Why shouldn't I jump?

[poppin_fresh]

I have been a Dish subscriber for over 3 years, but the current offer from E*DirecTV has my interest. It appears all the channels the wife and I watch are available in HD from both including locals. With E*DirecTV I can get a second DVR for the BR and network it so I can watch content from either one on either TV, which is cool.

It appears that I would save $26 a month for the first year and $13 a month the second. Add the savings and having two DVRs and it seems to make a lot of sense. Is there some caveat I dont know about with the E*DirecTV offer?

Jon

[Kent Taylor]

Sounds like E* is a really good deal.

[sigma1914]

FYI...E* isn't Directv. E* is known as Dish...which you sub to.

[poppin_fresh]

Ahhhh yes Dish is Echostar, thanks for pointing that out. I am with Dish and thinking about Directv. Should have just worded it like that to begin with. :lol:

[Kent Taylor]

Never mind. :)
Do you want this moved to the D* forum?

[poppin_fresh]

I'm trying to see what my fellow Dish subscribers think. I love saving money and I am wondering if anyone has thoughts that would convince me to stay. Something in the fine print I might be overlooking?

[James Long]

Move it to the DirecTV forum and there is no defense of DISH ... which I believe is what the poster is looking for. Defending the choice to keep DISH service vs the apparent savings of moving to DirecTV.

To say more I'd have to know more ... poppin_fresh, what do you have now? Do you have HD receivers? DVRs? A single HD DVR feeding both rooms (HD main, SD bedroom)? Or are you still on SD equipment? What level of subscription are you at with DISH? What level are you looking at with DirecTV? Are there any channels that are absolute must haves (such as HD professional team sports)? If you're not comparing America's Everything Package vs Premier it would be good to make a list. Tell us more.

It is hard to compare when we don't know want you're looking at.

As far as the fine print ... the DirecTV forum is likely a better place. Just like DISH subscribers have discovered caveats after subscribing there are things that only DirecTV subscribers are likely to know.

[Stewart Vernon]

Also worth considering... Is the better price only a better price for a year or so while you are getting a new-subscriber discount?

IF so, then you'll be right back here again from the other side of the fence in a year.

[finniganps]

One thing I would add is I would actually go to a reseller and try the Direct DVR. THe DVR's are different and you want to have them demonstrate all the things you like about Dish DVR's to see whether there are things that are unacceptable to you (for example - there are a few features on Tivo that drive me crazy and I would never get one even though they have a great box). If the DVR's aren;t that important then maybe there are other things you like (UI or guide for example)....without trying these things out you don't know until you've made the switch.

Also take a look at the 2nd page of this post http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=180601&page=2 where a former Direct customer has moved to Dish and his thoughts of things he likes better about Dish.

[poppin_fresh]

Here's what I have versus what I would move to

Dish- VIP 622 feeding living room and Bedroom
America's top 200- $54.99
HD 200- $10.00
TV2 Receiver Connection- $5.00
DVR Fee- $6.00

Total- 75.99 + tax

Direct - 2 HD DVRs (second DVR will be $100 purchase)
Choice Xtra- 34.99 (first year, 49.99 second year)
HD channels - free
DVR w/whole house- $10.00
Second receiver lease- $5.00

Total $49.99 first year (64.99 second year)

I know having to buy the second DVR will eat some of the savings, but having 2X the capacity will be nice. Plus I will be replacing my good ol' Trinitron in the bedroom with a HD unit soon which would not be ideal with the 622's second output. A purchase would be required for that room no matter who I go with.

Jon

[James Long]

Here's what I have versus what I would move to

Dish- VIP 622 feeding living room and Bedroom
America's top 200- $54.99
HD 200- $10.00
TV2 Receiver Connection- $5.00
DVR Fee- $6.00The $5.00 TV2 connection should not be there (as of February) and if you're willing to stay HD 200 can be reduced to HD 200 Free with a commitment or $99 (10 month) payment.

AT200 is currently 51 channels of HD for $54.99 ...
Choice Xtra is currently 58 channels of HD for $63.99 regular price.
Choice Xtra is $63.99 after the first year (not $49.99). The average is $49.49 over the two years. DirecTV is currently offering Free HD for Life.

You could buy/lease a 211 for the bedroom and put your own hard drive on it for a DVR. That would cost you $7 per month ... a one time DVR activation fee and whatever the 211 costs you to obtain.

Overall the DirecTV offer looks pretty good ... and Choice Xtra is a package I'd normally compare to DISH's America's Top 250 not AT200. Unfortunately switching providers may be the better deal.

A new customer deal with DISH would be competitive ... but old customers don't get new customer discounts on plans and receivers. (The same goes for DirecTV so we may see you back in two years when you commitment expires. :) )

[Shaqdan]

Here's what I have versus what I would move to

Dish- VIP 622 feeding living room and Bedroom
America's top 200- $54.99
HD 200- $10.00
TV2 Receiver Connection- $5.00
DVR Fee- $6.00

Total- 75.99 + tax

Direct - 2 HD DVRs (second DVR will be $100 purchase)
Choice Xtra- 34.99 (first year, 49.99 second year)
HD channels - free
DVR w/whole house- $10.00
Second receiver lease- $5.00

Total $49.99 first year (64.99 second year)

I know having to buy the second DVR will eat some of the savings, but having 2X the capacity will be nice. Plus I will be replacing my good ol' Trinitron in the bedroom with a HD unit soon which would not be ideal with the 622's second output. A purchase would be required for that room no matter who I go with.

