View Full Version : Are you glad you made the switch to dish network?
Steveox
05-23-04, 07:02 PM
Well are you? Im sure am!
Darkman
05-23-04, 07:46 PM
Aren't you glad you used "Dial"? :D
(TV commercial)))
James Long
05-23-04, 08:27 PM
I can't vote since I didn't "switch", but I am glad I chose E*.
JL
I can't vote since I didn't "switch", but I am glad I chose E*.
JL
I am the exact same way and feel the same way also.
Geronimo
05-23-04, 08:51 PM
Can we vote is we switched from cable or OTA to DISH?
mindwarp
05-23-04, 09:11 PM
Yup, I came from cable, it sucks big time.
Darkman
05-23-04, 09:49 PM
Can we vote is we switched from cable or OTA to DISH?
Of course we Can :D
doesn't interfere with the thread's name ;)
Geronimo
05-23-04, 10:07 PM
My mother raised me to ask first. But seriously that may not be what the thread originator intended.
James Long
05-23-04, 11:39 PM
Can we vote is we switched from cable or OTA to DISH?
It just dawned on me that I turned down cable and D* to choose E*.
My previous provider was private cable provided by the apartments I lived in. For $20 per month I really didn't even consider anything else, even though neighbors and the people who took my apartment after me got E*.
Moving to the house meant a choice. Expensive Comcast cable, D*, or E*. The previous owner left a E* Dish500 and 2700 receiver he had deactivated years ago. That gave me a chance to prove I could get a quality signal and after watching the remanent channels that were still active I decided to buy my own system. Maybe if he left a D* dish it would have been different. I'm glad its not. :D
The $24.99 plan got me in the door, especially after leaving $20 private cable. But it didn't take long to decide that AT100 would be better. Rebates took care of equipment cost (actually lowering the monthly bill to around $25, since I paid the one-time cost for the new dish and receivers out of pocket).
A $1 price raise after a year ... not bad. I did more than that by adding a 501 last month! I'm happy (and I believe EVERYONE should get a PVR/DVR/TiVo device).
And that's what it is all about. The service providing for the customer. E* is doing fine by me. And at this point, I'm invested.
JL
BuckeyeChris
05-24-04, 05:14 AM
I left Time Warner digital cable for SBC/Dish in March and I have never looked back since then. I was paying TW $53.11 (taxes included) a month for one digital set box with their middle tier Digital Variety Package. The major channel lineup, or the most popular channels, were provided in a crappy analog signal; the digital channels had great picture quality but how many people watch BBC America and SOAPnet? Here are the digital channels I had with TW:
100 The Science Channel
101 Discovery Wings
102 Discovery Kids
103 Discovery Health
104 Discovery Times Channel
105 Discovery Home Channel
106 Tech TV
107 G4
108 BBC America
109 Trio
110 Ovation
111 BET Jazz
112 MTV2
113 Fuse
114 Great American Country
115 Newsworld International
116 C-SPAN 3
117 Bloomberg Television
118 ESPNEWS
119 ONN - Ohio News Network
120 CNNfn
122 ESPN Classic
123 Speed Channel
124 Outdoor Channel
125 Fox Sports World
127 EWTN
128 The Word Network
129 Lifetime Real Women
130 Style
131 GSN: The Network for Games
132 Disney West
133 Toon Disney
134 Noggin
135 VH1 Classic
136 America's Store
137 CNBC World
138 Fine Living
139 DIY
140 SOAPnet
141 The Biography Channel
Now, with Dish I have one 522 PVR feeding two TVs and two 311s feeding two more TVs for $58.35 (taxes included) on the 120 channel package. I pay $7 a month than I did with TW, but all of my channels have digital picture quality and audio. It's a much better experience and the PVR has made watching TV fun again. I could have leased a DVR from TW for $6.95 extra a month, but I don't think I could have used it on two TVs like I can with the 522.
Bottom line Dish gives me more value for the money and a better product than TW does!
I would never go to fuzzy satellite.
My digital cable company has these hd channels: hd net, hd net movies, espn hd, bravo hd, tnt hd (just added--woooo hooo!), hbo hd, showtime hd, encore hd, cinemax hd, starz hd, both in demand hd channels, pbs hd, nbc hd, cbs hd, abc hd, wb-hd, and fox (widescreen--bud hd when they start-woooo hoooo!).
My digital cable company seems to add every hd channel. I can't wait for "wealth tv"!!!!!
