Dish or DirecTV? Which is better?

PolkClyde
PolkClyde Posts: 662
edited March 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I hope this is the right thread......Basic Hookup,right? Thanks
PolkAudioClyde
Post edited by PolkClyde on
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  • lanchile
    lanchile Posts: 560
    edited March 2011
    in my case I would take DTV why? Because direcTV has TVchile that is the only reason other than that I would go for the better price package!!!.
    The only thing that I DO NOT LIKE about these providers is when the weather is really bad (Snow, heavy rain) you will loose picture. cable does not!
    Make it simple...Make it better!
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited March 2011
    lanchile wrote: »
    in my case I would take DTV why? Because direcTV has TVchile that is the only reason other than that I would go for the better price package!!!.
    The only thing that I DO NOT LIKE about these providers is when the weather is really bad (Snow, heavy rain) you will loose picture. cable does not!

    I heard about that,problems with picture in bad weather.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • grimmace19
    grimmace19 Posts: 1,429
    edited March 2011
    I've only had directv for about two months right now but I know I'd never switch back to cable at this point. I have so many more channels right now than I did with cable and my bill shows up for $45/m with 2 HD dvrs. No pictures issues so far and it will also allow me to get the MLB and NFL package that I couldn't previously get with any other provider.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2011
    PolkClyde wrote: »
    I heard about that,problems with picture in bad weather.

    I've had satellite for years. Both Dish Network and DirecTV. I've been a DTV customer for at least 5 years now. I haven't checked out Dish lately, but when I made my choice, I preferred DTV.

    About the weather issue - it's happened so infrequently with my system in my area that I can't even remember the last time I had a problem, but I do remember often losing cable (even now sometimes, as I'm still a cable internet subscriber). Something about high winds and trees falling on lines and stuff... cable isn't always on.
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  • lanchile
    lanchile Posts: 560
    edited March 2011
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    I've had satellite for years. Both Dish Network and DirecTV. I've been a DTV customer for at least 5 years now. I haven't checked out Dish lately, but when I made my choice, I preferred DTV.

    About the weather issue - it's happened so infrequently with my system in my area that I can't even remember the last time I had a problem, but I do remember often losing cable (even now sometimes, as I'm still a cable internet subscriber). Something about high winds and trees falling on lines and stuff... cable isn't always on.

    ALL... I say ALL people that have a satellite provider in a really bad weather will LOOSE signal not matter what. but if you are in a location were the weather is not so bad all year round...that is another story!!! I am in New york and in winter... uuuuf with heavy snow and rain we ALL loose signal, good thing I have cable too lol.
    Make it simple...Make it better!
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited March 2011
    I have lost my dish network about 3-5 times last year in the summer time due to bad thunder storms. Never had a problem with a snow storm or snow on the dish. I live in nebraska and see the both snow and bad thunderstorms.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited March 2011
    I have had all 3, and I prfer Cable over the other two. Have a pretty good HD package, and more channels than I know what to do with. I too had issues with losing picture with the two satellite providers, but that's just my expierence.

    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2011
    lanchile wrote: »
    ALL... I say ALL people that have a satellite provider in a really bad weather will LOOSE signal not matter what. but if you are in a location were the weather is not so bad all year round...that is another story!!! I am in New york and in winter... uuuuf with heavy snow and rain we ALL loose signal, good thing I have cable too lol.

    I'm in MD, and my experience is that my satellite is more reliable than my cable. Period. I've had pictures pixelate on VERY rare occasions, but never had any extended interference, and NEVER lost my satellite for hours at a time, like has happened with cable. I'm just stating the facts in MY case.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2011
    Direct TV subscriber for ~7 years now... love it.

    Satellite Cons do include signal loss due to heavy weather, which is quite frequent in my area. However, duration of loss is generally only a couple minutes... only during the leading edge of storms. Annoying, but not a deal breaker.

