Should I switch from Directv to Dish Network

[CPA]

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: mobobuff
You won't be happy with Dish.

why?

I used to be an installation technician for DirecTV, not that long ago. I've had the opportunity to talk to many customers who've switched back and forth, Dish customers switching to DirecTV and DirecTV customers who switched to Dish and switched back. The general consensus did not look good for Dish. While I can't speak for that aspect of the service, I can most certainly tell you that almost every Dish Network installation I saw on job sites was horrendous; cables strewn across rooftops, dish mounts half-bolted to the house, 1/2" holes drilled through outside walls without bushings or sealant, unburied cable running through lawns, ungrounded cabling, unfastened cabling, and HDTVs hooked up with nothing more than a "CH3/4" coax connection.

Obviously installation quality will vary between regional contractors, but I did work in 3 different states and noticed the same trend.

In my opinion, DirecTV equipment is superior. The D11s, H20s, R15s and HR20s are all much better looking than their Dish counterparts, menu interfaces are a little more intuitive and clean looking. And I've never heard of any customer getting an HR20 for free. Those things are expensive. The standard fee I believe is $299.

I hated working for DirecTV (ridiculously long hours), and I don't even watch much TV, so I'm no fanboy. I'm just telling you what I noticed. I'd say 70% of the customers I talked to who had experience with both providers preferred DirecTV over Dish.

All of my wiring is in place, though, so I would hope it's just a matter of popping off the DTV dish and putting up the DN dish.

And as for getting it free, Queasy has stated he got two of them free, Pabster got his for $99 (which I would take) and Curly got his for free once he said "cancel", as well.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: mobobuff
You won't be happy with Dish.

why?

I used to be an installation technician for DirecTV, not that long ago. I've had the opportunity to talk to many customers who've switched back and forth, Dish customers switching to DirecTV and DirecTV customers who switched to Dish and switched back. The general consensus did not look good for Dish. While I can't speak for that aspect of the service, I can most certainly tell you that almost every Dish Network installation I saw on job sites was horrendous; cables strewn across rooftops, dish mounts half-bolted to the house, 1/2" holes drilled through outside walls without bushings or sealant, unburied cable running through lawns, ungrounded cabling, unfastened cabling, and HDTVs hooked up with nothing more than a "CH3/4" coax connection.

Obviously installation quality will vary between regional contractors, but I did work in 3 different states and noticed the same trend.

In my opinion, DirecTV equipment is superior. The D11s, H20s, R15s and HR20s are all much better looking than their Dish counterparts, menu interfaces are a little more intuitive and clean looking. And I've never heard of any customer getting an HR20 for free. Those things are expensive. The standard fee I believe is $299.

I hated working for DirecTV (ridiculously long hours), and I don't even watch much TV, so I'm no fanboy. I'm just telling you what I noticed. I'd say 70% of the customers I talked to who had experience with both providers preferred DirecTV over Dish.

All of my wiring is in place, though, so I would hope it's just a matter of popping off the DTV dish and putting up the DN dish.

And as for getting it free, Queasy has stated he got two of them free, Pabster got his for $99 (which I would take) and Curly got his for free once he said "cancel", as well.

My DIsh 622 died, and they were going to charge me $299 for a new one. The CS rep told me to purchse their insurance and it would only cost $5.99 + $29 for a service call. I did that and then cancelled the insurance the next month. no fuss-no muss

 

[JC86]

I just switched from time warner to dish and so far, i'm impressed with their service, installation was fast and CS was great, so far. I remember calling time warner when there was no signal and getting put on hold for 45 mintues to get to a CSR. I got the HD package and the VIP722 HD DVR, which i must say, really kicks ass. I don't have anything to compare it with but the thing i look for in this sort of equipment is the remote and I think the 722's remote does everything perfectly, the only thing that bothers me a bit is having to go through 3 menu screen just to record a program. It's like that because it asks if you want to schedule it once only, weekly, all new episodes, etc. then it asks the priority you're giving the recording. Makes me kind of miss the ease of use of my windows vista HTPC where I can just click record once to record that show or click twice to record the series. But then the HD programming kicks ass so I'm happy. just my 2 cents.

 

[JC86]

oh and btw, Dish carries the Fox Sports Net West and FSN Primeticket, the two RSN's in the Los Angeles area in HD although the HD programming is only for the games, i.e. the lakers. all the regular programming is in SD. Since I only watch those channels when the game is on, it doesn't matter to me.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: JC86
I just switched from time warner to dish and so far, i'm impressed with their service, installation was fast and CS was great, so far. I remember calling time warner when there was no signal and getting put on hold for 45 mintues to get to a CSR. I got the HD package and the VIP722 HD DVR, which i must say, really kicks ass. I don't have anything to compare it with but the thing i look for in this sort of equipment is the remote and I think the 722's remote does everything perfectly, the only thing that bothers me a bit is having to go through 3 menu screen just to record a program. It's like that because it asks if you want to schedule it once only, weekly, all new episodes, etc. then it asks the priority you're giving the recording. Makes me kind of miss the ease of use of my windows vista HTPC where I can just click record once to record that show or click twice to record the series. But then the HD programming kicks ass so I'm happy. just my 2 cents.

Don't forget to move your recording to the second tuner, that way you can record more than one show at that same time, and even watch an OTA channel while both tuners are recording

 

[CPA]

3rd update Okay, just got another email from them. Now someone will be calling me within the next 48 hours. In the meantime, I will be calling Tivo and DishNetwork to get their latest and best deals. We'll see what happens[/b]

 

[alkemyst]

The thing with new customer freebies is they aren't just giving them away...they are using that as it's what it takes now to get a new customer. Cell phones are the same way. When people canceled and then renewed to get the freebies the carriers put 'time-out' periods on it.

Also throw Comcast/Cable in there...they usually also offer free HD DVR with their 'Lose the Dish' promotions. I wanted to switch to Comcast anyway, but going through the Lose the Dish deal was WAY better (6 months cable with HBO/Starz for $19.95, 1 year internet for $39.95 @ 6Mbps (10-12Mbps really))...still with the freaking fees/taxes for two boxes and my own modem it's $88 a month.

 

[1sikbITCH]

The reason that Directv is no longer giving out free receivers to existing customers is because they don't have enough receivers to go around as it is. With the addition of all the new HD channels they are being swamped by new signups and can't get enough receivers from the manufacturers to fill the demands without giving away even more free receivers.
Even someone like myself who recently upgraded to HD and got a free H20 (basic HD receiver, not a recorder) has to wait 6 months to get another HD receiver even if I want to pay full price for it. I also got pissed I can't add more HD in other rooms of the house for a while, but I would never even think about losing all these channels. Directv now carries nearly every single mainstream channel in MPEG4 now and nearly OTA quality.
I'll just be living in the basement for 4 more months until I can upgrade more receivers

 

[BabaBooey]

They just gave me my HD DVR when I came back,just charged the $20 shipping / handling thing.


dish sucks,don't do it.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: bababooey
They just gave me my HD DVR when I came back,just charged the $20 shipping / handling thing.


dish sucks,don't do it.

I was with them for several years, never had a problem except during hurricanes here.

 

[CPA]

Update: 4th time is the charm. Called them back after another round of emails and getting a quote from Dish Network. They credited my account tonight for $199. Looks like 4 is the magic number for some of us.