Switching from Comcast to DirecTV --- Seattle, WA

[homerjr]

My apologies if this is better suited in another section of the forum. Anyways, I am a new member and think I can get some solid answers without a sales pitch from a CSR.

I live in Seattle, WA, most specifically the West Seattle neighborhood and currently am with Comcast.

In light of DirecTV's announcement that they will be rolling out new HD channels in October and more by year's end, I was wondering if I should jump to DirecTV. I've read some threads here and there about Comcast's general slowness of keeping pace with the other cable providers with regards to HD content, much less giving customers a solid answer as to when their respective market will get new HD channels. And apparently with regards to the Seattle area, we come last when getting new HD channels. I have yet to try calling/e-mailing Comcast and ask them when they will have new HD channels in response to DirecTV's latest announcement.

So my question is should I switch to DirecTV so I can get the most use out of my HDTV? I do have a couple of concerns with DirecTV, mostly if the local network channels like ABC (KOMO4), NBC (KING5), CBS (KIRO7) and FOX (KCPQ13) do show up in HD and if there are any general problems with their reception. I live on the top floor of a small apartment unit that sits halfway up a hill and figure my reception wouldn't be susceptible to reception issues due to trees. A friend of mine has DirecTV and lives in the same neighborhood says he hasn't experienced any reception issues, but he does not have a HDTV and I wonder if a factor comes into play when getting DirecTV.

Any help/advice on this would be greatly appreciated and if anyone from the West Seattle area is reading this, do you have HD programming through DirecTV? If so, how many of the new channels they announced last week do you get and how is the reception?

Thanks,
Jacob

PS: If I do make the switch to DirecTV, is it better to order from their website or to call?

[Greg Alsobrook]

hello and :welcome_s to the forum! not being in the seattle area, i can't really speak specifically about your hd locals... but i do know that your HD locals and the new HD channels are going to come off of different sats... but as long as there are no trees blocking your line of sight... you should have no problem receiving all of the new HD channels and all of your locals...

making the swtich to d* was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time! i have no idea what took me so long to switch... it is definately the company to be with if you have an HDTV...

[homerjr]

hello and :welcome_s to the forum! not being in the seattle area, i can't really speak specifically about your hd locals... but i do know that your HD locals and the new HD channels are going to come off of different sats... but as long as there are no trees blocking your line of sight... you should have no problem receiving all of the new HD channels and all of your locals...

making the swtich to d* was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time! i have no idea what took me so long to switch... it is definately the company to be with if you have an HDTV...

Thanks for welcoming me to the forum.

When you made the switch to DirecTV, did you call them or order from their website?

[DanHo]

So my question is should I switch to DirecTV so I can get the most use out of my HDTV? I do have a couple of concerns with DirecTV, mostly if the local network channels like ABC (KOMO4), NBC (KING5), CBS (KIRO7) and FOX (KCPQ13) do show up in HD and if there are any general problems with their reception. I live on the top floor of a small apartment unit that sits halfway up a hill and figure my reception wouldn't be susceptible to reception issues due to trees. A friend of mine has DirecTV and lives in the same neighborhood says he hasn't experienced any reception issues, but he does not have a HDTV and I wonder if a factor comes into play when getting DirecTV.


PS: If I do make the switch to DirecTV, is it better to order from their website or to call?
You will get ABC, NBC, CBS & FOX, but not others. No PBS HD (only SD) and others like the CW (which I personally never watch). That said, as close as you are to Seattle, you shouldn't have any issues with getting those channels OTA. Hopefully you don't watch the WA state TV channel or the news channel that is on channel 2.

I personally like DirecTV much better than Comcast for my TV service. I also think that the PQ is much better as well. You should not have any reception issues as long as you have a clear view of the S. Eastern sky.

As for ordering, call them. You can usually get a better deal by talking to a sale rep.

[carl6]

My apologies if this is better suited in another section of the forum. Anyways, I am a new member and think I can get some solid answers without a sales pitch from a CSR.

I live in Seattle, WA, most specifically the West Seattle neighborhood and currently am with Comcast.


Hi, and welcome to the fourms.


So my question is should I switch to DirecTV so I can get the most use out of my HDTV? I do have a couple of concerns with DirecTV, mostly if the local network channels like ABC (KOMO4), NBC (KING5), CBS (KIRO7) and FOX (KCPQ13) do show up in HD and if there are any general problems with their reception.

