We recently switched back to DISH from Direct TV. Had a receiver on each TV with DirecTV, same as with DISH. We think the hardware on DISH is vastly better than DirecTV. The remote is FAR better. The fast-forward 30 second skip on Direct is a speeded up version on the screen, while DISH instantly skips 30 seconds. Programming the recordings also seems easier. And we like the magazine a lot more. AND we had several service issues with DirecTV equipment that were a PITA to repair, we'd lose everything every few months. DISH has been far more reliable, both before we had the DirecTV and since we switched back. We were on DISH for several years, switched to DirecTV about 3 yrs ago, just switched back in April. FWIW, we prefer DISH. We are in a rural area and cannot get any form of cable, so these two are our only options.

The problem is bandwidth. Insufficient bandwidth exists to support everything as wireless. Wireless will be mostly for devices that have low data requirements. Wireless also adds another level of complexity making problems easier and solutions harder. For example, microwave ovens and other devices share same frequencies as wireless applianced. Sometimes a defective microwave leaves the consumer comfused if no hardwired devices also exist. Best solution to wireless problems starts with first learning what is and is not working from hardwired devices. Those are also best deviced to identify a wireless problem. Best wireless solutions mean routing hardwire ports to various areas in a building. Then a wireless problem can be solved even by connecting an Access Point to that existing hardwired port. Just one of so many reasons why hardwire cables will always be required. A refrigerator will best work wireless. But wired port for some devices will always be necessary. Numbers make that obvious. Too many only know by never learning the numbers. Subjective knowledge is always suspect. Better informed consumers install pipes (as another has recommended) so that the few necessary hardwires (current or future technology) can be easily installed.

Hey Ann, We have U-Verse. This is quite long, tried to relay everything. We just past the 15 month mark. I'm not really all that fired up about it. When they finished laying the fiber optic cables they scoured the 'hoods looking for customers. Offering more (we have U200) at what amounted to a huge savings over what we had. DH bit. Our rates did go up some after 12 months, but in comparison shopping, we are about equal or a little better off in price for all 3 services (TV, PC, phone). We are seriously considering a switch and have no doubt they'll offer an enticement to stay, but I'm not sure we'd take it. I'm comparing U-Verse to cable, which is what we had for TV/Internet for years. Landline phone was a separate provider. Pros: Internet has never had an outage (went out a little too frequently with cable, especially storms). Phone service has never been down. TV has had no adverse outages. There have been two that lasted several hours. But that was AT&T upgrades or changes, done in the middle of the night with announcements (on screen) in advance. Has a lot of cool little perks. -Call history can be viewed on TV. -If TV is on and call comes in, TV screen displays caller ID info. -You can view photos on your TV (have never bothered loading that, tho. ) -Can record multiple programming at the same time. Record via primary DVR only. Any DVR box/tv can playback. (See also Cons for more on this.) -If watching something 'live' on primary DVR/TV, and you missed something or left the room, just rewind and watch again. If the same channel is left on without disruption, it stores about 2 hours prior program memory. (Switch channels and memory is lost.) Say you're snuggled in with a great movie and something pulls you away. No need to press Record (which is a handy single red button). Just leave it on that channel, come back to TV later, press rewind, pick up where you left off (and then fast forward through commercials. ;) -Can check/play phone messages from any computer, change Voicemail Greeting, control VM inboxes, etc. (See Cons also) -We have no premium movie channels. But have gotten 3 months of HBO free during winter. And a couple weeks of others free here and there. -I'm trying to think of more Pros. Will have to get back to you on that. Cons: -We've had two DVR boxes (the Primary one) go bad within first year. Programs hesitating, freezing, and finally locking up altogether. Called C.S. Instructed us to reset by holding power button on DVR for 7 seconds and waiting about 5 minutes for it to reboot. That fixed it. Till the next time. (Which at its worst could be a couple minutes later.) There were nights DH was watching big playoff games and rebooted that box over a dozen times in a couple hours. Each time I called, they ran through the 'have you reset' script, then had me troubleshoot on our end by unplugging gateway box and powering up, then going online to a site where our DVR history/errors are logged, and read info to them. Apparently that info showed them how many resets we were doing in a single evening so they sent a tech out. Quickly, about two days later. He replaced DVR box. That was month 3. Tech said hookup job by first guy was not so good. Not buying it. Most common complaint talking with other subscribers in our area is failure + replacement of multiple DVR boxes. Now at 11 month mark for the new (replacement) Primary DVR box, it needs to be replaced. Same symptoms again. -Secondary DVR box on living room TV stopped playing back anything recorded. That happened about 4th month. Recorded programs would hesitate then completely freeze up within first 3 minutes. Don't use that TV much, but it was becoming yet another irritation. On a hunch last weekend DH replaced splitter AT&T had installed where cables come into house. Voila, problem solved. -If you must use a Fax machine in your home it will not receive faxes with Uverse Voicemail feature. I searched, I called, no viable solution. There are complaints online. AT&T C.S. said it's something they don't offer at this time. I have a SOHO and need my fax. So I had to turn off voicemail altogether shortly after we signed up. :/ Had to revert back to answering machine in order to be able to receive faxes. -Internet connection: I'm getting sporadic but noticeable slow down in connection just in the past couple months. It's not my PC, I religiously keep it clean of anything (e.g. spyware) that would bog it down. During those slow spurts when I click on links I get "site not responding" errors. (I hesitate to place full blame for that on AT&T, too many variables. Network connection status reflects a healthy speed. Could be my browser having fits.) -We have multiple AT&T email accounts between us (work, personal, and 'junk' one for web use). I don't want to log into and out of each one so consolidate, use software like Outlook Express, and now Windows Live Mail Desktop. This happened in both software programs: for unknown reasons, not all our AT&T emails come in. But if I go to AT&T site, they are there. Of the six accounts, it seems my personal and business are the ones impacted. (Only occurs with AT&T emails pushed to OE or WLM, it does not happen with gmail or hotmail, I set up accounts and tested it.) Receipt of some emails are delayed, sometimes by as much as a day. There are other annoyances (minor) so I didn't go into them. I know how I feel - despite outages cable for TV/Internet was more reliable overall. Just asked DH if he had to do it over again, would he get Uverse. He said "no way, I want to ditch it". Maybe it's our hookup. He was just talking to a co-worker who lives in a different state, the guy is thrilled, said it works like a dream. But there's a difference in hookup. Coworker's Uverse hookup is all done with phone line wiring inside his house. Our wiring to PC & TVs is all co-axial cable. (Original lines to phones were left intact, as they were.) So maybe they've changed install methods. (I'd definitely ask about that.) That's about it, tried to relay it all, good and bad. Feel free to ask if you have more questions!

Yes, I am talking wireless. Donna, I had a two wire, that worked GREAT for about 2 years for my daughter, and she upgraded, and I used hers. It died early this year. They gave me a "black box". I " installed " it on the 24th of last month. Worked GREAT, till yesterday afternoon. In fact, I was online yesterday morning, with no problem, but could not connect yesterday afternoon. Since I can connect here at the library, I am guessing, I was right when I reported my modem not working... Hopefully a replacement shows up on my front porch soon. Meanwhile, I stopped at the library on my way home from a bike ride with Mel (22 miles). Now, home, dinner, and I guess a bit of TV. Later Moni