Cable TV cheaper than $60

**whosyodaddy** · 02-13-2006, 08:59 PM

It has always bugged me that I pay $60 a month for cable at the beach and half that at home... I have "expanded basic" from Mediacom... any suggestions on cheaper or better alternatives?

**yippie** · 02-14-2006, 07:30 AM

Satellite is less expensive and you get the local Panama City and Dothan stations.

Dish network or DirectTV. I pay $39.00 per month and the equipment was free.

**Smiling JOe** · 02-14-2006, 07:41 AM

I use to pay $63 per month for cable, but that included Extended Basic and high speed internet. Now, I added all inclusive phone service (through cable) which has all you can use long distance and all calling features, and the total price is around $100+.

**John R** · 02-14-2006, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

I use to pay $63 per month for cable, but that included Extended Basic and high speed internet. Now, I added all inclusive phone service (through cable) which has all you can use long distance and all calling features, and the total price is around $100+.

really, mediacom has phone service now? VOIP? how's the sound quality? consistancy of transmission(ie drop outs)?

jr

**Smiling JOe** · 02-14-2006, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by John R

really, mediacom has phone service now? VOIP? how's the sound quality? consistancy of transmission(ie drop outs)?

jr

Yes, they are offering phone service in a partnership with Sprint. They are using Sprints phone lines, and they issue a new cable box with a phone jack, but the regular phone jacks in the house work with phones. I do not think it is VOIP. The quality is like a normal land line, and beats the heck out of losing cell phone reception on cloudy days.

Funny, yesterday I heard a Sprint commercial putting down the cable companies for phone service.

With the package deal through MediaComm, there is only one bill, and discounts are given based on number and type of services subscribed to.

**imasunbum** · 02-14-2006, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Yes, they are offering phone service in a partnership with Sprint. They are using Sprints phone lines, and they issue a new cable box with a phone jack, but the regular phone jacks in the house work with phones. I do not think it is VOIP. The quality is like a normal land line, and beats the heck out of losing cell phone reception on cloudy days.

Funny, yesterday I heard a Sprint commercial putting down the cable companies for phone service.

With the package deal through MediaComm, there is only one bill, and discounts are given based on number and type of services subscribed to.

Is that like or is it Vonage?

**Smiling JOe** · 02-14-2006, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by imasunbum

Is that like or is it Vonage?

I am pretty sure that this service being offered through MediaCom is different than VOIP (voice over internet protocol) which is the technology that Vonage uses. This is regular phone service via Sprint, but I get the service and bill through MediaCom.

**Donna** · 02-15-2006, 01:15 AM

We have the digital cable service through Mediacom and it makes a world of difference in the clarity of the picture. Yes, it is expensive, but worth it. Does anyone know why the cable is left lying on top of the sand, rather than buried? This is very weird to us, would not be allowed here. We asked one cable guy, who said it shouldn't be on top of the ground, exposed. Another one said it was because they can't dig a trench within 1,500 ft. of the water's edge

Inquiring minds want to know...

**Smiling JOe** · 02-15-2006, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by Donna

We have the digital cable service through Mediacom and it makes a world of difference in the clarity of the picture. Yes, it is expensive, but worth it. Does anyone know why the cable is left lying on top of the sand, rather than buried? This is very weird to us, would not be allowed here. We asked one cable guy, who said it shouldn't be on top of the ground, exposed. Another one said it was because they can't dig a trench within 1,500 ft. of the water's edge

Inquiring minds want to know...

At my last house, the cable was left exposed, lying on top of the ground for about three months. It was supposed to be buried withing a few days after installation.

MediaCom hires subcontractors to bury the cable. After calling MediaCom about four times asking them to bury the cable, the subs finally came out to do the job. I watched them do it, and in some places the cable was buried only 2-3 inches deep, when it was supposed to be buried 13" (I think). Believe it or not, about a month after it was buried, I received a call wanting me to do a brief survey on the subcontractor's work. I was very willing to give them my two cents.

I know many people have the same problem I had with wires getting buried. Sprint takes the same slow-a_ss response to the same issue with their phone lines. I have never heard that the cable cannot be buried within any distance from the water's edge. If that is the case, we would see many exposed cable lines on top of the ground in Gulf Front homes, but that is not the case as I have seen. Maybe these homeowners are running the cable in the air from the utility poles, directly to their homes.

**ShallowsNole** · 02-15-2006, 01:56 PM

Dang - my Dish Network bill is $97 per month!

But, unfortunately, I can't get my guys to give up their 8 HBOs and countless other movie channels...

**Franny** · 02-15-2006, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by yippie

Satellite is less expensive and you get the local Panama City and Dothan stations.

Dish network or DirectTV. I pay $39.00 per month and the equipment was free.

We have Directv and have been refused local channels but this doesn't sound like the case with you. Are you in Walton?

**beachmouse** · 02-15-2006, 05:49 PM

I think Directv doesn't really know what to do in the Santa Rosa/Okaloosa/Walton county areas because no single Nielsen market directly claims the area. I'm on the Okaloosa side of the county line by about a mile, and our designated satellite local channels are Mobile/Pensacola. (never mind that PC has two channels that actually cover the area in terms of local news while Mobile/Pensacola only has the unfortunate WEAR)

And since the actual local news we get on my area is scarce, I'm glad we're still somehow grandfathered in under the national signals/distant viewers clause from back in the day. I like that the New York City ABC station actually shows Nightline in its intended timeslot and Good Day LA is the funniest morning show out there.

**Smiling JOe** · 02-15-2006, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Franny

We have Directv and have been refused local channels but this doesn't sound like the case with you. Are you in Walton?

Direct TV had an ad stating that local channels are included, so you may be able to get your money back if you want.

**ShallowsNole** · 02-16-2006, 08:43 AM

Dish Network added local channels about a year ago. It's a small additional fee, and it requires a larger dish. We get all the Panama City stations and WTVY from Dothan.

I've heard that DirecTV hasn't started local channels yet, but soon will be.