Redster
05-24-04, 05:44 AM
[QUOTE=Milo]I would never go to fuzzy satellite.QUOTE]
Fuzzy satellite ? thats strange, I ran with Comcast digital for 2 years,, then Directv and now Dish. I have never had a fuzzy picture and have installed dish's myself. If anything the HD quality I am watching with Dish, knocks the pants off Comcast and my monthly bill is about $20 less. :D
angiecopus
05-24-04, 05:48 AM
We don't have cable in the country, my father was the one who decided to get dish network, he never thought about direct tv which alot of my relitives have. its really much better than cable.
stonecold
05-24-04, 08:58 AM
Fuzzy Satellite??????
Wrong that is so wrong your lucky you have not been flamed from it by E and D people.. All the providers E* D* and V* all use digital transmission... There is no analog signal to get fuzzy... Now old Cband customers that still get analog signals can get fuzzy but not Digital signal... If it is fuzzy then it is the the channels fault not dishes. Like I was down visiting friends in Naples Fl, and they had dish.. one of the local tv stations were having problems causing a real fuzzy picture. we check with tere neighbor who had cable and the same channel showed the same fuzziness as the one of dish.
I had Dish for a year and a half and left due to the lack of an affordable dual tuner PVR with name based recording. (They say they will have it this summer, we'll see) No Tivo like functions yet they are charging a PVR fee. I decided to get Sunday ticker this yr. I have gone through 2 hard drives in my 508. I know there is more but I won't rant.
Things I miss about Dish:
Distant Nets for $5.99. More choices on distant nets. $1.99 warranty. The wife loved BingoTV and hey maybe we would have won something cool. Charlie Chats and Tech Chats (even though the CC have been pitiful at best lately sometimes Charlie will throw us a bone.)
All in all I am very happy since I switched but DirecTV for some and Dish for others. Isn't competition GREAT!!!! Thank god for no merger.
Cyclone
05-24-04, 09:07 AM
Notice the Guest status of Milo? He is a Troll trying to start trouble. Just like the Lying cable companies, he lies about satellite here. Of course we all know better and so do those who see our DBS systems in action. There is a reason why DBSs are adding customers at serveral hundred thousand a quarter and cable is just trying to stop the bleeding.
BTW: I have much more HDTV via Satellite than I would with Comcast Cable. Cable will not carry all of the local stations in HDTV that you can get OTA with Satellite.
Initially I was very happy when I switched from adelphia to dish 2 years ago. I got CBS-HD so I got to see a few Pats games in HD this past season, plus Sopranos and CSI ect. I decided to switch back for 2 main reasons. HD-locals/NESN-HD,and a reduced rate for my cable internet access. I was paying $52 a month for internet access. That's reduced quite a bit with the package I now have. So for right now I have to say that cable is right for me, but I won't hesitate to go back to Dish if the situation changes.
James Long
05-24-04, 10:46 AM
I would never go to fuzzy satellite.
Neither would I. That's why I've got E* -- it isn't fuzzy. :rolleyes:
And, as long as my generator starts, it doesn't go out in storms like cable.
JL
I switched, then switched back to DirecTV! Dishplayer did me in......
No. Switch from D* to E*, the HD leader. Switched back to D* due to the 811 and the Superdish/HD mess. Lack of direction (too much flip/flop) and poor hardware/software execution were main reasons.
ypsiguy
05-24-04, 12:20 PM
I would never go to fuzzy satellite.
My digital cable company has these hd channels: hd net, hd net movies, espn hd, bravo hd, tnt hd (just added--woooo hooo!), hbo hd, showtime hd, encore hd, cinemax hd, starz hd, both in demand hd channels, pbs hd, nbc hd, cbs hd, abc hd, wb-hd, and fox (widescreen--bud hd when they start-woooo hoooo!).
My digital cable company seems to add every hd channel. I can't wait for "wealth tv"!!!!!
Probably another stupid Comcrap employee. Why don't u people get out of the TV business? You suck at it. Only thing you guys are useful for is internet access. I have your lifeline basic only because it makes my internet cheaper and your picture sucks compared to Dish.
doughboy747
05-24-04, 12:39 PM
Well are you? Im sure am! I can say one thing when something does happen on dish they do let us know on Direct tv and i had the other not long ago, and when something happened they did not let there custermers know any thing at all I injoy charley chat that comes on once a month thanks agatin steve muncy.
Darkman
05-24-04, 01:03 PM
ya.. baby - charlie chats - 'em rock!!!!!!!!!
Mine was easy....no cable where I lived and the DirectTv was Pegasuck.
