Dish vs. DirectTV

[Greyd]

Anyone have any suggestions? Insights? Does either one have a better deal going on right now? I've been on Comcast for awhile...but my Panny needs some more lovin.

 

[torpid]

They are roughly equal.

http://www.cnet.com/1990-7874_...5.html?tag=hdtv;hdtv_l

 

[nakedfrog]

As I understand it, if you want NFL DirecTV is the way to go. I'm satisfied with the Dish line-up.

 

[sactoking]

DirecTV.

DirectTV charges $9-10 for their HD package. Dish charges $20.
DirecTV has locals in HD. Dish does not (at least not where I live).
Dish's equipment fails when it's a year old.
Dish has a bad habit of dropping the HD signal.
Dish does not let you remove programming online.

DirecTV's current deal is buy NFL Sunday Ticket (~$75/month for 4 months) and get their top-tier programming for free, a free HD-DVR, free DVR service for 4 months. There is an 18 month commitment, but it is a commitment to have programming, not to have the top-tier, so after 4 months you can go to one of the cheaper packages with no restrictions.

 

[Aharami]

Damn, Comcast has the lowest # of HD channels

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: sactoking
DirectTV charges $9-10 for their HD package. Dish charges $20.
DirecTV has locals in HD. Dish does not (at least not where I live).
Dish's equipment fails when it's a year old.
Dish has a bad habit of dropping the HD signal.
Dish does not let you remove programming online.

If one is just after HD, you can get a better deal with Dish TurboHD.
Locals are dependent on where you are, of course.
False
False
How often do you change your programming?

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: Aharami
Damn, Comcast has the lowest # of HD channels

Comcast also has the lowest of HD resolution. There was an article of how Comcast is squeezing HD channels in limited bandwidth by reducing quality.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: Aharami
Damn, Comcast has the lowest # of HD channels

Comcast also has the lowest of HD resolution. There was an article of how Comcast is squeezing HD channels in limited bandwidth by reducing quality.

yea. the quality of my HD channels have been going downhill ever since they introduced HD

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: sactoking
DirectTV charges $9-10 for their HD package. Dish charges $20.
DirecTV has locals in HD. Dish does not (at least not where I live).
Dish's equipment fails when it's a year old.
Dish has a bad habit of dropping the HD signal.
Dish does not let you remove programming online.

If one is just after HD, you can get a better deal with Dish TurboHD.
Locals are dependent on where you are, of course.
False
False
How often do you change your programming?

TurboHD only has the 26 HD channels. Of those 26, you get gems like ESPNNewsHD and LifetimeHD. It doesn't come with expanded basic cable channels like Comedy Central. For the pleasure of 26 HD channels, no locals, and no expanded basic service you get to pay $25/month. No thank you.

I've had Dish for 3 years. I have had 3 HD-DVRs. All 3 of them have failed at the 1 year mark. I stand by my statement.

My dish consistently has trouble finding HD feeds like FoodNetwork HD, Discovery HD, TNT HD, TBS HD, and TLC HD. It is definitely an equipment/satellite problem.

I rarely change programming, but in the 2 times I have tried to remove a channel, their online system has been broken. You can go online and go through every step, then when you click the last button the response is ALWAYS 'Sorry, an error has occurred. Try again later.' But the thing is, and error never doesn't occur!

Since 2002 I have had Dish for 4 years and DirecTV for 2. DirecTV is, on average, slightly more expensive than Dish, but way better quality.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: sactoking
DirecTV.

DirectTV charges $9-10 for their HD package. Dish charges $20.
DirecTV has locals in HD. Dish does not (at least not where I live).
Dish's equipment fails when it's a year old.
Dish has a bad habit of dropping the HD signal.
Dish does not let you remove programming online.

