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Leaving DTV after 21 years

4K views 37 replies 22 participants last post by  peds48 
#1 ·
Left DTV after 21 Years

Hated to do it, but the price increases and no deals this year on Sunday Ticket, made me do something I may regret. I switched to Xfinity. I will be fine until I need to call them. But I’m now saving $82 / month and I have nice equipment. For those of you contemplating, here are some observations after a month.

Pros for switching:
X1 much better than any of my HRs, to include being able to change channels on the first try, and any remote function is instant.
Voice remote
On Demand superior
Music Choice vs. Sonic (no comparison)
Red Zone Channel a la carte
Money Savings
Easy setup and reboot takes 1/10th the time of DTV
Whole home responds instantly, no lag like DTV
So I was paying $201.00 to DTV with Choice plus all movie channels and 4 receivers.
Now I am paying $224.00 (that's all fees included) for all of everything Xfinity offers, to include Red Zone and 4 receivers, 150 Download internet, and home phone. Was paying Comcast $105.00 for Internet and Phone. Total savings $82/month.
You know DTV's stuff is outdated when they only wanted 1 out of 4 receivers back

Cons:
Doesn't time warp so much
Need to manually add extra time at end of shows when setting them up, DTV seemed to start a little early, and end a little late, which was good.
 
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#2 ·
Taxi77 said:
Left DTV after 21 Years

Hated to do it, but the price increases and no deals this year on Sunday Ticket, made me do something I may regret. I switched to Xfinity. I will be fine until I need to call them. But I'm now saving $82 / month and I have nice equipment. For those of you contemplating, here are some observations after a month.

Pros for switching:
X1 much better than any of my HRs, to include being able to change channels on the first try, and any remote function is instant.
Voice remote
On Demand superior
Music Choice vs. Sonic (no comparison)
Red Zone Channel a la carte
Money Savings
Easy setup and reboot takes 1/10th the time of DTV
Whole home responds instantly, no lag like DTV
So I was paying $201.00 to DTV with Choice plus all movie channels and 4 receivers.
Now I am paying $224.00 (that's all fees included) for all of everything Xfinity offers, to include Red Zone and 4 receivers, 150 Download internet, and home phone. Was paying Comcast $105.00 for Internet and Phone. Total savings $82/month.
You know DTV's stuff is outdated when they only wanted 1 out of 4 receivers back

Cons:
Doesn't time warp so much
Need to manually add extra time at end of shows when setting them up, DTV seemed to start a little early, and end a little late, which was good.
Whole home would be faster if you had upgraded eqitment, (Never upgraded) Reboot is long since you had old equipment. Slow responce since you have old equitment! If you upgraded to a genie with all HR24s for clients you would be better off.
 
#3 ·
Right, you can't compare old Directv equipment with the latest and greatest from XFinity. Is just not a fair comparison.


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#37 ·
Right, you can't compare old Directv equipment with the latest and greatest from XFinity. Is just not a fair comparison.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have had my equipment changed out three times in the 15 years that I have been with DirecTV and they have always installed the OLDEST equipment in their available inventory. Feeling like a bottom of the barrel customer experience in this regard makes your point as moot as ten month old donuts.
 
#4 ·
Taxi77 said:
Left DTV after 21 Years

Hated to do it, but the price increases and no deals this year on Sunday Ticket, made me do something I may regret. I switched to Xfinity. I will be fine until I need to call them. But I'm now saving $82 / month and I have nice equipment. For those of you contemplating, here are some observations after a month.

Pros for switching:
X1 much better than any of my HRs, to include being able to change channels on the first try, and any remote function is instant.
Voice remote
On Demand superior
Music Choice vs. Sonic (no comparison)
Red Zone Channel a la carte
Money Savings
Easy setup and reboot takes 1/10th the time of DTV
Whole home responds instantly, no lag like DTV
So I was paying $201.00 to DTV with Choice plus all movie channels and 4 receivers.
Now I am paying $224.00 (that's all fees included) for all of everything Xfinity offers, to include Red Zone and 4 receivers, 150 Download internet, and home phone. Was paying Comcast $105.00 for Internet and Phone. Total savings $82/month.
You know DTV's stuff is outdated when they only wanted 1 out of 4 receivers back

Cons:
Doesn't time warp so much
Need to manually add extra time at end of shows when setting them up, DTV seemed to start a little early, and end a little late, which was good.
Thanks for the detailed report.
 
#5 ·
But what were the odds of me getting a Genie and 2 more HR24s? From what I read here, not likely, then I'm in for 2 more years.
 
