[jordanhallmann]

Hello,

I am thinking about getting DirecTV or Dish Network. How is Dish Network? IS it any better than DirecTV? What about HD picture?

 

[mdavej]

Asked and answered about a million times already, so please do a little searching. I can predict everyone here will recommend Dish and everyone in the DirecTV forum will recommend DirecTV. Personally I like Dish a lot more than DirecTV and find the HD PQ to be outstanding on both. So compare the channel lineups and decide for yourself.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Hello,

I am thinking about getting DirecTV or Dish Network. How is Dish Network? IS it any better than DirecTV? What about HD picture?

We actually switched from DirecTV to Dish Network. We really enjoy Dish more than we enjoyed DirecTV. I find Dish cheaper than DirecTV in most setups. I really cannot find much difference between the two providers. Honestly, I read that DirecTV had a slightly better HD picture (although not enough to switch providers) while I read that Dish's SD channels look a lot better than DirecTV's. I know Chiller looked very washed out on DirecTV bur not on Dish. Most of the family switched from DirecTV to Dish due mainly to costs as well as having an RSN not on DirecTV and a local channel not on DirecTV. We also had problems with DirecTV with the signal in good and bad weather. I had problems with some receivers not working when one was on. Other family members had problems with only the HD signal from time to time resulting in service calls to fix the issues. So far, we have not had to have a service call from Dish.

 

[epokopac]

Hello,

I am thinking about getting DirecTV or Dish Network. How is Dish Network? IS it any better than DirecTV? What about HD picture?

Simple test:

Are you a sports "junkie"?

Yes = get Direct
No = get Dish

In addition, ask yourself what channels you "really" watch. Compare packages and prices and make an informed decision. I've been quite pleased with Dish for the last 5 years or so. No complaints with the HD picture quality. Helps to calibrate your TV as well. Good luck on your search.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Asked and answered about a million times already, so please do a little searching. I can predict everyone here will recommend Dish and everyone in the DirecTV forum will recommend DirecTV. Personally I like Dish a lot more than DirecTV and find the HD PQ to be outstanding on both. So compare the channel lineups and decide for yourself.

I do agree in checking program packages and equipment along with costs.

If you are a movie lover, I would suggest America's Top 250 that includes Encores, MoviePlex, Epix Drive-In, and west feeds of The Movie Channel and TMC Xtra or/and the add-on [email protected] add-on (which is currently free for 3 months with most packages). For those without America's Top 250, there is an a la carte Encore Movie Pack for $5/month.

One good thing with Dish is that you can service 2 TVs with a primary receiver. If you want DVR and want to avoid current and future DVR fees, I always suggest the 211 (if you can do without streaming content). It can optionally be integrated with a one-time $40 fee (that covers all the 211s one has) and external hard drive(s).

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Simple test:

Are you a sports "junkie"?

Yes = get Direct
No = get Dish

In addition, ask yourself what channels you "really" watch. Compare packages and prices and make an informed decision. I've been quite pleased with Dish for the last 5 years or so. No complaints with the HD picture quality. Helps to calibrate your TV as well. Good luck on your search.

I will agree with the sports junkie part for the most part, but I have an RSN with Dish that is not on DirecTV that plays a lot of great local games. So, I would maybe suggest checking both providers by imputing a zip code on their sites that should tell you HD, SD, and available channels.

Dish has been getting better with sports with adding MLB Network and MLB Strike Zone. Dish also carries NFL Red Zone. For MLB Strike Zone and NFL Red Zone, one needs the $9 MultiSport add-on with a minimum package of America's Top 120 Plus or Dish Latino Dos (which also has English channels) last time I checked.

The complaint I read a lot is that Dish has RSNs in part-time HD. For our family, this has not been a big deal (as long as we can catch a game if we want to do so). I was surprised to see the alternate channels actually being used and coming on with Dish.

I hope this all helps.

 

[sigma1914]

I will agree with the sports junkie part for the most part, but I have an RSN with Dish that is not on DirecTV that plays a lot of great local games.

...

Which RSN?

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Which RSN?

CST (Cox Sports Television)

It has Hornets games as well as LSU baseball, and it is not on D*.

