Direct tv vs. Digital cable vs. Dish Network

[Mr Cowboy]

It's been a while since I had Dish network, but I hated their customer service. It was a hassle dealing with them. It may have changed since, I don't know. I do know that I have not had any problems with Direct TV since I got it more than a year ago.

I have co-workers who are very happy with Dish Network, and a couple of them are very happy now that they have AT&T Uverse. The one constant is those co workers who have TW are still complaining about theri bill, and service.

 

[DBoys]

DirecTV is the best hands down. More HD channels with better picture and audio.

I have not had a chance to see the Verizon FIOS service.

 

[TRUTH87]

DirectV hands down is the best, just b/c of the Sunday ticket. Dish is good if u dont wanna get the ''Ticket'' i guess...

i have comcast digital cable, imma have to call em and order nfl network...thing is..i'm pretty sure if i call em up and order the channel, theyre' gonna want me to buy a whole package of channels..i highly doubt they will just add ONE SINGLE CHANNEL to my program....right?

 

[VietCowboy]

DirectV hands down is the best, just b/c of the Sunday ticket. Dish is good if u dont wanna get the ''Ticket'' i guess...

i have comcast digital cable, imma have to call em and order nfl network...thing is..i'm pretty sure if i call em up and order the channel, theyre' gonna want me to buy a whole package of channels..i highly doubt they will just add ONE SINGLE CHANNEL to my program....right?

yep, i've only watched NFLN, maybe i'll watch NBATV or something later but i'm paying 2.99, which will increase to 5.99 in a month or two. you could possibly get them to give you a credit for a month or two, a promotional price of 2.99 for 6 months if you complain that you use to have NFLN on your digital package and that's the only channel you'll watch on the sports pkg. try to ask them if they'll throw in HBO/STARZ for free for 3-6 months, if you get a nice CSR, they'll give it to you.

 

[LeonDixson]

There were 3 deciding factors in my decision to switch from Dish Network to DirectTV:

1) NFL Sunday ticket, although this was not the most important
2) When I wanted to upgrade to high-def, Dish wanted to soak me for the receivers even though I was an existing customer.
3) I have tvs in 4 rooms and I wanted to get 2 high-def DVRs and 2 high-def non recordable receivers. Dish could not do it. If I got the 2 DVRs that was it because they have 2 "feeds" each and Dish would/could only supply 4 "feeds" to the house.

DirectTV gave me a bargain on the high-def DVRs. Two for $199. Plus they gave me two high-def single receivers for a total of 6 "feeds" into the house. They threw in the Sunday Ticket and superfan to boot.

The biggest differentiator in my mind was the number of receivers and "feeds" or "lines" I could get. Now, if I want to watch one thing and record something else at the same time in my bedroom, someone in another room can still watch whatever they want. They couldn't do that if they were having to share my DVR "feeds".

 

[MetalHead]

I just got DirecTV and I wish I'd gone w/ Dish. With Dish you can go to a AT&T store and see what you are getting before you sign. W/ DTV you talk to someone on the phone and if the order comes out wrong, tough!. I know people that have had great service from DTV, but I also know people that have been lied to, as I was. And remember, you have no paperwork to substantiate any claims, when you are on the phone. I told the guy (on the phone) I wanted their "choice plus DVR pkg, 2 HD receivers and one standard rcvr". Even having one over it several times he had trouble repeating that back to me and when the order came, no DVR! When I called the lady says "it's $299". I said when I placed my order the guy said it was "only $199 if I got the DVR then", so I said "ok". The lady tells me that is "incorrect. It's $299", so I said "forget it". Also the installastion did not go well. The installer used existing TW cables that don't have enough bandwidth for the HD stuff. They did come out and replace those and the HD is awsome.

If you are in a smaller venue such as Beaumont, TX you may not get ANY network programming. You read me correctly. I signed up for this to see Cowboys games in HD and as it turns out I can't see them in any definition because there is no access to FOX (or any other network) in this area w/ DTV. I had to go buy cable and re-connect TW to see the non-NFL Network games. Supposedly DTV has more HD, but you are completely at their mercy as to what you get in equipment and programming. I'd look at Dish if I had to do it again...

Try this:
Get a set of rabbit ears and hook it up to your HD receiver(in the back of the receiver you should have an "off air antenna'' coaxial plug.
Go to set up on your receiver menu and run a scan for off air channels.
you should find your local HD feed there.
And example,here in san antonio NBC is channel 4.
After running the scan i found their HD feed on channel 4-1.
Pm me if you have more questions.

 

[Nors]

Try this:
Get a set of rabbit ears and hook it up to your HD receiver(in the back of the receiver you should have an "off air antenna'' coaxial plug.
Go to set up on your receiver menu and run a scan for off air channels.
you should find your local HD feed there.
And example,here in san antonio NBC is channel 4.
After running the scan i found their HD feed on channel 4-1.
Pm me if you have more questions.

Bingo - I Literally get all the local channels from Providence and Boston CLEAR in HD with rabit ears. DTV has almost all my local channels in HDTV as well. I think you need to pay extra for that though -

But yes - Connect the rabbit ears to an input on your HDTV and tune the channels - works like a charm.

 

[David276]

verizon FIOS

 

[Nors]

verizon FIOS

I'm long on FIOS - THats fiber optics to home. I'm staying DTV till Fios can get me Sunday Ticket. Not to mention not available here yet.

Thats the long term winner here folks. Bandwith is INFINITE based on equipment installed by Verizon and FIOS....

 

[theogt]

I'm long on FIOS - THats fiber optics to home. I'm staying DTV till Fios can get me Sunday Ticket. Not to mention not available here yet.

Thats the long term winner here folks. Bandwith is INFINITE based on equipment installed by Verizon and FIOS....

That's a pretty good reason not to get it.

 

[MetalHead]

Bingo - I Literally get all the local channels from Providence and Boston CLEAR in HD with rabit ears. DTV has almost all my local channels in HDTV as well. I think you need to pay extra for that though -

But yes - Connect the rabbit ears to an input on your HDTV and tune the channels - works like a charm.

Word...
I was introduced to that bit of info last year....digging it.

 

[DCfaninDC]

Try this:
Get a set of rabbit ears and hook it up to your HD receiver(in the back of the receiver you should have an "off air antenna'' coaxial plug.
Go to set up on your receiver menu and run a scan for off air channels.
you should find your local HD feed there.
And example,here in san antonio NBC is channel 4.
After running the scan i found their HD feed on channel 4-1.
Pm me if you have more questions.

Hey CalCBFan, go here
Put in your address and it will show what Digital local station you can pick up and what direction you need to point the antenna.

One thing though, your TV needs to have an HD tuner, which most HDTVs do these days. If not, most probably your set-top-box from DTV has it, just hook up the antenna to the back of the receiver.