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DISH Network or DirecTV?

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Dec. ~ 2006 Feb.: Buyers Banter: DISH Network or DirecTV? users admin

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Tera
Member

08-10-2000

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 10:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tera a private message Print Post    
As a lifelong cable subscriber I now have no choice but to go satellite in my new house.

Any recommendations, thoughts on both services will be greatly appreciated.

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 11:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Hmmm. THere used to be a thread on this, but I'm not sure where it is now -- maybe in archive heaven. :-)

I have Dish Network and I love it. My neighbor has DirectTV and loves it. I think it depends on which is offering the best installation deal (with things like free DVRs) in your area and which has the programming you prefer, especially if you like things like packages of pay-per-view football games (I think DirectTV excells in NFL presentations, but I'm not sure).

Essentially you'll be getting the same basic and even premium channels with both -- although DirectTV carries Oxygen, which Dish Network doesn't.

Check the websites for both to look at their channel selections. Then watch your local paper for installation deals and pick the one that seems best. I think the rates end up being about the same - and both are usually better than cable rates. :-)

I'd highly recommend getting at least one DVR as part of the installation deal. They're unequalled in convenience!

Tera
Member

08-10-2000

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 11:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tera a private message Print Post    
Thanks Max! Yeah, I thought there had already been a discussion about this. Figures I am always late to the party. :-)

I have been doing some online research and both do seem somewhat equal. But I appreciate what you said about your service and how your neighbor likes the other service.

Thanks again!

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 11:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
I had Dish for about 3 years and now have had DirecTV for the past 3 years. Both were good for me, but I would give a slight nod to DirecTV for what I wanted in hardware and programming choices. We ended up a little smaller bill with DirecTV compared to Dish, but just a few dollars. For some reason, DirecTV does not charge sales tax in Illinois and Dish does, so that saved us a little more too.

Look at getting dual-tuner receivers with integrated DVRs for all your TVs. You can usually get great packages as a new customer and you will never regret having the same functionality on all TVs and the ability to record 2 shows at the same time on each receiver.

The initial cost may look high when compared to the completely free offers, but when you compare it to what you will pay monthly for service over the next 2 years, a difference of a couple of hundred dollars is small versus not having to figure out how to record 4 different shows that are all on at 8:00 pm on the same night.


Jagger
Member

08-07-2002

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 1:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jagger a private message Print Post    
Well speaking as someone who has the dish, I would never again get it. My problem is the reception, the least little wind, rain, snow or fog messes up the reception. Other people in the neighborhood that have Direct TV say they have no reception problems. Not sure if Direct has more satelites than Dish. I want to swich back to cable but my roommate pays the bill and he wants to keep the dish.

Benifet wise they both seem about the same, except as stated above the football package is only available with direct TV. I also think there are a few channels that are different but not much. In my area the Dish was also a few dollors a month cheaper.

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 1:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Jagger, it sounds like your dish isn't positioned very well. Or maybe their sattelite location just isn't good in your area. I've only had weather interfere with reception once when we got a little snow that was really slushy. All I had to do was brush the snow off the dish and allwas well again (fortunately, my dish is easily reached from my master bathroom window).

Anyway, if your reception is affected that easily, the dish may not be aimed correctly or there might be something obstructing the line of sight to the satellite. :-)

Grannyg
Member

05-28-2002

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 1:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grannyg a private message Print Post    
We had so much trouble with TimeWarner as our cable outlet that it was ridculous. As soon as Directv got the local channels we switched and have been very happy since. We very seldom ever have any outages, mostly with us in the south, when it's thunderstorming and clouds are very very thick and then it's not for long. We've had DirecTv for several years now and I wouldn't trade anthing for it.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 1:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Jagger: Sounds like your dish is either not optimally pointed or the mount is not completely stable. You are probably receiving signals from 2 satellites with Dish Netork, so the dish ends up pointed somewhere between the 2 satellites. There is a setup screen that will show you the signal strength of each satellite (either out of a scale of 100 or 125). If you don't have a strong enough signal in good weather, then you will have problems when the weather gets worse. In the signal strength screen you can select different transponders for each satellite. If you cycle through all the numbers, you will see that certain transponders give a stronger signal. ON the 100 scale, you should be above 80 and preferably in the 90s. On the 125 scale you should look to be above 100 and preferably in the 110s or 120s.

If you can't get a great signal strength with any of the transponders, then your dish is probably not pointed optimally.

If you have a fairly clear view, then you should be able to get a strong signal from both the Dish Network and DirecTV satellites.


Llwynn
Member

07-19-2003

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 2:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Llwynn a private message Print Post    
I LOVE my Dish! I actually first purchased a Direct TV for Christmas a couple of years ago, but ended up returning it when I found out that the prices advertised in the brochure were not the actual prices I would be paying through the local franchise. I ended up switching to Dish w/out ever even hooking up the Direct TV. I have DVR with two tuners in one box, and as long as I keep it plugged into my phone line, do not have to pay the extra 5.95/month. I also have my local channels. If cable were free, you still couldn't convince me to switch! Dish customer service has also been excellent. I do not have many problems with reception at all. Occasionally, if there is a thunderstorm, I may lose Dish for 10 to 15 minutes, but that has happened maybe two or three times over the course of two years.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 4:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
In our area, DirecTV beats Dish hands down! Better prices, MUCH cheaper Tivo, and quite a few more channels in "basic" level. Our prices have actually gone DOWN in the past year. My parents started w/Dish, but had crap service and couldn't get local channels (at first). They switched to DirecTV and TIVO and absolutely love it.


