Charter Cable vs. Satellite TV on the Outer Banks

This seems to be a fairly active forum. I am getting fed up with Charter cable and considering switching to Direct TV. They offer more channels in Hi-Def and also various sports packages. I am wondering how well satellite TV really works down here. Does anyone have it and do they like it or have problems with it? Any feedback it appreciated.

I don't have direct TV but have Dish Network through Embarq. Love the price, channels, and service. Not disappointed that I gave up charter cable.

Charters rates are up high.... what are my choices? I am not going to stick with Charter. How much does the Dish Network run with Embarq?

Charter refused to run cable down my street, I have and have had Direct TV for years and love it. I get the Norfolk channels and also pay $1 extra per channel for NY and Los Angeles network channels. My bill is about $60 per month with no HBO or anything like that. It sometimes goes out in a heavy rain but not for long. I never loose service during hurricanes or flooding. I haven't had cable in 12 years and won't return.

I wish the cable company would offer Howard TV. Incredible entertainment !

Don't get us started on Charter. This company is gouging OBX residents for every penny they can get. Watch your bill closely...they'll jack it up in a minute...and before you know it....what do you suppose poor folk and older residents do when they get the bigger bill? They pay it....not knowing they can walk into the local office and waggle out a lower rate...and this is what Charter thrives on....It's way past the sh$$ hit the fan on this type of practice. Charter should be required to send you a 30 day notice before you get a bill upping your cable...but, they don't...and, then....you can talk with your neighbors and one will be getting the same channels,etc...but for a different rate....This is unfair trade...and unscruplous businesss, in our opinion. where's our county commissioners on this one?......home watching tv??? wonder what kind of deal they get???

I've had Direct TV for the past 12 years and would never go back to cable. Only loose service for a few minutes during a heavy rain & thats it in 12 years. Plus if you loose power, a generator can run tv & receiver to give you service. Cable backup systems will not run long on thier backup battery systems systems. Very reliable "up" time & prices are reasonable.

I made the switch to Direct TV back in Dec and I love it. I wish I had done it years ago. The picture quaility is unreal compared to Charter and the service is great. Charter is a freaking joke!!! They have been ripping locals off here for way too long. I get about 80 HD channels for an extra ten dollars a month(it will soon be over 150 channels) and Charter only offers a handful for about the same rate. It is a no brainer!!!

Been on Directv since 1997, and I'll be staying on it. To be fair, Charter did inherit the mess that was here before they bought in.

I want to get rid of Charter in my home too. The prices are too high, I call them every six months or so. Whenever I see them offering a deal to new customers I call and tell them I want that deal too. Most of the time they comply but I am tired of negotiating. I really am not happy with Charter internet. My son got an Xbox 360 for Christmas and plays on line with a friend who moved to California last year. My son is constantly getting kicked off the line and Charter refuses/can't do a dedicated IP address. We have his game as the direct internet connection and wireless to my desktop computer. I want to switch to Direct or Dish and get a dedicated IP with Embarq. My husband does not want to switch simply because he can't get the weather channel for our local forecast (although they are wrong so often!) but I would really like to hear from anyone else with our situation who has switched to something else. Thanks!

Why do you think a Static IP Address will solve your son's gaming problems?(FWIW, you need to have a Charter Business account to get a Static IP Address.) Cable internet IP Addreses don't change very often so it's almost static. You would also need to pay for one from Embarq.

SSer

I have been told that when gaming the amount of information that is being sent and received can overwhelm the server, especially at times of high usage so when lots of people are on the same IP address at the same time my son will lose internet connection. One night it happened 4 times in 20 minutes. With a static IP address you are not sharing the connection with anyone. The cost of a static IP address from Embarq is only $4.95 a month and would be worth it if it would solve having to hear my son screaming "Mom, I got kicked off again!" I know Charter only offers it to businesses, I checked that first. If anyone has had experience with this I would really like to hear from them. Thanks!

I don't know where you got your information but it's dead wrong. Everyone has a unique IP Address and it is not shared whether it's Dynamic or Static. Your son shoudl try connecting the cable modem directly to his xbox and see if he loses his Internet connection (Make sure and power cycle the cable modem before connecting it to the xbox). If he doesn't, it's your router. If he does, it's Charters problem.

SSer

I've had Charter out 3 times to try to fix it. They tell me every time that this will be the thing that fixes the problem. They ran different cable under the house, worked on the box outside the house and every single time my son has been kicked off within 30 minutes. Charter provided us with a combo modem/router that is directly connected to the xbox and a wireless signal is sent to my desktop computer. Charter replaced the original one too on one of their 3 trips.

Well I just ordered Direct TV before their latest deal runs out. They did advise me to wait before I get the NFL package as it will prob. be going on special. I will post again once it is up and running as to what I think. I know that I cannot wait to get rid of Charter!

Seahorse wrote:

I've had Charter out 3 times to try to fix it. They tell me every time that this will be the thing that fixes the problem. They ran different cable under the house, worked on the box outside the house and every single time my son has been kicked off within 30 minutes. Charter provided us with a combo modem/router that is directly connected to the xbox and a wireless signal is sent to my desktop computer. Charter replaced the original one too on one of their 3 trips.

What do you mean when you say "my son has been kicked off within 30 minutes"? Do you loose your internet connection? What is the status of the lights on the cable modem/wireless router?

You can always switch to Embarq DSL.

SSer

Charter cable? I think not; they have more excuses then a candy bar has calories. We switched to Direct TV and pay a lot less then before and more channels. But watch the fine print on both companys and really read it they are not in buisness to be friends.

Just out of curiosity, how is over-the-air digital TV reception (with an antenna) in the Outer Banks? Thanks

DTV wrote:

Just out of curiosity, how is over-the-air digital TV reception (with an antenna) in the Outer Banks? Thanks

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Funny.

seems to be a lot of complaining about charter, what do you expect from a company that its stock sells for 8 cents a share....devoted dish watcher.........