Direct TV...is it worth it?

avelanchefan

Okay I am seriously thinking of making the switch. I am pretty much done with COX. Not that their service is bad, but they are not over accomodating either. My recent big beef with them is the lack of OnDemand. Everyone else in the city of Tucson has it. Comcast customers in Tucson have had it for years. My neighborhood is going to be the last to get it, and they have no idea when it will be available to us, even though we have all the upgraded wiring to handle it.

Also HD content is minimal. I think we have 20 HD channels, but I watch maybe 5 of them. Sorry but Food Network in HD does nothing for me.

1) So who has had cable and made the switch to Direct TV, and why?

2) Is pricing the same? More or less?

3) Service from Direct TV? Good....bad....non-exsistent?

4) Who has made the switch from Direct TV back to cable and why?



Thanks

Sean

polkatese

Sean, I left Cable in 2000 and never look back. For me, it was the best decision that I did. When I left Cable, they were still in dark ages, so can't tell you much. It was Charter Communications/Comcast.

Conradicles

We dropped DirecTV a few months ago for the sole purpose of saving money. We saved about $60 per month. (We already had cable for the reason of high speed internet, as they are the only option were I live).

I miss DirecTV almost everyday. The picture quality of my cable HD channels looks very good, but DirecTV has so much more to offer folks with HD.

We have had DirecTV, Dish and Cable and it is not even close...DirecTV is the clear leader.

Conradicles

Also note DirecTV has excellent customer service.

Wish I could say the same for Charter Communications Cable.

thsmith

Sean I had cable 10 years ago and went to DTV. DTV has plenty of content but it is pricey. Customer service can be good if you have been with them for awhile and you threaten to leave.

As a new subscriber I would ask for the moon.

I do not use the ondemand so I can not comment.

Fios has the best HD scanrate if you can get it. The only reason I have not changed to Fios is their DVR storage is small. DTV you can connect an esata drive for increased storage.

greg2350

I switched from time warner to directv about 8 months ago and I have regreted it. I will be switching back as soon as my contract is up.

First no on damand. Directv charges extra for HD channels time warner doesnt. Directv wants $100 for the HD box and $10 a month for the box. So you buy the box and still have to pay a monthly fee for the box not cool. Time warner charges $10 per month for the box but you dont have to pay $100 up front. Im in a apartment when they did the install they said they couldnt go threw the wall. They used a flat cable threw the back door jam well after 6 months of opening and closing the door the cable wore out. Directv wanted $75 for a service call to come repair the cable they installed not cool. Anytime I had to call time warner for a service call I was never charged that what I pay a monthly fee for. I am not happy with directv also it seems the HD channels arent as crisp as they were with time warner. Hope this helps im sure there are plenty in here that are happy with directv im not 1 of them.

Kex

Conradicles wrote: »

... We have had DirecTV, Dish and Cable and it is not even close...DirecTV is the clear leader.

Wow ... I had no idea! We haven't bothered about HD for TV yet but why is DirecTV so much better than Dish, in your experience? I notice, however, that Dish seems to be consistently cheaper, and seems to have some interesting package options for HD only (no SD, if preferred). Is FIOS or U-verse better than all of the above?

I suppose I'm just interested in HD for movies in general, and even for those, we still upscale with an Oppo 980H player, so maybe I'm just too cheap!

P.S. I hope you don't mind me "feeding the discussion" in your thread, avelanchefan!

Conradicles

Kex wrote: »

why is DirecTV so much better than Dish, in your experience?

1. Customer Service is my main reason.
2. The other reason I found DirecTV to be the best is their HD box. It can be set to broadcast in "Native" resolution which is something I do not think any other box can do. That just means it sends the picture to the TV in the original resolution the station is broadcast. No scaling. Kind of like "Pure" or "Direct" mode in audio terms.:) This is a killer feature for picture quality if your TV has a top of the line video processor.:cool:

nooshinjohn

I have had direct tv since 1997... I love it! Sadly I will be leaving dtv because they are charging WAY to much because they know I have no other options wher I live and will not assist me by offering any kind of deal...

Conradicles

I do not even like to watch TV in SD anymore.
Guess it is kind of like an audiophile only listening to his system with the tone controls set in the 12 o'clock position...LOL

jgido759

I switched to DirecTV from Service Electric 3 years ago due to non-existant HD content and for the most part, I am satisfied. I would never go back to Service Electric but would, however, go with FIOS when it becomes available in my area. My main reasons for switching were:

1. No HD content from my current cable system
2. Same content available on ALL TVs (5) throughout the house (1 box per TV)
3. HD content on my main TV
4. 6 TVs with total package for about $15 more per month.
5. All hardware was free and I own it (pay $5 per month/per unit for insurance). My only regret was not getting a DVR ($100 to upgrade). :mad:

Chief complaints since the switch:

1. Rain fade. The HD channels become almost non-existant during heavy rains while the SD equivalent channels still come through.
2. Change in HD package. When I first signed up, all of my locals had HD equivalents and I was able to get all available HD content. About a year ago, they split the HD package and channels that I was previously able to receive are now part of a second HD package for an additional cost. :mad:

Rodeo0530

Conradicles wrote: »

Also note DirecTV has excellent customer service.

Wish I could say the same for Charter Communications Cable.

I just subscribed to Direct TV a few months back and absolutely love it over Time Warner Cable. I agree that the customer service is excellent. Any time I've had an issue/question I've always been able to get an answer right away.

Rodeo0530

greg2350 wrote: »

I switched from time warner to directv about 8 months ago and I have regreted it. I will be switching back as soon as my contract is up.

