Best/Worst about Direct? [Archive]

Mike Greer

01-18-10, 03:27 PM

For me the best is Sunday Ticket. And is the only reason I put up with the worst!

For me the worst is their DVRs. They are painfully slow to do anything and I find myself scrolling past the program I want and then have to go back up. Takes way to long for just about everything! Very annoying coming from Dish Network. Tolerable if you come from Comcast.

Good luck!

n3ntj

01-18-10, 03:35 PM

deleted

HarryD

01-18-10, 04:46 PM

I have had both (Dish and DirecTV) and DirecTV has better pix quality... nice assortment of channels... not really fond of the rate increases every year.... but that's everywhere.

Indiana627

01-18-10, 04:50 PM

Pros: HD picture quality, DVRs (my in laws all have Time Warner DVRs and they are terrible), Sunday Ticket

Cons: No HD local channels where I live, DVRs are a little slow, but not as bad as some make them out to be, price is starting to get out of hand - but that goes for all TV providers unfortunately

dave29

01-18-10, 04:51 PM

Pro's: Sports Packages, User Interface, Hardware, Technology

Cons: It's not free

erosroadie

01-18-10, 05:08 PM

Pros: HD picture quality, DVR IU works well (most for the time (and is far superior to cable DVR)), Mix Channels for major sporting events (Masters golf, all major tennis tournaments (like Ausie Open on now), etc...), DVR scheduler.

Cons: Price keeps increasing, but no worse than their competitors. HD-DVRs can be buggy at times (but marvelous at other times).

Scott Kocourek

01-18-10, 05:13 PM

Pros: HD picture quality, 3 DVR's all work great (always getting better.) Amount of HD channels. Support/Help available right here at your fingertips, the best tech support available.

Cons: As of now NONE.

dpeters11

01-18-10, 06:39 PM

This is comparing to a friend who has TWC in Cincinnati

Pros: More space, my older HR20 can hold about 50 hours of HD, 20 hours more than TWCs box, or 200 hours SD compared to 80.

The guide goes out 2 weeks, instead of 6 to 7 days.

All the HD channels are with the SD equivalent. I hit 5, and it goes to my local HD NBC. TWC, you have to go to 905 for HD.

I also like dual live buffers, setting up recordings from the Internet/iPhone, quicktune. Too many features to mention.

Cons, few times a year I get rain fade.

volkl

01-18-10, 06:39 PM

If you like tennis or golf, their Grand Slam and golf event mix channels are excellent.

Cons: standard definition is not as good as dish network. never had dish network hd, but many say direct's hd is better. it would be great if direct's sd was as good as it was back in the 90's. i wonder what the percentage of receivers is for HD and SD?

Direct does not have all the HBO channels, and only a few are in HD.

coldsteel

01-18-10, 07:36 PM

I did like the search options on the R15 I had. This was 3 years ago.

No real dislikes, to be honest.

mjbvideo

01-18-10, 08:23 PM

Best: HD quality is acceptable. I am also satisfied with the channels they offer.

Cons: Buggy DVR's. Slow guide, slow response to remote. Very slow to fix DVR bugs. Every once in a while their automated commercial inserts are super loud, speaker damaging loud...distorted.

RAD

01-18-10, 08:31 PM

BEST:

- Long range planning for satellite capacity and willing to use new technology like Ka band and RBSS.
- Implementing new features on their STB's without requiring you to purchase new STB's.
- HD picture quality
- Adding local HD channels, beside just the four major networks

WORST:

- Inconsistant performance of their HD DVR's for user interface functions
- Media Share continuing to be in BETA status, how long will it take to make it productional

ejjames

01-18-10, 08:45 PM

I am disabled and spend some of my time in bed. I have a computer set up with a 24" monitor on an arm above my bed.

Best: DIRECTV2PC! and my wife still loves our 2 HR10-250's.

Ihave a slingbox to setup and delete recordings.

JoeTheDragon

01-18-10, 10:23 PM

Cool hardware with way more HD and DVR room then comcast. Better price then comcast. No HD channel hunting.

NO VS (mainly want it for the blackhawks) other stuff on it is mostly crap. NO CLTV for now. I can get the other missing OTA stuff with the antenna.

