[sregener]

I see a lot of complaints about every provider. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you switch to...

I've been with DirecTv off and on for many years, and am currently out of contract. They saddled me with an awful HD DVR, the HR22, which has been slow and unresponsive since day one. It has never missed a recording, but I'm tired of it not changing channels quickly when I turn it on for the kids and whatever is showing is totally wrong for their eyes (A Baby Story on TLC is the usual culprit.). 20 seconds later, I still can't change the channel or get their program started. To add insult to injury, they lack BBC America and TheHub in HD.

I have the AM21 for HD Locals (not in HD currently on DirecTV, but are on Dish) and like that they work even when rain fade hits.

I have a single set. Two tuners at once us usually sufficient. I see the Hopper, and I think I'd like to switch to it, but worry about the lack of OTA support, and the complaints about it.

So... Is anyone actually a happy Dish customer, or am I risking saddling myself to another company that fails to provide basic functionality? Thanks for your replies.

 

[Michael P]

I've been a happy E* customer since 1997. That's not to say I have not had issues. I got a 921 HD DVR when the price dropped from $999 to $549 thinking I was "future proofing" my set-up (I did not own an HD set). The neat feature of the E* DVR was the integrated OTA tuner which I use a lot. Well the 921 was buggy, but E* kept sending out replacements at no cost way past the warranty period (and without me having to sign up for a service plan). I had 10 different 921's Eventually I was upgraded to a 622, again at no cost. One thing Dish is good about is customer loyalty. They see that I've been a continuous customer since '97 so they have waived charges to swap DVR's many times.

The 622 and 722 both have OTA tuners and the ability to use them in either single mode (for picture in picture) or dual mode (to feed a 2nd TV in SD without having to buy a second receiver or pay the monthly fee for an additional receiver).

The Hopper/Joey is only needed if you have multiple HDTV's and need to have a true HD feed to all sets. It's a "whole house solution".

 

[neomaine]

Been a very happy customer for about 12 years now. The only time I waffled about switching was when D* had our locals in HD but Dish did not. I can hangle all the other stuff not being in sync but the locals were driving me nuts. That cleared up within 8-9 months. Longer than I would have liked and I was actively shopping.

But, too many other good features. Loved my 622 for years and now have had my 722 for awhile. Looking to go to the Hopper/Joey soon. Probably before summer for the extra HD for TV2.

 

[PasTypique]

Yes! I've been very happy with Dish Network. I may be an anomaly because I purchased my receivers and self-installed them. But every encounter with a Dish representative has been agreeable and I only had one issue with incorrect programming that was resolved fairly quickly (after a little bit of voice raising on the phone).

I've never had Direct TV per se but travel for business and have stayed at many hotels that offered Direct TV and I find the Direct TV receivers less responsive and the channel lineups less organized than Dish.

I'm a movie buff so I have the Everything Pack with Blockbuster @ Home. I pay an extra $5 per month to get the second DVD and I've been getting about 10 DVD's per month. I think it's worth the extra $15 and I enjoy the HD channels that are bundled with it.

My only suggestion to Dish for improvement is to roll out more HD. It's a little bit of a peeve of mine that I pay a premium for movie channels and many of them are not in HD yet. Dish should get moving on retiring old equipment and sunset the SD copies of HD channels.

 

[RasputinAXP]

I like Dish a lot. I haven't been tempted to leave. Had 'em since 2008.

 

[Orion9]

I've been a happy Dish customer since 2000. I have several friends who would tell you the same. Forums always make things seem worse since most people only feel a need to join and post when they have a problem.

I have a 722K that I am happy with. The only thing I wish I could get rid of is the live video window in the menus and guides, which I find distracting. (Mute helps.) Admittedly I never watch live TV so I don't know how long a channel change takes. I turn it on, press the DVR button and select a recording to watch. It always does that very quickly.

There are some lockout features that you can use to keep it from showing inappropriate stuff.

 

[mdavej]

I switched from D* a couple of year's ago and am much happier with Dish, due mostly to a lot more basic HD and responsive DVRs. I switched to hopper last month and am very happy with it, even though there a some minor bugs to be worked out. I still use an HR23 quite often at a relative's house. While I like the HD GUI, the box itself is a dog. I don't think I could tolerate it for long. D* seems to be more intent on adding worthless features than fixing bugs.

I haven't really missed OTA since PTAT resolved all the conflicts I was using OTA for anyway. I can live without most of the sub channels until OTA arrives for Hopper later.

Lastly, support is fantastic thanks to the Dish support folks you can reach by PM or email in these forums. I wish D* had something like that. They are far more knowledgeable and responsive than phone or chat support from any company I've ever dealt with.

Besides, if you aren't thrilled, you can go back to D* in a few years and get all the latest and greatest equipment when you sign up as a new customer. Personally, D* doesn't have anything compelling enough for me to switch back. If I were a huge sports fan, I suppose it would be a different story.

