FiOS or Satellite for TV?

Jasconius

I am moving to a home with FiOS available

I've been a Brighthouse (TimeWarner in most other places) customer for 5 years and the TV signal is OK... (a lot of artifacting on some channels), but overall better than some other cable (Comcast!)

Now I have a choice between Brighthouse, FiOS or Satellite

I get the sense that both FiOS and Satellite will have better picture quality, but which one would actually be best for HD clarity?

I used to hear that Satellite was the end game for HD signal, but I read in some places that FiOS is really, really good, and I'll be using them for internet anyway

Where are the TV wizards, and can they answer!?

Channel wise, my only requirement is that I can get regional sports channels (DirectTV you can pay extra for it)

mts

fios has pretty good TV signal. i have the HD through it and its nice. pretty good sports line ups too.

bowen

I never had any complaint about the HD when we had FiOS. But yeah Satellite will beat it hands down there.

The only problem with Satellite is weather fucks with it. My dad loses TV (or quality) whenever it rains heavily. I'd probably pick the one that had a better channel selection that I liked if money wasn't an option.

Xaquin

much as I hate verizon (for my own reasons), I'd go with fios

the problem with satellite is when you're stuck inside because of the weather it also happens to be the only time that your satellite signal will really suck.

Griswold

FiOS by a wide margin, especially if you'll be using them for internet

MushroomStick

In the event that you try to cancel satellite, they refuse to accept defeat. When I moved and cancelled directv, after almost a year they kept reopening my account and started charging credit cards. I had to involve police to get them to actually close the account.

Quid

FiOS.

I'm sure satellite has it beat on picture quality but that doesn't mean jack when your picture is shredded by a storm.

Added bonus of getting a package deal with their internet which is pretty great too.

LostNinja

As a satellite user, I feel the need to point out that while it will go out for like 5-10 minutes during heavy rain, it never goes out for an extended period of time following heavy rain or snow storms like mine would when I had cable. My point being that it isn't nearly as big of an inconvenience as everyone is saying it is, especially if you live in an area with bad winter weather.

Jasconius

i live in florida

it's mostly thunderstorms

mts

my biggest beef with my fios service is that there is a pretty noticable rate creep. each month it seems like it the bill is a few dollars more than the last. but i am sure most other providers have that

hsu

Verison offered me fios internet plus cable for the exact same price as internet alone, as long as I chose a spanish language cable package. So now a quarter of my cable channels are spanish language only channels, but I get them (and the cable box too) for free.

My bet is that the fios company in your area will offer you a similarly good deal. Maybe not $0, like my area, but I bet it will only be slightly more expensive for both, compared to internet alone.

JRosey

I know you didn't mention internet but fios internet is now a requirement for anywhere I may move. It is the fastest, most reliable, and cheapest internet I have ever had and I can't imagine life without it.

Quid

Jasconius wrote: »

i live in florida

it's mostly thunderstorms

I though so.

To which I would like to point out: Hurricanes and depressions wreck satellites well beyond the picture.

Cambiata

JRosey wrote: »

I know you didn't mention internet but fios internet is now a requirement for anywhere I may move. It is the fastest, most reliable, and cheapest internet I have ever had and I can't imagine life without it.

My next move will be with Fios in mind. But yeah, that's due to the internet - I'll be getting TV too, but only because the bundle makes it cheaper than getting internet alone.

ceres

If you can get FiOS, get FiOS. It's not even a question.

I miss it so much...

That said, keep very careful track of your equipment, and when you move or cancel or terminate any service involving equipment in any way, bring that equipment into a Verizon location that accepts returns and make sure you get a receipt. Verizon is notoriously disorganized and has a reputation for losing equipment that has been returned to them, deciding they never got it, and then charging the customer forever. I am the eternal optimist and also kind of a sucker and so I'm sure it doesn't happen maliciously, but it does happen so be meticulous about getting receipts.

Cambiata

ceres wrote: »

That said, keep very careful track of your equipment, and when you move or cancel or terminate any service involving equipment in any way, bring that equipment into a Verizon location that accepts returns and make sure you get a receipt. Verizon is notoriously disorganized and has a reputation for losing equipment that has been returned to them, deciding they never got it, and then charging the customer forever. I am the eternal optimist and also kind of a sucker and so I'm sure it doesn't happen maliciously, but it does happen so be meticulous about getting receipts.

Speaking as someone who works for Verizon Fios: this is 100% true.

bowen

LostNinja wrote: »

As a satellite user, I feel the need to point out that while it will go out for like 5-10 minutes during heavy rain, it never goes out for an extended period of time following heavy rain or snow storms like mine would when I had cable. My point being that it isn't nearly as big of an inconvenience as everyone is saying it is, especially if you live in an area with bad winter weather.

Keep in mind he's asking about FiOS not Coax. The 'goes out during a snowstorm' is completely a coax issue (and is actually fixable if you yell at them enough).

Xaquin

ceres wrote: »

If you can get FiOS, get FiOS. It's not even a question.

I miss it so much...

That said, keep very careful track of your equipment, and when you move or cancel or terminate any service involving equipment in any way, bring that equipment into a Verizon location that accepts returns and make sure you get a receipt. Verizon is notoriously disorganized and has a reputation for losing equipment that has been returned to them, deciding they never got it, and then charging the customer forever. I am the eternal optimist and also kind of a sucker and so I'm sure it doesn't happen maliciously, but it does happen so be meticulous about getting receipts.

they are also known for NOT sending final bills (except to collections agencies) despite having your new address, new phone number, and existing e-mail address. Also, when you ask them if you have any more bills they will tell you "No" and then presumably laugh as they ruin your credit for the next 5 years over $50.52

god damn verizon.

at any rate, make sure you're 100% paid if you ever move and get that shit in writing.