USDTV

[wallywombat]

Was wondering if anybody subscribes to USDTV and if so what their opinions were.

[Monstro]

Was not impressed. I dropped it after a few months, and moved back to OTA HDTV and DirectTV.

[Amanuensis]

What were you not impressed with -- I am also considering switching to it, since Comcast keeps refusing to offer a la carte pricing.

[Monstro]

My issue was that the premium channels they featured in HD were available elsewhere for cheaper (DirecTV), and that they upconverted standard analog fare into an HD signal, and called it HD, when it really wasn't. I constantly switched back and forth between USD and my DirecTV, and thought the dish had a better picture as well. Same for the local channels, in that my OTA HD antenna gave me ALL of the offered channels on the HD frequency, whle USDTV simply gave you the main HD channel for the locals. I didn't want to spend the money, and stuck with my DirecTV.

HOWEVER, I would still probably go with USDTV over Comcast...

[Terry]

Monstro, one of us is confused. I have a USDTV tuner. It directly picks up OTA DTV in HD and SD, whatever the locals are sending out. The USDTV "premium channels" are all in SD: www.usdtv.com/ . It looks like they are now offering Starz as well. I don't know whether that's in HD or not.

Their only premium channel of interest to me is Fox News. I don't subscribe to USDTV though. I just use the box for OTA DTV channels - no fee. I also have Comcast and their poor quality analog signals. I want Utopia, but they tell me that's 3 years away.

[x]

terry said:

I don't subscribe to USDTV though. I just use the box for OTA DTV channels - no fee.

Didn't know you could do that. That could be a deal. What's the cost of the box as a standalone?

[Terry]

I bought mine at Wal-Mart for $200, but I haven't noticed them there lately. RC Willey was also selling them. I don't know whether they still do.

There are apparently two models of the USDTV receiver. I understand that there is a very similar model that comes for free or very low priced from USDTV directly, but it only works with a USDTV subscription. These are sometimes available on e-bay for a very low price, but are worthless.

[Always]

I tried USDTV for 2 months on a free trial back when it came out. I did it at the Utah State Fair a couple years back . Not impressed!! Why not do the dishnetwork package for 31.99 and get a good variety package for 12.00 dollars more a month or on Directv another 22.00 bucks a month a get a great package with over 135 channels. Not enough programming for 19.99 a month.
I just saw a reciever at Wal*Mart for 189.00 for the USDTV. Compared to a free system at the satellite deals now plus that would almost cover 6 months of paying for a Dish System's programming. Speaking of USDTV what happened to Movie Beam is it still around or did Disney pull the Plug on that?

[x]

dspete said:

Speaking of USDTV what happened to Movie Beam is it still around or did Disney pull the Plug on that?

Per what I've read, there was a recall on the set-tops, but nobody has heard anything for a quite some time. With the VOD deals coming out now, I wouldn't keep my hopes up.