Direct TV or Dish Network?

[a454elk]

Well my cable company pulled a major poopoo and took the Home Shopping Network off their lineup! My wife is going nuts and said we need to get a dish (go ahead, throw me in the briar bush). So what's the word, either of these better and do I go for the larger (18"x24") dish so I can get all 5 satellites or just the 18" round one? Any Ideas? Thanks in advance.

Elk needing a dish in Anaheim

 

[JWW]

I'm sure there will be tons of people in favor of the dish but everybody I know hates it. Plus you need to have a seperate receiver for each tv.

Who ever you go with watch the installation. They seem to take alot of short cuts.

I say go with the digital cable. Its great....extremely clear.

Does she know HSN has a website?

 

[Patman]

I'm happy with DISH. Any sat system is going to have reception problems on stormy or even really cloudy and windy days. I have the wide sat dish and have 4 recievers hooked to it that can each have their own station playing at the same time. DISH also was offering a PVR (like Tivo) if you got a multi reciever system. Don't know if they still are.

 

[a454elk]

They offer the digital service but it still doesn't include HSN in their lineup, they totally took it off! And yes, she knows about the website, she orders from their when she doesn't want to pay tax!
I checked on The Dish Network and they have an offer for four tv's with their service, free installation and no equipment to buy and free for 3 months. Sounds pretty good but am still looking for more input. Thx, by the way, how's that digging mut!
Elk

 

[JWW]

Originally posted by a454elk
Thx, by the way, how's that digging mut!
Elk

She took out 3 magazines and a remote control yesterday. She irritates the heck out of me but shes great...


Did you look at Blockbuster Video? I was in there yesterday and they had some sort of dish deal going on.

 

[bbbom]

Only drawback with DishNet and the free system and installation is you have to commit to a minimum package for at least 12 months AND you pay $4.99 per month per receiver FOREVER.

So in 2 years, you have paid for the receiver but you will have to continue paying unless you want to cancel the service.

Same with DirectTV I think. Read the FINE print in the agreement before you commit.

 

[XRpredator]

Heck, I thought getting rid of HSN would be a plus! ;)

We have the Dish Network. Seems they're buying out DirecTV anyway, so we figured we'd go with them. And your wife will love it, because I think there are something like ten different shopping channels! :scream:

 

[LoriKTM]

We have DISH as well. Sort of by default, as the previous owners had DISH, and they took their receiver with them. BUT, they left the satellite dish and a coupon for free installation. Can't beat that. It's worked out pretty well, we've really only had a couple days where weather interfered enough with the reception, and even then it was off only an hour or less.
We have America's top 150, and that's running $39 a month. Plus we have to pay for network broadcasts, since we're way out in the boonies. Overall, we've got more selection and better service, for only a little more money than we were paying for 3rd rate cable in Illinois.

 

[Okiewan]

Seems they're buying out DirecTV

DirecTV bought Dish.

There have been times I wish I had digital cable... as luck would have it a few years ago... had a bunch of people over for Game 7 NBA playoffs.. (Bulls of course)... storm came over, missed the last 15 minutes. :scream:

Right now there is another problem... I upgraded to "UltimateTV". Has the TiVO like thing, digital recording, etc. Couple of weeks ago, we suddenly lost several channels, of course the ones I watch 90% of the time (TLC, Discovery amoung others). They say there is a problem that Microsoft is "working on", bill will be adjusted. No idea when the channels will be back. Note; this only effects UltimateTV users, not regular directv.

Like anything else, there are problems, but this is getting old.

 

[JPIVEY]

Hey Elk, I have Dishnet with an 18" , we get 100 channels half we never watch and have not lost a signal due to weather in 2yrs, (that how long we've had it) and yes it has HSN, but go with the dish 500 b/c it has the better sports channels like speedvision , OLN and Odc, which I don't get

 

[SpokerAce]

Dish is buying DirecTV (or merging, whichever you want to call it). Hughes Electronics is larger then DISH but somehow DISH was able to outbid NewsCorp (I think that's who the original bidder was). I'm still going back through the financial news but found some of the info on Yahoo. Of course the deal has to be approved.

I have Dish but I'd take either company over cable. Although I understand the TIVO on the DirecTV system is much better.

 

[Okiewan]

Dish is buying DirecTV (or merging, whichever you want to call it)

Here is the press release:
http://directv.com/press/pressdel/0,1112,439,00.html

 

[Senior KX Rider]

I have the Dish 500 and am happy with the service. I hope there is not a price increase coming with the merger. They have done a good job of holding the line on pricing up to this point.

