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Posted: 12/31/2001 10:48:31 AM EDT
those of you who have em, are you happy with it? i am on the fence about getting one, i think i want to, i haven't heard anyone comlplain yet, so here's your chance.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 10:53:17 AM EDT
[#1]
I'd go w/ the Dish network.  More options, much better service...  Both DTV & Dish are now owned by the same company so who knows, maybe there will be one standard soon.  Lots of probs w/ DTV customer service in past - bigger company, less care about its customers, but ever since Dish took them over, maybe it's gotten better.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 10:53:54 AM EDT
[#2]
Read this...

[url]http://www.directv.com/about/aboutpages/0,1119,538,00.html[/url]

It might help.

PS I have Direct TV and love it.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 10:58:24 AM EDT
[#3]
I have Direct TV and love it.  Had it for 6 years now with no problems at all.  Dish Networks menu and channel selection sucks, plus its too slow.  I would not trade DTV for anything.  
Bill3508(cable sucks)
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 11:00:24 AM EDT
[#4]
I have had DirecTV for a few years and I have had no problems with customer service. The point is moot now, however since they have merged. Eventually, there will only be one standard. The company will provide free replacement for boxes that are no longer useable after the changeover.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 11:09:51 AM EDT
[#5]
I am in the process of getting DishTV. The company that I work for sells their dishes, so I get an employee discount off the equipment! They are running a special until the end of Jan, for $9.00/mo, if you buy your dish for $199.99 or above. Cable in my area starts at $50/mo for [b]basic[/b], so I would be insane to go with cable. The only complaint that I have heard about either Dish or Direct, is that you have to pay $5.00 extra for local channels. If thats a concern of yours, just hook up an antenna to your VCR and watch the locals through that. Hope that helps...
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 11:14:59 AM EDT
[#6]
The Echostar/DTV merger has yet to be approved, so I wouldn't call it a done deal yet.

I'd go with DTV over Dish if only to get the receiver with built-in Tivo.  My brother-in-law has Dish and doesn't like it as much as DTV.  

Then there is the potential for "satellite hobbyists" who own DirecTV systems.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 11:38:53 AM EDT
[#7]
I just got hooked up with Direct TV 2 weeks ago...
All I can say is...

THE COMCAST CABLE NAZIS SUCK !!!

Satellite TV is the ONLY way to go...

The dish & receiver cost $25 at Radio Shack and has a $24.99 mail-in rebate...
Only catch is, you must stay connected for 12 months...
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 11:51:06 AM EDT
[#8]
WE have dish network $150.00 to buy the equipment, free installation, $9.00 a month for over 100 channels.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 12:22:10 PM EDT
[#9]
I went with DIsh about a year ago - bought the Dishplayer 500 (has TiVo like features - they do have a newer model now).

My deal was if I signed up for a certain package - cost about the same as cable in this area, I would get a rebate for the equipment.  Cool, free equipment I get to keep and more channels than cable for the cable price (actually little less)

DirectTV is in trouble financially (from what I've heard) so even if the merger doesn't go through, you might be better off going with Dish.

Oh, and find someone that's already on Dish, as they are running some specials right now - if you sign up a buddy kind of thing.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 12:30:59 PM EDT
[#10]
I moved 2 years ago. Instead of dealing with the Cable Nazis I went with Direct TV. No problems. The only time I loose the signal is 10 minutes or so if a big thunderstorm gets between my dish and the satellite. Otherwise, my picture is perfect.

I have seen the dish/system unit for as low as 49.95.

Link Posted: 12/31/2001 12:36:28 PM EDT
[#11]
I've had DirecTV for over 4 years, and I think it's the greatest thing since two-ply toilet paper.  Except for sever weather, it's a great picture.  When I bought my new house, I went with digital cable at the wife's urging (bitch).  What a mistake.  Digital cable takes forever to lock a channel, and the menu system is a complete joke.  With DirecTV, I can see 8 channels, up to 2 hours in the future, and I can surf with very high cyclic rates.

