Dish vs. Direct TV

[PricklyPete]

I've been using Charter as my provider since I bought an HDTV. They use a MOXI DVR box from Digeo (manuf by Motorola) and I've been less than impressed. Most chanels are not digital and result in very ugly output and the HD content is fine, but lacks ABC which is annoying since the other option is to watch the ugly Analog for ABC.

I've been looking into Dish and Direct TV as an alternative. Right now the pricing for Dish as well as the HD content seems to be better than DirectTV. Am I missing something. Is Dish inferior to Direct TV in any way that I should be aware of? I've always thought from people's passing comments that DirectTV was the better service...but looking at content and pricing...Dish sounds pretty fantastic.

Thoughts?

 

[FoBoT]

Dish is swell

 

[Phokus]

dish is a hella cheaper. the only reason i would get directv is if i needed their NFL package (which i don't).

I've been happy with dish so far.

 

[mb]

I went with Dish because they seemed to offer the most for the money for what I wanted.

Dish is great and I :heart: my dual-tuner DVR.

 

[Amused]

Well, if you like HD supposedly DirecTV is adding more HD channels than anyone else, including cable.

It's the first time DirecTV ever announced something so early. So we'll see. As of now it's the only thing keeping me from switching to Dish.

 

[lobbyone]

I had Dish, then switched to Comca$t and hate it, should've stayed with the Dish.

 

[PricklyPete]

Is there a noticeable time delay on switching between channels on the Dish? I remember a long time ago when I was playing with my friends Direct TV service and changing channels was a pain the ass because of how long it took to change channels. Is it fairly responsive these days or are you forced to use the guide for channel surfing?

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Amused
Well, if you like HD supposedly DirecTV is adding more HD channels than anyone else, including cable.

It's the first time DirecTV ever announced something so early. So we'll see. As of now it's the only thing keeping me from switching to Dish.

Do you have a link to this info?

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Is there a noticeable time delay on switching between channels on the Dish? I remember a long time ago when I was playing with my friends Direct TV service and changing channels was a pain the ass because of how long it took to change channels. Is it fairly responsive these days or are you forced to use the guide for channel surfing?

Yeah, it seems that there is... but hitting the right arrow on the remote brings up the mini guide which is even customizable for just the channels you want to see. I usually use that.

 

[Electric Amish]

I've had DirectTV for almost 10 years. I've loved every minute of it.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Is there a noticeable time delay on switching between channels on the Dish? I remember a long time ago when I was playing with my friends Direct TV service and changing channels was a pain the ass because of how long it took to change channels. Is it fairly responsive these days or are you forced to use the guide for channel surfing?

One of the reviews I read for the Dish 622 receiver said that it was quicker than the older units. I just signed up for Dish online this weekend, haven't heard anything about when they're coming out to do the install yet.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Amused
Well, if you like HD supposedly DirecTV is adding more HD channels than anyone else, including cable.

It's the first time DirecTV ever announced something so early. So we'll see. As of now it's the only thing keeping me from switching to Dish.

Do you have a link to this info?

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=900034

Plus they have been bombarding TV stations with Back to the Future themed ads crowing about it for months.

They just launched some new satellites for more capacity.

 

[ScottFern]

I think Dish has more HDTV channels, but their Customer Services is terrible also. I have Comcast and in 2 months my rates are jumping from $55.99 to 79.99 for the BASIC HDTV package because I was on a promotional package. But if they don't extend my promotional pricing I am GONE!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Amused
Well, if you like HD supposedly DirecTV is adding more HD channels than anyone else, including cable.

It's the first time DirecTV ever announced something so early. So we'll see. As of now it's the only thing keeping me from switching to Dish.

Do you have a link to this info?

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=900034

Plus they have been bombarding TV stations with Back to the Future themed ads crowing about it for months.

They just launched some new satellites for more capacity.

Ah... that's funny, I'd developed the impression they were going to add 150 HD channels, but reading that, it's "the capacity for 150 HD channels" :laugh:

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Amused
Well, if you like HD supposedly DirecTV is adding more HD channels than anyone else, including cable.

It's the first time DirecTV ever announced something so early. So we'll see. As of now it's the only thing keeping me from switching to Dish.

Do you have a link to this info?

I've seen commercials.

 

[TheRyuu]

I had both but the time in between them was pretty big and I'm sure Dish has improved since then.

I gotta say though, I don't get nearly as many "searching for signal" with Directv as I did with Dish (Dish had way more when it rained and it pissed me off).

Then we went to cable because of a good deal then we went back to satellite but this time with Directv. Came with a free DVR (only 40 hours though).
I want to get an older Tivo DVR and swap out the HD

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Amused
Well, if you like HD supposedly DirecTV is adding more HD channels than anyone else, including cable.

It's the first time DirecTV ever announced something so early. So we'll see. As of now it's the only thing keeping me from switching to Dish.

Do you have a link to this info?

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=900034

Plus they have been bombarding TV stations with Back to the Future themed ads crowing about it for months.

They just launched some new satellites for more capacity.

Interesting...but I wish they would actually state which channels they would be offering. They are just saying capacity...and not how many they will actually end up with...and I fear a lot of those will be PPV channels which don't really interest me.

 

[Uppsala9496]

I've got Dish with the dual-tuner 622 receiver. I couldn't be happier.
The response times are great when changing channels and using the on screen guide.

 

[waggy]

I have dishnetwork. its been great so far.

but i plan on getting a HD TV in a month or so and as amused said Dish network is talking about putting in a bunch of HD channel so might switch.

 

[skimple]

Dish does not carry the YES network, so if your a Yankees fan, or a Yankess hater that wants to watch your team get beat by the Yankees, you need DirectTV.

 

[NuAlphaMan]

If you can, get FiOS TV. It's beautiful! :0

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: skimple
Dish does not carry the YES network, so if your a Yankees fan, or a Yankess hater that wants to watch your team get beat by the Yankees, you need DirectTV.

Not a Yankees fan or a baseball fan in general...so not really a problem. While I like watching sports, I rarely do. Movie and "educational" channels are more important to me.

Thanks though.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
I've got Dish with the dual-tuner 622 receiver. I couldn't be happier.
The response times are great when changing channels and using the on screen guide.

That's exactly what I'm looking for. Would you mind telling me what you pay a month? Did you have to pay for the DVR or installation?

 

[xchangx]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Amused
Well, if you like HD supposedly DirecTV is adding more HD channels than anyone else, including cable.

It's the first time DirecTV ever announced something so early. So we'll see. As of now it's the only thing keeping me from switching to Dish.

Do you have a link to this info?

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=900034

Plus they have been bombarding TV stations with Back to the Future themed ads crowing about it for months.

They just launched some new satellites for more capacity.

Interesting...but I wish they would actually state which channels they would be offering. They are just saying capacity...and not how many they will actually end up with...and I fear a lot of those will be PPV channels which don't really interest me.

At the moment there isn't enough programming to add too many channels. That's why they say they are adding the capacity. There just isn't 150 HD channels out there right now. With that said, I have Directv HD and I love it.

 

[adairusmc]

I would take DirecTV over dish any day. I have had both, and the Dish Installers were grossly incompetent, and there was always a billing error that I had to deal with (which did not help since their customer service sucks).

DirecTV isn't perfect, but in my experience, they are infinitely better than Dish Network.