Dish or Direct TV

[SThacker]

Hi all,

I know this has been discussed numerous times before but I would like someone's opinion who has switched from one to the other.


I'm currently a Dish subscriber but contemplating switching to direct TV mainly because they have HD locals in my area. I do like the option of the NFL ticket too.

I am tired of trying different indoor antennas to get OTA signals. I have not had very good luck. I talked to Dish last night about when they think dish will offer HD local channels. I got the standard response we are bringing on new satelites very soon which will allow us to bring on more HD channels. Obvisously they did not give me a firm date. Looking at their schedule it was supposed to have been in 2006 for availability of HD locals in my area.

If anyone could give me their opinions who have made a switch from dish to direct or from direct to Dish I would greatly appreciate your response.

Thanks

[Ira Lacher]

I switched about a month ago, mostly because at the time E* didn't have the Big Ten network (which they do now) and I really did want the MLB package, which they'd given up. Also, D* had the offer of four months of their best package along with NFL Sunday Ticket at the regular price (I could always downgrade programming packages later). And I would be paying less than I was paying at Dish. So I said OK, we'll switch after 11 years of Dish refusing to be responsive to sports fans, which was why I wanted satellite in the first place.

I am more or less pleased; the picture quality is comparable; the sports programming is more feature-packed; tech-wise, Dish's DVR seems to be a tad more user-functional than Direc's, as far as navigating while watching. But I can watch one program while recording another, which I couldn't do with Dish's 508.

I do not have HD and don't plan to for a while, so that doesn't enter into my choice at all, the way it seems to matter to so many people on this board.

So for me it was a programming availability matter. Which I guess is what it all comes down to, right? What you want to watch? Best of luck. And remember -- it's only TV.

[SThacker]

I switched about a month ago, mostly because at the time E* didn't have the Big Ten network (which they do now) and I really did want the MLB package, which they'd given up. Also, D* had the offer of four months of their best package along with NFL Sunday Ticket at the regular price (I could always downgrade programming packages later). And I would be paying less than I was paying at Dish. So I said OK, we'll switch after 11 years of Dish refusing to be responsive to sports fans, which was why I wanted satellite in the first place.

I am more or less pleased; the picture quality is comparable; the sports programming is more feature-packed; tech-wise, Dish's DVR seems to be a tad more user-functional than Direc's, as far as navigating while watching. But I can watch one program while recording another, which I couldn't do with Dish's 508.

I do not have HD and don't plan to for a while, so that doesn't enter into my choice at all, the way it seems to matter to so many people on this board.

So for me it was a programming availability matter. Which I guess is what it all comes down to, right? What you want to watch? Best of luck. And remember -- it's only TV.



Thanks

[tflorman]

I recently switched to Directv from Dish Network 2 weeks ago because I finally broke down and bought a 50" plasma and wanted as many HD channels as I could possibly get my hands on. While I am generally pleased with the programming options, there are a few things I really miss about Dish Network.

I will give you my initial impressions in a pros and cons list.

DirecTV Pros.
1. Directv has or will have more HD channels in the near future...some of which were just turned on, but many more to come.
2. Directv features a better sports viewing package in my opinion.
3. 1 DVR fee per household versus per receiver.
4. More pay per view channels.
5. Ability to install an alternate hard drive with a much larger capacity.
6. Networkable features available to Windows users... though I am a Mac/UNIX guys so I am out of luck.

Dish Network Pros
1. I much prefer Dish's hardware, both the way the menu systems work to the layout of the remote control, to the over all speed and ease of use... dish kicks the **** out of Directv in this area.
2. Dish is generally cheaper for like channels with similar movie packages.
3. Guide is more well thought out... I also liked the star *** ratings the info button would provide about any given movie.

DirecTV cons.
1. latest hardware is generally inferior to Dish's latest hardware...
2. Remote control isn't well thought out and not as ergonomically pleasing.
3. Menu systems are slow and seem counter-intuitive in the way the channels are listed.... ie have to press the down button in the guide to go to a higher channel number as the channels are listed in ascending order with no way to reverse it...
4. DVR stuff is cludgy and unreliable... have to assign priorities, defaults to only keeping the last 5 episode and will record reruns by default instead of just first runs... Basically, the defaults should be tweaked.

Dish Network cons.
1. Less overall programming available in HD, especially sports.
2. They nickel and dime you to death for extra dvr's, extra receivers, locals access, etc.


Final impressions...

If HD channel availability were comparable across both provides... I would have stayed with Dish Network because I like their hardware much more. But once everything is all hooked up and working, both providers have good picture/sound quality and offer a better experience compared to Comcast and probably most other cable providers(on demain not withstanding).

I can live with the hardware short comings so long as the HD roll out continues as promised. I dropped 2k on a my new TV and I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible and so far, the HD offerings from DirecTV are keeping me happy in that regard.

[SThacker]

I recently switched to Directv from Dish Network 2 weeks ago because I finally broke down and bought a 50" plasma and wanted as many HD channels as I could possibly get my hands on. While I am generally pleased with the programming options, there are a few things I really miss about Dish Network.

I will give you my initial impressions in a pros and cons list.

DirecTV Pros.
1. Directv has or will have more HD channels in the near future...some of which were just turned on, but many more to come.
2. Directv features a better sports viewing package in my opinion.
3. 1 DVR fee per household versus per receiver.
4. More pay per view channels.
5. Ability to install an alternate hard drive with a much larger capacity.
6. Networkable features available to Windows users... though I am a Mac/UNIX guys so I am out of luck.

Dish Network Pros
1. I much prefer Dish's hardware, both the way the menu systems work to the layout of the remote control, to the over all speed and ease of use... dish kicks the **** out of Directv in this area.
2. Dish is generally cheaper for like channels with similar movie packages.
3. Guide is more well thought out... I also liked the star *** ratings the info button would provide about any given movie.

DirecTV cons.
1. latest hardware is generally inferior to Dish's latest hardware...
2. Remote control isn't well thought out and not as ergonomically pleasing.
3. Menu systems are slow and seem counter-intuitive in the way the channels are listed.... ie have to press the down button in the guide to go to a higher channel number as the channels are listed in ascending order with no way to reverse it...
4. DVR stuff is cludgy and unreliable... have to assign priorities, defaults to only keeping the last 5 episode and will record reruns by default instead of just first runs... Basically, the defaults should be tweaked.

Dish Network cons.
1. Less overall programming available in HD, especially sports.
2. They nickel and dime you to death for extra dvr's, extra receivers, locals access, etc.


Final impressions...

If HD channel availability were comparable across both provides... I would have stayed with Dish Network because I like their hardware much more. But once everything is all hooked up and working, both providers have good picture/sound quality and offer a better experience compared to Comcast and probably most other cable providers(on demain not withstanding).

I can live with the hardware short comings so long as the HD roll out continues as promised. I dropped 2k on a my new TV and I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible and so far, the HD offerings from DirecTV are keeping me happy in that regard.


Very Nice input Thanks

[legion28]

I wish it wasn't so, but for me the breakdown is:

DirecTV:
NFL

Dish:
No NFL

Exclusive deals suck. At least I am happy with DirecTV - if I wasn't, it'd be hell.