Potential New Dish HD Customer

[BigCTM]

I am looking to upgrade to HD. I have been a DirecTV customer for many years and have a pretty good offer from them to upgrade. However it requires a 2 year commitment, which I am hesitant to do. I am considering going with Dish since I can get all the equipment and install for free (except for a 49.99 fee) and not have any commitment.

My main concerns are that Dish does not have my locals in HD (DirecTV does) and the reliability and ease of use of the VIP622 DVR. My wife loves TIVO and ease of use is a big concern for her.

Any advantages of choosing Dish over DirecTV?

[sdague]

I was pretty concerned in giving up my Series2 Tivo when switching to HD on Dish (I'd been using it on SD dish for years), but the 622 actually impressed me. It took about one evening for my wife to figure out how to do certain things on it vs. the Tivo. I also helped soften the blow by getting a harmony remote about 2 weeks before the switch, which made the experience pretty seemless in transfer.

While I've heard a lot of people complain about usability and stability of non Tivo DVRs, the 622 has been a champ so far in that regard. :) We're both happy campers about the switch, and man does Firefly look nice on Universal HD.

[DBS Commando]

I am also a Dish HD customer and I've been very pleased. ViP622 is very easy to use and works great. If your hesitant about it, there are local dealers that have functional 622's on the floor that you can play with.

The fact that Dish doesn't have your locals in HD would be a major turn off for me. Any reason why your hesitant on any commitments? What do you think is going to happen in 2 years that will turn you away from DTV? Will you be moving or something?

[allargon]

The fact that Dish doesn't have your locals in HD would be a major turn off for me. Any reason why your hesitant on any commitments? What do you think is going to happen in 2 years that will turn you away from DTV? Will you be moving or something?
Actually, I love that my locals aren't broadcast in HD-lite. I'm not charged for my SD locals, and (ALL, not just the ones carried by Dish) of my HD locals come in over powered rabbit ears in full 1080i (except Fox and Univision). Moreover, I still get the program guide/TV listings.

[shortspark]

Actually, I love that my locals aren't broadcast in HD-lite. I'm not charged for my SD locals, and (ALL, not just the ones carried by Dish) of my HD locals come in over powered rabbit ears in full 1080i (except Fox and Univision). Moreover, I still get the program guide/TV listings.

Exactly. I'm 40 miles north of Tyler and Dish does not carry Tyler stations in HD (and probably never will). I don't think they like us Texans! But I pick them up fine with my antenna and save a few bucks by not subscribing to locals. That has to be the major concern of the OP: can you still get local HD via your antenna? If so don't sweat it - just get DISH. I had Directv for over a dozen years, ever since they first came out. And I enjoyed Tivo in addition to two D* HD set top boxes that worked very well for me. But the 622 with its ability to download to a PocketDish and the Sirius channels for music won me over. It is not perfect, nothing is, but it is a darn good piece of equipment overall. I don't think you will be sorry going with E*.

[DBS Commando]

Actually, I love that my locals aren't broadcast in HD-lite. I'm not charged for my SD locals, and (ALL, not just the ones carried by Dish) of my HD locals come in over powered rabbit ears in full 1080i (except Fox and Univision). Moreover, I still get the program guide/TV listings.

I don't have the luxury of using a OTA. Too many mountains up here.:(

[gintzj]

I am looking to upgrade to HD. I have been a DirecTV customer for many years and have a pretty good offer from them to upgrade. However it requires a 2 year commitment, which I am hesitant to do. I am considering going with Dish since I can get all the equipment and install for free (except for a 49.99 fee) and not have any commitment.

My main concerns are that Dish does not have my locals in HD (DirecTV does) and the reliability and ease of use of the VIP622 DVR. My wife loves TIVO and ease of use is a big concern for her.

Any advantages of choosing Dish over DirecTV?

dish has more hd and better of the two

Stay and go with Dish

I have been a long time dish person and I love it

Ps I sell it on the side

Thank you

[BigCTM]

My main concern is the local channels OTA. The VIP622 looks better than the R20 to me, even though the R20 has come a long way.

I will buy an antenna tomorrow and try the OTA channels. I keep hearing that only certain stations can be picked up with certain antennas. Any suggestions on an antenna that I might could buy locally? Looks like Radio Shack has some...Thanks.

[ubankit]

My main concern is the local channels OTA. The VIP622 looks better than the R20 to me, even though the R20 has come a long way.

I will buy an antenna tomorrow and try the OTA channels. I keep hearing that only certain stations can be picked up with certain antennas. Any suggestions on an antenna that I might could buy locally? Looks like Radio Shack has some...Thanks.

Check out www.antennaweb.org (think that's the site), you can put your address or zip code in and get a listing of where the stations broadcast from. The antennas have a color code on the box that will correspond to the size you need.
Radio Shack would be a good local place to find one, I bought one from Home Depot (branded as RCA, think most of them sold at the retail level are made in China) and it works well for me, I'm about 40 miles from the antenna farm (s/w of Houston). You don't have to spend a ton of money on one, just get it where you can return it if doesn't work and you need a larger one.
I'm happy with our 622, you might have a "slight" WAF with the 622 interface versus the Tivo, seems the comments I've heard (especially dealing with the gals) is that Tivo based units are easier for them to use. I've "taught" my wife the basics (she knows how to set the timers, use the guide, etc; she doesn't use the advanced search, dish pass, etc). Bottom line, she's happy with it as long as I don't get too technical and try to explain things or suggest, "well dear, why don't you read the manual":D We've never used Tivo so I didn't have a built in bias for or against Dish's dvrs.
Also, is the D box capable of receiving 2 ota stations at a time, that might have a bearing if you have network shows broadcasting at the same time.

[allargon]

I will buy an antenna tomorrow and try the OTA channels. I keep hearing that only certain stations can be picked up with certain antennas. Any suggestions on an antenna that I might could buy locally? Looks like Radio Shack has some...Thanks.

Everyone mentions Radio Shack and (if they have one) Fry's. I will also suggest to check out Lowes and Home Depot. You might be surprised by the prices and selections.

[Jim5506]

Everyone mentions Radio Shack and (if they have one) Fry's. I will also suggest to check out Lowes and Home Depot. You might be surprised by the prices and selections.

Also, be aware thet the antennas that these retailers carry are the low to mid range models from manufacturers. For instance, Home Depot carries th 30XX series of Channel Master antennas whereas the best Channel Master antennas are the 36XX series with better connections and materials. These mid to low end antennas will cost about 2/3 the price of the best, but last about 1/2 as long in the weather.