We've found the best way to get service is to call DirecTV directly... we were able to set up an installation of TIVO and 3 receivers and a dish for my parents at Christmas time last year -- with absolutely NO cost to anyone (we got a referral rebate that paid for their TIVO); plus, they worked it out schedule wise to that it was installed w/in 10 days and was hooked up, ready to go for Christmas! My in-laws have tried working w/ their "local" dealer without as much luck, so I think calling the national line gets you some better deals! :-)

Taterheadtwo
Member

09-29-2005

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 4:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Taterheadtwo a private message Print Post    
well dont just believe me, but do so googling yourself, but two bug things here is, one direct bought out dishnetwork, and fox news co. owns both. second either will honer the others specials, so if you are a first time buyer and see a cheaper price but you still want direct tv ( fox is pushing it more, it has a bigger budget and is getting the best and most improvements. dish is being let die a slow death) again do some googleing yourself.

Taterheadtwo
Member

09-29-2005

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 4:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Taterheadtwo a private message Print Post    
also dont know why, i have direct now myself, and in bad weather i get freezing n black outs? direct doesnt have a answer , except if it is local packages, then blame the local satalite hockup?? when i drove a large truck crosscountry, i would some times be in one spot for hours are days, and i had a portable statelite system, i could take my antenae out of the storage side compartment hook it on the pole i had mounted behind the truck cab, use laptop to get local zipcode where i was, then get the right altitude and longitude to nagle the antena, and then raise it above the truck cab, and i got the best, clearer signals i ever have , even in bad weather i hardly ever lost a signal,, so unless you live in a metropolitan area whit hundreds of cable channels, direct is better and cheaper.. ( footnote i have a cousin in virginia beach , virginia, who gets 3oo channels plus/hbo, cin movie package for 45 dollars) now thats hard to beat, at least he did when i was there for 2 week vacation with him)

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 10:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
tater. Direct tried to buy Dish Network, but the FCC didn't allow it. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/echoditv/

Dish Network is owned by EchoStar Communications Corporation (DISH on the NASDAQ).

Fox owns 34% of DirecTV (DTV on the NYSE).

It's probably true that distributors would honor the deals from either system, just as Joann's Crafts will honor Michael's coupons in the paper. In any case, it never hurts to ask.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 10:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
When we switched from Dish to DirecTV, I priced what we wanted from DirecTV, internet specials and the local Tweeter store. The local store was able to match/beat the other prices and had a $100 store rebate that made their price the best. Our tweeter uses their own installers and they were the best/easiest installers to work with. I ended up walking out of the store with the dish and all the receivers and 2 days later they installers came out.

I'm sure it varies by area and around Chicago you have so many choices between competing stores, so maybe this is not typical. As Tater would advise, check out several deals on-line and through stores, get educated about what you want and pick the one that is best price and deal for you.

P.S. Max's information is what I understand to be true about the 2 companies. Takeover was close, but no cigar.

One other note. DirecTV has taken over all manufacturing of DirecTivo units and will be phasing that hardware out beginning (I think) in 2006. They will still support Tivo service, but will begin shipping their own integrated DVR hardware exclusively in the coming months. I don't have their DVR, but I hear the software is similar to Tivo, so there shouldn't be much difference in features. Just probably a different look and feel.


Sunrvrose
Member

08-13-2001

Friday, December 16, 2005 - 11:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sunrvrose a private message Print Post    
I sold and serviced both DTV and Dish for a year and a half. I had bought DTV before I'd started selling systems.

I could write volumes on the difference, but I'll boil it down to one simple point. DirecTV stays on when Dish goes out. In the winter, I would have far and away more Dish customers calling to report digitalizing and lost signal, than I had DirecTV.

You've seen all those stupid cable ads that Satellite goes out in storms, HOGWASH!! I worked in a place where they had Comcast, and many more channels were out far more often than ANY channels were out with DirecTV, or Dish.

In the most horrible storms possible, satellite might go out for seconds. If the dish is covered with snow...guess what, you can fix it instantly. Just go pour a cup of lukewarm water over it.

Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cathie a private message Print Post    
We are facing the same decision--our new house isn't in a cable area so we will have to go for Dish or Direct TV. With our current cable setup we have a dual tuner DVR and love it.

When I checked into TIVO a few years ago you had to have a phone line near the TIVO box to obtain the scheduling. Is this necessary with Direct TV and Dish? We aren't plannning to have phone jacks by all of the TVs and I want to know if that will be a problem or not.

We have also been told (after signing the contract) that our new house is a couple of blocks outside the DSL area, so does anyone have any suggestions for high speed internet without cable or DSL? The builder told us there was a "microwave" internet available that was better than dialup but we haven't found anything more about it yet.

Tera
Member

08-10-2000

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 10:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tera a private message Print Post    
Wow Cathie, it sounds like you are building in the same neighborhood as me. My builder used the term WiFi, but it sounds like the same thing as "microwave". In fact I asked a question about that type of service in the Technical Q&A thread. Draheid gave me a great answer.

I see that you are in TX. Is your new house south of Ft. Worth?

Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 7:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cathie a private message Print Post    
Yes, it is in Burleson. Where are you?

Thanks for the link to the Q&A thread!

Tera
Member

08-10-2000

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 8:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tera a private message Print Post    
Holy cow Cathie!! That is where I am building too!:-)

Sending you an email.

Cathie
Member

08-16-2000

Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 8:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cathie a private message Print Post    
For those interested in amazing coincidences, Tera and I are building homes about 5 miles apart. Considering we now live about 1200 miles apart, it was a real shocker to me. How's that for TVCH trivia?