If you are considering switching to Directv from Dish....

[LanMan]

I have had Dish for over 8 years and I just made the move from Dish to Directv and I am VERY impressed with the quality of the HD.

On Dish, whenever I went to watch an HD program I always hoped that it would have that special "POP" to it. Sometimes it did and 70-80 percent of the time it didn't. Don't get me wrong it looked good but not looking out the window good.

Now on Directv almost everything I have watched has been excellent. Dirty Jobs on Discovery was absolutely disgusting (in a good way) and Boston Legal was eye bleeding crisp like I expect HD to be (even my wife noticed the difference). I live in San Diego and our locals are much sharper on Directv that on Dish. I don't know if I have seen anything on Dish that is as sharp as what I am seeing on Directv.

The reason I am posting is because I was sitting on the fence for a long time and even the day of installation I was concerned that I would regret my decision but 2 days later I know I made the right choice. If you have any questions at all please ask them and I will do my best to answer them.

FYI - I had the VIP622 and now the HR21. The differences are too vast to mention but if you have any questions fire away.


Dan

[Greg Alsobrook]

Thanks for sharing Dan... I agree... The HD on DirecTV is awesome looking!!

[Rob77]

Thanks for the input Dan, I made the change two years ago and agree with you, quality is much better

[hasan]

Not having anything to compare to (no cable, no E*, just BUD in the old days), I will say that the HR series receivers are really quite good, and the programming offered is very good. HD quality varies a bit, but is generally very good.

The development of their hardware products is outstanding and the CE process is a real feather in D*'s cap.

Overall, a solid product. They have their issues (communication is horrible), and some of their business decisions are....well...baffling, but nobody's perfect, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend D* to anyone for whom OTA is not a priority. If OTA is important, then I would recommend waiting to see if they make good on their promise of an OTA solution for the HR21 series...which is a very nice box, but has no OTA tuners in it.

[Mike-SVT]

I was at a friends house this last weekend and he has DISH.

He had tried for months to get me to convert to Dish while I was waffling on upgrading to HD on D*tv - and I almost did.

BUT, after watching HD on his DISH and then coming home to a MUCH better and sharper picture on D*tv I am glad I did not.

My wife even commented the picture on DISH was not as good.

[psymn]

I've had D* on and off since '98 with interruptions due to large trees or apartment complex rues. My parents have had Dish for about three years and their HD service is terrible.

The lips never match the words, they have returned 3+ receivers, and had many service calls. This month they converted to D* and love it.

I agree that their customer service went out the windows when NewsCorp took over, but as long as they can deliver quality products it's a minor annoyance.

-Matt

[fishbonz]

Maybe another reason to switch...

another $10/mo discount for 12 months...on top of the previous $10

total $20/mo discount on some programming packages.

[Mark20]

Thanks for the insight. This kind of honest A-B comparison is what I find the most valuable.

Thinking harder and harder about getting HD.

[Inches]

Thanks for the insight. This kind of honest A-B comparison is what I find the most valuable.

Thinking harder and harder about getting HD.
Don't think, DO. Once you do you will say, "why did I wait so long".

[LanMan]

Don't think, DO. Once you do you will say, "why did I wait so long".

I totally agree with that comment.