I'm thinking of switching and need help

[wipeout]

I am currently a E* sub. but am thinking of changing to D*. Does anyone think D* will ask their subs. to get a different dish in the future for additional HD content the way E* is going to do? Just trying to decide if I should wait for the new D* receivers to come out first.

[beegfoot]

When you order your DTV, make sure the retailer is selling and installing the new 3 LNB multi-sat antenna. That should cover you on local service and HD.

[wipeout]

I'm concerned D* will run out of bandwidth and have to put HD on a byrd that the dish you are recommending will not be able to receive. Am I off base here?

[spanishannouncetable]

I'm concerned D* will run out of bandwidth and have to put HD on a byrd that the dish you are recommending will not be able to receive. Am I off base here?

Yes. Directv plans are structured around the use of the current 3-slot dish. All Directv programming will be accessable with it in the forseeable future.

[boba]

Wipeout it is a possibility, it's also a possibility you could be hit by lightening today. Why worry enjoy the entertainment and roll with the punches, Directv has been much better at upgrading customers to the latest equipment at a low cost than DISH has. How many free upgrades has Charlie given you, he wants a 1 year contract for his freebies.

[wipeout]

I think you guys have sold me. Any idea when the new models from Hughes will be coming out?

[Jeff_R]

There have been some hints that Directv is going to start pursuing the possibility of using their KU-FSS slots for some upcoming programming. Based on how they handled the recent upgrade for the HD package, I would say that we are all safe for future upgrades. Hughes owns many KU sats apparently, so I would expect, if Dish's experiment actually works, that Directv will be going that way as well.

It was already mentioned that you should make sure you get the Phase 3 dish, with all three integrated LNB's. That will last for quite a while I believe.

I switched a few weeks ago, and couldn't be happier!

Jeff

[wipeout]

Do I need the Oval or Round Dish? I want to be sure the installer gets it right.

[beegfoot]

The oval dish. Make sure you specify the new phase 3 antenna. I understand the newest generation Hughes HD will be out around Christmas. I'm recommending to my customers to wait till then to buy HD. The E-series is ok, but I'd wait. Or you might wait and get the HDTiVo that's supposed to arrive about that same time.

[wipeout]

Those are two items I want. Wish they were coming out sooner. Thanks for the input.

[PSB]

Do your self a favour and make sure you have a clear line of sight of the three satellites, I have had two customers this week who could not get all three! Looks like they are going to have to return all their HDTV stuff back to the store! Its worth doing some home work first!

[wipeout]

I have Dish 500 with clear site to 119 and 110.

[music_beans]

Hey wipeout, what gives in switching to D*? (I guess programming)

[wipeout]

I got fed up when I found out E* is going to charge a monthly fee for the PVR. It isn't as good of a product as TIVO so if I'm gonna have to pay then may as well get the good stuff. I also think E* subs. are getting the run around on HDTV programming and equipment. Just some of the reasons.

[music_beans]

Oh. :)
I don't have (and don't plan to get) a PVR or DVR in the future. BTW, If you see 119 and 110, you should be good to go. :) (my guess)

[Zombeezy]

I'm sort-of in the same boat as wipeout. I've been a DISH subscriber for years, with a JVC HM-DSR100DU DVHS VCR player/receiver. I have been fairly satisfied in the past with DISH, many due to the fact that the guide menu choices beat the pants off the way it's handled with cable, and the reception is usually far better than our cable. Also, the basic DISH programming was cheaper than the basic DirecTV programming, just about on par with cable's prices, and I didn't need any more programming more than that. I currently have the DISH 500 with an extra DISH for the local PBS and affiliate programming.

I've been eyeballing the 721PVR to replace the JVC since it was first announced, and have been waiting for something to convince me that I was going to buy it. I like the dual tuner, 120GB, and PIP aspects of the 721, but since I now want to add another receiver upstairs also, I've been waiting to see what happens with the 522PVR & not having to pay another outlet fee.

I'm currently paying $253 once a year for DISH Top 50. It's up for renewal August 23rd, and the price is increasing to $275. I don't know if that includes my $5 a month for getting the local channels. Any way, the Top 100 looks to be the same price monthly as for DirecTV's Total Choice ($33.99). I thought surely I will get a reward for upping to DISH Top 100, as my wife now wants Animal Planet (she's a vet), FX, AMC & TCM. But, don't see any deals but for new subscribers.

With out any good deals for existing DISH customers, or to upgrade from Top 50 to Top 100, and having to pay $5 a month for another outlet, and $5 for locals, and having to spend maybe $530 from dishdepot for a DISH721PVR and maybe $200 for a DISH 508, I think I need to be convinced that DirecTivo and TotalChoice are the way to go.

I am not happy that DISH never seems to reward the existing customer base, giving deals to newbies. This encourages folks to switch, but not stick around.

My stupid questions are:

Is there a second outlet fee for DirectTV? I want the real skinny, since I can't trust the marketing hype. This reminds me of the DSL companies trying to charge you for extra Internet connections at home, when all you need is a router.

