In the Aspen, Snowmass Village area you can choose Comcast, DirecTV, or Dish Network.  All have hundreds of channels so how do you decide which signal provider to use? Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

In some cases, when this is your second home, it might be wise to have the same provider as you have at your other properties. This will give you continuity of channels, guides, and menu functions between your homes.

Programming differences: If you really like basketball, Comcast has a unique "NBA" package.
If you like football, DirecTV has a unique "NKL Sunday Ticket" channel package. If you are more into movies or need channels from other countries, Dish Network provides the best choices.

Bundling services (phone, Internet, TV): If you use Comcast as your Internet provider they add the basic cable channels for a very reasonable rate. Their "bundle" deals can be good values but watch out for the real costs once the special introductory offers expire.

Comcast Internet or other providers: While Comcast offers a solid internet service many other "wireless" providers exist in the area. Wireless is usually faster but requires an external antenna and can be affected by bad weather. While Comcast boasts of high speed, large areas connect to the same processing "node". As more people log on speed drops dramatically. DSL is your next option. It is provided by your phone company. The least desirable choice is satellite Internet. This is provide by HughesNet. It requires a large satellite dish and is only a little faster that old fashioned dial-up. However, you can get it anywhere.

Equipment Differences: You will need a cable box or satellite receiver for each TV in your home unless you are satisfied with the basic Comcast cable channels (2-23) for some of your TV's. The very basic analog Comcast signal can be distributed without the use of a set-top box. Comcast does have a tiny converter called a DTA Adapter that can be easily hidden behind the TV and convert all of their digital channels to an analog channel any TV can use. While the monthly fee is only $1.50 per box, the picture quality is the most basic.

Comcast: Frequently the set-top boxes you get from Comcast are pre-used older equipment from other areas. However, if you ask nicely they'll give you one of the newer boxes that work way better, produce less heat, and have more memory.

Dish Network: This company provides some awesome equipment if you know what to ask for. Their Dual-Tuner, HD/DVR can operate one TV with a high-def signal and provide separate standard definition channels to a second TV. This saves you the monthly fee ($5.99) you would have had to pay for a second satellite receiver. If you have ten TV's in your home this could save you close to sixty bucks a month on your bill.

DirecTV does have a cool feature that lets up to fifteen TV's watch the shows recorded on a single DVR. They also offer the "NFL Sunday Ticket" if you must watch every single game. This programming package is now also available through the Sony Playstation video game if you have a solid Internet connection.

Satellite TV requires an external satellite dish. This dish needs to have a clear view of the southern sky. If your property does not provide that you would use Comcast. More information about satellite dish installation.

Special offers and upgrades: In many cases your current provider will not offer you the same awesome deals you see advertised for new customers. In my case, DirecTV would not upgrade my aging equipment to the current HD equipment unless I paid a high price. Dish Network, for a two year programming commitment. gave me the newest equipment and installed the new dish for free. My monthly bill, even after the special rate wore off, is less than DirecTV because I have fewer set-top boxes.

Local Service: Comcast has a local office staffed by very nice people. They provide the highest level of local service. Their servicers are competent and have the ability to upgrade the cable network in your area to provide the required signal quality. However, they only do the basic services directly related to their cable. When you need custom service you call me.

Dish Network and DirecTV will handle everything over the phone and ship product via UPS or FedX. Their servicers and installers are usually private contractors who get paid per job. They can come from as far away as Craig. They work fast, do the minimum amount, and scram.

Custom Service:  I provide far better service and can install your satellite dish or cable distribution with the highest quality equipment while skillfully running and hiding new wires or utilizing existing wires to their fullest extent.

Streaming Video from the Internet:

Playing movies from Internet sites such a NETFIX can be done through your computer provided it has an up-to-date video output. Computers are capable of downloading and saving movies for later play. This is a big advantage if your Internet speed is slow but it does take enormous amounts of storage capacity.

A new Blu-Ray DVD player will usually come with a software capable of connecting to NETFIX, Blockbuster, Pandora, and other content providers. You will have to establish a separate account for the service you want. In addition, how good it works is dependent on your Internet download speed. I can not guarantee that these units will really perform as advertised under everyone's set of conditions.

Many TV's, including Samsung, now provide video streaming and Internet app's directly through the TV.

Comcast "Digital Migration"

Recently Comcast changed most of their cable signals from "analog" to "digital." They have put a positive spin on this upgrade calling it "Xfinity." Older TV's will only receive a few channels without one of their digital converters. Newer TV's with digital tuners may receive more of the digital channels but they are "unmapped". This means they won't tell you what channel your stations come in on.

The Comcast Digital Migration is Comcast's effort to compete with satellite providers that have always been completely digital. It is good to upgrade but it is going to cost you more (of course). They say they now will be able to offer you more HD channels and PPV. This may be true but these little boxes only have an RF channel 3 or 4 output. This doesn't improve the picture quality at all. For better picture quality you'll need their bigger box that had HD outputs.

In many cases the cable distribution system in the house will prevent these digital signals from getting through. Comcast is very reluctant to make these upgrades. Call me. I will remove old splitters and upgrade the distribution system to digital quality. It's time.

These channel guides are copies of the company provided list arranged on a single page for easy referral. The Instruction Sheets (Cheat Sheets) are my custom general instruction sheet for Comcast and Direct TV remote control. These color coded instructions are far more understandable than what the manufactures provide.  I can write you similar instructions but specific to your equipment operation at my normal service labor rate.

Comcast Channel Guide       Comcast New Music Channel Guide

Here is a channel guide describing the changes to your channel lineup since the "Digital Transition."

Instruction Sheet for Comcast Cable Box Remote Control with a DVD player.

Instructions Sheet for Comcast Cable Box Remote Control with a VCR.

Instruction Sheet for Direct TV Remote Control

Direct TV Channel Guide, page 1, page 2.

The Comcast website is just plain unusable. Trying to get any operational assistance is impossible. However, I did find a .pdf from Motorola on operating their HD/DVR cable box which is what Comcast uses. Click here to download it.