Dish Network or DirecTv ??

[p_rushing]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

Directv will be the leader in HDTV for a while. They are launching or have launched the 2nd MPEG4 satellite which will allow them to expand local HD channels and offer move national HD channels. I don't know if Dish evenhas plans to launch yet.

[Hoos]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

OKay cool, thanks for the input guys. What I've seen thus far, looks like it will be more expensive (to the tune of $200 more) up front to get started with DirecTv. The NFL Ticket would be nice to have but I have a problem paying over $200 for it with DirecTv.

My biggest hurdle to get over at this point is the fear of someone jacking around with my dish once it's installed. I've got some rambunctious children in my apartment complex and I'm concerned that out of boredom they will give my dish a shove knocking it off signal. I live on the bottom floor of a three story building. The management here doesn't allow the dish to be attached to the building in any way, not on the roof , walls, bannisters, posts, etc..... They will only allow a "decorative" pot filled with concrete and a metal pole for securing the dish And then there's the refundable $250 deposit before I can have it installed

Oh well, a chance I have to take I guess. Does anyone know how hard it would be to realign a dish if some little **** messes with it?? A guy at work mentioned buying a satellite finder off of Ebay..........anybody know anything about that??

Thanks for all the help !!!

[Boltman]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

OKay cool, thanks for the input guys. What I've seen thus far, looks like it will be more expensive (to the tune of $200 more) up front to get started with DirecTv. The NFL Ticket would be nice to have but I have a problem paying over $200 for it with DirecTv.

My biggest hurdle to get over at this point is the fear of someone jacking around with my dish once it's installed. I've got some rambunctious children in my apartment complex and I'm concerned that out of boredom they will give my dish a shove knocking it off signal. I live on the bottom floor of a three story building. The management here doesn't allow the dish to be attached to the building in any way, not on the roof , walls, bannisters, posts, etc..... They will only allow a "decorative" pot filled with concrete and a metal pole for securing the dish And then there's the refundable $250 deposit before I can have it installed

Oh well, a chance I have to take I guess. Does anyone know how hard it would be to realign a dish if some little **** messes with it?? A guy at work mentioned buying a satellite finder off of Ebay..........anybody know anything about that??

Thanks for all the help !!!

It is not too hard at all bro. Take the plunge, back before I had my DirecTV Dishes on my roof, I had them on my upstairs patio. My kids messed them up a few times. I fixed them each time.

DirecTV just seems so much better to me than Dish it seems like a no brainer to me.

My father in law has both so I have dealt with both of them and the DirecTV seems like so much more of a user friendly interface than Dish.

[p_rushing]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

It is hard with the MPEG4 dishes as the signal is window is very small and you will need to be able to see the tv at the same time will adjusting. If you are worried about the dish, you can pay a monthly service charge for just that purpose and they will come out and fix it whenever needed for free.

With the signal meters, you need to get the right kind, go to avs or dbstalk.com and they can help you if you want to buy one or with any questions about direct or dish.

[highheatkingsb]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

DirecTV!!!! NFL Sunday Ticket. I love it. Only one complaint, no WWE 24/7.

[Hoos]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

It is hard with the MPEG4 dishes as the signal is window is very small and you will need to be able to see the tv at the same time will adjusting. If you are worried about the dish, you can pay a monthly service charge for just that purpose and they will come out and fix it whenever needed for free.

With the signal meters, you need to get the right kind, go to avs or dbstalk.com and they can help you if you want to buy one or with any questions about direct or dish.

In my case, the TV is in perfect position to view from outside so realigning for signal strength would be doable. Thanks again guys for all the help !!!

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

I don't think either is a bad choice.

I'm a 3 year Dish Network customer and I've been very satisfied. Great interface and solid lineup of HD programming.

[jdros13]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

I loved DTV for the 3 years I used the service. I moved back to Philly though, and chose the local sports over the NFL ticket....if I ever move back out of the area (or comcast philly shows up on DTV) I will switch in a heartbeat.

BTW, YMMV but if your cable price is getting jacked up it likely will take just a phone call to get back on one of the promotional packages. I've been on the Comcast triple play (tv, phone, internet) for 2+ years now (I'm starting on my 3rd year) because everytime they promo period runs out and they are going to raise the price I just call and tell them I'm not willing to pay that price when I can switch to Verizon Fios and pay less. They cave within 5 seconds. Just had to call a couple of weeks ago and literally all I said was that I didn't want to pay the new price (hadn't even threatened to leave yet) and they actually gave me a price lower than what I was paying before for exactly the same service. Good luck.