Is there a preferred Tivo model to get (probably would want to mod to 120)

If dishdepot is the site that everyone mentions for DISH, what is THE recommended site for DirecTV/tivo deals?

Do I need a phone outlet if I NEVER purchase PPV specials? I can temporarily hook up a phone line if its needed to do an initial install or upgrade, but otherwise not. Again, marketing hype always says yes you need one.

Unfortunately, all the forum browsing on this site that I have done in the past is on the DISH units! I know that the info is available if I had hours to read all the posts. But I doubt I could learn all this in an hour or two. Would greatly appreciate any guidance, and thank you for your time!

[ChrisPC]

D* does charge $4.99 a month for each extra receiver. As for a phone line, D* will want it connected at installation, but after that, you could probably only hook it up about once a month to let it call out.

[cnsf]

I made the switchover and couldn't be happier. Customer service isn't quite as good and the Tivo performance is a little slower (and I miss Caller ID). PQ is comparable or better in the NY area at least (better local feeds than E*).

Price is comparable, but obviously getting better with the DVR charge at E*. I have TC+, Tivo, two mirrors and the extended warranty. Completely worth it.

I also made good money on eBay selling my E* equipment.

[Zombeezy]

Thanks for the reply ChrisPC. I have been surfing on tivocommunity.com and have come up with a bit more info.

The two sites that seem to be mentioned the most are expertsatellite and valueelectronics, with many kudos to the later.

A blurb from expertsatellite:
The subscription fee for DIRECTV DVR (TiVo) service is $4.99 per month. TOTAL CHOICE PREMIER customers will receive the DIRECTV DVR (TiVo) service free of charge as long as they maintain their subscription to the TOTAL CHOICE PREMIER package. If you downgrade to a package other than TOTAL CHOICE PREMIER, a $4.99 monthly fee will apply. The DIRECTV DVR (TiVo) service fee for each additional DIRECTV Recorder unit is included in the $4.99 monthly service fee for each additional receiver. If you subscribe to the TOTAL CHOICE PREMIER package, your DIRECTV DVR (TiVo) service is free, no matter how many receivers you have.

So, 2-Room System w/ Triple LNB Dish (1) TIVO, (1) Director for $99, and the Hughes Tivo HDR2 unit has two tuners. And then I'd get the Total Choice for $33.99 a month and pay $10 a month for tivo on two receivers. Or, with DISH, pay around $700 for a PVR721 & 508, then $33.99 a month for Top 100. Basically a $600 difference. I could, of course, upgrade a tivo to 120GB, maybe at about $100 from the deals I've seen and have bought WD drives for.

Seems like I don't need a bunch of convincing to switch!

[Zombeezy]

cnsf:

Ah, true. I didn't even add in the "DVR" charge. Cripes, what are they thinking?

Taking a quick look at your system (trying to understand things better), what is a DRD430RGA? And two mirrors - how does that work if you only have 2 HDVR2's? Wouldn't one be a main and the other a mirror?

Is there more than one dish size?

Thank you!

[Zombeezy]

OK, here's a post from Darin on tivocommunity about the mirroring to help me remember:

You don't pay the TiVo (err, DirecTV PVR) fee multiple times. It is a service, just like paying for Showtime or HBO. The only thing that you get hit on with multiple receivers is the $5 mirroring fee, and it's the same whether it's a standard receiver or a dtivo.

So, having one dtivo and two receivers is the same price as having three dtivos.

And, when I look on valueelectrnoics, I see that there is a 18" round and an 18"x20 dish. My guess is that the 18x20 is for 3 LNBs to include maybe the locals?

[bigbw]

I think you guys have sold me. Any idea when the new models from Hughes will be coming out?


When I needed a new dish for local channels, D* provided it
and came out and installed it for free.. Had to agree to subscribe for a year, but that was not a problem for me..

I have the new Hughes receiver (latest model).. Got it from
nationwide sat in Tempe AZ and just love it.. I upgraded from a Sony and the Hughes is much faster and has great features..

[cnsf]

cnsf:

Ah, true. I didn't even add in the "DVR" charge. Cripes, what are they thinking?

Taking a quick look at your system (trying to understand things better), what is a DRD430RGA? And two mirrors - how does that work if you only have 2 HDVR2's? Wouldn't one be a main and the other a mirror?

Is there more than one dish size?

Thank you!

I've got two Tivos and one regular receiver (being replaced by a third Tivo btw this week).

I pay $4.99 for the Tivo service (regardless of how many Tivos you have) as I only have TC+ and locals. I also pay for the two extra receivers (the first one is included in your package - doesn't matter if it's Tivo or regular, each is considered a receiver)=$4.99X2=$9.98. So, with two Tivos and one receiver, I pay an extra $14.97. I pay $38.99 for TC+ and locals, $5.99 for the extended warranty and $2 for NBC West (the only station granting a waiver).

Total =$61.95

When I get the new Tivo, the fees will all be the same.

[EricG]

Many deals now include the Triple LNB Dish for free. If you can't get it for free you've picked the wrong retailer.

Expert Satellite includes them.