Dish Network or Direct TV

[imported_griffis]

Hi all,

Based on your experiences, which one is better??

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: griffis
Hi all,

Based on your experiences, which one is better??

I just signed up for DirecTV on Tuesday because of their giant HD package.

Lots of HD channels, but terribly HD quality. My old Cable HD looks much, much better...so...I'm going to be calling tomorrow to raise hell until they let me cancel.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

When I lived in Alaska Dish was pretty much the only option. But now I'd take DirecTV now for the NFL Ticket.

 

[Slick5150]

Dish HD quality is much better than DirecTV if that's important to you.

 

[NuclearNed]

From Wiki:

DirecTV is defending a lawsuit that alleges DirecTV lowered HDTV picture resolution below that of the industry's accepted definition of HDTV. 1080i is generally understood to mean 1920 x 1080i, whereas DirecTV reduces these channels by one third, to 1280 x 1080i. DirecTV boldly maintains that its high definition picture quality is comparable to or better than that of any other television service. [2]

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
From Wiki:

DirecTV is defending a lawsuit that alleges DirecTV lowered HDTV picture resolution below that of the industry's accepted definition of HDTV. 1080i is generally understood to mean 1920 x 1080i, whereas DirecTV reduces these channels by one third, to 1280 x 1080i. DirecTV boldly maintains that its high definition picture quality is comparable to or better than that of any other television service. [2]

I believe these are for the older MPEG2 channels. The newer MPEG4 channels don't appear to suffer from that. The quality over the MPEG2 channels is much improved. Now if only all these newer channels would have more true HD stuff. TBS is horrible about up-rezzing/stretching content to call it HD. Fortunately, their baseball coverage is actual HD.

 

[intogamer]

I'd go with DirectTV. I see that they are trying to pull it through.

 

[sao123]

Go with DirectTV their nfl sunday ticket is in HD without buying that stupid $99 red zone add on.

 

[Row1and]

Dish network. they have sweet deals.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: sao123
Go with DirectTV their nfl sunday ticket is in HD without buying that stupid $99 red zone add on.

Agreed. I have the NFL ST and it's awesome. I wouldn't pay for the red zone junk. The networks themselves will show highlights between plays and during timeouts and that's all I care about.

 

[xchangx]

http://www.dbstalk.com/

 

[Xavier434]

I recently did a lot of research on this topic because I was with Comcast and they were horrible where I live. To make a long story short, pick DirecTV.

Here is why:

1. They have the best track record.
2. Great prices.
3. Excellent customer service.
4. The clarity and colors is amazing, reliable, and the hardware is great quality.
5. They run the most organized company in my opinion which says good things about their future.
6. They have come through with the most promises about better service and more HD channels.
7. In terms of the internet buzz, I have seen far more supporters of DirecTV than complainers and this is an especially good ratio considering what I have seen about Dish and other cable providers.


Since I switched, I have been incredibly happy. Dish sounds good too, but they were unable to make the kinds of promises that DirecTV was making about more HD channels in the future and I have read many more complaints about them than I have DirecTV. I hear their customer service isn't as up to par either.

 

[Pepsei]

dish is easier to hack so you'd get all the nfl games anyway.

at least few years ago (older technology), and if you're in canada. it's illegal to do that in the usa.

 

[thescreensavers]

DirecTV Owns 49% of dish?

Thats what I hear

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
DirecTV Owns 49% of dish?

Thats what I hear

You hear wrong

 

[zoiks]

Directv will ask you to sign a contract while Dish can be had without one. I've have numerous grievances with Directv over their billing and I couldn't cancel with them due to my contract.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: zoiks
Directv will ask you to sign a contract while Dish can be had without one. I've have numerous grievances with Directv over their billing and I couldn't cancel with them due to my contract.

My understanding was that this was only when they offer free installation deals. The contract was to offset their installation costs so they don't end up installing 100 dishes when only 70 of them end up sticking with them.

 

[meltdown75]

I liked DirecTV when I had it, and now I like Dishnet. Why? Because Dishnet is what I can pull down with my free-to-air receiver and watch like nobody's business.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: zoiks
Directv will ask you to sign a contract while Dish can be had without one. I've have numerous grievances with Directv over their billing and I couldn't cancel with them due to my contract.

That is true, but I think what Scar said about the free installation is also true. Plus, the contracts are only for a year. I did consider that before going with them, but the way I figured it at the time was that there was no way they were worse than Comcast, the reviews of the service were excellent so the odds of me being unhappy were slim, and I often am willing to give a company a chance to improve themselves if they make a couple mistakes. Having worked in the technology business myself, I understand that a company can go from so-so to excellent, but it can take 6-9 months time. I couldn't comprehend DirecTV only being so-so overall based on all the reviews so I felt safe. So far, my experience has not proven otherwise.

Every company makes mistakes with some customers though. It's the luck of the draw. The real question when that happens is the quality of the customer service and whether or not you know how to work with them.

 

[T9D]

I just got DirectV yesterday. I got it because of all the HD channels that are out or soon to be out in the next month or so. Plus I got 40 channels more for about the same price as Dish.

(Universal HD channel looks amazing)

 

[MagicConch]

DirecTV said they are going full resolution on the new HD channels so that should take care of visual problems. Their DVR is not that good but their programming is impressive.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: MagicConch
DirecTV said they are going full resolution on the new HD channels so that should take care of visual problems. Their DVR is not that good but their programming is impressive.

You perked my curiosity. What do you not like about the DVR? Mine does the same thing as my previous cable providers.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: MagicConch
DirecTV said they are going full resolution on the new HD channels so that should take care of visual problems. Their DVR is not that good but their programming is impressive.

You perked my curiosity. What do you not like about the DVR? Mine does the same thing as my previous cable providers.

The DirecTV DVR is not quite as good as DirecTV Tivo but it is still very good. I like it better than anything I've seen from the cable companies so far. It even has some pluses over the DirecTV Tivos

 

[MagicConch]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: MagicConch
DirecTV said they are going full resolution on the new HD channels so that should take care of visual problems. Their DVR is not that good but their programming is impressive.

You perked my curiosity. What do you not like about the DVR? Mine does the same thing as my previous cable providers.

I dislike the 30 second 'slip' (a needless cowering to advertisers and their solution is a poor substitute imo), no dual live buffers, no pip, I have not kept up on how bug repairs are going, it doesn't support 2 tvs (showing different things in different rooms), and other stuff. Really that device is the only reason I couldn't stick with DirecTV, which otherwise is great.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Dish HD quality is much better than DirecTV if that's important to you.

:thumbsup:

Dish Network > DirectTV