u-verse or TiVo?

leiff · 03-14-2012, 06:27 PM

I'd like to lower my monthly bill. Right now we Pay for uverse lowest speed internet we only do a little web surfing/ and uverse u200 with DVR. Am I right Comcast would be cheaper? If so I'd like to buy a elite/preview when they come out to replace my uverse service. Uverse DVR fee every month bothers me and I'd rather buy lifetime/equipment and avoid this fee. After initial Comcast service promotion runs out there's ways to get back on another promotion right? Worst case scenario cancel service for 3 months to get new subscriber rate or re subscribe with different name? Is Comcast considered inferior to uverse fiber? Fios isn't available where serves u-verse right? I'm also wondering if I should buy elite now because its on sale for $400 now and just shelve it until preview is released this summer.

netringer · 03-14-2012, 06:38 PM

Get a U350 or U400 Uverse package and there is no DVR fee.

You'll be behind with the Comcast outlet/cards charge SNAFUs. I was paying $30+ a month just for access with 3 HD Tivos on Comcast.

javabird · 03-16-2012, 09:30 AM

In the Seattle area, Comcast's digital starter runs $64/month and there is no charge for the first cable card in the TV- mine is an M-card (and I get a $2.50 credit for using my own equipment). You can self-install the cable card. I don't think they will allow you to cancel and re-up just to get a new promo rate, but I could be mistaken. I don't know if it's an inferior service because I've never used Uvers, but overall I've pretty pretty happy with Comcast, and I've use it for over 10 years.

That Don Guy · 03-16-2012, 10:15 AM

Keep in mind that you will need at least one Comcast set top box (although I am pretty sure one box is included in the price of the service if it is not a DVR (and it does not have to be) in order to be able to access OnDemand and PPV services. (There are reports/rumors that Tivo and Comcast/Xfinity are working on a way around this, but it's one of those things that is always "going to happen Real Soon Now".)

As for Comcast/Xfinity vs. U-Verse, they both have their problems - Comcast tends to put two or three channels on the same frequency, and occasionally you get serious problems with some channels; on the other hand, U-Verse tends to freeze up quite a bit (although, for some reason, if a channel goes black on one TV, it is still fine on the others, and you can record it normally).
I think the biggest problem with U-Verse is, it doesn't use the Tribune channel guide, so last-minute schedule changes don't always get through, and there are too many cases where new programs are listed as repeats (so "First Run Only" SPs ignore them).

jrtroo · 03-16-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by That Don Guy

(There are reports/rumors that Tivo and Comcast/Xfinity are working on a way around this, but it's one of those things that is always "going to happen Real Soon Now".)

Actually, the timeline for this was always fairly straightforward, albeit a long timeline from press release to in the field devices. From what is being noted in the press, it is on track as well.

texasguy37 · 03-16-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netringer

Get a U350 or U400 Uverse package and there is no DVR fee.

You'll be behind with the Comcast outlet/cards charge SNAFUs. I was paying $30+ a month just for access with 3 HD Tivos on Comcast.

U-verse has no U350 package and the U400 package has not been offered to new customers in about 3 years.

The U-Family, U200, U300 and U450 packages include a DVR at no additional cost. In addition to the DVR being included at no additional cost, the U300 and U450 package also include a regular receiver for a 2nd TV at no additional cost.

leiff · 03-17-2012, 02:27 PM

u200 pack on uverse is $67 which is about the same price as Comcast starter which correct me I'm wrong is comparable in value. However with uverse you must pay a $10 per month hd fee I wouldn't have to with Comcast using a TiVo with lifetime. My experience with Comcast is I never have to pay this full rate though after negotiating with Comcast retention where as uverse in my experience gives little discounts to there tv service to existing customers past there promotion. I'd very much like to hear from others experience here in regards to this.

if not offered a new discount/promo, has anyone cancelled there service (has to be for at least 30 days I believe) just so you could sign back up for new customer rates? Or how about after every promo ends every 6 or 12 months switch back between uverse/comcast so that your always on a promotion?This would require an expensive TiVo (elite with lifetime in my case) to be shelved a large portion of the year though.