beverly - tree capital USA and had no problem. Must be something with the GE office. I'm thinking about chopping down all my neighbors' trees in the night to get DirectV back.

They said the same thing to GE Fanette when they came out to put ours in this past April. GE Fanette told them to put it up there anyways. They did and it works perfectly.