DirecTV's current deal is buy NFL Sunday Ticket (~$75/month for 4 months) and get their top-tier programming for free, a free HD-DVR, free DVR service for 4 months. There is an 18 month commitment, but it is a commitment to have programming, not to have the top-tier, so after 4 months you can go to one of the cheaper packages with no restrictions.

dish is changing the HD package
locals are idependant. no matter if you sue dish or direct tv.
WRONG. i have a equipment that is 4 yrs and working great
WRONG. i rarely drop HD Signal
i thought they did? anyway how often do you do this?

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: waggy

dish is changing the HD package

They already did. If you were a customer already, they changed you over to TurboHD Bronze AND TurboHD Platinum, for a grand savings of.... $0. If you try to drop TurboHD Platinum..... you can't!

Edited: The best thing Dish has going for it is that it's one of the few carriers nationally with multi-room DVR in use right now.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: sactoking
DirecTV.

DirectTV charges $9-10 for their HD package. Dish charges $20.

Incorrect. Dish has multiple rates just like DTV and the first level is $10.

DirecTV has locals in HD. Dish does not (at least not where I live).

Incorrect. I live in Sacramento too and I get them all.

Dish's equipment fails when it's a year old.

Incorrect. WTF?

Dish has a bad habit of dropping the HD signal.

Incorrect. You just need to be set up right. Call them and they'll come out the next day and fix it. Theuy launched some new satellites too so it is wise anyway.
The difference maker for me was that Dish offers by far the best HD DVR and it's free. They also have been offering Cinemax for $.02 for two years fir signing up for automatic payment.

 

[LS21]

^sounds good. im sick of comcast... it costs wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much in the denver metroplex

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Incorrect. Dish has multiple rates just like DTV and the first level is $10.

Alas, incorrect. DirecTV has 1 HD price- $9. For that, you get every HD channel available from the regular channels in your package. Dish has several tiers, starting at $10, but they like to tack on TurboHD Platinum (the most worthless package I've ever seen) onto orders for an additional $10, then make it tough to get rid of.

DirecTV has locals in HD. Dish does not (at least not where I live).
Incorrect. I live in Sacramento too and I get them all

Alas, incorrect. I don't live in Sacramento. Dish does NOT carry locals for me in HD, and I can't get them from an off-air antenna either.

Dish's equipment fails when it's a year old.
Incorrect. WTF?

Alas, incorrect. 3 years, 3 HD-DVRs at two different locations. They're garbage.

Dish has a bad habit of dropping the HD signal.
Incorrect. You just need to be set up right. Call them and they'll come out the next day and fix it.

Alas, incorrect. I've called several times and heard the usual excuses (sunspots, snow, etc) but never once have they been willing to send out a technician at their expense.

 

[GoSharks]

We have DishHD and have had it since ~2002. We've never had a problem with the 622 DVR and we also have no problem getting the local channels from the dish in San Jose. The service is up 99.9% of the time - it isn't a problem at all. The DVR is super easy to use, IMO.

 

[TheTony]

I agree that they're both relatively equal right now, with the possible exception of Sunday Ticket, if that happens to be important to you. Aside from that, they've both been pretty determined on adding more, though both have been in a lull as of late, but I'd expect to see more before the end of the year (November/December probably).

I'm not sure about sactoking's complaints, though. You can ignore what was said about their DVRs. They're (the current gen HD DVR) are widely regarded as among the best available. Where service is or isn't available is so subjective to your location that it's pointless to say someone else shouldn't get it, unless they live in the same location, with the same installer and have the same orbital visibility. If you think that's a valid complaint, I'd point you to people complaining about the same thing with D* which indicates it's not unique to one provider.

And, yes, you can get an HD package from Dish for $10. Though, as noted, the best deal right now is their Turbo HD, if you only want HD programming.

Bottom line? Figure out what (hardware features, programming, price, etc) is important to you, and base your decision on that.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: sactoking
DirecTV.

DirectTV charges $9-10 for their HD package. Dish charges $20.
DirecTV has locals in HD. Dish does not (at least not where I live).
Dish's equipment fails when it's a year old.
Dish has a bad habit of dropping the HD signal.
Dish does not let you remove programming online.