#7 ·
Taxi77 said:
But what were the odds of me getting a Genie and 2 more HR24s? From what I read here, not likely, then I'm in for 2 more years.
Exactly what I was thinking the 2 year extension has kept me also from upgrading 2011 equipment. Really takes a while now just changing channels with HR24's and sometimes I have to turn off receiver because I get a snowy screen that won't clear.
 
#8 ·
The channel changing or waiting for other remote functions put me over the edge. And even the screen saver on the X1 shows nice pictures and local headlines, not a bouncing AT&T ball. But, I'm a realist, it is XFinity and one day I'm going to have to call them. I'll just go ahead and say "Ugh" in advance!
 
#10 ·
She didn't hardly try. Asked me if I wanted her to see if she could find some discounts, I asked if she could come close to a Genie and 2 HR24s plus at least $70/mo for 2 years, and she said not possible, so I said just cancel, and she said sorry and goodbye.
 
#11 ·
Good luck. Personally, I could never go back to Comcast with its insufficient channel offerings in my area, especially HD premium channels and sports subscriptions. DirecTV and FiOS are clear winners for me and I'll just keep bouncing between the two for good deals when the time comes. But totally understand your reasoning for doing so, especially since DirecTV didn't seem to work hard to keep you in the fold.
 
#12 ·
Thanks, unfortunately no FIOS out here in the country. The lineup here is as good as DTV, and even some cases better getting all of the local sub channels. The only channel issue I have is that we get only one of each premium in HD, but have the whole lineup of movies on demand in HD. I was a loyal DTV guy for 21 years, but they made me try something else.
 
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#13 ·
Why wouldn't he compare just exactly that? It's the reality of the situation not some theoretical "what if". Is Directv going to give him all the latest equipment without a couple of hundred bucks per DVR and a one or two year commitment? I seriously doubt it.

peds48 said:
Right, you can't compare old Directv equipment with the latest and greatest from XFinity. Is just not a fair comparison.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
Taxi77 said:
Left DTV after 21 Years

Hated to do it, but the price increases and no deals this year on Sunday Ticket, made me do something I may regret. I switched to Xfinity. I will be fine until I need to call them. But I'm now saving $82 / month and I have nice equipment. For those of you contemplating, here are some observations after a month.

Pros for switching:
X1 much better than any of my HRs, to include being able to change channels on the first try, and any remote function is instant.
Voice remote
On Demand superior
Music Choice vs. Sonic (no comparison)
Red Zone Channel a la carte
Money Savings
Easy setup and reboot takes 1/10th the time of DTV
Whole home responds instantly, no lag like DTV
So I was paying $201.00 to DTV with Choice plus all movie channels and 4 receivers.
Now I am paying $224.00 (that's all fees included) for all of everything Xfinity offers, to include Red Zone and 4 receivers, 150 Download internet, and home phone. Was paying Comcast $105.00 for Internet and Phone. Total savings $82/month.
You know DTV's stuff is outdated when they only wanted 1 out of 4 receivers back

Cons:
Doesn't time warp so much
Need to manually add extra time at end of shows when setting them up, DTV seemed to start a little early, and end a little late, which was good.
Don't forget the lack of HD and super over compressed feeds.
 
#15 ·
raott said:
Why wouldn't he compare just exactly that? It's the reality of the situation not some theoretical "what if". Is Directv going to give him all the latest equipment without a couple of hundred bucks per DVR and a one or two year commitment? I seriously doubt it.
why? This is equipment comparison. Not experience.

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#16 ·
peds48 said:
why? This is equipment comparison. Not experience.

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Huh? He listed 8 items 'pro' for switching. 4 of those are not equipment related.

Taxi77 said:
Left DTV after 21 Years

For those of you contemplating, here are some observations after a month.

Pros for switching:
On Demand superior
Music Choice vs. Sonic (no comparison)
Red Zone Channel a la carte
Money Savings
 
#17 ·
trh said:
Huh? He listed 8 items 'pro' for switching. 4 of those are not equipment related.
for context...

X1 much better than any of my HRs, to include being able to change channels on the first try, and any remote function is instant.
Follow the breadcrumbs..........

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#18 ·
peds48 said:
Follow the breadcrumbs..........
If you'll recall, following the breadcrumbs didn't work for Hansel and Gretel because birds ate the trail they left.

