Posted: 6/28/2008 6:11:08 PM EDT
| Opinions?Also posted in Florida hometown section.Thanks |
| I have dish right now...switched over to Embarq from Charter and it was part of the package...the really good thing is that I can get the Philippine Channel for the wife now...other than that the channel lineup is similar, but Charter Cable had more On Demand movies that Dish does...but I have Nexflix for my movies. |
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I love Dish, they can be a little iffy in the customer service dept. I had Dtv for 3 months, problem after problem, so I switched back. If you are a football fan Dtv has NFL Sunday ticket that gives you access to every game for like300 bucks. If you want more on demand shows or movies, go with your local cable company. BTW, my dish only goes out in SEVERE weather, not every time it rains. |
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I was just doing some shopping between the two myself after purchasing a home a couple weeks ago. I ended up w/ DirecTV. So far I like it. I picked it primarily for what looked like a farrrr superior HD channel lineup. Only thing I miss from my cable days was the On-Demand system Charter offered. I'm hoping DirecTV adds that in, I think they're beta testing that somewhere already. |
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I installed and ran an installation company for DirecTV for 4 years, and have been working for Dish for a year. 90% would be better with DirecTV. DirecTV has more HD channels right now, and are due to expand again when DirecTV 11 (the last of the 4-sat HD infrastructure) goes live (it's completing testing now). Dish's primary advantage is that they have little to no up-front cost for equipment, but with the configurations that most people get, this is offset by higher programming costs. Dish's plan for near-term HD was lousy, and they are suffering for it now, as they've maxed out capacity. Dish's DVRs have historically been preferred, and they have been making their own DVRs for much longer (DirecTV used 3rd-party DVRs until a few years ago), so they have more experience to draw on. But DirecTV has been working hard on their HD-DVR, and while there are still a few bugs, they also have features that aren't available on Dish: - VideoOnDemand via Internet connection to HD-DVR - Media Sharing [view pics, music, and some video from networked Media Connect server via HD-DVR] - Remote DVR Scheduling [schedule recordings via DirecTV.com] They are also finalizing being able to stream content to your PC, and then on Multi-Room Viewing (watching programs from one DVR on another one over home network). Being an installer for DirecTV sucks, but they have taken the lead in all areas IMO, except perhaps for intro pricing. -Troy P.S., I can answer any questions about either service. |
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If you like watching NBC, CBS, ABC or Fox network programming and expect to be watching them in HD, be very careful when dealing with either Dish or Directv. As of yet they do not have high definition network programming in all markets. Check your zip code before you finalize anything with either one. |
| I just switched to Direct after having Dish for almost 2 yrs. I wanted to upgrade to HD since I just got a new tv and it made much more sense to switch to Direct. I liked the Dish hardware a little better, but Direct's programming and quality I like a better. They also offered a far superior HD package and with becoming a new customer saved me a decent chunk of money. Dish didn't even bother trying to offer me a deal to stay. |
Both services are continuing to expand HD LiL (Local-in-Local) programming, but in most cases, this is happening based on the ranking of your DMA. DirecTV has worked out a deal with PBS, and so many DMAs will have an HD CW and PBS station along with the Big 4 networks after D11 goes live. -Troy |
We have travelled down similar roads. I worked for D* for about 2.5 years, E* for another year, then got into home theater/automation. I echo just about everything he said except I have an undying hatred for Dish network equipment. I have always found the receivers (esp DVRs) clunky, buggy and akward, both to setup and use (I still have checkswitch nightmares). Directv had a great selection of DVRs when they were 3rd party (Ultimatetv, Tivo) and the in house box is getting better all the time, after some really bad teething problems. I love my HR21, it has been pretty stable and reliable so far. It took me some getting used to the GUI after being a Tivo loyalist for 4 years, but it is growing on me. For the guy with the hacked FTA box, you probably don't recall what happened to the guys who were "testing" directv back in the day. Directv sent a kill code that smoked pretty much all the pirated cards all in one fell swoop (Black Sunday). If memory serves me, there were criminal charges filed against many people, businesses were raided and some folks went to jail for surprisingly long periods of time. They sued all the companies who were selling card programmers, card hacking software and cards. One of the things that came with winning the suits were the customer lists of all the people who had purchased items from them. Directv then filed civil suits against almost all the people on those lists (around 15,000 people IIRC). The offer to the hackers from Directv was, pay us (somewhere around $25,000 each) or we will see you in court and our lawyers will eat you alive. Most negotiated a settlement, some fought and lost. IMO, not worth if for free tv. |
DirecTV has the local stations in HD. |