Dish network versus DirectV

snow

Exactly what the title says which is better and why? The reason for asking oppinions here vesus checking online is that I figure that I would like to get the thoughts of the real users versus the sales spiel online.

The reason for considering going to satellite versus my local cable company is that I am simply fed up with rising rates between the bundled PH Cable IT services if I want everything they offer it is currently around $270.00 a month without any pay per view shows. and I dont even use my land line.

I have always been a big proponent of supporting local businesses and have been for years even though it costs me more but my loyalty only goes so far and now that my a$$ is getting sore from the ever increasing reamings I feel its time to give it a break

REGARDS SNOW

mewisemagic

dish is alittle cheaper, the menu screen is faster,easier to read. my daughter has direct tv and i have dish. thats what i am baseing my opinion on

snow

mewisemagic wrote: »

dish is alittle cheaper, the menu screen is faster,easier to read. my daughter has direct tv and i have dish. thats what i am baseing my opinion on

Those are good points. How about the pricing, are there hidden fees or is the stated price what you actually pay for a package? I know with my local cable company there are all sorts of added fees in addition to the stated price per month so the total is actually far more than what it looks like.



REGARDS SNOW

LessisNevermore

I've had Direct since about '94, been quite happy. The 'rain fade' is almost nonexistent, as equipment has improved the reception greatly. I have always kept an eye on what Dish offered as well, and have always preferred the programming packages that Direct offered.

I have the HDDVR, and while I preferred the Tivo-based box I used to have, this one has grown on me quite a bit. There are frequent updates and additions to that as well.

Direct has more full-time HD programming, how Dish gets away with what they claim, is beyond me...another reason I have stayed away. My Father in law has Dish, so I have played around with the DVR they offer. I prefer the one Direct has. The bolded statment is pretty much what it always boils down to for me.

I like Direct's pricing better. (for what you get) They both do the "bait rate" game, but for normal, non-contract prices, Direct wins for what we like.

PerfectCreature

Well, just so you know. At Kmart we are suppost to pitch the Dish Network....be very aware of their hidden fees. They have a lot. We have Direct Tv and have never paid any hidden fees that we did not know about.
For either one make sure to read exactly what you are doing and what you will be paying.
The fine print in our flyer for Dish Networks has some very small lines. That mean a lot to you money wise....

mewisemagic

best bet is to go to dish network and direct tv site and read over the package details. and then decide for yourself.

JimKellyfan

Direct TV will give more movie channels for those looking for it, as well as NFL Sunday ticket.
My two deciding factors.

However, for cost, Dish TV wins, it gives a good array of channels as well.

So, it depends on your usage as well.

I believe, right now, Direct TV is offering free HD for life if you sign up for auto pay.

Me, I have the non HD service as the receiver up-converts everything to 1080 anyway.

Hope this helps.

PhantomOG

Dish network's guide/dvr system is hands down the best out there. I have Dish network, and know a few people who have Directv. After using Dish at home, I can't stand to use the Directv system. Its terrible in comparison.

Can't say much about pricing, when I signed up 3 years ago Dish was cheaper than Direct but I don't know if that is still the case.

JimKellyfan

I have choice premium or choice plus
the cost is 34.99 per month with rebate
That was my deal for a year.
Right now Direct TV, besides the one year rebate and free hd for life, they also have the second year rebate as well.

They really push for the HD, don't do it. ( especially with up-convert receivers )

Also to note, the non HD dish you only need a one year contract, whereas the hd, you need a 2 yr contract.

As I, if we did not have it, I would be fine with only over the air set up.
With it in place, we have also the Sunday ticket.
( still a Bills fan, obviously )

I took one year off, and with the monies not spent, I set up all rooms with either an HD set top box, or at least the cable for newer TV's, combined to a pre-amp antenna ( Channel Master ), a Wineguard 8200U ( mac daddy antenna ), good ground rod, and the set top boxes are Channel Master 7000 ( also mac daddy boxes ). In the Charlotte area, we get around 30 channels.

But, the wife missed Direct TV, and appropriately timed with me being home for awhile, I of course said yes to getting Direct TV again.