Plus Dish has Duluth locals on :D
BuckHorn
05-24-04, 03:51 PM
Wayyyyyyyyyyy far better than Pegasucks.
I have had Dish since they started and have been very happy until the 921 fiasco. Just for the record digital dish can not get fuzzy just a very compresssed picture with little detail. I left my old 10ft C-band hooked up for side by side comparisons after getting digital and I will tell you picture detail wise it would and will knock the socks of compressed digital. Still I wouldn't go back.
Avillant
05-25-04, 07:41 AM
I started out with D* during the first year they were in business. A few years later, I switched to E* and have been very pleased. A close friend has D* so I get a chance to observe it frequently. My observations follow:
POSITIVE:
1. E* user interface is grossly superior to D*. I absolutley hate D*'s stupid 'okay' button that you have to press to make a channel selection.
2. E* is cheaper.
3. E* doesn't force you to use TIVO. I don't see any features in TIVO that I would want over E*'s PVR interface. I am very happy with my 501.
4. E* has always been ahead in HD programming. I have had my 6000 for 3 years now. From what I see on the internet, the 6000 OTA receiver is very good compared to many of the other makes. Am now waiting for my 811 upgrade for the 6000. I hope they have fixed most of the bugs.
5. With the IR blaster, E* has a good way to record to a VCR. Most D* receiver do not have this.
NEGATIVE:
1. The new E* HDPVR receivers seem to be much buggier and more troublesome than the new D* ones. I really hope that they correct this soon. If they don't correct this in the next year or so, I may be forced to switch back to D*. Having a good HDPVR is very important to me.
2. E* does not carry some of the chanels that D* does. OXYGEN is my main complaint. It seems rediculous that I pay $110 a month and I have to go to my firends house to see 'Talk Sex with Sue Johanson'.
3. E*'s music channels have sucked compared to D*'s. The music channels are the only thing that have kept my friend from switching to E*. Perhaps now that E* has added SIRIUS he will change his mind. I am much happier with SIRIUS than I was with the old package. They shoulld take the old package off as far as I am concerned.
Tony
I started out with D* during the first year they were in business. A few years later, I switched to E* and have been very pleased. A close friend has D* so I get a chance to observe it frequently. My observations follow:
POSITIVE:
1. E* user interface is grossly superior to D*. I absolutley hate D*'s stupid 'okay' button that you have to press to make a channel selection.
2. E* is cheaper.
3. E* doesn't force you to use TIVO. I don't see any features in TIVO that I would want over E*'s PVR interface. I am very happy with my 501.
4. E* has always been ahead in HD programming. I have had my 6000 for 3 years now. From what I see on the internet, the 6000 OTA receiver is very good compared to many of the other makes. Am now waiting for my 811 upgrade for the 6000. I hope they have fixed most of the bugs.
5. With the IR blaster, E* has a good way to record to a VCR. Most D* receiver do not have this.
NEGATIVE:
1. The new E* HDPVR receivers seem to be much buggier and more troublesome than the new D* ones. I really hope that they correct this soon. If they don't correct this in the next year or so, I may be forced to switch back to D*. Having a good HDPVR is very important to me.
2. E* does not carry some of the chanels that D* does. OXYGEN is my main complaint. It seems rediculous that I pay $110 a month and I have to go to my firends house to see 'Talk Sex with Sue Johanson'.
3. E*'s music channels have sucked compared to D*'s. The music channels are the only thing that have kept my friend from switching to E*. Perhaps now that E* has added SIRIUS he will change his mind. I am much happier with SIRIUS than I was with the old package. They shoulld take the old package off as far as I am concerned.
Tony
I'm confused about a couple of your cons:
#1, I have had 7 different D* receivers, what OK button are you talking about to change channels? I can either scroll up or down or enter a channel number or select it from the EPG.
#2, Can you expand on your comment about forcing you to use Tivo interface? I've had a 501 and 508 and I don't see what the complaint is. You select a program from the guide and tell the interface to record that showing, you don't have to go througt season pass and other Tivo features if you don't want to. If you want to use name based recording that's an option you have now with the Tivo box and only a statement from E* to get it eventually.
#3, E* has NOT always been ahead in HD programming. D* had the HDNet and ESPN-HD up before E* did.
Darkman
05-25-04, 08:21 AM
about your #1 - he wasn't talking about scrolling up or down or select it from EPG (so that's irrelavant)...
He was talking (i guess) - about entering the channel number ..and having press enter/ok to go there..