Pretty soon, I'm gonna get UltimateTV, so I can tape stuff from the Discovery and Learning channels (and porn).
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 12:46:44 PM EDT
[#12]
how do high winds affect the transmission quality?

can you get a sat modem on these tv services (extra cost option?)

i live on an exposed ridgetop...always a breeze, often gusts of 40-60mph. no cable option this far out in the boonies.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 12:57:39 PM EDT
[#13]
There is no question about it!!  Dtv programming is way better than Dishnetwork and it's easier to test too!  I love my VIVID TV! [whacko]
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 1:06:19 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Then there is the potential for "satellite hobbyists" who own DirecTV systems.
View Quote


From what I've been reading, that is starting to get tougher and tougher.  Seems that 3M sites are being shut down.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 1:09:41 PM EDT
[#15]
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 1:19:03 PM EDT
[#16]
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 1:19:23 PM EDT
[#17]
I have been with direct tv for 5 years now. I have not had any trouble. I like getting my local channels when I am in another state. I live in an rv. Keeps me posted about home. They say you have to be hooked up to a land line. When ever they ask I give them the old phone number that was disconnected 7 months ago. That seems to make them happy. Plus you can change your programming and order pay per view on line. I dropped all that show time hbo stuff because I only watch a movie every now and then. Last one I watched was Enemy at the Gates on PPV last week around 4 bucks. You can get directpc also as a duo dish. I cant get it for my rv because it has to be professionally installed at a fixed location. I set up my dish every time I move. John
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 1:22:41 PM EDT
[#18]
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 1:29:30 PM EDT
[#19]
I work for DIRECTV so here's the deal. DIRECTV and Dish have anounced that they "wish" to merger (with Dish in charge). Guvmint has not OK'd the deal as it could be considered a monopoly (which it would be if you only consider satellite for TV). Compared to "cable" though, it would not be. For rural areas without cable it would be.

Campared with the merger of AT&Ts cable and Comcast (Cox too I think) it would not be by subscriber base. 16-18 mil for Sat and 22-24 for the combined cable.

Historically, DISH has had better customer service (proven by winning JD Powers yearly awards). Dish owns "multiple" customer care centers so that the person you talk to actually is a DISH employee and probably gives a sh!t more about their quality of service. DIRECTV owns "one" care center in Boise, ID and farms out 90% of to 3rd party (i dont care) centers. Both have better customer support though, than any of the big cable companies (some tiny ones are great though).

DIRECTV has generally better technology. Having been propped up financially by General Motors and technologically from Hughes/Raytheon, DIRECTV has the best toys technology and partnerships with tech firms.

Neither companies dishes are affected by winds as long as the mount is strong. Thunderstorms/Heavy snow will affect the transmission though.

Both companies have satellite two-way communications, however it is currently a FAST download with SLOWWWW upload and lots of lag that makes it terrible for online games. Basically you use a regular modem (28-56k) modem to send signals "back" up to the satellite to get stuff beamed down at 400k. Good for downloading stuff and browsing, however dont expect to play any fast packet requirement games like Counter strike, Quake etc. Good for Porn though :-)

I get "every" DIRECTV channel for free and I barely watch. Mostly just Discovery, History and those types of channels if at all. Too much TV rots your brain my parents told me long ago :-), However if you REALLY like TV, Satellite is the way to go!

If you live a big city, you should be able to get local channels too. You used to have to use ol' rabbit ears to get local channels. You still will for smaller cities.

Link Posted: 12/31/2001 1:51:02 PM EDT
[#20]
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 2:21:12 PM EDT
[#21]
Where I live, local channels are not offered. Now just 1/4 mile down the road, in Maryland, I could get them. So what I did was move the "service" location to my dad's house in Md., and keep the billing address at my house. Now I have Baltimore local channels, which means I can watch Monday night football again!!!! I'm not ripping anybody off since I still pay the $5.99 monthly fee for local service.
Campy, if you go the satellite route, I recommend a simple heavy pipe driven into the ground and surrounded by concrete for a mount. That way it is only about 5ft off the ground in case you have to clear off any snow. Mine's been through a couple of hurricanes and not had a problem, other than when a particularly thick/watery cloud gets in the way during a bad storm.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 4:03:48 PM EDT
[#22]
ooohhh good idea gus! that was my only big reserve, no local offred here, i will try my dad's adress!!
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 4:33:56 PM EDT
[#23]
thanks guys. i don't watch much tv (i use rabbit ears...i'm up so high i get good reception even though i'm considered "deep fringe" area to most transmitters.

i was just looking at a better alternative to the one local isp that serves my little corner of east jaghundi.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 4:36:22 PM EDT
[#24]
I use an attick antennae for local channels.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 5:24:41 PM EDT
[#25]
Dish Network was working with www.starband.com I think it was 128k both ways ...