First no on damand. Directv charges extra for HD channels time warner doesnt. Directv wants $100 for the HD box and $10 a month for the box. So you buy the box and still have to pay a monthly fee for the box not cool. Time warner charges $10 per month for the box but you dont have to pay $100 up front. Im in a apartment when they did the install they said they couldnt go threw the wall. They used a flat cable threw the back door jam well after 6 months of opening and closing the door the cable wore out. Directv wanted $75 for a service call to come repair the cable they installed not cool. Anytime I had to call time warner for a service call I was never charged that what I pay a monthly fee for. I am not happy with directv also it seems the HD channels arent as crisp as they were with time warner. Hope this helps im sure there are plenty in here that are happy with directv im not 1 of them.

Direct Tv has On Demand and I use it quite frequently so Maybe you don't have the new box. All I had to do was hook it up to my router and I have all kinds of on demand stations. I never had to pay $100 for the HD box when I signed up either...I actually received a $200 Visa gift card because I bought my TV through HHGregg and they had a deal going with DirectTV at the time(maybe still do). I think the HD looks as good or better, but maybe I think that because I've been so pleased with DirectTV thus far. BTW...I have never had Dish Network, but the multiple sources I have heard from have told me that it fades out ALL of the time.

Hillbilly61

I have had Direct TV for years. Low def all the way, as my TV did not support better. Once I upgraded my TV, I looked to upgrade my reception. Low and behold, I was informed by Direct TV that I could not upgrade for less than than a $20/month upcharge. I am already paying $70/month.

To add insult to injury, they are offering $30/month for highdef to new customers with no time limit for similar services. They refused to offer me a similar deal for a cross over. I am seriously looking at Dish Network (similar new customer deals) and am cosidering droppong sat TV an alternative.

This experience has made me think. Most of the channels via satellite I get is crap. Even the better ones has turned towards crap over the past couple of years. I now tend to keep the TV turned off or listen/watch via the airwaves any more.

Conradicles

Cable gets their signal from a satellite...

Conradicles

And then runs wires all over the county from that one satellite...UGG!

treitz3

DirecTV rocks.

'Nuff said.

leroyjr1

I've been a directv member for many years and love it. Only down side is I had to pay $200 for the HD DVR receivers and $100 for the HD receiver.

dragon1952

I've got 3 words for you....NFL Sunday Ticket

Conradicles

leroyjr1 wrote: »

I've been a directv member for many years and love it. Only down side is I had to pay $200 for the HD DVR receivers and $100 for the HD receiver.

I got 2 of the HD DVR's sitting here collecting dust. If we decide to keep cable, I will offer them up for free to fellow polkies.

dorokusai

DirectTV is for losers....but it sure works great in Riverside, Wyoming

treitz3

We know. You love your video collection of jello wrestling men on the VCR. You are forgiven.

Conradicles

Ban doro!!! But he sure can sing!

seeclear

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I have had direct tv since 1997... I love it! Sadly I will be leaving dtv because they are charging WAY to much because they know I have no other options wher I live and will not assist me by offering any kind of deal...

How do you not have the other option of Dish Network, if you can get reception from DirecTV, you should be able to get it from Dish as well.

Anyone who has DirecTV and wants a better deal, call customer service and ask to be transferred to retention, and they will usually offer you better deals than the regular CS can or will. Tell 'em you are going to switch to Dish or FIOS or whatever, it doesn't have to be true.

dorokusai

treitz3 wrote: »

We know. You love your video collection of jello wrestling men on the VCR. You are forgiven.

Why do you think Brett always stays here when he's in town?.....

jgido759

Rodeo0530 wrote: »

Direct Tv has On Demand and I use it quite frequently so Maybe you don't have the new box. All I had to do was hook it up to my router and I have all kinds of on demand stations.

Which model HD receiver allow this feature? I have the HD-20-100 and I don't recall this feature being available.

leroyjr1

Conradicles wrote: »

I got 2 of the HD DVR's sitting here collecting dust. If we decide to keep cable, I will offer them up for free to fellow polkies.

Let me know I'll buy one from you.

Conradicles

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Let me know I'll buy one from you.

I'll keep you in mind Lee.:) One will be yours.

Kex

Rodeo0530 wrote: »

... I have never had Dish Network, but the multiple sources I have heard from have told me that it fades out ALL of the time.

Just to add my own example, since I am currently using Dish Network, without being able to compare to anything but basic cable. I have never experienced fade out in four years of service. We moved to our current address in July last year, and since I didn't want to be "locked in" with a new contract, I installed the dish myself, using nothing more than internet information (to determine the approximate direction and elevation at which to aim the dish) and the setup menu of the receiver (which emits a tone, that varies according to the strength of the signal) and still no fade since then. Another family member lives in the moutains and currently receives HD Dish Network there. Also no fade in three years of service.

I cannot comment on Customer Service since I have never called them other than to inform them of our move. They have never come to our home other than to install the system in 2005.

As far as cost, AFIK the SD receivers are $5/mo. and the HD receivers (including DVRs) are $7/mo. Some are dual tuner devices, the others are "solo", or single tuner. The initial cost of these seems to vary, but can be free (or almost), depending on the promotions available at the time of the subscription and the source of the installation (for new customers). I dislike the everlasting monthly "rental" charge, but am not currently aware of any way to avoid it.

Kex

As a matter of interest, does anyone know of what would be the advantage of getting DirectTV from Costco (or other stores)? I've seen their receivers there, but I have no idea what the deal is.

danger boy

I canceled Direct yesterday.. they raised the price by about $4 a month... to $70 for me. I had 150 channels + 65 music channels. and the dual tuner standard def DVR. Cost to much.