DirecTV versus Dish Network

[Jewel]

Does anyone have any experience with both DirecTV and Dish Network? We've had DirecTV for 9 years and we're having trouble with certain channels not coming in at all (like WE and a few others) and DTV won't do much about it, saying it's in our signal strength. They've raised our prices over $12 per month since we started and we're not seeing the benefits of the rising costs. We also would like to get DVR, so we're thinking if we're going to make a change now might be the time.

Our DTV package is $48.99 and includes the 200 most popular channels and XM satellite radio which we do enjoy since we have no real 'stereo' system in our living room. :o I see that Dish Network has Sirius. The comparable DN program with DVR is $49.99 per month, so we wouldn't be going up much in $$ but we'd have DVR. Any thoughts would be appreciated! How's the DN quality? Service? :)

[Valerie226]

Not an answer to your question, but a couple years ago I was looking at the satellite and one channel I watch a lot was on Direct but not on Dish. at all. so make sure the channels you actually watch are available. As you know, there are probably dozens of worthless choices. (I was looking for FitTV) Plus we have a lot of tree cover, so I decided to stay with cable.

[Cherise]

We switched from direct to dish about a year ago. So far we have been pleased with dish. I can't think of any service issues we've had with them, in fact, I don't think we've had any issues with our system since it was set-up. We switched because we wanted to upgrade to an HD DVR, and because direct did not offer our local NBC, CBS, ABC stations in HD. Dish does not offer them on satellite either, but they do have a rooftop installed off the air antenna which they installed which now allows us to get those channels in HD, and record them to our DVR. The reception from this antenna isn't always perfect, but usually it works fine. Not sure if you're looking at the HD aspect as well or not. Anyway, no complaints here. DH did have issues with direct about cancelling our service to them though. He was told there would be no fees, but then got a bill for about $200-$300 I think. It took several rounds of phone calls to clear that up, and it definitely left a very bad impression with us about direct's customer service, not that we thought it was the best before. HTH.

[Jewel]

Thanks to both of you. I've had issues with DirecTV before with their customer service. We have no yearly contract with them, so I don't see how they can charge any type of penalty to cancel. We do have the bill bundled with our phone bill right now, but that's easy to cancel too! It's good news that DN is easier to deal with, so it's looking like an option!

FWIW, we've never had our local channels on satellite. Dave still has our local on the old fashioned antenna on the roof. :o We just switch from local to satellite! Looks like with DN we can get both on satellite for not much more. HD is something that we're looking at, but right now we don't have an HDTV so it's not as important!

[mkc]

We had horrible, HORRIBLE experiences trying to get DirecTV hooked up at the new house as part of a "mover's connection".

They kept reinstating monthly billing for "on hold" service while we were in between houses for several months. This took many calls to get "credit".

We tried 3 times to get them to install a new dish and receivers once at the new house. Each time, they would send a technician with an "upgrade" order, not a new installation order. Despite having all the needed equipment, since there wasn't an existing dish, the techs would not install the "replacement". On all 3 occasions I spent over 2 hours on the phone, mostly on hold, with customer "service". Often I would get dropped, or the DTV rep would call in to another group only to be put on indefinite hold.

The techs tried to leave new receivers with us and get us to sign for installation when we still did have a dish.

It took 5 MONTHS from when we first scheduled the install at the new house to finally have had enough with DTV, because each time we'd have to get installation rescheduled, there would be over a month wait.

The final straw occurred when the tech arrived early because he had an opening, then refused to install the dish because of the "upgrade only" work order. We called DTV while he was here, spend 20 minutes on the phone with them, they talked to the tech to give him correct work orders, and then he said he "was running late and didn't have time". We called DTV to cancel (we had been customers for 13 years), finally after 1/2 hour got someone to agree to cancel our service. When we got done explaining why we were cancelling, we got to add "oh, and by the way, the tech who said he was too busy is still sitting in his van in our driveway".

DTV installers do not work for DTV. They work for a subcontract firm.

They won't ever get another cent of our $. We have DISH now.

Michelle

[Jewel]

They won't ever get another cent of our $. We have DISH now.

I'd say that's a big vote for Dish Network! :D:D:D Sorry you had such problems, but I can totally understand how it happened! Each time I've called DTV I spend a minimum of a half hour on hold before I speak to a human, and even then I've kinda felt like that person might be battery operated... :o

[Grace]

I've had dish for about as long as you've had Direct. We love it and wouldn't switch. As for our locals, we live in Chicago (as you know) and we can get our locals through the Dish. Also, we have an extra TV antenna actually on top of our TV (not on the roof). Even though we get our locals through the Dish, when the Olympics were on two years ago, they weren't broadcasting the locals in HD at that point (they do now). I wanted to see the Olympics in HD! So I got the "over the air" antenna for that. We live close enough to the city that the one that sits on top of the tv works well and we didn't need one mounted on the roof (I looked into it and it would have cost around $200 - the one that sits on top of the tv was only around $50). Anyway, now that we have local HD through the Dish, one would think I wouldn't need the antenna anymore. Wrong. :) There are actually many extra channels my local stations offer over the air (in particular PBS all in HD which I LOVE!) that don't come through the Dish. There are also two 24 hour local weather channels we get through the antenna. I also like having it as backup in case the Dish signal goes out (i.e, bad weather occasionally), so we can still see news, weather, whatever might be on the local channels.

Lastly, it's acts as a separate "tuner" and therefore I can actually record THREE shows at one time (one on each of the dual Dish tuners, plus whatever might be on coming through the over the air antenna!). It's a beautiful thing. :) I don't need that capability very often, but every once in awhile it comes in REALLY handy. :)

[MISSINDI]

We've had both. In our first house, we had DISH and never had a single problem with it. When we moved into our second house, we switched to DirecTV, because they had the NFL stuff (and Yankees stuff, if I remember correctly) that DH wanted. At the time, DISH has the Style Network with Nigella, so that was the only thing I really gave up (DirecTV eventually added it, and of course Nigella is on Food Network now too). In this new house we brought DirecTV with us. For one month brain lapse, I switched half the tvs to Optimum (cable) and HATED it. Couldn't wait to bring back all tvs to DirecTV.

Never had a CS problem with either, though have had some billing issues with DirecTV after the move. I think it really relates to the rep you get though, so if you're ever dissatisfied, or think they could be getting/giving/doing more, I'd call back and ask for a manager or someone else until you get someone who really wants to, and can, help you. The person can definitely make ALL the difference.

[luv2cook]

While I cannot speak for Directv, I can tell you that we have Dish and my mom has Dish in Louisiana. The reason i am telling you this is because channels vary from state to state, I guess. She had to get an OFF AIR antenna to see local HD channels!!!!! We have HD and a DVR, too, and do not have to do that.

So in addition to making sure they carry all the channels you want, be sure you don't need the above....

[schuh]

We've had DirecTV for about three years now. Love it. No complaints.

[umd98]

We have had both Dish and DirectTV and it was a few years ago so things might have changed but with Dish you lease your receivers and satellite dish and once you are done with their service you send it all back in pre-paid boxes they send you. The technician will bring all of it out to you when they do the intial install.

With DirectTV we had to buy all the receivers and satellite dish. Which left us with a lot of receivers that are now unused. Of course you can go on Ebay and buy the older ones cheap.

We went to Dish b/c in this part of Louisiana Dish was the only satellite provider offering local channels. We were very happy with their service.

Eventually we went to cable b/c of free hookups in every room and the price was comparable - so no more paying the $5/receiver in the house.