Jon

If you go with DirecTV, make sure you get someone's account information and use the 'refer a friend' deal. This will give you and the friend each $100 (which they split up as 10 bucks off for 10 months).

[CABill]

The $5.00 TV2 connection should not be there (as of February) and if you're willing to stay HD 200 can be reduced to HD 200 Free with a commitment or $99 (10 month) payment.

There were people with multiple DUOs where all were not connected to a phone line continued to pay $5/month for DUOs after the 1st one. There is a CHANCE that deactivating one of two DUOs that weren't connected to a phone line before 1Feb will leave a $5/month charge even when there is now only one DUO. 99+% of subscribers shouldn't see
TV2 Receiver Connection- $5.00
but some will. As you say,
HD 200- $10.00
should disappear with a two year commit (as required for DirecTV too).

DirecTV referral could cover the $100 HD charge to make the switch more appealing. As would the household DVR, but AT120 is adequate for my needs and *I* don't find the minimum package competitive.

[jmillecpa]

I checked this out and got $46.99 for the first year and $70.99 for the second year. It looks pretty good to me depending on which DVR reciever you get.

[Jhon69]

The $5.00 TV2 connection should not be there (as of February) and if you're willing to stay HD 200 can be reduced to HD 200 Free with a commitment or $99 (10 month) payment.

AT200 is currently 51 channels of HD for $54.99 ...
Choice Xtra is currently 58 channels of HD for $63.99 regular price.
Choice Xtra is $63.99 after the first year (not $49.99). The average is $49.49 over the two years. DirecTV is currently offering Free HD for Life.

You could buy/lease a 211 for the bedroom and put your own hard drive on it for a DVR. That would cost you $7 per month ... a one time DVR activation fee and whatever the 211 costs you to obtain.

Overall the DirecTV offer looks pretty good ... and Choice Xtra is a package I'd normally compare to DISH's America's Top 250 not AT200. Unfortunately switching providers may be the better deal.

A new customer deal with DISH would be competitive ... but old customers don't get new customer discounts on plans and receivers. (The same goes for DirecTV so we may see you back in two years when you commitment expires. :) )


Oh James shouldn't you compare Choice Ultimate to AT250?.:confused:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/new_customer/base_packages.jsp?footernavtype=-1#lb

[James Long]

Oh James shouldn't you compare Choice Ultimate to AT250?.:confused:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/new_customer/base_packages.jsp?footernavtype=-1#lbThe question was what I'd compare Choice Xtra to ... the AT200 comparision the OP suggested was too low. They are only $1 different in price so AT250 vs Choice Xtra isn't a bad comparison.

With the addition of Choice Ultimate DirecTV has created an AT250 level package ($68.99 vs $64.99). Choice Xtra is a slightly cheaper version ($5 less - which brings it in line with the AT250 price). Choice Xtra drops another $5 to create Choice - the AT200 comparable package ($58.99 vs $54.99). That is as low as DirecTV goes (except Family). DISH goes two steps lower - AT120 is bargain price $15 less - AT120+ keeps the RSN in the mix for $10 less.

[GrumpyBear]

Here's what I have versus what I would move to

Dish- VIP 622 feeding living room and Bedroom
America's top 200- $54.99
HD 200- $10.00
TV2 Receiver Connection- $5.00
DVR Fee- $6.00

Total- 75.99 + tax

Direct - 2 HD DVRs (second DVR will be $100 purchase)
Choice Xtra- 34.99 (first year, 49.99 second year)
HD channels - free
DVR w/whole house- $10.00
Second receiver lease- $5.00

Total $49.99 first year (64.99 second year)

I know having to buy the second DVR will eat some of the savings, but having 2X the capacity will be nice. Plus I will be replacing my good ol' Trinitron in the bedroom with a HD unit soon which would not be ideal with the 622's second output. A purchase would be required for that room no matter who I go with.

Jon
As pointed out already, you can pay a onetime $99 or signup for Paperless and Autopay and get HD free with Dish as well. Directs HD for Free promo is ending before the end of July, so if you don't jump before then, you pay the $10 more a month for the HD. You should call and get the the $5 2nd connection fee removed, no reason after the changes in Feb, for you to pay that one.

James idea about adding a 211 and paying the onetime fee of $40, and adding a EHD to it, would be a good way to go.

What features do you use on your ViP that you would want to make sure you kept? For me, I use Autotune, DLB and Swap alot. PiP during Football season. We have EHD's for each family member and being able to swap the EHD's or even move them is a good feature. Do you use or interested in OTA?

