Websites or general resources to convince friends that D* service is realiable

[convem24]

I am wondering if anyone out there knows of a good internet resources (besides www.directv.com and this website). I have some sceptics in my family and friends who do not believe satellite service as a good alternative to cable. They all hate cable but they believe there is no alternative (no FIOS or U-verse in their markets, both products will never be in their service areas). It is either D* or E* or Comcast (which is the problem, Comcast has treated them all very poorly). Any help would be appreciated. BTW I am an ardent D* support since I have D*(E* if they have something that D* cannot do or does not have). Thanks again DBSTalk community. :hurah:

[HDTVsportsfan]

Are you afraid this site would beconsidered skewed towards D* and too bias.
Not being sarcastic btw.

[davring]

If they don't believe what they read, take them to your house and let them see how it works and remind them that D* grew from fewer than a million subs to over 16 million in only 12(?) years. THey must be doing something right. That is how all of my family members became subs. FWIW

[Chuck W]

The question first, would be, how reliable is their current Comcast cable? There will be times that you will lose satellite, it's inevitable,depending on how bad your weather can get. It's just a matter of how it compares to your cable company.

I don't know of any direct sites that show satellite's reliablility, but some of how reliable it is, will be dependent on where you are located.

[HDTVsportsfan]

Maybe Consumer Reports. Sometimes they have reviews about service and reliability.

[convem24]

Are you afraid this site would beconsidered skewed towards D* and too bias.
Not being sarcastic btw.

I know, that is why I was wondering if somebody knew of a somewhat unbiased (nothing is every totally unbiased) site to individuals who are fed up with cable and want to know more about D* or E*.

[convem24]

If they don't believe what they read, take them to your house and let them see how it works and remind them that D* grew from fewer than a million subs to over 16 million in only 12(?) years. THey must be doing something right. That is how all of my family members became subs. FWIW

Davring - I know, the problem is I live in Washington state all the individuals I speak of are on Oregon. So I have a little problem there. But I have a slingbox so I might use that to educate on how D* works. I think they are skeptical of receiver functionality. My R15 have been solid now for 8 months.

[convem24]

The question first, would be, how reliable is their current Comcast cable? There will be times that you will lose satellite, it's inevitable,depending on how bad your weather can get. It's just a matter of how it compares to your cable company.

I don't know of any direct sites that show satellite's reliablility, but some of how reliable it is, will be dependent on where you are located.

Comcast is pretty unreliable in their neighborhood (wiring issues I think or bad retranmission equipment, but Comcast will not fix the issue). I am going to have an independent installer do the D* install (probably pay them for some clean lines being run or I might wait until SWM is available since they want two DVRs). Plus Comcast is pulling analog channels and charging the same. Basically D* will be a better deal for them compared to Comcast. Weather is pretty mild here in the Northwest. I live in Western Washington, and I have never lost signal while I have watched. My Parents are in Portland and the weather is pretty mild (mostly a very mild rain). Where the dish would be installed is a pretty protected area (very little rain or wind comes into that area). I did my research for them but I need something more for my dad who wants some assurances (other than my own experience).

[convem24]

Maybe Consumer Reports. Sometimes they have reviews about service and reliability.

I might use JD power survey for 2007 (since is was very positive for D* and E*). My parents feel that they are getting taken for a ride by Comcast.

[veryoldschool]

It's not the rain on the dish, but the rain [water, hail] between the dish and the Satellite that is what causes rain fade.
It will do no good to have it "sheltered".

[convem24]

It's not the rain on the dish, but the rain [water, hail] between the dish and the Satellite that is what causes rain fade.
It will do no good to have it "sheltered".

What I meant is that wind and rain have very little effect on the area that the dish will probably be installed at. Rain is minimal where the dish will probably be installed. I get little to no rain fade where I live.

[veryoldschool]

What I meant is that wind and rain have very little effect on the area that the dish will probably be installed at. Rain is minimal where the dish will probably be installed. I get little to no rain fade where I live.
I was born in Portland & didn't think there was a place in the northwest that didn't get heavy rain.