Most people ask about PQ. Although I know D*'s HD is technically better, I can't see any difference.

 

[domingos35]

very happy here
just signed another 2 year contract:heart:

 

[Stewart Vernon]

I'm happy with my Dish... but let's be honest for at least a minute here...

I talk with family and friends all the time about some service (phone, internet, tv, etc.) and hear how they are dissatisfied and "hate" a particular company.

Oddly enough, many of these people have the same complaints about different companies! So... switching from one company to another doesn't make them happy.

Thus... it kind of depends on what your complaints are.

Taking Dish vs DirecTV... Each provider has channels that the other doesn't... so if you have a specific channel you want, that is a good reason to pick one over the other. However, if a channel just dropped because of a contract dispute, each company deals with that too... and if you wait long enough these usually self-resolve.

Picture quality? Depends on who you ask. Some like one better than the other... though it seems like DirecTV usually comes out more on top than Dish... but that said, I don't have any complaints about my Dish picture quality even though I know there are sometimes issues.

CSRs? People have trouble with CSRs at any company. IF your problem is fixed, they are awesome! IF your problem is not fixed, then they are "idiots"... if they don't fix it quickly enough? I see enough complaints to think both have major issues... and at the same time, lots of people get great service and have next to no issues at all.

Bottom line... try to keep emotion out of it, and be honest about why you are considering switching. IF you're mad because of a billing problem, a hardware problem, a CSR issue, an outage, a lost channel, etc. be prepared to be equally disappointed no matter which way you switch.

 

[jdskycaster]

Satisfied Dish customer since 98'. Coming up quickly on two weeks with the 2 Hopper/ 3 Joey system and it is excellent. If this system is not for you I previously had 2 722k's which are also very nice DVR's.

 

[phrelin]

As my signature notes, when I started with C-band in 1988 I used Echostar equipment. When I shifted to the small dish, I continued with Echostar service and equipment which means now I'm a Dish Network customer because Echostar spun off its Dish Network subsidiary in 2008.

Obviously I am a satisfied customer. Am I "happy" with everything associated with my experience? If you did a search on my name here you would find me moaning and groaning about different things at different times. But I know I would be less satisfied with Comcast, my cable company. And based on personal preferences regarding programming and equipment capabilities, I believe I my needs are better met with Dish than they would be with Direct.

Perfection is an unobtainable ideal. So I'm satisfied with how close Dish comes for me.

 

[jdmart]

My wife and I have enjoyed Dish and their DVRs for over 10 years. Our new Hopper system is absolutely amazing!

 

[Redbullsnation]

no sir, but I can do little about it right now until my folks wake up and switch...

Can't get FSC or FOX Deportes or NBCSN without giving up an arm and a leg...

 

[Michael P]

no sir, but I can do little about it right now until my folks wake up and switch...

Can't get FSC or FOX Deportes or NBCSN without giving up an arm and a leg...

FSC & NBCSN are both on E*. What's your definition of "an arm & a leg"?
Does D* give these channels in a cheapie pack?

I have Top-250 HD. I pay $80.32 including tax. If I had cable I'd be paying over $100 for the equivalent package. That may be "an arm and a leg" to some, but there are lesser packs starting at ~$25, something cable or D* can't match.

 

[Redbullsnation]

An arm and a leg to me is when i gotta get X package with even more channels that I/We don't watch and pay for those channels along with the ones I/We don't watch

 

[Orion9]

I think that's true of nearly all satellite and cable companies. They all have several packages of channels, and some of them you never watch. But some of those are free or nearly free and some even pay the cable/satellite provider for access.

The channels you listed are ones that I've never heard of which shows that you can't make a package that pleases everyone.

 

[Michael P]

An arm and a leg to me is when i gotta get X package with even more channels that I/We don't watch and pay for those channels along with the ones I/We don't watch

That is true for every provider! Nobody sells ala-carte channels.

 

[Michael P]

I think that's true of nearly all satellite and cable companies. They all have several packages of channels, and some of them you never watch. But some of those are free or nearly free and some even pay the cable/satellite provider for access.

The channels you listed are ones that I've never heard of which shows that you can't make a package that pleases everyone.

FYI: Those channels are soccer channels (well 2 of them anyway, NBCSC is the old Versus network that has all kinds of sports and is a must for Hockey fans because of exclusive games). E* has these in normal packages and only charges extra for FSC+ which he did not mention.

 

[Redbullsnation]

That is true for every provider! Nobody sells ala-carte channels.

did I mention EVEN??

 

[inazsully]

I'm quite happy with Dish. I think most folks who join in on these discussions are pretty happy. It's the company we chose going in with our eyes open. That doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. I don't care if "D" improves because I didn't choose to jump in bed with "D". But I will always want my Dish to strive to be the leader and innovator above all other providers. Constructive criticism is the best way to inform and bring about positive change. I'm pretty proud of this forum and every once in awhile you just may feel the need to scream a little. That,s cool, we all know where you're coming from.