Two TVs here: 21" in a bedroom and 15" in the kitchen, both tube-type, not f/s. Not used much. No cable or satellite available in the area, and needless to say no high speed phone connection. I'm on this forum usually at 16,400 kbs, occasionally as slow as at 9,600, so I hate it when someone loads heavy pics in their posts. Before the change to digital TV, we got 4 channels (big 3 plus, plus PBS) year-round, though somewhat woozle-ly at times. Since the switch we can get same 3 main ones, three channels of PBS, Fox and couple of outdoor sports channels, but only in the late Fall through mid Spring. So at this time of year I'm largely TV-less, despite extravagant antenna and converter box set-ups. I think the switch was designed to boost cable and dish companies' revenues and completely ignored what it might do to people who for one reason or another relied on over-the-air broadcast TV. However, after a period of adjustment when it felt weird not to have even TV news available, we've adjusted pretty well. Once the seasons change and we can get TV again in Nov., we go on a two-week TV binge, but then revert back to "normal". It's interesting how necessary it must seem to the majority of posters. I feel sure some of the readers here are incredulous that I can live so unplugged, and so contentedly. I am taken aback, in turn, how much you guys are paying for the TV and internet connection services! L

i see cinemax is an offshoot of hbo. thought perhaps hbo threw it in if you paid for hbo. or maybe its a cable thing. we dont have hbo though. i have noticed when i watch a movie i cannot view any upcoming times for that same movie. i always catch the movies 1/2 way though. oh well, i almost never watch cinemax. godzilla was on. saw about 4 minutes of it.

Maggie, X1 is an option, you shouldn't have to get it unless you want it! From what I've heard about the X1, you're able to record up to 6 programs at once (each box). It also comes with a Voice Remote (so you don't have to push buttons). Here is a link to the: Comcast X1 Platform Users Guide We have Comcast here and our package is pretty nice. We have HD TV (yes HD is a much better picture). With our TV package we have 1 Motorola DVR Box (can record 2 programs at once) and 3 Adaptor Boxes for other rooms (the adaptor boxes are HD too). We have all the Movie Stations; HBO, Starz, Cinemax, Showtime, Encore, etc.. Our Internet is a decent package (can't state the speeds, don't remember) but it's fast. We also have Phone Service with 12 calling features. Our cable bill is usually under $200 a month. If our bill starts going up I call and tell them I'm going to have to drop things (can't afford them), they then make me an offer to keep if under $200. My last offer was $167 + Taxes.

yeah I've been in a few hoarder homes over the years. The excuse is we are moving or we don't actually live here we just use this house as a storage facility. The worst one, there were boxes and boxes of stuff stacked to the ceiling only enough room for one person to walk thru a small path thru the house. Luckily there wasn't a thing in the attic for some reason? No refunds. I will fix it - over 22 years should tell you I know what I am doing. Refunds are for those who can't fix it. Has your boss ever approached you for a refund after you worked all week? Refused Service: well kind of but not exactly. If a customer is repeatedly tongue lashing me over price I tend to write a letter after repeated instances to explain the situation. If they continue after that their price goes up. *It pays you to be nice. I hear price complaints all day long... you think I want to hear it at your house too? HVAC prices tend to be in relation with what you are buying and the features of such product. But many times people are just looking at equipment as the comparison. It's the same on this board as well as others. Brand of equipment has nothing to do really with design of the system, but brand is often what is deemed as what is required to get a better system.... which is not true. Cat / Dog kennels: These are typically customers for life, because they've been refused by others and have no where else to go. If they aren't tongue lashing me over price I don't have any problem taking care of their HVAC needs. Free Service: Nothing is free. 'Enter how much time you're wasting here.' I come ready to work, ready to fix it (Katy, Texas area) that costs money but well over 80% of the time I can have your system back up and running within 3 hours or less from the time you call me. 832-475-6895. Some advertise 1 hour. But then they give you a window 1 hour wide many hours away when they can be there. Fast means slow in this industry. Perception about how this business works is extremely clouded. You have manufacturer's that want equipment sales... and you have people who want cheap prices. Somebody is not going to be happy. Only when the stars align and people want a quality system installed realize a fix it guy is a good guy to have (they all break) Then the customer is happy and so too is the manufacturer. With home ownership at all time lows... good luck with that. It would be easier to find a needle in a haystack. So in the meantime I continue to fix AC units. Costs are what they are. You could do far worse than me I can tell you that much.