[LR308er]

http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/cable-satellite/west

Can they get Cox cable?

[djwww98]

I was born in Portland & didn't think there was a place in the northwest that didn't get heavy rain.
The vast majority of the state of Oregon and Washington are basically semi-arid desert. Not that it has anything to do with the topic at hand. It's just that us folks on the east side of the cascades get pretty tired of the ignorance of most west siders (and everyone else in the country for that matter) thinking that Portland and Seattle are representative of the entire region. Not even close.
And in any case, virtually any city you can name on the east coast or the south get more annual rainfall than Portland or Seattle does. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/nrmpcp.txt

[CPanther95]

I did my research for them but I need something more for my dad who wants some assurances (other than my own experience).

If they don't believe you, or lend any significance to the anecdotal evidence of almost 30% of the households in the country selecting a DBS provider - I'm not sure you'll find anything that will convince them.

They may consider directv.com as biased, but even they won't make any claims or guarantees of no rain fade. Any source that does is unreliable.

[HDTVsportsfan]

If they don't believe you, or lend any significance to the anecdotal evidence of almost 30% of the households in the country selecting a DBS provider - I'm not sure you'll find anything that will convince them.

They may consider directv.com as biased, but even they won't make any claims or guarantees of no rain fade. Any source that does is unreliable.

Hey Cpanther95...Welcome Aboard.
Your post count is a little short compared to AVS. :) :p

[CPanther95]

Thanks - love being a newbie. ;)

My MPEG4 upgrade made me realize how valuable this site is.

[TriggerDeems]

The question first, would be, how reliable is their current Comcast cable? There will be times that you will lose satellite, it's inevitable,depending on how bad your weather can get. It's just a matter of how it compares to your cable company.

I like to tell the story of being in southern Maryland during Hurricane Isabell about 4 years ago. The electricity was out, the cable was out, everything, and with a generator hooked up to my fridge, the tv, the reciever, and a lamp, we watched the weather channel on Directv with the hurricane passing 40 miles west of us. So, there are times when the satellite is the only thing that works. (We knew the winds were going to be in the 80 mph range, so we didn't evacuate.)

[HDTVsportsfan]

Thanks - love being a newbie. ;)

My MPEG4 upgrade made me realize how valuable this site is.


Kinda Ironic....Moderator from one site to a Newbie (sorta) at another.


Sorry to the OP for being OT.

[HDTVsportsfan]

I like to tell the story of being in southern Maryland during Hurricane Isabell about 4 years ago. The electricity was out, the cable was out, everything, and with a generator hooked up to my fridge, the tv, the reciever, and a lamp, we watched the weather channel on Directv with the hurricane passing 40 miles west of us. So, there are times when the satellite is the only thing that works. (We knew the winds were going to be in the 80 mph range, so we didn't evacuate.)


We did the same thing. Cox cable was out for 4 or 5 days. We had the generator going and the TV up the day after. All the services have there advantages one way or the other to somebody.

[convem24]

I was born in Portland & didn't think there was a place in the northwest that didn't get heavy rain.

I live in Tacoma and I get 90+ on my transponders and have never had fade where I live except for the one day we got our power knocked out.

[convem24]

http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/cable-satellite/west

Can they get Cox cable?

No Cox, only in Arizona. Plus Comcast is in the NW, they are not very nice to the consumer in terms of price and service.

[DawgLink]

I like to tell the story of being in southern Maryland during Hurricane Isabell about 4 years ago. The electricity was out, the cable was out, everything, and with a generator hooked up to my fridge, the tv, the reciever, and a lamp, we watched the weather channel on Directv with the hurricane passing 40 miles west of us. So, there are times when the satellite is the only thing that works. (We knew the winds were going to be in the 80 mph range, so we didn't evacuate.)

My sister, her husband, me, mother, and father all watched DirecTV on our generator right after Katrina hit....

