Anyone here have DirecTV? or DishNetwork?

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: dude
But ya, the quality is a big step up from cable. It's like watching a DVD.

thats interesting, as my entire family noticed a decrease in the overall quality of the picture on dish network when compared to our former att cable (not the digital cable though)

its very obvious that the video is highly compressed, in scenes where there is large amounts of motion or color change, you can see blocks, similar to watching a full screen mpeg video on your computer (of course it should be as both are mpeg...)

overall, we were much happier with the image quality of the old cable than with DN, but then the HDTV channels (HBO, CBS) are unaffected by the compression, and look just as good as the channels we pull off the air (NBC, ABC, PBS)

*edit* the blocks are even easily noticable on our 27" panasonic, it doesnt even take the 50" toshiba hdtv to notice it.

 

[Skawttey]

Originally posted by: GOSHARKS

Originally posted by: dude
But ya, the quality is a big step up from cable. It's like watching a DVD.

thats interesting, as my entire family noticed a decrease in the overall quality of the picture on dish network when compared to our former att cable (not the digital cable though)

its very obvious that the video is highly compressed, in scenes where there is large amounts of motion or color change, you can see blocks, similar to watching a full screen mpeg video on your computer (of course it should be as both are mpeg...)

overall, we were much happier with the image quality of the old cable than with DN, but then the HDTV channels (HBO, CBS) are unaffected by the compression, and look just as good as the channels we pull off the air (NBC, ABC, PBS)

*edit* the blocks are even easily noticable on our 27" panasonic, it doesnt even take the 50" toshiba hdtv to notice it.

I do not notice any of this with my satelite. My dad has a 55in Mitsubishi digital widescreen and the satelite picture is DVD quality.

 

[NateSLC]

Get the Dish Network with the PVR receiver. Sweet.

 

[NateSLC]

Get direct TV and a Direct TiVo I promise you won't regret it. I use a similair system with Cable but would prefer DirectTV

Direct TiVo? Do they charge a TiVo subscription fee? If so, get Dish Network with a PVR receiver.

 

[iamwiz82]

My new apartment allows DirecTV, WOOHOO!! How much is the DirecTV receiver with Tivo?

 

[aphex]

We just spent a shitload of money on the tv, so i dont see my parents going to the PVR version anytime soon. Were looking at the free boxes from both companies... Im kinda confused with DN though, do you need the expensive box (i.e. not the free one) to get local channels?

 

[Skawttey]

Originally posted by: aphexII
We just spent a shitload of money on the tv, so i dont see my parents going to the PVR version anytime soon. Were looking at the free boxes from both companies... Im kinda confused with DN though, do you need the expensive box (i.e. not the free one) to get local channels?

The local stations are only available in certain markets. You should be able to get them on any reciever.

 

[Balthazar]

Originally posted by: Skawttey
If you are going to buy something right now, i would get dish network since they are buying direc tv.

HAHAHAHA, yeah, the same way HP "bought" compaq right?

Why is it no-one understands the term merger?
Soemone always has to be buying someone else, they can't be merging, on no. It's a buyout.

Ack, anyway, that's so far from a done deal it's not even funny so it play little to no role in things.

DTV has alot of benefits, like having a wide array of recievers to choose from, the ability to get recievers that DONT look like ass is always a plus.

The quality CAN be an issue, but a well tuned dish will do you a world of good.
Anyway....

 

[Skawttey]

Originally posted by: Balthazar

Originally posted by: Skawttey
If you are going to buy something right now, i would get dish network since they are buying direc tv.

HAHAHAHA, yeah, the same way HP "bought" compaq right?

Why is it no-one understands the term merger?
Soemone always has to be buying someone else, they can't be merging, on no. It's a buyout.

Ack, anyway, that's so far from a done deal it's not even funny so it play little to no role in things.

DTV has alot of benefits, like having a wide array of recievers to choose from, the ability to get recievers that DONT look like ass is always a plus.

The quality CAN be an issue, but a well tuned dish will do you a world of good.
Anyway....

No, the merger is not yet complete, but it does not seem to be having any problems going through and should be completed within the next year or so.

And about the recievers looking like ass, they are simply black boxes. I see no problem with them.