DirecTV offers 4, 5, 7 and 13 in HD. They also carry all the locals in SD. You will only get the main channel (you won't get 5-2 (weather) or 7-2 (mostly a picture of Seatac). You also won't get any cable specific channel, such as north west cable news.

I live on the top floor of a small apartment unit that sits halfway up a hill and figure my reception wouldn't be susceptible to reception issues due to trees. A friend of mine has DirecTV and lives in the same neighborhood says he hasn't experienced any reception issues, but he does not have a HDTV and I wonder if a factor comes into play when getting DirecTV.

The only potential issue in your case is getting the landlords permission for the dish installation. Make sure you work this with your landlord before the installer shows up. They are not supposed to do an apartment install unless you have written permission. As for living "halfway up a hill", is there anyplace in Seattle where you can't do that? I live in NW Seattle, grew up in West Seattle.

Any help/advice on this would be greatly appreciated and if anyone from the West Seattle area is reading this, do you have HD programming through DirecTV? If so, how many of the new channels they announced last week do you get and how is the reception?

Thanks,
Jacob

PS: If I do make the switch to DirecTV, is it better to order from their website or to call?

I get all the new HD channels no problem. My service has been great.

I don't know if there is any difference between calling and ordering on-line.

Carl

[Greg Alsobrook]

Thanks for welcoming me to the forum.

When you made the switch to DirecTV, did you call them or order from their website?

actually i used a local independent installer that a friend referred me to...

but if i didn't have that option... i would probably go through the phone ordering... you might can work a better deal that way...

here is a link to read up on for some tips on getting the best deal on the HD DVR... http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=839938#post839938

[DanHo]

I don't know if there is any difference between calling and ordering on-line.

Carl
I got a much better deal by calling. Use the simple issue of letting them know you are a comcast sub and are interested in all the new HD channels. Bring up the fact that comcast does not charge you an up front fee for their HD equipment. And let them know that the price is a tad too steep. They won't give it to you for free, but you should be able to get it at a much discounted rate.

[n3ntj]

If you call D* to find out the deals, make sure you tell them you are thinking of switching from Comcast. I would think that would get you the best possible deal since you are a potential convert from the competition.

[homerjr]

I want to thank everyone for putting in their two cents on my questions. They are all proving to be valuable.

Thanks everyone :)

[Greg Alsobrook]

I want to thank everyone for putting in their two cents on my questions. They are all proving to be valuable.

Thanks everyone :)

no problem... feel free to ask any other questions... you'll get a much quicker and more accurate response here than anywhere else!

[bobnielsen]

You can always see what sort of deal is on the web site before calling. That way you will know what to aim for.

I get good reception on all the HD channels, including locals. The PBS, CW and MYN stations are all on Capitol Hill, so unless you are behind a hill in that direction, you should be in good shape for OTA. When there are more spotbeams added, they may even show on on satellite (one can hope, at least).

[DanHo]

You can always see what sort of deal is on the web site before calling. That way you will know what to aim for.

I get good reception on all the HD channels, including locals. The PBS, CW and MYN stations are all on Capitol Hill, so unless you are behind a hill in that direction, you should be in good shape for OTA. When there are more spotbeams added, they may even show on on satellite (one can hope, at least).

Don't hold you breath for PBS HD, unless something drastically changes.

[rjdude]

I want to thank everyone for putting in their two cents on my questions. They are all proving to be valuable.

Thanks everyone :)


I highly recommend you calling in as a referral. If you have a friend that has DirecTV, get his account number and call the Referral line at 1-866-443-8869; you'll each get $50 credit ($10 credit for 5 months). If your friend has a good account status, they may give you better offers.

[JonVig]

Thanks for welcoming me to the forum.

When you made the switch to DirecTV, did you call them or order from their website?

I switched back to D* from Comcast recently (Detroit Area) and am very happy. The HD offerings alone were enough for me.

IMHO, you will get a better deal by calling.

Good Luck,

Jon

[Milominderbinder2]

PS: If I do make the switch to DirecTV, is it better to order from their website or to call?
The website is always the worst deals. Here are people geting the best deals:

What the Deals are, and what are you being told by CSR? (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1174192#post1174192)

Use the script in to get great deals.

- Craig