Our entire neighborhood was just about blown over with water coming up yet here we are watching CNN/ESPN on our generator.

:lol:

[convem24]

The vast majority of the state of Oregon and Washington are basically semi-arid desert. Not that it has anything to do with the topic at hand. It's just that us folks on the east side of the cascades get pretty tired of the ignorance of most west siders (and everyone else in the country for that matter) thinking that Portland and Seattle are representative of the entire region. Not even close.
And in any case, virtually any city you can name on the east coast or the south get more annual rainfall than Portland or Seattle does. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/nrmpcp.txt

I agree. I have visited the NE and South during very recently and I agree that "rain" the northwest is not rain. I live in the west side and I know that Portland and Seattle do not ultimately represent both states (I lived in Spokane for 5 years of my life). I get NW it rains a lot BS from friends who have never been to Oregon or Washington. Also I have had D* for 3 years with very little rain fade (it will happen but rarely). I agree that east siders get the shaft (I actually politically and more aligned with east side politics not west side politics). O well.

[convem24]

We did the same thing. Cox cable was out for 4 or 5 days. We had the generator going and the TV up the day after. All the services have there advantages one way or the other to somebody.

That same thing happened to me in Seattle last winter. Except no generator. My power came back on and my D* was up and ready. My neighbors did not have service for 5 days from Comcast.

[nhoJ]

Maybe you can remind your friends and family that it is just TV and not major surgery. I think there is a 30 day satisifaction period where they can get out of the contract if they don't like it. Maybe the $50 refer a friend rebate can help? By me, Comcast was moving toward 2 year contracts anyway, so get out while you can. Maybe that will scare them.

I too was once a Comcast customer and I also have not been able to get people to switch to DTV. I haven't figured out what the barrier is, but it is completely irrational. I just give up and complain about their service whenever I am at their house watching inferior TV.

I wish DTV had some kind of promotional package where they offer the free install with 1-2 months of free TV, maybe the Choice package, and then get people hooked that way. I was reluctant to try sat radio until someone gave me a receiver and 6 months free for Christmas. Needless to say I was sold after the first day. Sometimes you just have to get the product into the customer's hands.

[convem24]

Maybe you can remind your friends and family that it is just TV and not major surgery. I think there is a 30 day satisifaction period where they can get out of the contract if they don't like it. Maybe the $50 refer a friend rebate can help? By me, Comcast was moving toward 2 year contracts anyway, so get out while you can. Maybe that will scare them.

I too was once a Comcast customer and I also have not been able to get people to switch to DTV. I haven't figured out what the barrier is, but it is completely irrational. I just give up and complain about their service whenever I am at their house watching inferior TV.

I wish DTV had some kind of promotional package where they offer the free install with 1-2 months of free TV, maybe the Choice package, and then get people hooked that way. I was reluctant to try sat radio until someone gave me a receiver and 6 months free for Christmas. Needless to say I was sold after the first day. Sometimes you just have to get the product into the customer's hands.

The irrational barrier is the propoganda that Comcast puts on commercials on its own feeds against satellite service. My parents issue is cost somewhat. Another reason that people don't believe move from cable is that basic service does not require a receiver (but long term all customers will need basic receivers). Comcast is moving towards all digital boxes which would make D* a heck of a deal in comparison. They want two DVR (which I can get them for free) two D11 receivers with standard digital service which under D* will $71, under Comcast service would cost $96 a month. So the savings are somewhat significant. In the northwest we get rain and customers believe that sat service goes out with the amount of rain we get in the northwest, which is not true. I live near Seattle, WA and I have never lost service except for once in the whole time I have had D* service. Customers do not like the unknown. O well. I keep fighting the good fight.

[JLucPicard]

Maybe you can remind your friends and family that it is just TV and not major surgery. I think there is a 30 day satisifaction period where they can get out of the contract if they don't like it.
Just a word of caution on this - I think that period is really more like THREE days than thirty days. If that could be a selling point for people, you would really want to be certain about that! Don't want them giving it a week then being told, "Sorry, that will be $300 to cancel".