 

[a454elk]

Well thanks for all the input. After reading these and doing some investigating, I came to a few conclusions. bbbom is right about still paying for the equipment forever. This kinda appealed to me because they will upgrade your receiver free if they bring out a new model and they also provide in home service free. I do have to committ for at least a year but you're not going to believe this. Home Shopping, seeing is that my wife supports them and pays most of their paychecks:), is paying for our service for 1 year! Direct TV has a little more upfront costs and you have to buy the equipment no matter what.

I ended up getting the dish network from Costco, they had a deal going for 29 clams. You get a free install, 4 receivers, dish 500, top100 plan, free in home service and 3 free months of service. I really couldn't beat it. With those 3 months free and HSN picking up the next 12, couldn't help but take that offer! Thanks again for the help.

It's also easier to manually disrupt service by turning the dish when I think there's a bit too much shopping going on!! :debil:

Elk

 

[a454elk]

Oh ya, and I got a price lock until 2005 so I'm safe from any increases.
Elk

 

[Senior KX Rider]

Enjoy!!!:) :)

 

[SpokerAce]

That's odd, the way the business analysts put it, sounded the other way around.

Doesn't bother me either way (other then the fact I shoulda bought DISH shares after I got my system in 97, oh well). I'll now be able to take advantage of what I feel is better hardware on the DirecTV side.

Enjoy your system whichever one you get. I refuse to go back to cable.

 

[a454elk]

Adelphia can now bite the big Elk weenie! They have been a thorn in my shorts long enough and they really blew it and pissed off the wife. You know how that goes! Also, Dish offers a new 501 receiver that does the TiVo thing and records, pauses etc. live TV.
I'm getting it installed on Tuesday morning so we shall see. If you like, I'll give a live update as the installer does his duty! I'll even interview him and take his picture. That'll make him nervous.
Elk

 

[JuliusPleaser]

I hope you're as satisfied as I am. I bought a DirecTV system (cuz Charter SUCKS!) and installed it myself. I got the dish/receiver for $50, and Total Choice for $45 per month. It's been flawless so far. . .

Charter must be hemorraghing cash. They offered me $300 for my dish last month. HA! I love a market-driven economy!

 

[KWJams]

Customer services with Direct TV stinks!

We bought a dish a few years ago and have had nothing but trouble with their billing department! :uh: Every month we would waste time playing phone tag with them fixing over-charges.

Finally had enough and went back to local cable with DSL---:cool:

We called them up and closed our account and asked them to send us the final bill. They did not send us a bill---they sent the bill to a collection agency!
:mad:

 

[scar tissue]

Have fun elk.

The only drawback I notice is not being able to record one channel and watch another. The entire signal goes through the converter. so unlike cable where 90% of the channels would still come in without the box locked on that channel, with Direct TV/ Dish you have to have the reciever on the channel you want and the vcr and tv only on channel 3. Also you lose all picture in picture and split screen functions. (as there is only one signal converted at a time) Yes I'm a channel jumper and my wife hates when I don't change back in time.

For my money I'd go back to cable it costs the same, if the offered the NFL package. They don't, so they lose..... Go Steelers.

I didn't even know we got HSN

FYI you could install 2 boxes on one tv that would solve part of the above problem.

 

[a454elk]

I was wondering about the picture in picture deally but luckily I don't use it. I also don't record much tv but if I have to, I can record it on another tv with the other receiver and still watch what I want on my main one. There will be some adjustments to be made but with 4 receivers, I should be able to work it all out, even when the wife wants HSN on the 70" big screen!
I have to root for the Steelers now cause the fish are out. :( Oh well, good luck for the iron curtain!

Elk

 

[Okiewan]

Like I said earlier, I got the unit that records and has "UltimateTV".. it'll record 2 shows at one, record one show while watching another, etc. I do record stuff (moto-x at 3 am), but usually don't keep it long, don't even have a VCR in the rack anymore.. The hardware recording is cool. (the dish is dual LNB the receiver has jacks for two sat. feeds).

 

[a454elk]

I like it, and the VCR is definately going to be a thing of the past pretty soon! It's all DVD for me and maybe now some pay per view.

 

[mkuder]

Dish Network vs. Direct TV

I have been a dish network customer since 1997 and have beem extremely satified. I purchase my recievers so I don't have to commit to any programming packages. recently I upgraded to the Dish 500 with the PVR system, 150 channels, this ran around $200 for the equipment and my programming is $35. This includes Speedvision, ESPN, Outdoor channel, etc.... check out their web site.

My parents have been Direct TV customers for a few years longer and have had more trouble with their bills, equipment failing, etc... The program guide on theirs shows all of the channels, which is a pain, on the Dish Network system you can switch between you subscription channels and all channels with a press of a button, and the unsubscribed channels show up in RED to let you know that they are not available for viewing.

The PVR thing is great other that the fact that you have to be viewing what you are recording. We constantly use up the available 34 hours of record time.

I also have heard from the installer that Direct TV will be assimilated later this year which is a good thing you those subscribers!