why should i go hd with dtv

[jm44807]

i have been with dtv for 16 years and have been reasonably satisfied with the service but now i want to go hd. i need 1 hd dvr and 2 sd dvrs.

dish vip 722 advantages
1. 3 recordings at once

2. 55 hrs compared to 30hrs of hd storage

3. external storage (hr20 has it but it replaces hard drive whats the point unless you spend lots of money for a huge external hard drive)

4. 2 live buffers

5. i dont have to beg/threaten to get free equipment. ( i have called dtv 3 times in last year and they tell me 2-3 hundred for hr20)

the only disadvantage is the way dish adds all the extra fees as far as i can tell it will cost 5-10 bucks per month more for the same package.

am i missing something? i dont order any extra sports packages.

id like to stay but finding it hard to see why.

thanks for any responses

[MikeR7]

i have been with dtv for 16 years and have been reasonably satisfied with the service but now i want to go hd. i need 1 hd dvr and 2 sd dvrs.

dish vip 722 advantages
1. 3 recordings at once

2. 55 hrs compared to 30hrs of hd storage

3. external storage (hr20 has it but it replaces hard drive whats the point unless you spend lots of money for a huge external hard drive)

4. 2 live buffers

5. i dont have to beg/threaten to get free equipment. ( i have called dtv 3 times in last year and they tell me 2-3 hundred for hr20)

the only disadvantage is the way dish adds all the extra fees as far as i can tell it will cost 5-10 bucks per month more for the same package.

am i missing something? i dont order any extra sports packages.

id like to stay but finding it hard to see why.

thanks for any responses

You've thought it through pretty well.

:wave: Bye!

[Doug Brott]

jm44807,

Unfortunately, I cannot speak for the Dish side since I've never used the service. Personally, I've been very happy with both the service and content on the DIRECTV. You might want to consider at least waiting for the announced HD channels. It'd be a shame if you switch and then realize that you really do want what DIRECTV has to offer.

[ldogg29]

i have been with dtv for 16 years and have been reasonably satisfied with the service but now i want to go hd. i need 1 hd dvr and 2 sd dvrs.

dish vip 722 advantages
1. 3 recordings at once

2. 55 hrs compared to 30hrs of hd storage

3. external storage (hr20 has it but it replaces hard drive whats the point unless you spend lots of money for a huge external hard drive)

4. 2 live buffers

5. i dont have to beg/threaten to get free equipment. ( i have called dtv 3 times in last year and they tell me 2-3 hundred for hr20)

the only disadvantage is the way dish adds all the extra fees as far as i can tell it will cost 5-10 bucks per month more for the same package.

am i missing something? i dont order any extra sports packages.

id like to stay but finding it hard to see why.

thanks for any responses

Seems like a no brainer to me. You should stay right where your at. :D Let us backward yokels suffer through all the stone age equipment and extra charges.

[badmonkey]

Is there any better reason than the 70+ HD channels coming this year?

[Flippie]

jm44807,

Unfortunately, I cannot speak for the Dish side since I've never used the service. Personally, I've been very happy with both the service and content on the DIRECTV. You might want to consider at least waiting for the announced HD channels. It'd be a shame if you switch and then realize that you really do want what DIRECTV has to offer.


Doug is correct. Wait and see.

[boba]

D* started in 1994 how have you been with them 16 years? How do you come up with 30 HR and 55Hr of recording? If you have used DVRs you know the actual recording time varies with what is being recorded, also a hard drive is a poor permanent storage media. All HDs will fail at some time, search for Hard Drive failures there are more posts of HD failure on DISH products than on D*. I don't agree with D* prices for HR-20 but if you want free HD DVRs also consider cable and FIOS.