Ted...
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 6:20:24 PM EDT
[#26]
DTV(hate them)? lol at least with DPC(whom i hate even more, worked tech support for them) the avereage DTV tech's intellegence is those that get fired from mcdonalds. im serious. to work for DTV they have a test you take. 50% lets your work for DTV, 90% DPC. i dont know the echostar test for their techs. but they seem more intellegent when i talked to them. only time i have had to is when the system took a lightning hit and died. (didnt tell them that, got them to RMA it.) or registering the receiver. Dishnet also has  tivo type unit. the Dish 501(out now) or 701 (not ready yet) 701 has 2 tuners over the 501's 1 tuner.
Dish is the better way to go. Direc offered me free hardware when i worked for them, i flat out refused the trash, happy with Dish. when their own emps wont take the service that should say somthin.

btw i no longer work for the idiots. they pissed me off to much.

Edit below

Xero is right. hughs farmed out most of its tech support. both DTV and DPC, one site was Sitel Technology Services in augusta GA (relocated to FLorida now) i worked the DPC project, DTV was only a few rows away. so even though i worked 3rd party for them i still wouldnt take the free trash ;)
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 6:53:30 PM EDT
[#27]
I have no complaints about Directv. The music channels are great.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 9:26:23 PM EDT
[#28]
DTV complaints:
They only broadcast from one timezone, meaning that all broadcast times are from the yeast coast.
That sucks for the west coasters (me) since I now get to watch all of the horse shit informercials when I sould be able to watch the shows as they are supposed to be shown.

Only one channel at a time. You have to buy an extra reciever/dish dohicky/extra card AND pay for the "privlidge" to watch/record more than one channel at a time.

Where I live the digital cable only brodcasts certain channels in digital, the rest are regular cable. This means that I need a box to get the digital signals (one channel at a time) but I can hook up as many TV's to the regular cable and still get about 30 non digital channels.

Where I live it broadcast TV signals don't make it. Yet I live less than 100 miles from just about every known major and independent TV station.

With cable I would be getting all of the local channels, with DTV I only get 4 local stations. I don't get UPN or the independent stations.

Why do I have DTV? My wife won the entire set-up from BlockBuster for free. Our subscription runs out in January, it's gonna be cable for me!

Anyone want to buy a complete DTV setup? Cheap!
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 9:34:51 PM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:
The Echostar/DTV merger has yet to be approved, so I wouldn't call it a done deal yet.

I'd go with DTV over Dish if only to get the receiver with built-in Tivo.  My brother-in-law has Dish and doesn't like it as much as DTV.  

Then there is the potential for "satellite hobbyists" who own DirecTV systems.
View Quote
I have had the Dish Network DishPlayer 500 for over a year.  It not only offers all the Tivo features but has a hard drive you can record shows onto.  They had this long before DirecTV got the Tivo.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 9:40:35 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
I have Direct TV and love it.  Had it for 6 years now with no problems at all.  Dish Networks menu and channel selection sucks, plus its too slow.  I would not trade DTV for anything.  
Bill3508(cable sucks)
View Quote
Everyone that I know that has DirecTV oohs and aahs over my DishPlayer 500 and that I can record onto it and look at the schedule a week ahead.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 9:57:54 PM EDT
[#31]
Quoted:
I work for DIRECTV so here's the deal. DIRECTV and Dish have anounced that they "wish" to merger (with Dish in charge). Guvmint has not OK'd the deal as it could be considered a monopoly (which it would be if you only consider satellite for TV). Compared to "cable" though, it would not be. For rural areas without cable it would be.

Campared with the merger of AT&Ts cable and Comcast (Cox too I think) it would not be by subscriber base. 16-18 mil for Sat and 22-24 for the combined cable.

