Free us from the cable monopoly?

[Redwolf]

My family and I now pay a little over $100 a month for cable. That's extended cable, no premium channels, PPV (which was like $3 a month), and pipeline (cable internet). It was $80, but it skyrocketed. So now we are looking at alternatives. So here's the questions for you:

1) What options are there are far a sattelite is concerned? Cable is about $50/month, so is there anything cheaper than that out there for about the same or more channels?

2) Also, what are the pros and cons of sattelite TV over cable TV?

3) Really, besides Food Network and Friday Night standup on Comedy central, the only thing I watch TV fopr are for the USA/TNT/TBS/FX movies. And with broadband, I don't do that as much as I used to. Those of you with Basic cable/Antenna out there, do you think I would miss those channels that much?

[Omardeth]

direct tv is like 40$ a month , u get all those channels plus some others . u will need a reciever for each tv . plus have a dish that has a clear line to the sattelite . picture is good unless u are ina monsoon or the dish is covered with snow . but u will lose the high speed internet access . i think sat internet access is good for downloads but uploads are done with a modem , but i could be wrong . so if you game i don't think sat is the way to go . but like i said i could be wrong .

[Redwolf]

We are not giving up cable modem. Just ditching the TV line. That help?

[cracked]

if you do decide on satelite, get direct tv instead of dish network. i have dish network and it sucks SO bad...

drew

[vass0922]

well if you don't do gaming you could go with satellite broadband or DSL?

[Redwolf]

DSL we are looking at, but right now it is more expensive than cable, especially that d*mn installation cost. Per month it is cheaper, tho.

No on Satte;ite broadband, as I often play internet games.

[Omardeth]

how many tv's do u need hooked up to sattelite ? i have direct tv but only use it in winter for nfl so i can watch my team the ny giants . once football season is over it goes back out .

[Redwolf]

3, but we can probably do with 2 receivers

[Omardeth]

i think you can run up to 4 recievers off of 1 dish . check local shops alot will give u the hardware for free as long as u sign up for 1 year .

[Ed_S]

I hate the cost of cable also but can't find a workable alternative.

You said you're keeping pipeline? Better check what price you'll get - around here it's more if you don't have digital cable, might be more yet for no TV cable at all.
This pretty much offsets anything saved by going to sattelite. Cable internet combined with satellite TV = all of satellite's drawbacks with none of the savings!!

Also, I tried DSL & had nothing but problems - and it costs more than pipeline anyway!