[jpl]

About the best I can recommend is to lay it out for them in terms of price, picture quality, customer service, et. al. Even with all that, though, realize that some folks just will never switch to a dish. And the reason has nothing whatsoever to do with the services in question. It has to do with a paradigm jump in their heads. When I had directv, I would have friends and relatives marvel at the picture quality. When they would say "yeah, but you have to be paying MORE for it?" I would counter that my bill is less than their's. Now granted there were some who really had a valid reason for staying with Comcast - a friend loved the picture I was getting, but wouldn't leave Comcast because of CSN Philly. He's a hockey nut, and wouldn't be happy without the ability to watch the Flyers (you should have seen the expression on his face when I said that fios carries CSN... but that's another story).

Most of the folks I tried to convince just wouldn't come around. No matter how many of their objections I shot down and how many fears I allayed. No matter how much they loved my set-up. No matter how much they've come to hate comcast. Didn't matter. They just couldn't make the leap to a dish in their minds. There was just something there that stopped them from accepting the fact that they could have much better PQ, much better customer service, and all for a lower price.

One thing that DOESN'T help is the fact that DirecTV seems to take a no-holds-barred approach when you sign up. There's no trial period. I can't imagine that helps with people who are on the fence. If you spend all that money getting set up, only to find you hate the service, you're still tied in.

I guess my point is that some people will NEVER be convinced, even if you supply them with every piece of info you can and address every concern that they have. But as a general approach, I would start by finding out what their concerns are. For example, if customer service is a biggie for them, go to JD Power. If PQ is their itch, then there are sources out there that talk about how good the directv PQ is. If it's price, then lay out the cost for them - tell them what they would pay, per month, for a set-up that's equivalent to what they have.

[Mikey]

Since you're in the northwest, DON'T go with Dish if they have or expect to get an HDTV any time soon. Their western satellite is VERY unreliable in the NW without having a separate (bigger) dish to receive it's signal.

[hombresoto]

Remember that it costs D* a significant amount of money to activate a new subscriber.
Here are some numbers from me, an independent sales and installation agent:

Sale- $150
Install- $95 for first receiver, $25 each additional receiver
Equipment- $45 for standards, $65 for HD or DVR's, ~$200 for HD DVR's. $15-$40 for HD dish, $5 - $45 for multiswitches

So you have a base cost of $290 for a 1 room standard system to $435 for a 4 room HD system, plus advertising.

Compare this to comcast who just sends a tech out with some used boxes for an hour with some cable for a new customer.

Needless to say it would be quite a loss for D* if customers signed up then cancelled because the cable company lured them back with a better offer, or they got an incompetent installer and didn't give D* an opportunity to make it right.

Just some food for thought.

MS Bastianelli
MBAVCS, LLC

[djwww98]

Too bad you couldn't use my Mom as an example. She is a walking cliche... Technologically challenged to put it lightly. If the power goes out, I have to set the clock on her VCR. And old school tight. She cleans and reususes sandwich bags to save 3 cents. And she has had DTV for 5 years now and is perfectly satisfied with it.

[jdspencer]

I'd check a couple of other forums as well.
http://www.dbsforums.com/vbulletin/
http://www.satelliteguys.us/index.php?

[chopperjc]

I live in Florida, my apartment is hooked up with comcrap. Funny though our building has 18 apartments 9 have directv. Rain fade? Once in a while at the beginning of a large thunderstorm I may lose signal for a few minutes. During our 5 hurricanes from 2 years ago I lost the picture for 10 minutes during one of them. Comcrap was out in the building for a month. Services? If you are a sports guy there is no comparison. I do not like dealing with customer service at D but who does? I have been able to always get what I need and want and in the end always a fair resolution. I do not know what else to say other than I will NEVER go back to cable. When I finally got local channels and was able to call and cancel (at my former place) cable it was a happy moment. I did not even mind the 45 minutes it took me to cancel.