Directv vs Dish Network
- Thread starter CalBears1
- Start date
G_M
Starter
I currently have Dish and have had no problems. Ironically, I had Directv and they refused to comp my new equipment when I upgraded to HD. So, I left and went to Dish, received all my equipment for free and got some other goodies. Directv has been mercilously trying to convert me back. I never had any problems with Directv it was just economics......
So, whoever is offering the best deal is the company I would go with.
So, whoever is offering the best deal is the company I would go with.
I have Dish and have been happy with it - no HD package for now, but maybe later.
They each have pluses and minuses, but I think programming may be the biggest difference (sports packages, etc). I just want to see the Kings, so either would work for me.
There used to be a difference in resolution for HD (with DirecTV using less resolution on their HD - and therefore worse picture quality), but that was a while ago and I don't know if it is still the case.
This is a great place to start for all things satellite:
http://www.dbsforums.com/
They each have pluses and minuses, but I think programming may be the biggest difference (sports packages, etc). I just want to see the Kings, so either would work for me.
There used to be a difference in resolution for HD (with DirecTV using less resolution on their HD - and therefore worse picture quality), but that was a while ago and I don't know if it is still the case.
This is a great place to start for all things satellite:
http://www.dbsforums.com/
CalBears1
G-League
Thanks guys. I want to switch over to Direct because they are better in regards to sports programming, but I am not too happy about having to pay to lease the receivers. If I stay with Dish, I finally got them to waive the upgraded box, but for the same price I am paying for Dish, I can get much more from Direct. Also, Direct has a lot more HD programming.
If you're a football fan, you have to go with DirecTV, which is why I have DirecTV.
No complaints so far. The equipment is expensive (why do you have to pay for a DVR box and pay a monthly fee for the box?), but I haven't had any problems with the service or billing or anything like that since I've had them. The HD service is more than adequate.
The only problem I had with them is that, in comparison to digital cable, there was no On Demand feature. They have just kicked off an On Demand (sort of) campaign, and while it's not quite as functional as the digital cable service, it works just fine. You must have a high-speed internet connection.
So I'd rate DirecTV 4.25 out of 5. Programming is the big difference for me.
No complaints so far. The equipment is expensive (why do you have to pay for a DVR box and pay a monthly fee for the box?), but I haven't had any problems with the service or billing or anything like that since I've had them. The HD service is more than adequate.
The only problem I had with them is that, in comparison to digital cable, there was no On Demand feature. They have just kicked off an On Demand (sort of) campaign, and while it's not quite as functional as the digital cable service, it works just fine. You must have a high-speed internet connection.
So I'd rate DirecTV 4.25 out of 5. Programming is the big difference for me.
I have cable, wifey loves her OnDemand. I have considered DirecTV for the NFL package on many occasions. I can't see any reason for Dish - I thought Dish was a little cheaper and had better HDTV, if that's not the case why not switch?
CalBears1
G-League
Ya, for me to sign up with Direct, it would be $199 for the Hd/Tivo receiver, and free for the 2nd Tivo receiver. I can get the Premier pakage which includes all the channels, Hd service, and Dvr service for approx $110/month for 12 months plus tax.
For Dish(who I'm alread with), they would give me the upgraded Hd/dvr receiver for free. I would get the top 250 with HBO and Showtime, and the smaller HD package for $96/month.
With Direct, I would get all the HD channels that they offer, which is approx 80-90 channels. With Dish, I would only get approx 24.
For Dish(who I'm alread with), they would give me the upgraded Hd/dvr receiver for free. I would get the top 250 with HBO and Showtime, and the smaller HD package for $96/month.
With Direct, I would get all the HD channels that they offer, which is approx 80-90 channels. With Dish, I would only get approx 24.
Don't let them sucker you in with the HD channels; Dish will be expanding their HD lineup soon enough. Besides, of all those HD channels, how many of them actually have something worth watching? I recently got rid of my movie channels, because it seems like all the good movies on DirecTV are in my collection already, and the new ones I can get via On Demand, and just pay for them individually. If I haven't already picked up the DVD.
I had digital cable up until August, when I switched to DirecTV because of their promotional NFL package. I never really considered Dish after I realized that they didn't offer NFL Sunday Ticket. That was the reason for the switch in the first place.
The only thing I'll say about the HD DVR from DirecTV is that you can split the payments up over three months if you wish, so it's not one big hit of $199 on your bill. Still not as good as a complimentary upgrade.
That's not the first time I've heard that about the HD quality. Mine is great. They have a special HD dish that they upgrade when you get HD service, so maybe that's why there have been complaints about DirecTV's HD quality.
D-Mass
Starter
With Dish, how did you get the offer for a free HD/DVR upgrade? I've been a good customer of theirs for awhile now and I thought I put up a pretty convincing argument and the guy was not budging. Even the threat to switch to DirectTV didn't work.
Actually I was talking about # of Channels. For some reason I thought it was Dish that snatched up Voom or whatever the HD Satellite company was, obviously it was DirectTV that did if they have 90 channels to 24. I am a HD junkie, the one thing that ticks me off about cable is that they are slow to add new HD channels.
CalBears1
G-League
Actually, Dish did pick up Voom, but they still cannot compare to Direct's 90...Those Voom hd channels are all bogus channels..
CalBears1
G-League
I've been with them for about 2.5 years and have the hd/dvr from back then. Since then they have come out with updated boxes that allow you access to their updated list of hd channels. With this old box that I have, I am only able to get like 7 hd channels.
I basically went off on the lady because she wanted me to pay $100 and sign a new 2 year contract in order to get the updated box. I did not think it was right that I had to pay for a new receiver just because they had come out with an updated one. I told them that Direct was offering me a better package. That's when the lady told me that she would give me the box for free. I still do not want to stay with them because for the same price I can get more than double the hd channels with direct.
No, I have a ton of HD channels, even without the movie channels. It's just that there's nothing good to watch on those channels. My wife likes the cooking shows and the interior decorating shows, but for me, it's sports and comedies, some cartoons, and more sports.
And there's a shortage right now, with the NFL season being over, baseball not starting yet, and me not being that big of a hockey fan. All I have is the Kings, and the Kings aren't that entertaining right now.
Cable's HD channels were lacking, but I guess it's hard for a localized cable company to get big contracts the way DirecTV can. A lot of regional and city guidelines to follow. DirecTV doesn't have the same restrictions.
CalBears1
G-League
So I told Dish that I decided to go with Direct, and they caved in. I got the upgraded HD/DVR box for free, the All Everything Pack which means I get every channel they offer plus all the HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz, the sports pack, etc, for a total of $100/month. I also get all the pay channels for free for 3 months. Just 3 days ago they were offering me the top 250, HBO, Shotime, HD, and DVR for $96.
This is the best deal that I have been offered by far. This way I do not have to pay anything out of pocket for the receiver either.
This is the best deal that I have been offered by far. This way I do not have to pay anything out of pocket for the receiver either.
D-Mass
Starter
So it basically took calling them to cancel service to get them to that point? I guess that's my next step...
CalBears1
G-League
It took me twice to call them to get to that point. The first time I called them, I argued with the lady for about 5 minutes before she finally said that she would waive the $100 fee for the new receiver.
The 2nd time I called, after about 20 minutes on the phone with the lady, I got her to drop the price of the package by another $10.
The 2nd time I called, after about 20 minutes on the phone with the lady, I got her to drop the price of the package by another $10.