[Ken984]

i have been with dtv for 16 years and have been reasonably satisfied with the service but now i want to go hd. i need 1 hd dvr and 2 sd dvrs.

dish vip 722 advantages
1. 3 recordings at once

2. 55 hrs compared to 30hrs of hd storage

3. external storage (hr20 has it but it replaces hard drive whats the point unless you spend lots of money for a huge external hard drive)

4. 2 live buffers

5. i dont have to beg/threaten to get free equipment. ( i have called dtv 3 times in last year and they tell me 2-3 hundred for hr20)

the only disadvantage is the way dish adds all the extra fees as far as i can tell it will cost 5-10 bucks per month more for the same package.

am i missing something? i dont order any extra sports packages.

id like to stay but finding it hard to see why.

thanks for any responses

I think you should read thru the E* threads a little closer, and not just the ones touting how great it is, read them all. They have plenty of issues to deal with as well, none of the providers is perfect. I can't see a reason to switch right now at all but thats just me. And you noticed the extra fees that they charge, $5 or $10 a month adds up quickly, free hardware is only free once, those fees keep on coming!
Also one drawback that I found when looking at them, for me at least, was the way they call it a 4 room system but its really just 2 boxes with 2 outputs and 2 remotes. A dvr with 2 tuners becomes a single tuner when used that way, pointless imo. Anyway, read and then read some more, good luck with your decision.

[Ken984]

Also don't forget the $40 they want to "activate" the external storage. And how much money are you talking about with a hard drive, any decent external unit 500gb is about 120-150, the ones with esata may cost 20 more than the plain usb2 but thats not much of a consideration, when you factor in the extra $5 or $10 a month you have calculated it will cost per month??

[raoul5788]

Don't forget that the HR20 will store 50 hrs of mpeg4 recordings.

[spartanstew]

I called yesterday and got a free HR20 to go with my 2 existing SD-DVR's.

My package for the next 12 months which will include Total Choice, HD Package, HBO package, Showtime package, and 3 DVR's (1 HD) will cost me a total of $55.00.

Can dish beat that?

[jm44807]

D* started in 1994 how have you been with them 16 years? How do you come up with 30 HR and 55Hr of recording? If you have used DVRs you know the actual recording time varies with what is being recorded, also a hard drive is a poor permanent storage media. All HDs will fail at some time, search for Hard Drive failures there are more posts of HD failure on DISH products than on D*. I don't agree with D* prices for HR-20 but if you want free HD DVRs also consider cable and FIOS.

my internet went out so i have not been able to check this thread.

mabey not 16 yrs then lol. i thought i got it not long after i was got hurt in 1991 i think i paid over $800 to get hooked up. the 30 and 55 was on a comparison sheet i found on this site. i live in boonies so cable is not an option.

ken984

i do have sd dvr with upgraded hd 160 hrs. and on occasion i have used all of it (i watch to much tv) thats why i was concerned about 30 or even 55 hrs. dish allows you to archive shows on external hd dtv replaces internal. so if i want to double my hrs with dish i could get a 300gb and use both the way i understand it. with dtv i would have to get a 750gb is there a chance dtv will change this to be able to use both together? and yes the 5-10 bucks does add up and i am cheap but i am on a fixed (low)income also. i too dont like the 1 box 2 tv approach.

doug brott

the hd lineup does not really bother me i figure eventually they will both have about the same amount each. and i have to wait to switch till nov when i my 1yr contract is up.

i am not trying to bash dtv i have been happy with them and love the dvr i have. however 2 live buffers, 3 recordings at once and add on external drive are hard to ignore. i guess ill just have to decide i can always switch to the one i dont go with a couple yrs down the road. i wish i knew if dtv would at least bring back 2 live buffers and change the way the external hd was used i would probably stay then if i could get a deal on hr20.

thanks all fo replys

[jimmyv2000]

I been with since 94 i have a 3 digit acct#.
Need i say more.
Bring that HD on Baby i'm on vaca this week!

[Blitz68]

I been with since 94 i have a 3 digit acct#.
Need i say more.
Bring that HD on Baby i'm on vaca this week!

Been with them since Aug 1995 mine is 6 digits... :(