 

[NateSLC]

Originally posted by: aphexII
We just spent a shitload of money on the tv, so i dont see my parents going to the PVR version anytime soon. Were looking at the free boxes from both companies... Im kinda confused with DN though, do you need the expensive box (i.e. not the free one) to get local channels?

A Dish 500 is required to receive local channels on Dish Network. Click here to see if your city qualifies.

The PVR system cost me $199 but I just checked and that's only for existing customers. It will cost new customers $349. Wierd.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: NateSLC

Originally posted by: aphexII
We just spent a shitload of money on the tv, so i dont see my parents going to the PVR version anytime soon. Were looking at the free boxes from both companies... Im kinda confused with DN though, do you need the expensive box (i.e. not the free one) to get local channels?

A Dish 500 is required to receive local channels on Dish Network. Click here to see if your city qualifies.

The PVR system cost me $199 but I just checked and that's only for existing customers. It will cost new customers $349. Wierd.

Yea, were a suburb of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale so were fine... But the Dish 500? Lemme see if i can find any prices on that....

 

[RU482]

Atmega card should be here any day..hehe

 

[Bobomatic]

The picture quality on dish network has looked a lot better lately, I think its because they put up a new satellite(in the sky).

 

[aphex]

Dosent look like there is anyway i can get local channels on dish network without buying the $350 system, where as with DirecTV ill get the dual system with local support for $35.

 

[308nato]

I've had direcTv for 6 years now. I have never had anything but excellent service from them. My neighbor has the Dish Network and he feels the same way about them. You wouldn't go wrong either way.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Also if you get DirecTV make sure to get a DirecTivo.

Any deals on them?

 

[dude]

Originally posted by: GOSHARKS

Originally posted by: dude But ya, the quality is a big step up from cable. It's like watching a DVD.

thats interesting, as my entire family noticed a decrease in the overall quality of the picture on dish network when compared to our former att cable (not the digital cable though) its very obvious that the video is highly compressed, in scenes where there is large amounts of motion or color change, you can see blocks, similar to watching a full screen mpeg video on your computer (of course it should be as both are mpeg...) overall, we were much happier with the image quality of the old cable than with DN, but then the HDTV channels (HBO, CBS) are unaffected by the compression, and look just as good as the channels we pull off the air (NBC, ABC, PBS) *edit* the blocks are even easily noticable on our 27" panasonic, it doesnt even take the 50" toshiba hdtv to notice it.

That's funny. In hardly ever notice any of these blocky mpeg artifacts that you mentioned, unless there is a very serious thunderstorm and very very very heavy rain which floods my basement. My basement has never been flooded.

Anyways, the quality is very near DVD quality. I do not see artifacts unless there's a problem with the channel, in which I switch stations and other stations work fine. This hardly ever happnes, maybe once a month on the discovery channel or so. I never seen it happen on any other channels.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Also if you get DirecTV make sure to get a DirecTivo.

Any deals on them?

How would I know?

 

[Spooner]

If I buy DirecTV (free with rebate) and that indoor splitter ($50), how much do I have to pay for additional boxes? do they charge more when split? you can view different channels in each room, correct?

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Also if you get DirecTV make sure to get a DirecTivo.

Any deals on them?

How would I know?

OK, that's a no then.

If I buy DirecTV (free with rebate) and that indoor splitter ($50), how much do I have to pay for additional boxes? do they charge more when split? you can view different channels in each room, correct?

You might find a deal that includes extra boxes. Each extra box adds about 5 bucks to your bill, but you can indeed view other channels.

 

[aphex]

Circuit City currently has the following deal on DirecTV:

One room system - Free AR
Two room system - $35 AR
One room system (with PVR) - $49 AR

I think were gonna go with the 2 room system for $35 AR.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: aphexII
Circuit City currently has the following deal on DirecTV:

One room system - Free AR
Two room system - $35 AR
One room system (with PVR) - $49 AR

I think were gonna go with the 2 room system for $35 AR.

do those prices include installation and satellite?

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: cashman
We have Dish Network and it looks great.......I'd get it.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: aphexII
Circuit City currently has the following deal on DirecTV:

One room system - Free AR
Two room system - $35 AR
One room system (with PVR) - $49 AR

I think were gonna go with the 2 room system for $35 AR.

do those prices include installation and satellite?

Yep.

 

[iamwiz82]

sweet! can i schedule the install more than a few weeks in advance?