For us, it was only a little more for movie channels ( IFC and the like ), where with Dish, you had to spend more.

And of course, the Sunday ticket.

We only have one box in the living room ( non-HD ) and the rest of the house is off the air antenna.

Also in the living room, we have another computer hooked for internet watching or dual screen mode.

Hope this helps.

PhantomOG

JimKellyfan wrote: »

They really push for the HD, don't do it. ( especially with up-convert receivers )

I have to say I completely disagree with this statement, especially if you do own and use HD tv's. Upconverting can only do so much, and there is a huge difference in picture quality between regular cable and HD. The biggest problem right off the bat is aspect ratio. I don't know about Direct, but I believe with Dish, SD programming packages only come in 4:3. So all your channels will be either letterboxed on the side, or stretched to look like hell on an HD tv. With an HD programming package, almost all the channels nowadays have an HD feed which will fill up your screen with 1080p goodness.

kevhed72

DirecTV customer service is top notch....and the only provider I have had since becoming a home owner. When they messed things up (billing errors mostly), they made up for it in the past w/ free 3 months of Showtime or something along those lines. Also, over the years, the reception black-outs because of storm cells have decreased quite a bit.

heiney9

mewisemagic wrote: »

best bet is to go to dish network and direct tv site and read over the package details. and then decide for yourself.

I tried that and the "extra" charges are very hard to decipher and are buried in pages and pages of paperwork and then it's worded in such a way that you have to read it 10 times to understand what they are saying. They are all sneaky based on what they advertise vs. what you pay in the end.

The monthly fee they advertise is just for the package. Taxes, local channels, DVR, HD is all an added expense. So when they say "free" DVR or HD for life it's not really free.

Free DVR means you get the unit for free (standard practice), but you still pay $7/month to be able to record TV shows............so it's not free.

I haven't been able to decipher the "Free HD for Life" campaign yet. They flash a paragraph on the screen when they advertise on TV for about 2 seconds and it looks like there is a catch that I'm sure ends up not being free for life. Haven't been able to find the disclaimer on the website...........it's there I'm sure, but just buried in the Terms and Condtions affidavit.

In the end they all are about the same cost when you start adding all the features, taxes, fee's, etc.

I'm still totally undecided.

H9

PhantomOG

as you said the free hd for life is all just marketing crap. simply shuffling around of fees. Sell you the widget for $10 and $10 shipping, or pay $20 and get FREE shipping. :rolleyes:

Being a long time cable customer, the thing that worried me the most was the commitment. However, I was able to sign up and still get a good deal without signing a 2 year commitment. If you do decide on Dish, be sure to get a referral from a current customer. You get a slightly better deal and so does the person who referred you. I can get you a code if you need one.

Now I've been a customer for about 3 years now, and I'm considering upgrading to Dish's new Sling enabled DVR. Doing so would require me to sign a 2 year commitment, but I would have no problems doing so now that I'm comfortable and happy with their service.

thsmith

Never had Dish but have had Direct since 2000.

I keep wanting to go to FIOS but as fas as I can tell not one has a HD DVR except Direct that you can increase the storage capacity.

You can use an ESATA external drive if you like.

I just swapped out internal HDD for a 100 hours of HD storage.

If anyone else can do that please let me me know.

Direct is OK, I think they are too expensive but I do have all the packages, hence why you need a large capapcity DVR .

Ricardo

Have had Directv for many years. Excellent reception (picture and sound), excellent programming, signal problems only with major thunderstoms.

Best of all is their customer service. Every two years I call and say thet I am getting a great offer by dish or cable and want to move; they pass me to their retention department and get free DVR or very cheap HD DVR, programming discounts for a year, etc.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=747000&postcount=36


And now that I think of it, it's time to call....need a second HD DVR!!

