Direct TV or Dish Network?

[Mark42]

Our faithful old Sony 32" tv from 1995 finally blew its power supply or something. I opened it up to check the fuse, and it wasn't blown (yes, there are fuses in TV's!) but I could smell something burned. So that was it for the set. And the prices of new TV's being what they are, we decided to just go a while without. Then an offer came from our local phone company that gives a good deal on Dish Network. We have Direct TV, and I had just canceled it seeing as the TV was dead. But this Dish network deal (after the 6mo promo period) is better than what I was paying for Direct TV, and it included HD channels. So I'm thinking of getting the Dish network installed, and then later, like August, look at new TV's.

Anyway, does anyone have Dish network that can tell me if the service is good or bad?

I had no complaints about Direct TV service after having it for years except to say I thought the price was high.

Thanks!

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

its about the same as direct Ive had them too, Im thinking of switching back when I upgrade to a hd tv to take advantage of the welcome back promo of free hd top box they offer, dish want money for a upgrade.
the embarq bundle discount is 5 a month,and your not able to customize the channel list like you are as a direct customer. Im not jumping on that. I like not to have to keep either one of those companies, and if hard times come, could decide not to pay one or the other. ,but combine them on one bill and that option is lost too.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

They can't offer me a bundle package because there is nothing to bundle with. Embarq offers me a land line. No cable, no dsl, nothing else. Thats why I have Sprint Mobile Broadband for my internet service.

So I'm looking at free install for up to 4 TV's, and $19 a month service for 6 months.

Wish I had Fios.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

I have had Dish since I disconnected my C-Band 12' Dish about 10 years ago.

Recently (Feb 09) I was able to get a cable phone and internet ...... I am paid up until Sep-Oct for the Dish and I was considering a change maybe to comcast cable.... I never had cable.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

embarq is bundleing with your landline. got my interest on the sprint broadband, does it cover multi computers, I need to cover 3 in the house.
I pay embarq about 70 a month for phone and dsl, and dont use the phone, and dish is about 98.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

embarq is bundleing with your landline. got my interest on the sprint broadband, does it cover multi computers, I need to cover 3 in the house.
I pay embarq about 70 a month for phone and dsl, and dont use the phone, and dish is about 98.

The Sprint MBB runs 60 a month and I get a consistent 1.1 to 1.4 meg connection. Better than budget DSL. There are a few wireless routers available that will take the USB "air card" as the internet connection. I have a Linksys wireless router w/5 ports and it works well. I also have the air card connected to a signal booster and a panel antenna in the attic that points to a cell tower about 6/7 miles away. Rain, snow, etc does not affect it. But you can cook a turkey with the microwaves coming out of the panel antenna . The antenna is a super high gain and very directional, so all the power goes in one direction making for an outstanding connection to the tower. If I had a double feed tower, I could get up to 3 meg connection. I have had Youtube video playing on two PC's, while watching Fox.com TV programs on a third. All was smooth as glass with a 1.1 meg connection.

It is that or ISDN at 128K digital. So I cancelled the IDSN when sprint included my area in the MBB system. And when storms take out the power lines and phone lines, when I fire up the backup generator, I get my internet connection back. And when I go on vacation, I grab the air card out of the router and take it and my laptop with me. It does have its advantages.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

I have had both and they are both good. The only advantage DirecTV has over Dish right now is being able to program your DVR over the internet.

I switched to ATT U-Verse recently because of the great offers. It is basically TV and Internet over fiber optic lines. I am probably going to switch back to Dish or DirecTV because the HD quality is not nearly as good. Very choppy watching sporting events.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

I prefer DT myself. My best friend & in-laws have dish & although I feel they have a superior receiver, I don't like the UI & think their remote layout is ridiculous (which is a mute point for me since I use a Logitech harmony remote).

You're gonna pay about the same either way. DT puts their packages together fairly well, whereas what appears to be a good deal with Dish will nickel & dime you in the end. Case & point, last time I checked it cost $5 bucks per receiver that's hooked up to the net. I believe DT has more HD channels & DT also got back in bed with Tivo. Their Tivo receivers should be out sometime later this year. Each provider is a mixed bag. In the end it comes down to personal preference.

