best deal for DISH or Direct TV

[MrHappyMonkey]

We're looking to get either DISH or Direct TV installed in our new house. I'm looking at the TOTAL CHOICE plan from Direct TV for $34/month and the America's Top 50 plan from DISH network. We will be getting a new HDTV projection TV and will need an HDTV receiver. There will be 4 other TVs in the house which will need receivers. I was thinking of buying them outright instead of renting. What is the best deal around? I googled for a bit and found this deal for Direct TV which gives you 3 free receivers, dish, and 2 monthes of free service. The only thing missing from this deal is the HDTV receiver. How much do these cost per month? Another question is regarding local channels. DISH network offers all locals except FOX for $6/month. Direct TV offers locals for an extra $4, but my city (Fresno, CA) is listed as "coming in 2003" for local channels. What are my other options for local TV?

 

[nsafreak]

Well I don't know how much DirecTV charges for their HDTV receivers but I know we charge $500 (receiver only, with a dish it's $600) for ours although a local retailer may sell them for less. Keep in mind if you go Dish you'll need a 2nd Dish for the HDTV signal, don't know what the deal is for DirecTV. Insofar as other options for locals I'd say get a good set of rabbit ears if you don't get them from the satellite company you choose. Cable is an option but they typically charge in the neighborhood of $10 a month if they offer the service in your area at all. Just forgot one thing we offer and that DirecTV should as well, until they get your locals they can submit waivers to the local networks on your behalf to get distant networks beamed into your home until they get the locals. I know whe charge $5.99 a month for the package of all the major networks, don't know about DirecTV and I don't know what cities they use for their distants.

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

Originally posted by: nsafreak
Well I don't know how much DirecTV charges for their HDTV receivers but I know we charge $500 (receiver only, with a dish it's $600) for ours although a local retailer may sell them for less. Keep in mind if you go Dish you'll need a 2nd Dish for the HDTV signal, don't know what the deal is for DirecTV. Insofar as other options for locals I'd say get a good set of rabbit ears if you don't get them from the satellite company you choose. Cable is an option but they typically charge in the neighborhood of $10 a month if they offer the service in your area at all. Just forgot one thing we offer and that DirecTV should as well, until they get your locals they can submit waivers to the local networks on your behalf to get distant networks beamed into your home until they get the locals. I know whe charge $5.99 a month for the package of all the major networks, don't know about DirecTV and I don't know what cities they use for their distants.

thanks for the info. How much is the extra dish to receive HDTV? What about content? I'm looking at adding HBO to which ever service I get. Is all HBO content HD? What about other channels?

 

[CFster]

Never understood the appeal of HDTV. Direct TV only offers 4 channels in HDTV and I would only watch one of them. And even though my local stations are broadcast in HDTV, they aren't broadcast that way on Direct TV. I would have to get an ANTENNA to receive the HDTV signals over the air! After installing a 3 LNB oval dish and wiring my house for satellite, I'm NOT about to go back to adjusting rabbit ears every 5 minutes.

Also, most of the time a HDTV set looks like garbage displaying a "regular" signal, even worse than a regular set - it just brings out the inperfections in a regular signal all the more. If you have cable forget it. I have several friends who are sorry they bought HD sets - especially since they are so expensive.

Plus, I'm a DirectTivo owner - those aren't even out yet in HDTV. And when they are - I'm sure they'll be upwards of a grand anyway. And I wonder how much hard drive space a HD signal will take up? Will my 35hr TIVO turn into a 5hr TIVO?

Nope, I think HDTV has a few years to go before it's mainstream and cost effective.

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

bump

 

[nsafreak]

Sorry to get back to this thread so late but I'll give the best answers I can to your questions. The 2nd dish basically adds $200 to the price of the receiver, it's sold as a 'package' ie receiver & dish for $699 as opposed to the receiver alone for $499, keep in mind these are direct prices and retailer prices may differ. Insofar as HDTV is concerned Dish Network has a few HD channels including Discovery HD Theatre (requires an 8VSB adapter), Showtime in HD (one channel), HBO in HD (again, one channel), CBS in HD out of NY (if you subscribe to a local package it comes as part of it for no extra charge), PPVs in HD, NBA in HD, and NHL in HD. We are planning on adding more HD content in the near future although I have not gotten word as to what it will be or exactly when it will be added.

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

bump