    While I do think DTV is "Best in class" from a business perspective, the major Pro it offers vs. Dish is NFL Sunday Ticket. If you are a transplanted football fan, as I am, it's the best thing going.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited March 2011
    I have been with DTV for awhile now, happy overall, happy enough to have upgraded my dvr and signed on for another 2 year contract. My wife really loves it. The hddvrs are really pretty darn good despite some naysayers. My one caution would be the price. I pay 80+ a month for 2 hddvrs and no premium channels, no season ticket anything, and that is with a 20 dollar credit they gave me for one year for re-upping. When I started I thought I was paying a LOT less, and it slowly when up right from the beginning, as not all fees are disclosed up front. Am I a satisfied customer, yes, but I am not sure if its worth it. Just know that the "starter" deal with actually be more with all the fees, and will go up in a year.
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • JimAckley
    JimAckley Posts: 1,138
    edited March 2011
    I've got Dish at work and DirecTV at home and love DirecTV so much more. I've also had Comcast and Cox, and they suck.
    - Computer Rig -
    YAΘIN MS-20L, polkaudio RT5

    - Main Rig -
    Pioneer SC-37, Overnight Sensations, Samsung 52" LCD

    - Currently In Progress -
    Curt Campbell's Uluwatu LCR, LMS Ultra Gjallarhorn, JBL W15GTi stereo subs, 2.1 entertainment system for the gf
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  • sixin1us
    sixin1us Posts: 7
    edited March 2011
    I would also go with Direct TV. Live in MN and we rarely lost our picture even in heavy snow storms. It seems the heavier rains have more of an effect.
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  • NotaSuv
    NotaSuv Posts: 3,858
    edited March 2011
    DirectTV all the way.....had Comcast cable in MN because too many trees for DT and it was an awful experince and their cost were ALOT more.....moved to NC place had Time Warner cable and it was very expensive for the same services as DirectTV.....and with sat there was no ground loop problems at all....the audio was much much better :)
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  • Gulfstrings
    Gulfstrings Posts: 313
    edited March 2011
    Had DTV for one year and it was great! Excellent product. Excellent service. Lost signal just once in that year and should not have even had the TV on in that storm.

    Never experienced Dish Network - and it's been several years since DTV, but we have often talked about how superior it was to our current cable service for television. Unfortunately, current cable packages are hard to beat and adding a stand alone TV provider makes no $$ sense now.
    Marantz AV7005
    Marantz MM7055
    Onkyo DX-755 CdP
    Oppo BDP-93
    Technics SL-1301/Shure M97xE
    Polk RTi A7s
    Polk CSi A6
    Polk FXi A6s
    Velodyne VDR10-BV
    Panamax M5100-PM
    Antec VERIS A/V Cooler x 2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2011
    I've never had Dish, but I'm very happy with DTV, and the quality of the picture. We have had 1 outage in 6 years, and it lasted about 10 minutes. DTV does well with rain/clouds, but doesn't like lightning much.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • JimAckley
    JimAckley Posts: 1,138
    edited March 2011
    I used to lose my picture during storms before I had the proper bracing for my satellite dish, but now I've got two additional braces and never lose it. On the extremely rare occasion that I do, I switch down to the SD version of whatever I'm watching, and it works fine.
    - Computer Rig -
    YAΘIN MS-20L, polkaudio RT5

    - Main Rig -
    Pioneer SC-37, Overnight Sensations, Samsung 52" LCD

    - Currently In Progress -
    Curt Campbell's Uluwatu LCR, LMS Ultra Gjallarhorn, JBL W15GTi stereo subs, 2.1 entertainment system for the gf
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited March 2011
    Alot of it aslo depens on how well your dish is aimed in the first place. If it is just barly getting a ok signla on a clear day it doesnt take much rain or snow to wipe the signal out.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited March 2011
    jbooker82 wrote: »
    Alot of it aslo depens on how well your dish is aimed in the first place. If it is just barly getting a ok signla on a clear day it doesnt take much rain or snow to wipe the signal out.

    +1
    Been with DTV for about 15 years now and can't respond to the OP on Dish, but no complaints with DTV. It is possible to have signal disruption from weather. The 18" round dish would probably be the worst case situation, the larger oval dishes (required for HD) have the larger surface and also provide for stronger signal capabilities. If you check for possible dish pointing remember TREES! Summer leaves will give you problems you do not have fall to spring, and keep in mind how much taller and thicker those trees will be 6 or 7 years from now if you think you will still be in the same house.
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