PhantomOG

thsmith wrote: »

I keep wanting to go to FIOS but as fas as I can tell not one has a HD DVR except Direct that you can increase the storage capacity.

you can do this with Dish as well, although I don't know about eSATA. I know they do have support USB external drives.

polkatese

DirecTV since 2000. Got three HD-DVR (HR20) in 2007, all for free. I have HD package, and a legacy plan that give me a line up somewhere between Choice and Choice Extra, and 6 channels HBO. In the past 10 years, monthly fee has gone up from about $70 back then to $105 today. Not bad. Customer service is generally good, but it can be a hit and miss sometimes. Btw, no experience with Dish. I am pretty happy with DTV.

snow

Ok thanks guys, it looks like Directv has more fans at the moment from what I can tell here. It looks Dish network and Directv both offer free HD for life currently with Dish network packages starting at $24.99 for 120 channels up to everything at 84.99 there is an additional $5.00 per month charge to customers in Alaska for a special antenna, a $6.00 per month fee for a DVR fee. and it looks like a minimum 12 month contract.

And Directv starting at $29.99 and going to $85.99 for the premier package and a 12 month contract.

Now I am just curious as to what was the difference between the price the package was offered at lets say I grab the $29.99 package how much more will I actually be paying?

REGARDS SNOW

mark090852

Look, you can probably tell from reading all these posts, that they are basically the same. I've had both over the last ten years. Had Direct TV for a few years and then a lightning storm took out my dish and receiver. Dish Network was having a special and we thought we would try them, so that's who we've had the last 3 years or so. They're essentially the same. Coke or Pepsi? Neither one's better...just depends on personal preference. Both Direct's and Dish's guides work fine once you get used to them. I've had great customer service from both.

I'd say look around and see if one is offering a "special" for new customers in your area that is better than the other. Then I'd pick that one and give it a try. You'll be happy with either.

PSOVLSK

I've had both and to me the services are pretty equal. Not sure about cost, but I assume they are very similar as well. In my experience, DirecTv customer service has been far superior. As a matter of fact, CS is the reason I left Dish. I signed up for Dish in early '98 when they were a fairly new company. After several years of service, I called and asked to have my receiver upgraded for free. Told them I was happy to sign another 2 year agreement. I called three times asking for this upgrade and each time I was told I'd have to pay for the equipment at a discounted rate of $200. When I called to cancel Dish, they asked me why. I told them my story and the guy tells they can upgrade the receiver, no problem. I told him they should have done one of the first three times I called instead of waiting until I canceled. With DirecTV I've been been upgraded once at no cost and I've been given free channels and a limited time discount for being a loyal customer.

Conradicles

DirecTV was always my favorite compared to Dish and Cable in every single area except price.

snow

PSOVLSK wrote: »

I've had both and to me the services are pretty equal. Not sure about cost, but I assume they are very similar as well. In my experience, DirecTv customer service has been far superior. As a matter of fact, CS is the reason I left Dish. I signed up for Dish in early '98 when they were a fairly new company. After several years of service, I called and asked to have my receiver upgraded for free. Told them I was happy to sign another 2 year agreement. I called three times asking for this upgrade and each time I was told I'd have to pay for the equipment at a discounted rate of $200. When I called to cancel Dish, they asked me why. I told them my story and the guy tells they can upgrade the receiver, no problem. I told him they should have done one of the first three times I called instead of waiting until I canceled. With DirecTV I've been been upgraded once at no cost and I've been given free channels and a limited time discount for being a loyal customer.

Well it sounds like to me that from everything I have read that DirecTv is the way to go. Customer service is very important to me, part of the problem with my local service now is the lack of that, I dont like feeling like im being screwed and they are constantly making changes without prior notice, from month to month I really dont know what im being charged, how much or even what for, the way there billing system is set up it is almost impossible to decipher.

I dont really watch that much TV but there are a few channels/shows that I look forward to watching and every so often they will either move them to a different channel or get rid of them all together without any sort of warning so then I waste my time trying to find the damn things. One day I was trying to find one of the channels that had poofed and seen a show I wanted to watch so I clickd on it only to discover that I couldndt get it, I thought to myself thats odd because I have your ultimate package allready, so I call them up only to discover that no if I wanted it I had to pay another $8.00 more per month for it and 6 other channels that wasnt part of there ultimate package, Why bother calling it your ultimate package if I have to spend more to get these extra channels? And the prices continue to go up without any notice what so ever. When I ask about it they tell me well it was posted on our website. oh great so now I have to constantly keep an eye on your friggin website to see whether next month I will lose channels or get get charged more? Screw that!!