[The Chef]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

I like Directv more then Comcast but I am growing tired of the constant "Searching for Signal-771" code Im getting from Directv. It has literally snowed 2 times this year so far and both times Ive lost HD feeds, first time was Saturday and I lost my locals so I couldnt watch the hoops games in HD and tonight I have locals but everything else wont come in, and its getting really annoying. For having their service for 4 months and already having 2 billing screwups, 3 times Ive lost service for no reason and damage to the house from the idiot installer, the only thing keeping me here is the Sunday Ticket at this point.

[p_rushing]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

I like Directv more then Comcast but I am growing tired of the constant "Searching for Signal-771" code Im getting from Directv. It has literally snowed 2 times this year so far and both times Ive lost HD feeds, first time was Saturday and I lost my locals so I couldnt watch the hoops games in HD and tonight I have locals but everything else wont come in, and its getting really annoying. For having their service for 4 months and already having 2 billing screwups, 3 times Ive lost service for no reason and damage to the house from the idiot installer, the only thing keeping me here is the Sunday Ticket at this point.

First, what are your signal %s? Second you can spray Rainx on the dish to help the snow not stick on the dish and help the signal. You probably need to have the dish tweaked to get a better signal.

[The Chef]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

Well if I have to have someone come out again to mess with it then I might just cancel, this will be the third time in 4 months, Im not going to have this problem nearly every month just because they cant get their crap together. On Saturday it came back within an hour or two but tonight its been out all night, I think its pretty pathetic that we get like .5 inch of snow and suddenly I lose all my HD feeds, I cant imagine what it must be like for someone in a different state that gets snow more frequently, must be a real pain.

EDIT- Just to update, apparently when I pressed the red button on the front to reset it I really screwed myself since now it isnt acquiring any info from the satellite and I cant even get the guide up, let along any channels. I went to another tv and I can get the locals but nothing else at all, so its not just HD that isnt working its the entire setup. I still dont understand how such a tiny amount of snow can send the entire operation into the toilet, if they are that sensative then they need to take precautions when installing them so people dont go through this, but whatever, I love paying for a service that I cant use when I want to.

[greenegt]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

Just bought my first place and am looking into cable vs dish, as well. Do I HAVE to have land-line phone service in order to use DirecTV or Dish Network?

[jdros13]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

Well if I have to have someone come out again to mess with it then I might just cancel, this will be the third time in 4 months, Im not going to have this problem nearly every month just because they cant get their crap together. On Saturday it came back within an hour or two but tonight its been out all night, I think its pretty pathetic that we get like .5 inch of snow and suddenly I lose all my HD feeds, I cant imagine what it must be like for someone in a different state that gets snow more frequently, must be a real pain.

EDIT- Just to update, apparently when I pressed the red button on the front to reset it I really screwed myself since now it isnt acquiring any info from the satellite and I cant even get the guide up, let along any channels. I went to another tv and I can get the locals but nothing else at all, so its not just HD that isnt working its the entire setup. I still dont understand how such a tiny amount of snow can send the entire operation into the toilet, if they are that sensative then they need to take precautions when installing them so people dont go through this, but whatever, I love paying for a service that I cant use when I want to.

When I had DTV I lived in Chicago, and never had an issue with snow putting the signal out. Sounds like you have a really crappy install to me.

I did have an issue with t-storms a few times per year, but that was it.

[Boltman]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

Just bought my first place and am looking into cable vs dish, as well. Do I HAVE to have land-line phone service in order to use DirecTV or Dish Network?

They say you should have a land line plugged into the main box. But I've spoken with techs and service reps, it really is not needed.

I have 4 dual tuner DVR (Tivo) units in my home, and have no land lines connected to any of them. I order my movies from ppv online at Directv.com

[cman]

Re: Dish Network or DirecTv ??

Direct tv for me as well, mainly because of the nfl ticket. Their customer service has been horrible for us though! Took a while for them to get it up and working, but since then no problems, and they did give us free hd for a year for all the hassle.