 

[Paul Secic]

Hello,

I am thinking about getting DirecTV or Dish Network. How is Dish Network? IS it any better than DirecTV? What about HD picture?

The HD is quite good.

 

[peano]

Dish Network = More HD channels and fast receivers.

DIRECTV = Less HD channels but more sports (NY especially) and slow buggy receivers.

HD quality on DIRECTV is slightly better, and I mean slightly, but DIRECTV standard definition looks like a poor YouTube video on dial up.

I have both providers. I would never recommend DIRECTV to anybody unless they must have NFL Sunday Ticket.

 

[Ira Lacher]

One caveat about sports:

DirecTV has the paid MLB and NFL subscriptions; DISH does not. However, both DISH and DirecTV offer the NHL, NBA and ESPN college subscriptions.

Just another thought: DISH seems far more aggressive in contract negotiations with programming providers. This means channels seem more in danger of disappearing on DISH than they do on DirecTV. For example, DISH's p***ing contest with the Disney Corp. has had HD versions of Disney, DisneyXD, ESPNNews and ESPNU absent for months now, seemingly with no end in sight. However, recently DirecTV has been also involved in its share of down-to-the-wire negotiations, although it seems to settle without channels being yanked from its lineup.

 

[harsh]

It mostly comes down to the programming and that's a value judgement that only you can make.

Either service is probably going to present compromises.

If you have lots of TVs or are expecting something extraordinary from your TV service, you should share that BEFORE you ask which is best.

Know that whichever you choose, you'll have to live with that choice for up to 24 months, so it pays to do your homework.

 

[jimd909]

HD Channel Lineups - Cable/DBS/Fiber/IPTV - Updated 3/25/12

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1058081

 

[Super Dave]

Just another thought: DISH seems far more aggressive in contract negotiations with programming providers. This means channels seem more in danger of disappearing on DISH than they do on DirecTV. For example, DISH's p***ing contest with the Disney Corp. has had HD versions of Disney, DisneyXD, ESPNNews and ESPNU absent for months now, seemingly with no end in sight.

Months??? I left Dish a year and half ago and we were without those channels as well as ABCFamily HD for about 6 months then. My kids watch the ABC and Disney HD channels and I watch ESPN so we were aware of the feud.

 

[DEC]

We switched from DTV HD to Dish HD since DTV dropped our HD locals back in April 2011.

Here's my honest head-to-head read on this:

- Dish is cheaper overall than DTV for similar programming.
- Dish has much faster and more advanced HD DVR's.
- DTV has more sports programming than Dish.
- DTV has noticeably higher definition/higher quality HD IMO.
- The claims that Dish has significantly higher quality SD over DTV SD seem overblown to me in most cases.
- DTV has beefier dishes, masts, and associated outside hardware than Dish.

While we didn't like the less quality HD that came with Dish, it was more important for us to regain our HD locals (where we also watch a lot of the sports & other programming we are interested in). All-in-all, we are very pleased with Dish, especially with the ViP 922 HD DVR, which is really a sweet unit. Saving a bit of money is also not a bad thing.

 

[James Long]

Months??? I left Dish a year and half ago and we were without those channels as well as ABCFamily HD for about 6 months then. My kids watch the ABC and Disney HD channels and I watch ESPN so we were aware of the feud.

Those channels left June 22nd, 2010. Just over 22 months ago.

 

[antennas]

HD quality is good.

 

[domingos35]

HD picture is just as good as directv's
don't let anyone fool you

 

[DEC]

HD picture is just as good as directv's
don't let anyone fool you

Nobody's fooling anyone. I just choose to not drink the Kool-Aid and tell it like it is. I've had both DTV HD and Dish HD and there is a clear difference in resolution between the two IMO. It's not so much that Dish HD is bad, it's just that DTV's HD picture quality is noticeably better IMO. YMMV

 

[domingos35]

Nobody's fooling anyone. I just choose to not drink the Kool-Aid and tell it like it is. I've had both DTV HD and Dish HD and there is a clear difference in resolution between the two IMO. It's not so much that Dish HD is bad, it's just that DTV's HD picture quality is noticeably better IMO. YMMV

and i've also had directv and dish and there is no clear difference in resolution between the two IMO.and SD is MUCH better on dish