Shaqdan

01-19-10, 06:45 AM

Pros:
Sports package
Grand Slam channels
UEFA channels
NFL Ticket
Quality of the HD signals
Channel numbering, in general
Competitive price

Cons:
Missing some HD channels that others have (WGN, for instance)
You still have to pay for Superfan if you want HD with your NFL Ticket
The HD DVR boxes are awful (not sure about the standard definition ones)
You need to connect the box to the internet for On Demand (no WiFi)

Boston_bill

01-19-10, 06:54 AM

Likes: getting both home and away feeds for MLB EI, NFL ST and HD Game Mix.

Dislikes: Paying $10 more for HD PPV events( althought I know this isnt only a D* issue)
Customer service out-sourced to India and reps who dont know the product.

JeffBowser

01-19-10, 07:30 AM

Pro: Not dependent on a huge terrestrial cable plant to stay intact and in place to provide TV. Of course, if you don't live in a windstorm area, or an area where most everything is buried and the cableco is reliable, this makes no difference. To me, it alone overrides DirecTV's cons - sucks-balls front-line phone tech service reps, and and slow responding DVRs.

TANK

01-19-10, 08:09 AM

Pros= The SD and HD PQ is superior to my local cable company.

Large assortment of sports programming available.Most sports programming is in HD.

I live in FL so the few times I do lose a signal,I know it will return in a few minutes. With cable I was always wondering how long before it returned . It could be hours or days before it returned.

If we get the increase in HD channels expected from the new sat, I will have every HD channel that I have any interest in.

Manage my account on line. I can get my balance, change programing etc without calling in.It's faster and less stressful.

Cons- The CSR game- when I call will I get a good CSR or just a headache ( but it wouldn't be any better with the local cable company either )

hookemfins

01-19-10, 08:12 AM

Pros: Extra innings, sports packages

Cons: Rain Fade. Loose satellite a lot faster with newer equipment than older.

upgrade lately?

01-19-10, 08:21 AM

Pros - HD content and quality
Cons - HD DVD is painfully slow. "channel surfing" is not an option with a DirecTV receiver. It would take 2 hours to get through the channels...

BKC

01-19-10, 08:22 AM

Cons: No Al la carte, receivers aren't very good, constant audio problems, expensive.

gfrang

01-19-10, 08:35 AM

Best: pq,reliably,customer service

Worst:Program package and pricing

FHSPSU67

01-19-10, 08:39 AM

Pros: HD picture quality
Cons: Price of Premier is going to force me into some hard choices

Stuart Sweet

01-19-10, 08:46 AM

I think the best part about DIRECTV is the people behind it. Not all of them, I'll grant, but there are some really dedicated people there. Also if you like sports obviously DIRECTV tops the list.

The worst? There are some HD channels I know they're missing but they're catching up.

jal

01-19-10, 09:17 AM

BEST: Forthcomming New HD-TIVO, customer service, one DVR charge for entire houselhold, no matter how many you have.

WORST: The boxes that replaced the old Directivos, but still somewhat better than Dishnetwork.

kevinwmsn

01-19-10, 09:33 AM

Pros:

HD Picture Quality
DLB
Direct2PC(Windows only)
MRV coming soon
ESATA connector for bigger HDs
Remote Scheduling
# of HD channels and future HD channels coming in a few months
50 Series Schedule limit
SWM- helps a lot for installs with DVRs
DECA network coming - uses existing coax(not sure when)

Cons:
Guide is a bit slow
Channels I Get is incomplete
Media Share still needs work
VOD downloads needs at least 3Meg for SD and 6 for HD for realtime

Grentz

01-19-10, 10:20 AM

Pros: Price, Technology (Staying active and current, forwarding thinking, CE program, etc.), Picture Quality, Channels, Solid contracts with channels (they don't drop channels very often).

Cons: Installer/In home service (it is just a mess with coordination and quality of many installers), Little-no self setup options, Lack of some national HD channels, Sometimes too broad in their future technology en devours and I think they should be more focused at times (ex. Mediashare, TV Apps, etc. that are mostly worthless to many when there are things that we would all love like more in depth remote control or HD GUI).

BattleScott

01-19-10, 10:52 AM

Why I have directv:

HD Picture quality - I have not had Dish so I really can't compare to that, but the primary reason I won't leave DirecTV at this point is the HD PQ. I have heard from a few others that Dish PQ is on par with DirecTV, but I just don't think they have enough to offer for me to switch. TWC-HD is slightly softer in the HD picture and AT&T (coming soon...) is just not even in the same ballpark as either one.

