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[SBB]

It's time to get cable and internet service in Maggie Valley for Eagles Nest.
First for the camper, then the garage and finally a system for the garage and the home.
I think I have a choice of Charter, Direct TV and Dish.
Are there other options? I want to start with one TV and internet.
When the garage is finished that will go to two TV's, internet and security.
When the house is finished then the needs will be seven TV's,  internet and security.
So I need a system that can grow.
Any thoughts?


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[gadgetz]

As an Ex-CATV Engineer I would suggest the coax route but I am sure others will disagree. Considering the location, if you have access to a local provider such as Charter then I would go with them to start. You can always change to a Dish if you so desire.      


A point to remember is that the SAT internet speed isn't usually as good as the land line versions such as Charter or like AT&T U-Verse.


After 20 years in the business I haven't found one good reason to switch to a dish from cable. Granted customer service could be better at times, but equipment wise I wouldn't change even if someone else was paying.


Good luck on your choice. 

[SBB]

As an Ex-CATV Engineer I would suggest the coax route but I am sure others will disagree. Considering the location, if you have access to a local provider such as Charter then I would go with them to start. You can always change to a Dish if you so desire.      


A point to remember is that the SAT internet speed isn't usually as good as the land line versions such as Charter or like AT&T U-Verse.


After 20 years in the business I haven't found one good reason to switch to a dish from cable. Granted customer service could be better at times, but equipment wise I wouldn't change even if someone else was paying.


Good luck on your choice. 

Thanks Eric.
Cable seems easier but I have heard horror stories about Charter.
It seems similar to Time Warner here, TW is the best of the worst.

 

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[skippy]

what u need cable for i thought hillbillies sat on the porch chewed tobacco  the women folk knitted mittens and socks wile the men whittle sling shots and made bird houses..   u will have plenty to do in them hills think about  it cutting fire wood planting a garden canning  moonshine and shoveling snow... what else u want ..... 

[tazmun]

what u need cable for i thought hillbillies sat on the porch chewed tobacco  the women folk knitted mittens and socks wile the men whittle sling shots and made bird houses..   u will have plenty to do in them hills think about  it cutting fire wood planting a garden canning  moonshine and shoveling snow... what else u want ..... 

+1 on that! Chip, besides that keeping all your toys clean will keep you busy till bed time!!!

[ak]

DISH

[OBB]

7 tvs for just the two of you? That'll tack on to your bill right off the top.

I agree with gadgetz on this one. Coax is a solid feed not bothered by weather as much as a dish is. Something else to consider is the view of the sky and the location of the dish. I know I've seen a few AT$T trucks running around the valley and even talked to a tech one day at lunch our first trip there. Uverse may be in the area but I'm not sure. It would give you another option.
I would strongly urge you when you build to have both a coax and cat5e home run from every room to a smart panel.

One more thing to add about coax. I hear so many complaints from customers switching over from cable to Uverse about the quality of service. Coax over the years does indeed wear out believe it or not. It's very similar to spark plug wires. People do not bother to replace their house lines, the old crimp fittings or the splitters and then they like to blame their cable provider for bad service.

[MIKEYTEE]

I have been with Direct TV for 18 years. I would never go back to cable for TV service. That being said, hard wired broadband is way better than the Hughes Net that I have been stuck with. When it was Direct TV providing the broadband everything was great, but when Hughes took it over the service went to hell.
One day a good provider for broadband will come forward. Oh yeah, no cable in our area so hence the Hughes net.
Mike
 

[2k]

Have had Direct tv for 20yrs. Only complaint is loss of signal during heavy storms. Dumped the Sat-Net when broadband became available because Mikey was dead on......Hughes sucks. 

[9 1/2 Beers]

 Direct

[08glide]

chip, I'm no expert here, but I have friends, family who have dish, direct sattelite. every time there is weather( be it rain or snow) the picture quality sucks & usually gets disrupted where it goes out completely. I personally have cable & have very good service & internet service is excellent. jmo

[ultrarider123]

Hey Chip, check the Charter feed and verify that they do, indeed, have a cable close and what they offer through that cable.  You may have access but depending on where you are, not be able to get a digital connection.  You would have the same issue with Uverse, too.  You may be close enough for home phone and DSL but not close enough to the node/equipment to receive the video feed....again it depends where the equipment is located in regards to your house (footage).
We's b in da country out here in East Tennessee and just got access to uverse internet feeds (love it, BTW).  Not close enough to the equipment to get the video but you couldn't pry my Direct TV out of my hands anyway.  We did have access to Comcast when we moved out here in 2006 but no digital and the selection was awful.  Direct TV is the best of the two dish companies (my opinion and yes, I've had both).  However, when we were in the big city of Oak Ridge, the cable feed was very good....again it depends on where you are in regards to the equipment.
As for satellite internet, we tried Hughes Net for two years.  Feed and speed wasn't bad but customer service was non existent and that is what finally moved us off Hughes.  We used the Verizon data deal (not bad) but sure glad we have DSL/Uverse now.

Lots of information.....if I were in your shoes (first off I'd have lots of blue motorcycles..... )  I would go with Direct as my video provider and if it's available, Uverse for my data needs. 

Hope this helps.....

[SBB]

chip, I'm no expert here, but I have friends, family who have dish, direct sattelite. every time there is weather( be it rain or snow) the picture quality sucks & usually gets disrupted where it goes out completely. I personally have cable & have very good service & internet service is excellent. jmo

Thank you sir!
A friend here that has Charter has talked me into giving them a try.
So thanks everyone for the suggestions!

SBB

[SBB]

Lots of information.....if I were in your shoes (first off I'd have lots of blue motorcycles..... )  I would go with Direct as my video provider and if it's available, Uverse for my data needs. 

Hope this helps.....

Thanks bud!
I like options.

 



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[Mr. Warlock]

Last I read, Charter was set to buy Time Warner. Don't know if it has been approved or not or is proceeding.