As bruce mentioned, another route to look into is ATT's U-verse. I tried them on free for month, but ended up sticking with DT seeing how they gave me a pretty sweet deal/upgrade to stay on board. I would, however, may have stuck with U-verse had their total home DVR been available when I canceled. I liked a lot of features U-verse had at the time, but DT had more HD channels & like I said, offered a sweet deal. I did end up sticking with ATT's internet service. I get about 5-6mbps down 1mbps up for around $35 a month.

My 2cents.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

I checed out ATT U-Verse, but it is a cable system. There is no ATT OR cable where I live (a mere 50 miles from NYC and there is no cable, DSL, Fios, etc, Can you believe it???).

My only choice is a satellite based system.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

That's ridiculous. I'm in Arkansas for crying out loud.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

Mark and I live on the edge of a national park, wild cats,bears,and wolves, roam freely,eagles fly and fish , but not over the air tv,nor cable, dsl will we get. well I get dsl. Im at the other end of the park.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

I have dish and have no complaints. we looked at both, and settled on dish because of the introduction promo and lower monthly costs. we had the full gold plus hd and dvr for the first 6 months, for 39.99 i think. when the promo was over and it went to 79.99, we dropped to an HD only package. 29.99, we get all the channels we watch and not 4 million that we dont. there are maybe 3-4 channels we used to watch that arent offered on the hd package, but no biggie. my wife is happy that we don't get TruTV anymore, so I cant watch COPS 7 nights a week.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

I checed out ATT U-Verse, but it is a cable system. There is no ATT OR cable where I live (a mere 50 miles from NYC and there is no cable, DSL, Fios, etc, Can you believe it???).

My only choice is a satellite based system.

That's what happen when you're where the horses and cows are.

 

[smclear]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

At home I have regular cable (Brighthouse). At my lake house I went with DT because the cottage gets closed for the winter. When I made the decision to go with satellite, Dish Network would not suspend the service over the winter months. They would turn it off, but they would still charge me a reduced rate for the entire time. I don't know if this is still their policy but if it is, I am sure it has cost them some customers. Direct TV allows me to suspend the service at no charge then resume it when I open the cottage.

 

[Susquehanna Squid]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

Definately DirecTV! Especially if you are a sports fan because they offer so much more. And, seeing that you are from NJ (even the cow part) you must need YES Network for the mighty Yankees!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

Thought I would post a follow up to the Dish vs Direct TV question I had.

1) The Dish TV installer was very, very good. Did a great job, put everything where I wanted, and also took advantage of the oversize monster double cable (looks like oversize lamp cord) satellite feed I had run through the house. Installer took down the old dish, and replaced it with the new dish, using the same roof top tripod mount from Direct TV. Just as I asked.

2) There have been a few storms since install, and not once did Dish lose its signal like Direct TV used to. That's a nice plus.

3) The DVR works great, and no issues with how things work.

4) The biggest difference I like is that the channels are repeated in various groupings. That means I can add or delete channels from the list to make custom lists. So there is one for me, one with just kids stuff for the kids, etc. That is something that Direct TV can not offer, and is so important to me.

5) Sirius radio. Lots of channels. Nuf Said.

6) More pay-per-view channels and choices than Direct TV.

7) Can watch two different channels on two different TV's with one satellite receiver. Nice. Kids watch cartoons in play room while adults watch R movies in family room. The "second" line from the receiver can be split and run to all the TV's in the house just like cabe TV, and the one remote will operate all of them (but all the same channel). Life gets better all the time.

Drawbacks:

1) Too many sports, shopping, and religous channels. Put blocks on all these channels to keep the channel lists short. I don't shop or worship on TV and I don't give a rats *** about football, baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. (But I do need Speed Channel).

2) The DVR never really turns off. Its sucking watts even when in "off" mode. Don't know why. No external power button. If its un-plugged, it goes through a 5 minute startup proceedure.


All in all, I think the Dish service is better than the Direct TV service. The quality of the signal is better, the feeds for network TV are cleaner and not interrupted by rain. Come winter we will find out about snow and its impact.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

my satellite feed get interrupted constantly by storms, interesting, Im going to complain and see if they have a solution.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

my satellite feed get interrupted constantly by storms, interesting, Im going to complain and see if they have a solution.

Could be that the dish is out of adjustment and is not receiving full signal, so a little rain messes it up? Worth calling about.

 

[skargo]

Re: Direct TV or Dish Network?

Directv because only they offer Trailer Park Boys.