Sky or VM

[k.jacko]

Ok, this may have been done, but a search didn't reveal much.

So..... after constant abuse from the mrs about the *ahem* 'use' of our eurovox, i'm stealthily looking into VM+HD and Sky+HD.
Both are similarly priced for the full packages (think there is about £4 diff), Sky has far more HD channels, but susceptible to weather conditions i suppose.
PVR on both are supposed to be really good. Well i know sky+ is ok as i had it at my old house.
VM want £75 to install, Sky want £30 to install plus £99 for box

I already have VM phone and 10mbit broadband, but i don't get a break on price for the tv service so there's no particular benefit there.

So, what do you guys think, sat or cable?

Thanks for any input.

[madrat]

Sat every time.

[k.jacko]

Err.....thanks....lol....was kinding of hoping for a little more though....if you don't mind, ya know, reasons?

[Robbo]

1. You get a better picture from Satellite, I have both cable and satellite.

2. There is a lot more choice of channels on satellite.

3. There are more HD channels on satellite.

4. Satellite is not affected by weather, if you upgrade the dish to a slightly larger one.

5. With Satellite, you own the receiver, and you can have additional receivers showing the FTA (lots of them) or for an extra £10 per room, multiroom with full subs on all extra boxes.

6. You would no longer be a cable numpty stealing cable TV.

[k.jacko]

Originally Posted by Robbo

1. You get a better picture from Satellite, I have both cable and satellite.

forgetting the HD, how so?

2. There is a lot more choice of channels on satellite.

I got over 300 on cable...don't think i need any more

3. There are more HD channels on satellite.

Yup, that's what impresses me.

4. Satellite is not affected by weather, if you upgrade the dish to a slightly larger one.

Really? Always thought it was, it kind of pixellated under bad weather. Bigger dish = bigger surface area for snow to land on

5. With Satellite, you own the receiver, and you can have additional receivers showing the FTA (lots of them) or for an extra £10 per room, multiroom with full subs on all extra boxes.

But with VM its rented, meaning it will get fixed for free if it breaks after a year. Sky charge a small fortune to fix their kit outside of the 1st year.

6. You would no longer be a cable numpty stealing cable TV.

How very dare you......aah...ok.....true....lol.....true!

Thanks for that Robbo, good input.

[Yorks]

Originally Posted by k.jacko

Really? Always thought it was, it kind of pixellated under bad weather. Bigger dish = bigger surface area for snow to land on

Most picture break-up in bad weather conditions can be completely eradicated with a larger dish. A standard Sky zone 2 dish (60cm) as opposed to a zone 1 dish (45cm) should give perfect all year round viewing in any part of the country. The further south you are the stronger the signal.
I know people here in Yorkshire who think it is 'just one of those things' that they lose reception in poor weather. If Sky fitted zone 2 dishes in this area as standard then there wouldn't be a problem in adverse weather conditions.
Unfortunately - as Michael Caine says - not a lot of people know that.

If you lose reception due to snow on the dish, there is a special process for removing it.......... Whack it with the sweeping brush.

Yorks

[madrat]

A sat system is independent and not linked to a vandal attracting green box at the end of the road.

[ade_dnb]

Originally Posted by k.jacko

I already have VM phone and 10mbit broadband, but i don't get a break on price for the tv service so there's no particular benefit there.

I thought they gave a discount if you had all three of there services?

[k.jacko]

well thats the 1st thing i told them, but they told me it was £73 for the top tier vm+HD and 10mbit broadband. TV = £51 on its own, so no discount really, just maths!
_ankers!

[Robbo]

As I said, I have both satellite and cable, the picture quality on satellite looks better. I believe it is due to the compression ratios and data rates used etc.

I have had 3 different TVs, 3 different satellite boxes and 2 different cable boxes, and that is the impression I always get, especially on fast moving images with darkish shadows.

By the way, when you come to the crunch, and you come to cancel Virgin, they may put you through to retentions. Then you ask for a better deal, if they don't play ball, be ready to bin'em.