General discussion & info about South Walton, Florida.

All About SoWal

Advertise or find a business, discuss business.

Business & Services

Jobs

Festivals, classes, gatherings, activities.

Events & Music

Food & Dining

Marketplace

property, realtors, builders, development, infrastructure ...

Real Estate

Long Term Rentals

Vacation Rentals

SoWal Lounge

yippie

Beach Fanatic

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.

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

SoWal Expert

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

needs to get out more

[QUOTE=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+.[/QUOTE]

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


jr

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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+.</blockquote> 
really, mediacom has phone service now? VOIP? how&#039;s the sound quality? consistancy of transmission(ie drop outs)? 
 
 
jr

[QUOTE=John R]really, mediacom has phone service now? VOIP? how's the sound quality? consistancy of transmission(ie drop outs)?


jr[/QUOTE]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.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="John R">really, mediacom has phone service now? VOIP? how&#039;s the sound quality? consistancy of transmission(ie drop outs)? 
 
 
jr</blockquote>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

[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE]
Is that like or is it Vonage?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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.</blockquote>Is that like or is it Vonage?

[QUOTE=imasunbum]Is that like or is it Vonage?[/QUOTE]

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.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="imasunbum">Is that like or is it Vonage?</blockquote> 
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.

DBOldford

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  :idontno:   Inquiring minds want to know...

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&#039;t be on top of the ground, exposed.  Another one said it was because they can&#039;t dig a trench within 1,500 ft. of the water&#039;s edge  :idontno:   Inquiring minds want to know...

[QUOTE=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 :idontno: Inquiring minds want to know...[/QUOTE]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. :bang: 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. :idontno:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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&#039;t be on top of the ground, exposed. Another one said it was because they can&#039;t dig a trench within 1,500 ft. of the water&#039;s edge :idontno: Inquiring minds want to know...</blockquote>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. :bang: 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&quot; (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&#039;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&#039;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. :idontno:

ShallowsNole

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

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

Dang - my Dish Network bill is $97 per month! 😱 
 
But, unfortunately, I can&#039;t get my guys to give up their 8 HBOs and countless other movie channels... :roll:

Franny

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

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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.</blockquote>We have Directv and have been refused local channels but this doesn&#039;t sound like the case with you. Are you in Walton?

beachmouse

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.

I think Directv doesn&#039;t really know what to do in the Santa Rosa/Okaloosa/Walton county areas because no single Nielsen market directly claims the area. I&#039;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&#039;m glad we&#039;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.

[QUOTE=Franny]We have Directv and have been refused local channels but this doesn't sound like the case with you. Are you in Walton?[/QUOTE]Direct TV had an ad stating that local channels are included, so you may be able to get your money back if you want.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Franny">We have Directv and have been refused local channels but this doesn&#039;t sound like the case with you. Are you in Walton?</blockquote>Direct TV had an ad stating that local channels are included, so you may be able to get your money back if you want.

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.

Dish Network added local channels about a year ago. It&#039;s a small additional fee, and it requires a larger dish. We get all the Panama City stations and WTVY from Dothan. 
 
I&#039;ve heard that DirecTV hasn&#039;t started local channels yet, but soon will be.

whosyodaddy

Beach Lover

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?

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

Cable TV cheaper than $60

Grayton BeachCam

Dune Allen BeachCam

Seagrove Beach SkyCam

Inlet BeachCam

Miramar BeachCam Majestic Sun

Santa Rosa BeachCam

Walton County Fair

Sounds of Seaside

2026 SoWal Sea Turtle Nesting Season Wrapup

After Hurricane Isaias: Photos of South Walton Beaches

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton

No beachcams yet

More cams

Include enough context for a reply on the first pass: who you are, what this is about, and anything time-sensitive we should know.

Write a clear note and we will route it fast

SoWal Contact Form

What helps the SoWal team reply on the first pass

Use these links when your request already has a clear destination.

Prefer a direct route before you write?

Use this when you are not sure where your request belongs and need the SoWal team to route it.

Questions, corrections, and quick help

Share newsworthy updates, corrections, community tips, or photography that can improve SoWal coverage.

Story tips, local leads, and photos

Reach the team for business visibility, partnership planning, or other commercial opportunities.

Listings, sponsorships, and business requests

Use this path for media coordination, press follow-ups, or requests that need a communications contact.

Press outreach and interview requests

Tell us what you need and how to reach you.

Send your note here and the SoWal team will route it appropriately.

Choose the quickest route for your message

Forum account areas

Log in to view member profile, alerts, messages, watched content, bookmarks, preferences, and staff tools.

Member-only forum areas use your SoWal forum account.

Use your forum username or email to post, reply, follow threads, and manage your account.

Log in to the forum

Log in to the SoWal forum

Find people and visit their public forum profiles.

Members

Enter the six-digit code sent to {email}.

Check your email

Join the conversation

Welcome to SoWal

Sign in to SoWal

Signature preview

Ads support our local stories, BeachCams, and community guides. If you use an ad blocker, allow SoWal, then check again.

Help keep SoWal local

Your feedback helps us make SoWal better.

How was this story?

Get local stories, events, and South Walton highlights in your inbox.

Stay close to the coast

Choose whether SoWal may use optional cookies. Necessary cookies keep the site working.

Your privacy, your choice

Site navigation

Submenu

Bite-sized stories, curated itineraries, and community events delivered to your inbox on the regular.

Cable TV cheaper than $60

Latest conversations

Write a reply

2026 SoWal Sea Turtle Nesting Season Wrapup

After Hurricane Isaias: Photos of South Walton Beaches

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026