Historically, DISH has had better customer service (proven by winning JD Powers yearly awards). Dish owns "multiple" customer care centers so that the person you talk to actually is a DISH employee and probably gives a sh!t more about their quality of service. DIRECTV owns "one" care center in Boise, ID and farms out 90% of to 3rd party (i dont care) centers. Both have better customer support though, than any of the big cable companies (some tiny ones are great though).

DIRECTV has generally better technology. Having been propped up financially by General Motors and technologically from Hughes/Raytheon, DIRECTV has the best toys technology and partnerships with tech firms.

Neither companies dishes are affected by winds as long as the mount is strong. Thunderstorms/Heavy snow will affect the transmission though.

Both companies have satellite two-way communications, however it is currently a FAST download with SLOWWWW upload and lots of lag that makes it terrible for online games. Basically you use a regular modem (28-56k) modem to send signals "back" up to the satellite to get stuff beamed down at 400k. Good for downloading stuff and browsing, however dont expect to play any fast packet requirement games like Counter strike, Quake etc. Good for Porn though :-)

I get "every" DIRECTV channel for free and I barely watch. Mostly just Discovery, History and those types of channels if at all. Too much TV rots your brain my parents told me long ago :-), However if you REALLY like TV, Satellite is the way to go!

If you live a big city, you should be able to get local channels too. You used to have to use ol' rabbit ears to get local channels. You still will for smaller cities.

View Quote


I work for Echostar, we do the satellite uplink for Dish.  Xero is right, the merger has yet to go through.  Now about them having the latest and greatest technology, I dont think so.  I work with the stuff of a daily basis.  I cant really go into what we have but lets just say it doesnt get better.  Anyway I can proudly say that Dish quality is superior to Dtv's.  We have lower prices and a greater selection of both standard and ethnic services.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 10:07:51 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
I work for Echostar, we do the satellite uplink for Dish
View Quote
When you say "we do the satellite uplink for Dish", are you saying that Dish and Echostar are two different companies?  I thought they were one and the same.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 10:16:04 PM EDT
[#33]
They are the same company but kinda broken up within the company.  We all communicate with one another its just split up.  Does that make any sense?
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 10:36:59 PM EDT
[#34]
Like departments or divisions, right.
Link Posted: 12/31/2001 11:40:07 PM EDT
[#35]
The one thing I don't like is that you can't channel surf fast ebnough.
People tell me"just look atr hte program guide,ewell= us guys are visual and that doesn't tell me much,I need to SEE wg-=hat is happening.
Link Posted: 1/1/2002 12:52:12 AM EDT
[#36]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Then there is the potential for "satellite hobbyists" who own DirecTV systems.
View Quote


From what I've been reading, that is starting to get tougher and tougher.  Seems that 3M sites are being shut down.
View Quote


I overheard a dromaius novaehollandiae say there is another option.
Link Posted: 1/1/2002 1:11:07 AM EDT
[#37]
Imbro, there are always other options for "Hobbyists".  [:)]

DTV just redid their local chanel signals as of December 27th. The only problem is since the 27th I can no longer watch continuous episodes of the Simpsons from 3:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  [:(]
Link Posted: 1/2/2002 4:40:07 AM EDT
[#38]
I chose DirecTV mainly because at my property I wouldn't be able to pull in one of the Dish network satellites, too low on the horizon it would seem.

No complaints about DTV and the picture quality is far superior to the digital cable I used to have.
Link Posted: 1/2/2002 4:45:08 AM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Then there is the potential for "satellite hobbyists" who own DirecTV systems.
View Quote


From what I've been reading, that is starting to get tougher and tougher.  Seems that 3M sites are being shut down.
View Quote


I overheard a dromaius novaehollandiae say there is another option.
View Quote


BWAHAHAHAHAHA
All your emulators are belong to us!
Link Posted: 1/2/2002 12:00:35 PM EDT
[#40]
What's the market price for virgin H cards and BS H cards these days???
Link Posted: 1/2/2002 12:29:35 PM EDT
[#41]
Doh....  

Next you'll be asking the guys who work for them what is next in their plan to kill you off. [:)]

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