AT&T Uverse Vs. Cable

According to Fiber for All, the digital video recorder capabilities of AT&T; U-verse are superior to that of most cable companies. Unlike cable DVRs, which are able to record only two channels at once, DVR from AT&T; U-verse can record up to four channels at a time. It's able to store up to 232 hours of standard definition recording or 65 hours of high definition recording. However, perhaps the area where U-verse's feature is the most intriguing, is that it can be paused and played back from any room in the house that is also equipped with a DVR unit. Viewers can watch DVR'ed programs only on the box that they originally recorded the show on if services are provided by the cable company.

Cable companies use cable wires to deliver their television and Internet services. AT&T; U-verse uses fiber optic cables. According to AT&T;, fiber consists of glass or plastic hair-thin material that is tightly bound to deliver data using waves of light. Aside from being thinner than cable, it carries more bandwidth than metal. Bandwidth refers to how bits of data are sent into the network, usually when referring to computer networking. Increased bandwidth allows Internet operations to run smoother and faster.

Many cable companies, such as Comcast Cable, require users to sign contracts in order to lock in package or promotional pricing for multiple years. While this ensures that prices don't increase over the contract term, users will have to pay a buyout fee if they choose to switch cable providers during this span. AT&T; U-verse doesn't require users to sign any contracts, so there's customer flexibility. The provider also offers a 30-day money back guarantee if users are unhappy with the service.

One advantage that cable has over U-verse is installation times, according to Fiber for All. This is because U-verse's system is based on fiber optics: It's a different type of network that requires a different type of setup. In many cases, a home's existing wiring cannot be used in this setup, requiring more installation work than cable would. The site states that U-verse installation could take anywhere from five to eight hours, whereas cable can be completed in one or two hours. AT&T; says installation is included with most packages.