[CrazyGuy]

hi! I'm starting this thread because I cannot decide what the best choice would be for my satellite needs.

I have read around about the two choices but a lot of it seems to be this one sucks or that one sucks! Or biased marketing material. This isn't exactly helpful!

I have 3 HD TV's with the possibility of adding a 4th sometime later on.

I would like to be able to record between 2 and 4 things at a time with the DVR divided by two of the 3 rooms.

I'm not a huge sports fan, but I do watch the occasional baseball game. I do like movies.

Is there a REAL difference between dish and dtv's picture quality?

also hopper vs genie whats the REAL difference and which one is better?

Thanks,
-CG

 

[lparsons21]

IMO, here's the way to look at which to get.

1. Which one has more of what you want to watch? And in HD?
2. How much will it cost?
3. How does the gear work?

The HD between D* and E* is slightly different which is the way most describe it. D* has that slight edge.

And why is my #3 in last place? Because when the dust settles, you'll watch TV and both D* and E*'s gear will allow you to do that just fine, and both will allow you to share just fine.

 

[harsh]

Both the Genie and Hopper will serve up to four TVs. The catch with the Hopper is that, depending on what kind of content you're recording and how much live TV you watch, you may run out of tuners.

If you desire MLB Extra Innings, DIRECTV's your logical choice. If you can get your baseball elsewhere, there's not much to worry about either way (unless you demand all of the non-game content in HD -- a bow to DIRECTV).

DISH arguably does movies better with the addition of the Epix networks though DIRECTV carries more HBO and Showtime in HD (same movies at different times).

Both the Genie and Hopper systems are relatively new and are experiencing some teething pains.

The rest comes down to channels that one has that the other doesn't (or HD versus SD) and that goes either way depending entirely on your personal preferences.

The big nod to DISH comes from their support of archiving programming to cheap external hard drives so that if your DVR dies, you haven't lost anything you intended to save. The AutoHop feature probably doesn't hurt either if you're a big fan of the big four networks.

 

[toobs]

I went with Directv because the HR34 can record 5 shows at the same time while the Hopper can record up to 3. I highly doubt that I will keep NFL package because I'm never home on Sundays to watch and if I'm home, I watch whatever game is broadcast locally. At the time, Dish did not have AMC. I waited until Breaking Bad was over to switch to Directv and Dish still didn't carry AMC. I don't use Genie at all. AMC was the big one for me.

 

[harsh]

I went with Directv because the HR34 can record 5 shows at the same time while the Hopper can record up to 3.

With the Prime Time Anytime feature and an OTA tuner, the Hopper can record up to 7 channels at once (four without PTAT). The Genie is limited to recording five channels period.

 

[sigma1914]

With the Prime Time Anytime feature and an OTA tuner, the Hopper can record up to 7 channels at once (four without PTAT). The Genie is limited to recording five channels period.

PTAT is great if most of your viewing is 8p-11p EST on the general network channels. At least with Genie, it's any 5 channels at anytime...not 7 at a certain time.

 

[joshjr]

PTAT is great if most of your viewing is 8p-11p EST on the general network channels. At least with Genie, it's any 5 channels at anytime...not 7 at a certain time.

Agreed, that fact that the Hopper logs tuners for specific channels during specific times makes it NOT for me lol. The HR34 is perfect for my viewing needs. It does exactly what I need it to do.

 

[harsh]

Other than live sports programming, I'm not sure that there isn't at least one repeat of just about every program on "cable channels" in the same 24 hour period.

A&E and Discovery networks play their original series episodes three or more times a week (often twice on premier day). The same goes for the premium movie plexes. As RSNs become more popular, even the game replays are are on the upswing.

 

[BrianB]

Having used both, I can say that the Hopper's UI is much faster, more intuitive, and more polished than the Genie. It's a frustrating experience using the channel guide in the Genie where the Hopper is instantaneous and fluid.

 

[Hoosier205]

If HD picture quality is important to you...Dish Network isn't even an option.

 

[fourhokiefans]

If HD picture quality is important to you...Dish Network isn't even an option.

That is a definitive opinion. Are you on the payroll at DirecTv?:hurah:

 

[Hoosier205]

That is a definitive opinion.

You can choose to believe that if you wish.

 

[peano]

If HD picture quality is important to you...Dish Network isn't even an option.

Not true. I have DIRECTV and Dish on my 60" Kuro. I get that you hate Dish but your claim that Directv HD is miles better is wrong.

 

[Hoosier205]

Not true. I have DIRECTV and Dish on my 60" Kuro. I get that you hate Dish but your claim that Directv HD is miles better is wrong.

The facts tell a different story. Dish HD is inferior.

 

[kick4fun]

The facts tell a different story. Dish HD is inferior.

I switched and you certainly tried everything you had to stop me from going to Dish because the HD quality etc.. I have to disagree and am very pleased with the HD on DISH.

I think the best way to make the choice from DISH vs DIRECTV is to look at programming then cost..

 

[Hoosier205]

I switched and you certainly tried everything you had to stop me from going to Dish because the HD quality etc.. I have to disagree and am very pleased with the HD on DISH.

I think the best way to make the choice from DISH vs DIRECTV is to look at programming then cost..

I didn't care that you switched, nor did it surprise me.

 

[Inkosaurus]

The facts tell a different story. Dish HD is inferior.

Inferior?
Yes.

Noticeably inferior?
No.

 

[dpeters11]

I switched and you certainly tried everything you had to stop me from going to Dish because the HD quality etc.. I have to disagree and am very pleased with the HD on DISH.

I think the best way to make the choice from DISH vs DIRECTV is to look at programming then cost..

And features, such as is Hopper/Joey better in your situation or HR34 Genie.

 

[lparsons21]

You can choose to believe that if you wish.

Thanks for that, I was really worrying that you wouldn't approve! :lol:

 

[peano]

Hoosier205 doesn't even have Dish and probably hasn't for years.

Yet he states unequivocally that DIRECTV HD is far better. And he is wrong. I think he is bitter with Dish for some reason.

On my calibrated Pioneer Elite 60" Kuro Plasma there is very little noticeable difference between Dish HD and Directv HD. I will admit Directv is slightly better on some content.

I know Directv is supposed to have better bitrates and perhaps they do, but to 99% of the population, they will never notice. I am extremely particular about what I watch and can tell the difference in picture quality. The difference is hard to see unless you stand a foot away from a 60" screen.

I watch Dish HD 90 percent of the time now because I can't stand waiting for my Directv receiver to respond to a remote button press. Now THAT is annoying and a proven fact.

I would say to any potential Directv sub......wait.

...Until Directv decides to make a receiver that has proper processing power and combines it with properly written software.

You will be waiting a LONG time.