The TS left DIRECTV for multiple reasons, only some of which involved his older equipment. He provided a list of what he likes better than what he had and a monthly dollar amount of his savings. DIRECTV isn't for everybody and because he left doesn't mean he did anything wrong. He even stated he may come to regret his decision.

I appreciate his post, his analysis and wish him well.
 
#20 ·
Again, the equipment he can compare to is only as good as the equipment he can actually have/has. He clearly states the X1 is better than "my HRs". Why would he compare equipment he can't have without spending hundreds of dollars?

Is directv going to start replacing all of the underpowered, laggy, keybounce ridden HRs that are still out there, for free?

peds48 said:
why? This is equipment comparison. Not experience.
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#24 ·
trh said:
If you'll recall, following the breadcrumbs didn't work for Hansel and Gretel because birds ate the trail they left.
good luck to them eating DIGITAL breadcrumbs.....

trh said:
The TS left DIRECTV for multiple reasons, only some of which involved his older equipment.
I never questioned his decision for leaving DIRECTV. I only raised the point that is not a fair comparison of older DIRECTV equipment and latest and greatest from the other company. The TS could have said that he left DIRECTV due to his crappy DIRECTV equipment without the need of comparison.

trh said:
He provided a list of what he likes better than what he had and a monthly dollar amount of his savings.
no one is questioned those points, at least not me!

trh said:
DIRECTV isn't for everybody and because he left doesn't mean he did anything wrong. He even stated he may come to regret his decision.
Understood, I am not saying he did anything wrong by leaving DIRECTV. You are taking my words out of context, big time. Please stop.

trh said:
I appreciate his post, his analysis and wish him well.
I appreciate ANY post.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
#25 ·
raott said:
Again, the equipment he can compare to is only as good as the equipment he can actually have/has. He clearly states the X1 is better than "my HRs". Why would he compare equipment he can't have without spending hundreds of dollars?
Not true, he can compare his experience of the services, but is not a fair comparison of cable latest and greatest and DIRECTV older hardware

raott said:
Is directv going to start replacing all of the underpowered, laggy, keybounce ridden HRs that are still out there, for free?
again, that is part of the experience, IOW, how satisfied are with the service, etc....

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#26 ·
I am in the unique position of having DIRECTV at home and XFINITY at my apartment in Harrisburg. Overall I prefer DIRECTV but the gap is a lot closer that it was a few years ago.
I have an HR54, an HR24 and an HR21 at home and an X1 in Harrisburg.
There are a few more pluses for Comcast. Their out of home solution is far superior to the mobile DVR DIRECTV uses. Better picture quality, ability to view downloaded programs without an internet connection and, most importantly it works, all the time, while I can rarely use the DIRECTV mobile DVR for anything other than streaming on demand, which I acan do with apps from the various programmers without the DIRECTV app. Also, the customer service, while still not great, is greatly improved from the old days. DIRECTV is still better, but XFINITY is getting better while DIRECTV is going down hill. The gap is most definitely closing. Also, with XFINITY you get the local sub channels without an antenna and AM21 or the need to program in multiple locations because DIRECTV isn't interested in an over the air solution.
On the other hand, as others have mentioned the picture, while not as bad as soon would have you think, is inferior to DIRECTV. Also, again as mentioned by others, the lack of premium channels in HD is a big negative. I know you can watch on demand, but sometimes you just want to watch what is on. Sunday ticket is still a plus for DIRECTV, but the value is getting lessened for me by the number of over the air games each week. The truth is, I mostly watch the red zone channel, which is available by itself from XFINITY. I usually get Sunday Ticket for free and I don't think I would pay for it.
Two additional advantages for DIRECTV in my eyes are:
1. Channel placement - Here in Pittsburgh CBS is on channel 2 whether it's in HD, SD or over the air. On my X1 I need to figure out what Channel the locals are on. Very confusing. They do have a setting where the box will automatically tune to the HD channel if you select the ad channel, but even this work around is clunky at best.
2. I may be in the minority, but I'm a fan of the audience network and some of the foreign programming it has shown. Underbelly and the original rake from Australia come to mind, along with the last seasons of Friday Night Lights and Damages along with Full Circle.

I guess my point is, while I still prefer DIRECTV the lead is nowhere close to what it used to be. While their reasons may be self-serving (let's face it, all business decisions, by definition, are), they have definitely improved in quality and customer service. DIRECTV, on the other hand, has become a bit stagnant and much less customer friendly. I am hoping the next generation of equipment will move towards a client server system with more recording channels available and a more elegant 4K solution, but I expect to be disappointed.
 
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