Okaaaayyyy...... If I run HDMI, I would also want the Cat5 for the IR (since the TVs would be on different levels of the house). If I did HDMI over Cat6, I'd probably also need another line for IR in that case too, plus expensive "converters". Does (can) the Cat 5 run along with the HDMI cable? Where would you have them located in relation to each other? If I use HDMI for the main HDTV where the cable box/DVR will be located, I can't then use the component output at all for other TVs--I would have to split and use HDMI, right? It's one or the other signal? Thanks! I'm meeting the LV guy at the house tomorrow to mark what I want and where. Maybe a few more questions: I think we'll use TWC telephone, but I only see the need for 1 actual phone location, the rest will be "satellites" of this. This will be Cat5, right--and you just plug the plug the phone into it? If there are other Cat5s run for computer, do we need to differentiate these (from that used as phone line)? Anything else I need to keep in mind, or consider, or ask of the LV guy??? Thank you all for your help! Tracey

Hi! Just happened to be browsing through this forum for the first time...you may have already made a decision by now. We've never had cable and have been with DirecTV for over 12 years without any problems worth mentioning. Even here in rainy Seattle, we've not had satellite connection problems. We did come upon an interesting issue recently. With the recent advent of HDTV, we asked DirecTV what it would take to get that service. We have old, standard-definition sets that are still working fine, but they won't last forever and any new set would most likely be HD. Interestingly, there is a consideration re satellite service. Our current SD service gets a signal from one satellite; HD gets signals from three satellites. (I may not be exactly correct, technically-speaking, but I think I'm on the right track, generally-speaking.) So in order for your dish to "see" three satellites in the sky for HD, you need a rather wide field of view. In our case, we live in a very wooded area with many tall trees. For us to receive HD, we will need to cut down many trees on our property (and probably some on our neighbor's property will need to come down, too.) We do have an open clearing on our property that would easily have the needed field of view, but the clearing is too far from the house. There is a limit on the length of the cable run from dish to the house. I don't remember what the length is; probably less than 200 ft. or so. And at this time, there is no wireless technology available to overcome the cable limit. This all may not apply in your case, but thought I'd mention it just in case it might.

I'm so very glad I haven't had to deal with TW or Bright House or whatever it is these days. I had a similar event years ago. After dealing with Miss CSR on 3 separate occasions I asked for and got a supervisor (who BTW, was as nasty as Miss CSR) Finally I asked if she really thought that getting the $5.98 for a movie supposedly ordered on my account was that important compared to the hundreds of dollars that would be lost when I and my family and friends canceled our accounts and go to satellite.. I paid my account in full including the movie charge that wasn't mine and canceled my account then and there. Most of the family and many friends did also and we exist happily with Sat. TV. We haven't had a problem with our Sat. Network yet. It is a matter of who will do better for your money and not cheat you or steal from you. Funny thing is I often get a mailer from TW or BH with a free hook up offer and free service for a month or 3 and a $50.00-$75.00 payment in cash for my Sat. Receiver. LOL Now why would I want to take that offer? Think about how it is made up of money stolen from other people just like me who paid a bill that wasn't really theirs. CT

I won't ever authorize anyone, company or person, to make automatic deductions from my account(s). I do online bill paying through Wells Fargo, and I can either log in and enter a payment manually, or I can schedule a recurring payment of a specific amount to be paid on a specific date each month (or every other month, etc.). I'd be willing to bet that the EFT payment is something they'll hit you with every month, for the "benefit" of them deducting the payment. Why not make it yourself each month? That way, you'd be certain of the amount paid and also that you aren't going to be double charged.