On newer receivers however one doesn't need to press OK/Enter for this (i think starting with 5th generatiions, etc).. - however i know for a fact that on 420RE - there was a need to press enter (and that was a 4th gen. receiver)
Avillant
05-25-04, 01:47 PM
I'm confused about a couple of your cons:
#1, I have had 7 different D* receivers, what OK button are you talking about to change channels? I can either scroll up or down or enter a channel number or select it from the EPG.
#2, Can you expand on your comment about forcing you to use Tivo interface? I've had a 501 and 508 and I don't see what the complaint is. You select a program from the guide and tell the interface to record that showing, you don't have to go througt season pass and other Tivo features if you don't want to. If you want to use name based recording that's an option you have now with the Tivo box and only a statement from E* to get it eventually.
#3, E* has NOT always been ahead in HD programming. D* had the HDNet and ESPN-HD up before E* did.
Granted, that older receivers did not require the 'okay' button, but some newer ones do. My friend was told by D* that all of the newer receivers required the 'okay' button (Maybe the D* guy didn't know what he was talking about - not an unusual situation).
What I meant by forcing to use TIVO is that I understand that all D* PVR's use TIVO and I don't want it. I LOVE the E* PVR interface.
It is a matter of taste as to whether D* or E* has been ahead in programming. In my taste E* wins hands down. I may be wrong, but if I remember correctly, E* had ShowHD way before D*.
Hope this clears things up.
Tony
It is a matter of taste as to whether D* or E* has been ahead in programming. In my taste E* wins hands down. I may be wrong, but if I remember correctly, E* had ShowHD way before D*.
Tony
Yep, E* had Showtime-HD before D*, that's one of the reasons I switched from D* to E*. But you said 'alway's been ahead in HD programming' which isn't true, that's what I was pointing out as incorrect. If history continues, someone will be the leader for some period of time, then one will catch up and maybe pass the other.
garypen
05-25-04, 03:18 PM
I'm glad I switched back to satellite from Comcast cable. However, in retrospect, I probably would have been happier going with DirecTV this time. But, I've got some time remaining yet on my commitment. And, the direction Dish seems to be taking, may get that back on track. I may not need to switch when my contract is up, after all. I'll cross that bridge when it hatches.
Roger Dodger
05-26-04, 12:10 PM
I Switched from Cable to DirecTV
I Then Switched to Echostar and have been a happy camper since.
FWIW Tivo SA Interface ok but slow. Tivo to much automation!
501 fast and lean & clean interface.
Dishplayer (orig.) Great interface, upgradable drive, Slow
721 Next to DP faster and next best interface.
Roger Tee (registered but not logged in from work)
Tivo to much automation!
Don't worry Roger, nothing with the Dish PVR's will be automated. You'll be able to have plenty of interaction with your receivers. :lol:
Fuzzy Satellite??????
Wrong that is so wrong your lucky you have not been flamed from it by E and D people.. All the providers E* D* and V* all use digital transmission... There is no analog signal to get fuzzy... Now old Cband customers that still get analog signals can get fuzzy but not Digital signal... If it is fuzzy then it is the the channels fault not dishes. Like I was down visiting friends in Naples Fl, and they had dish.. one of the local tv stations were having problems causing a real fuzzy picture. we check with tere neighbor who had cable and the same channel showed the same fuzziness as the one of dish.
I have had dish network for a year and a half and C-band for over 10 years and C-band analog is not fuzzy but Dish network is, I started off Dish network with HBO and Cinemax plus AT50 but now I just use it for locals because the PQ just looks too bad compared to C-band analog and 4dtv.
I hope someday they will stop overcompressing the signals or get the NFL ST
and I will subscribe to more programming on Dish Network.
DarrellP
05-27-04, 04:22 PM
I had to vote NO because I didn't switch to Dish, I left Dish for Voom (except for the HD Pack) and couldn't be happier. SD is of no concern to me, I now have 35 HD channels at my fingertips 24/7.
Marcus S
05-27-04, 10:14 PM
The pattern is now clear. New adopters from cable or OTA choose E* first, then after the Joy fades, they switch to D* or back to cable. A few switch from D* to E*, but question their own revelation, and the remaining who have never tried D*, continue to wave their pom poms for the E* experience. I did not vote in this poll.
Roger Tee
05-31-04, 09:54 PM
Don't worry Roger, nothing with the Dish PVR's will be automated. You'll be able to have plenty of interaction with your receivers. :lol:
I have a Tivo Standalone, first thing I did was kill suggestions. I prefer to browse the guide and pick and choose. I can't think of anything I watch on a regular basis except for a few britcoms and BritMysteries. And even then they don't have long runs on BBC america or PBS
I don't watch re-runs of any network shows, I include series on HBO & Showtime when I say this. In fact they are one of the reasons I dropped from the everything pack to the top 150. I'm watching shows/movies that I missed when I was growing up.