[James Long]

Directs HD for Free promo is ending before the end of July, so if you don't jump before then, you pay the $10 more a month for the HD.Actually their last known offer expired July 21st. Their website is down at the moment. The general guess is that there will be a new offer that incudes "HD for Free" but there have been no announcements of the next offer. When their website returns some offer should be available.

[poppin_fresh]

I decided to sign up yesterday. I used my mom as a referral so essentially the second DVR will be free. It looks like the offer is still the same today, but they added a plan thats free for 5 months when you get the NFL package.

Grumpy:
I could get a 211 and add an HD and external to it, but that will cost more than the second DVR I just got. I dont really want to spend the time cobbling together a solution.

I did pay the $40 fee already for my 622 back when EHD first came out only for it to never work with my drive. Once they decided they only supported a handful of drives, mine wasn't included and they wouldn't give me my $40 back. That ticked me off...i wont lie.

[Jhon69]

I decided to sign up yesterday. I used my mom as a referral so essentially the second DVR will be free. It looks like the offer is still the same today, but they added a plan thats free for 5 months when you get the NFL package.

Grumpy:
I could get a 211 and add an HD and external to it, but that will cost more than the second DVR I just got. I dont really want to spend the time cobbling together a solution.

I did pay the $40 fee already for my 622 back when EHD first came out only for it to never work with my drive. Once they decided they only supported a handful of drives, mine wasn't included and they wouldn't give me my $40 back. That ticked me off...i wont lie.

If you signed up through D* a word for the wise,make sure they are installing HR24s if not don't sign that contract!.It has been reported that D* is trying to install the older HR2xs(refurbs) in new installs.You won't be happy with the older HR2xs trust me.:sure:

[GrumpyBear]

I decided to sign up yesterday. I used my mom as a referral so essentially the second DVR will be free. It looks like the offer is still the same today, but they added a plan thats free for 5 months when you get the NFL package.

Grumpy:
I could get a 211 and add an HD and external to it, but that will cost more than the second DVR I just got. I dont really want to spend the time cobbling together a solution.

I did pay the $40 fee already for my 622 back when EHD first came out only for it to never work with my drive. Once they decided they only supported a handful of drives, mine wasn't included and they wouldn't give me my $40 back. That ticked me off...i wont lie.
Sorry to hear you had problems with the EHD. I have had multiple EHD's and have upgraded serveral times, with no problems, and never losing a show or series in the process. Recently just added two 2TB drives to each 722, as well as each family member having thier own 1TB drives, everyboby plans on upgrading soon. Dish supports way more than just a handful of EHD drives.

The 211 isn't that much of a problem, turning into a DVR. Just helped my 91yr old Grandmother with it over the phone. She dropped her 510d, and turned her 211k, into a DVR, by adding the EHD, she was very surprised just how simple it was, and was extremely pleased she did it herself.

[James Long]

I hope it works out for you.

BTW: The deal you got ended. "Free HD" from DirecTV is only for Premier customers (until offers change again October 6th).

[lparsons21]

Checking today at D*, as James noted, free HD for life is only available to new customers if you select the Premier. You get it free for 5 months, but pay about $60/month for the NFL stuff. But after that, you have to keep Premier to keep 'free HD for life'.

If you pick any other package, the deal just went up $10/month for those wanting HD. I had looked previously but couldn't qualify for new customer status. Then D* even after the promos was going to be around $10/month cheaper than I'm paying E* now. With the change, it would be about equal.

Also note on D*'s deals, they are not including locals in the 'special' pricing, or at least it doesn't appear to.

[sigma1914]

...
Also note on D*'s deals, they are not including locals in the 'special' pricing, or at least it doesn't appear to.

I "think" locals are always included (if offered in your DMA).

[James Long]

Also note on D*'s deals, they are not including locals in the 'special' pricing, or at least it doesn't appear to.I believe all of DirecTV's deals include locals ... a $3 discount given if you're in a market where locals are not yet provided. DISH deals also include locals but as they claim locals are provided in every market there is no discount available.

The big jump on DirecTV's new deals is on Premier. $59.99 for five months then full price for Premier with the $10 HD Access fee credited. The lower packages don't include NFL Sunday Ticket but the $29 discount shown is for 12 months (and locks the price regardless of price increases). One has to average prices over two years to do a comparison.

[lparsons21]

I "think" locals are always included (if offered in your DMA).

Yeah, I went back and looked again. 'no extra charge for locals'. What made me think it wasn't included is that when I look at D* from my normal login that has a D* cookie in it, looking at the choice shows pricing and a note that locals not included. Not sure what is going on there.

Also, +1 to the post about only accepting HR24s as the HDDVR. Previous models are pig slow and were the sole reason I left D*.

[James Long]

What made me think it wasn't included is that when I look at D* from my normal login that has a D* cookie in it, looking at the choice shows pricing and a note that locals not included. Not sure what is going on there.Does DirecTV have locals in your market? If not the note applies - if they provide locals there is something wrong with the note.

[lparsons21]

Yes, D* does have my locals and in HD too. E* has my locals but even though the HD locals are uplinked to 77, they are not available (Paducah, KY DMA)