REGARDS SNOW

PSOVLSK

I'll add my negative experience also. When I've had to call with a technical problem, the person on the other end of the line usually knows about as much as I do. I think they have a manual that lists Step 1, Step 2, etc. because no matter what I tell them I've already tried, they start at Step 1.

Also, on my bill is states "Leased Receiver." I bought a new receiver on clearance think I could get rid of the Leased Receiver" charge. It's semantics, but it's really a "2nd Receiver" charge because even if you own the receiver you have to pay the fee.

FYI: If you have a friend who is a DirecTV customer, get there account number when you sign up and both of you get $100 as part of their referral program.

bklynNupe

I had Directv for about 10 years and hated them because of their clueless customer service.
Several months ago I moved into a coop that does not allow the dishes, so I was forced to switch to cable ( Cablevision/Optimum).
Now, I really really miss Directv. The picture and sound quality was excellent. The dvr was also excellent with Directv. My cable dvr is a lousy piece of crap that cuts off recording previews unless each program recording in manually extended. :mad:

Fios is not yet wired on my block so not an option.
All this to say, I really wish I had back my Directv.

Conradicles

bklynNupe wrote: »

I really wish I had back my Directv.

Me too. We went with cable simply to save money and while we did, we lost many HD channels and lost the great customer service.:(:(:(

BuckeyeTim

We have Directv.
When we bought this place a couple years ago we had no choice but some kind of dish. Cable is not available and seeing as there are only about 4 families on this road and half are Amish...I'll be dead and gone before they ever run cable down this road.

I chose Directv because of the channels available. I can't remember exactly which now, but there were certain channels I wanted that were available on Directv which required an upgrade with Dish. Directv gave me the required channels for less than Dish.

Thats the only reason. As far as rain and etc..., It takes a pretty bad storm to make the signal cut in and out. Even then, I have never really lost signal for much more than a few minutes.

snow

bklynNupe wrote: »

I had Directv for about 10 years and hated them because of their clueless customer service.
Several months ago I moved into a coop that does not allow the dishes, so I was forced to switch to cable ( Cablevision/Optimum).
Now, I really really miss Directv. The picture and sound quality was excellent. The dvr was also excellent with Directv. My cable dvr is a lousy piece of crap that cuts off recording previews unless each program recording in manually extended. :mad:

Fios is not yet wired on my block so not an option.
All this to say, I really wish I had back my Directv.

Well not sure how much worse the customer service can be with DirecTv then what I have now, when I got the DVR I got the gal handed it to me and told me I could find instructions online on how to use it with the remote I had when I asked for an instruction booklet, so I get home look it up online and yes there were instructions but not for my remote s I spent the next 20 mins or so trying to figure out which button operated which feature on the new box :rolleyes:

Conradicles wrote: »

Me too. We went with cable simply to save money and while we did, we lost many HD channels and lost the great customer service.:(:(:(

It appears that at least for me locally that DirecTv not only offers more channels but is by far cheaper, I can only get 162 channels here with cable and it's roughly $170.00 for those and nothing in 1080p 1080i is the best they offer.

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

We have Directv.
When we bought this place a couple years ago we had no choice but some kind of dish. Cable is not available and seeing as there are only about 4 families on this road and half are Amish...I'll be dead and gone before they ever run cable down this road.

I chose Directv because of the channels available. I can't remember exactly which now, but there were certain channels I wanted that were available on Directv which required an upgrade with Dish. Directv gave me the required channels for less than Dish.

Thats the only reason. As far as rain and etc..., It takes a pretty bad storm to make the signal cut in and out. Even then, I have never really lost signal for much more than a few minutes.

As long as snow or -70 temps dont affect it I should be good here Come monday I will try to get the DirecTv set up and as soon as its in place I will call the cable company and say what do I owe you because were finished.

REGARDS SNOW