Paying $10 for HD here.
My locals are in HD. That's a problem with your local stations, not your SAT provider.
I went 7 years on my last receiver. Replace it because I went to HD.
No problems here.
True

Sorry to post without reading all your replies. You've obviously got a hard-on for Dish.

 

[imported_weadjust]

I have directv and have been satisfied with the service. They don't have locals in HD but I am able to receive local HD using an over the air antenna. The HD DVR also list the OTA channels in the guide and I can record OTA stations on the DVR.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I have posted in the past that I have had horrible dealings with Dish. I have been through numerous receivers, phone calls etc to get the problems solved. So YES signal issues have been a problem for me. Lately it has been better but I just dont know if I will stay with them after my contract is up. I have had to call them about things on my bill that were not suppose to be there, they have charged me service calls that I had to call and make them remove. Things did get majorly better after the Turbo HD came out but I am still not decided what I will do.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Speaking strictly on HD, not comparing service or anything else...

The amount of HD is not important. Having the channels you like to watch in HD is. Right now, in the number of mainstream channels that are in HD, Directv probably still has the edge. However, that will change back and forth as both Dish and Directv are involved in a propaganda war to say they have the most. Even cable pipes in with absurd claims to the most HD. All providers pile up Regional Sports Networks, Pay Per View channels, and other obscure BS to jack up their channel count, so you can't go by the numbers they spout. Just go to each site and look at the list of channels and see which provider carries more channels that you will watch.

 

[Rage187]

DirecTV, not even a fight.

 

[Canai]

I have a friend who swears by DirecTV. He used to work for them, and still subs to them for their HD channels, so I voted for them.

edit: actually, I think I voted for Dish accidentally.

 

[WTT0001]

In response to the Dish Network satellite issues, dish is feeding identical HD off at least 2 different Satellites at this time, the 61.5 and the 129. The 61.5 is generally rock solid and most have no issues with it, rumer has it that the 129 is always screwed up and a lot of DIY type guys are putting up a 61.5 dish and blocking off the 129. If you have 2 dishes then you probably are getting the 61.5 but if you only have 1 dish you are getting the 129.

Anyway, back to the original topic. In our area, DTV has the locals in HD, Dish does not, DTV has the YES network (in HD too), dish does not, DTV has the NFL Sunday ticket, Dish does not. DTV and Dish are roughly = in HD channels. Dish is generally cheaper due to the dual tuner receivers (no fee for the 2nd TV but the 2nd TV is only Standard Def).

As to signal and reliability, they are pretty equal as long as you get a decent install. A bad install will drive you nuts though. Equipment is pretty much the same, we don't see very many failures for either company.

Personal opinion is DTV and hold out till the rumered HD-Tivo comes out (MPEG4 so it gets the new HD).

WTT (DTV/DISH/WB/HNet Installer)

 

[lykaon78]

I didn't bother to read the above... but I've had Dish for a 3 months or so and its fine. No HD locals until Feb 2009 they're telling me. This really pisses me off because I have to run a cable from my basebment to a pair of rabbit ears outside to HD locals. No reception problems and no hardware issues for me yet. I also think the start costs for Dish are cheaper than Direct TV.

 

[boomerang]

In regards to the Dish sat at 129, my understanding is that there is a launch planned for this fall of a satellite to replace 129. However, Dish already lost one new satellite this year due to a launch failure. The satellite did not reach it's intended altitude at launch. So, there are no guarantees.

The point being, if your install means you must have a dish pointed at the 129 sat, your problems may be brief. Further, DISH has decided to go with what they are terming Eastern Arc and Western Arc. EA is the 61.5, 72.5 and 77 Sat's. The WA is 110, 119 and 129 Sat's. Depending on your location, 129 may be a non-issue for you.

For those that are interested, my understanding is that most of the gyroscopes have failed on the 129 and it is being kept in place using thrusters. Hence it wobbles creating signal problems.

I would base my choice between Dish and Direct on programming and price.