Pricing for what I currently have is pretty even between Direct, dish and TWC (promo offers aside). The AT&T service is by far the best value (once available) but since HD PQ is one of my main requirements, they will not really be an option at that time unless drastic improvements are made.

What I would like to see DirecTV do better:

Concentrate on bringing the DVR products up to the level of the other offerings on the market. While there are certainly things that are better about the DirecTV DVRs, such as disk space, they just don't have the same polish and completeness of operation as they should by now. An example of this are things like the "Channels I Get" list not working and not having a live picture of a given channel when building favorite lists. They are also very sluggish in operation (recent guide operation improvements aside) and clunky in response times to remote commands. Aside from the limited recording capacity, the AT&T DVR is a much better product.

CCarncross

01-19-10, 12:02 PM

Aside from the limited recording capacity, the AT&T DVR is a much better product.

And my buddy just add UVerse installed and and I thought their DVR was terribly slow and unresponsive, but I did like the user interface, it looked spiffy but it was terrible to use and slower than my HR's....???

Are they using different DVR hardware in different parts of the country?

BattleScott

01-19-10, 03:25 PM

And my buddy just add UVerse installed and and I thought their DVR was terribly slow and unresponsive, but I did like the user interface, it looked spiffy but it was terrible to use and slower than my HR's....???

Are they using different DVR hardware in different parts of the country?

They must be, my in-laws have had it for over a year now and the DVR is absolutely lightning fast. Menus, trickplay, guide speed are all practically instantaneous. Even the multi-room access is very fast. The UI is not overly glamorous but it does have nice pip style features that show what is on the hi-lighted channel in the guide and also when creating and editing the favorites, which is a feature I really would like to see in the HRs. Next time I am there I'll try to remember to get the model#.

UPDATE: Cisco IPN430MC

n3ntj

01-19-10, 03:44 PM

Likes -
HD feeds for MLB Extra Innings & NHL Center Ice.
Getting YES and MSG via Sportspack (no way to get these on cable locally)
DLB
Lots of HD channels
Exceptional HD picture quality compared to the Comcrap and Time Warner HD channel PQ I've watched at neighbors/parents.
Reliable signal 99% of the time.

Dislikes -
Our local PBS and CW affiliate's HD feeds are not available on D*.
Guide data seems to be wrong very often screwing with the shows I have set to record. (may be a Tribune issue)
Slow guide
No HD GUI
Blackouts of sporting events when they shouldn't be blacked out (baseball and hockey)
Can't get nearby market's HD local channels
HR20-700's ATSC (OTA) can't pick up some HD channels that my TV's ATSC tuner can pick up.
No Versus HD
Several other national HD channels that the local Comcrap/FiOS services offer but D* doesn't.
Random pixelation on HD channels, yet then I rewind, the pixelation disappears.

Boston_bill

01-19-10, 05:37 PM

gopherscot

01-19-10, 06:13 PM

Pros:
Sports packages
HD Quality

Cons:
Lack of many HD channels (WGN, Travel, HBO's etc)
Terribly slow receivers (Dish much better receiver)
Very expensive (12.95forsports pack?)
Bad order of some channels (CNN and ESPN together?)

Mike Bertelson

01-19-10, 06:44 PM

I don’t get anything OTA (well two channels but effectively nothing) so I’ve had TV service providers for all my TV since 1983. I’ve had cable and DirecTV and DirecTV is by far the best option for me. My current choices are DirecTV, Dish, U-verse, and Comcast.

DirecTV has better customer service then any of the cable companies I’ve had. Of course Comcast replaced Century Communications so I can’t say how their customer service is. However, Century was the first utility in the state of Connecticut that didn’t have its license renewed. They wound up on a year to year probation because of their customer service. I couldn’t wait until DirecTV or Dish started carrying our locals. DirecTV was first so I went with them.

Speaking only about my experience, for the past seven years, DirecTV has provided me with great service and all the channels we wanted. Although I haven’t had much occasion to use their customer service so I can’t really speak to that. I haven’t had any of the major issues usually reported here so as far as I’m concerned Comcast and U-verse would have to really go all out to get me to switch. They have all the HD we want...except for the Travel Channel. :grin:

Not to mention the hardware costs to have what I have now with another provider would add about $50 to my monthly bill.

Mike