I spend 5 minutes a week picking a weeks worth of shows for the 721, and 5 minutes a night with the DP since it has a much slower guide, but has features I like. I use it for DVD captures. and the 501 approx 5 minutes a week for the weeks programing it records.
Cheers
Roger Tee
05-31-04, 10:03 PM
The pattern is now clear. New adopters from cable or OTA choose E* first, then after the Joy fades, they switch to D* or back to cable. A few switch from D* to E*, but question their own revelation, and the remaining who have never tried D*, continue to wave their pom poms for the E* experience. I did not vote in this poll.
Marcus you sound like a DirecTv Pom Pom waver :D
I went from Cable (Digital) to DirecTV, from DirecTV to Echostar. The 7100s being one reason, since they were out of the gate way ahead of DirecTivos. Another reason being E* being more customer friendly, Charlie seems willing to fight the good fight for the customer.
I ran them side by side for many months before the poor DirecTV picture compared to Echostars and the E* having locals for me (NYC & LA) whereas DirecTV said no way Jose. I have never regretted switching, for me E* is a much better value. Especially with all the movie channels in the top 150 package. And the ease of recording the music channels on the 501 & 721.
Cheers
Marcus S
06-01-04, 08:33 PM
I am not pom pom'ing for either provider. I summarized what I read in this poll. If you are happy with your choice that's just peachy.
James Long
06-02-04, 11:08 AM
The pattern is now clear. New adopters from cable or OTA choose E* first, then after the Joy fades, they switch to D* or back to cable. A few switch from D* to E*, but question their own revelation, and the remaining who have never tried D*, continue to wave their pom poms for the E* experience. I did not vote in this poll.
I don't have to eat {} to tell you that I don't like it. I can look at it, I can smell it, I can research it, and in an unwise moment I might even touch it --- and thouroughly scrub later. But I don't have to taste it to know. :p
If you need to eat it to make that decision I don't want to know. If you actually enjoy the taste please don't tell us! :ewww:
I believe that the vote shows the pattern ... that the vast majority are happy to have switched to E*. I also believe that your summary above is inaccurate.
!pride Welcome to America! We can disagree!
JL
Switched to E* nearly six years ago and never looked back. Picture quality and programming are simply the best.
Marcus S
06-03-04, 08:45 PM
I don't have to eat {} to tell you that I don't like it. I can look at it, I can smell it, I can research it, and in an unwise moment I might even touch it --- and thouroughly scrub later. But I don't have to taste it to know. :p
If you need to eat it to make that decision I don't want to know. If you actually enjoy the taste please don't tell us! :ewww:
I believe that the vote shows the pattern ... that the vast majority are happy to have switched to E*. I also believe that your summary above is inaccurate.
!pride Welcome to America! We can disagree!
JL
Your attempt to speak volumes for others and validate that your choice is the right one for everyone + no positive contribution to this poll, contains no value. Your affiliation flag is already well known.
You have been officialy added to the ignore list.
clarke821
06-04-04, 08:02 AM
Can the physical removable smart card be used instead of the embedded smart chip in the 311 receivers?
Darkman
06-04-04, 08:42 AM
hehe - anyhow:
Welcome to DBSTalk - clarke821 :)
Unthinkable
06-04-04, 10:11 PM
I liked the picture that used to be posted over on the Dish Depot website proclaiming "Cable Is Not Able" Speaks volumes for me.
James Long
06-04-04, 11:02 PM
Your attempt to speak volumes for others and validate that your choice is the right one for everyone + no positive contribution to this poll, contains no value. Your affiliation flag is already well known.
You have been officialy added to the ignore list.
If you can't beat them, slam them then ignore them. Oh well.
The adults can continue the discussion now.
JL
Kimberly2002
06-04-04, 11:39 PM
I am no sorry on that statement. New here, heavy research, it's not going to be E* for us.
JM Anthony
06-05-04, 11:30 AM
We were on cable until the holidays in '96. TV watching was like viewing "13 Ghosts" every night. Just wasn't very enjoyable and the cable company couldn't care less that the PQ sucked. So we moved to E* and have been happy campers ever sense. Did a major upgrade to the home theater that included a 61" sammy DLP. It and my 921 have become good buds!
vBulletin® v3.7.6, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.