HD DVR...lease or buy? - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 11-18mm Aspherical Di II LD IF f/4.5-5.6 for Canon Digital

06/16/2006 11:50:47 AM · #1

I have 3 options for TV service in my area (Carlsbad, CA)...Adelphia cable, DirecTV, and Dish Network. I'm not a fan of Dish Network. So that leaves me with the two other choices.

DirecTV requires you to buy the HD DVR (in order to record HD shows). Adelphia lets you lease the HD DVR. I can't decide what makes more sense...to buy the box (and own it) or lease it for around $10-15/month. The DirecTV box costs $399. After the intiial cost of the box, DirecTV's monthly service fee is actually less than Adelphia's price (which includes HD channels) by almost $30.

My wife and I watch a lot of primetime shows (we're not really that into the sports channels and/or Discovery HD). Any thoughts on what the most practical approach would?

If any one is wondering WHY we "need" a DVR...that person has probably never had one. It's kind of like a cell phone...once you have one, there's no looking back. But now HD channels are starting to pick up a little bit, which adds to the "need" cost. :-)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/16/2006 11:54:51 AM · #2

No offense but since all these tv posts are completely unrelated to photography, would you mind starting them in the general discussion area?

Tamron SP AF 11-18mm Aspherical Di II LD IF f/4.5-5.6 for Canon Digital

06/16/2006 11:55:59 AM · #3

If it's that big of a deal, feel free to switch this over to another forum.

Message edited by author 2006-06-16 11:59:49.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/16/2006 12:10:20 PM · #4

Originally posted by chafer:

After the intiial cost of the box, DirecTV's monthly service fee is actually less than Adelphia's price (which includes HD channels) by almost $30.

Less by $30 a month or a year? If the box really rents for $15/mo, you'll have to have the purchased one for over two years for it to pay off (longer, obviously, if it's less than $15). My worry with that sort of thing is always that the technology will change and you'll be stuck with an obsolete box. Same reason I didn't sign up for lifetime service with Tivo.

Tamron SP AF 11-18mm Aspherical Di II LD IF f/4.5-5.6 for Canon Digital

06/16/2006 12:30:22 PM · #5

That's true. So you think leasing would be better? Less by $30/month...

Message edited by author 2006-06-16 12:31:54.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/16/2006 12:42:04 PM · #6

Well, with a $30/mo discount, that makes DirecTV cheaper overall plus you get the box, right? Am I figuring this right? For instance, say it's $1200/year for Adelphia (I'm just making up a number)....

Adelphia - $1200 + (15/mo * 12) = $1380 and don't down the box

But if DirecTV is $30 cheaper, then...

DirecTV - $840 + $400 box = $1240 and own the box.

So that makes it seem like DirecTV is the way to go. If I'm using the right calculations.

DjFenzl

06/16/2006 12:53:34 PM · #7

lease, when 1080p hits big (and trust me it's going to) you'll be glad you waited to buy. Plus the longevty of the machines isn't very good - with a lease you just say "gimme a new one"

Tamron SP AF 11-18mm Aspherical Di II LD IF f/4.5-5.6 for Canon Digital

06/16/2006 08:33:52 PM · #8

Is there a difference between cable and DirecTV HD quality? Or is it all the same?

buzzrock

Fujifilm X-M1

Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS

06/16/2006 08:57:08 PM · #9

At least here-- the Digital cable isnt all Digital-- in fact most channels are still analog-- all of the major networks are analog-- all my movie channels are digital but the majority of the programming isnt--

in fact Digital doesnt kick in until channel 100-- then its mostly digital discovery, bbc, outdoor network, etc-- even the major cable channels like mtv, all the news networks, tbs, tnn, spike, etc, are still analog..

I would go with a dish.. to get full digital-

EDIT--

This was just a comparison between dish and digital cable-- not factoring in the quality of each service's HD quality--

Message edited by author 2006-06-16 21:07:17.

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/17/2006 12:10:09 AM · #10

Originally posted by buzzrock:

Buzz what Set-Top-Box are you using to get analog on the low end but not the higher channels?

Chafer - neither here nor there, but I found that (on Adelphias site) where they are having finacial issues (bankrupcy) which might explain some of their pricing. My Atlanta Scientific Explorer 8300 HD-DVR rental is 8 bucks a month where adelphia is charging 15 for a standard DVR.

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/17/2006 12:19:17 AM · #11

As I was on my last post... I can see that the first 100 channels at Adelphia (Carlsbad) are Broadcast (converted to digital) channels... still a bit cleaner than Analog via the Coaxial (RF) connector on the TV set.

Adelphia does have close to 50 (edit: did a recount) digital channels not including the digital music channels. Looks like a pretty good line up.

Message edited by author 2006-06-17 00:21:57.

Tamron SP AF 11-18mm Aspherical Di II LD IF f/4.5-5.6 for Canon Digital

06/20/2006 11:13:01 AM · #12

How overpriced is cable/satellite? I mean, how much does it actually cost to for me (or anyone else) to receive a signal? I can't be that much...but they charge an arm and a leg for it!

theSaj

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/20/2006 11:44:34 AM · #13

Originally posted by chafer:

I'm not a fan of Dish Network.

Why don't you like DishNetwork? I found their service quite good over the years. It was also affordable. And yes, there were a couple of weeks where we lost some programming (most of which I didn't care about anyways)...but they were fighting to not be forced to "package" 1/2 a dozen extra channels users didn't want.

I thought that was a good thing.

theSaj