| 0 |
Subject: Dish VS. DirecTV
Posted by: Skidazl
- [189142212] Wed, Jul 18, 2007, 12:15
I currently have DirecTV but am currently having major issues with their service.
To start my problem is as follows: I have been getting a "Searching for satellite" error and the picture is pixelating(sp?) as they call it. Also my HDDVR has been freezing up.
First thing after I missed their first guy from 12-4 by merely 30 seconds tops(I actually saw him leave my neighborhood). I called but they wouldn't bring him right back(BS IMHO) so they rescheduled for 4-8 last night and nobody showed up. I've now been on hold for 45 minutes trying to get them to send somebody today but so far no luck. I am seriously considering going back to Dish.
For the record, this is the first issue I have had with DirecTV and I LOVE MLB Extra Innings, which I think Dish doesn't have. Also, I had Dish before this and was extremely displeased with their service(DVR kept dying).
I'm just curious of everybody's opinion on the 2 services, before I make a move.
TIA,
D
P.S. I'm off now with DTV and they won't take care of me today, have to wait until tomorrow |
| 1 | Great One
Sustainer
ID: 053272014
Wed, Jul 18, 2007, 12:19
|
Cable not an option here? I have Cablevision's "Optimum Triple Play" (cable, internet, phone for $99) and MLB Extra Innings is on there via On Demand (despite all the drama before the season started).
|
| 2 | Balrog
Dude
ID: 02856618
Wed, Jul 18, 2007, 12:32
|
I'm guessing your dish is a little off optimal alignment. There's a thingy on the menu where you can check your signal strength. If you can access the dish easily, it's pretty simple to change it's alignment with a pair of pliers.
I've had DirectTV in the thunderstorm capital of America (Carlsbad, NM) and currently have it 8700' up in the Rocky Mountains and have never lost signal more than a minute or so, and that happens maybe twice a year. There's been a couple times when my receiver had to be reset from DirectTV HQ, but they always have been able to do it over the phone in less than five minutes. IMHO, DirectTV has given me the best customer service of any major company. I've never used Dish tho.
|
| 3 | Skidazl
ID: 189142212
Wed, Jul 18, 2007, 12:36
|
our local cable company sucked, but I have not looked into them. I do remember their digital quality being not even close to satelite, though, but it has been a number of years since we had them. I do love their internet though. I'll check them out too.
|
| 4 | Skidazl
ID: 189142212
Wed, Jul 18, 2007, 12:40
|
thanks balrog, I'll give that a shot. I'm not very mechanical but maybe I can do it.
|
| 5 | Skidazl
ID: 189142212
Wed, Jul 18, 2007, 14:30
|
Well, I was going to try that, but when I called DirecTV they said I need a digital meter to reallign it which I don't have, so I have to wait until tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I contacted Dish and they can save me a lot over my current DirecTV, so I called Direct back and am on hold getting a bunch of freebies in order to keep my service. Maybe this problem will be a blessing in disguise.
IMHO, DirectTV has given me the best customer service of any major company
I'd heard that before and this latest guy in CS has proven you right!
|
| 6 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 14:04
|
We're actually considering swithcing to ATT U-verse. I'm hesitant because I love teh Dual DVR where you can see on two TVs, but Fiber Optics is the future IMM and ATT has a much better deal and a software download will be coming where you can have all of your TVs feed off the main DVR like Dish does. DTV has some things but costs a lot more than Dish does and I think Dish gives you more (no MLB etc this year tho). Dish charges exorbitant prices for HD tho I see $20 and ATT charges just $10 for the same channels. Also Dish can't provide most areas with HD locals either. Others I've talked to locally said they had to get a OTA antenna to get those stations free. (Makes no sense).
Another feature is ATT's high speed fiber optics for your computer. Even though they are supposedly about the same as DSL, one friend I talked to said it was clearly faster than DSL. Said there was less "hessitation." ATT also has some incredible deals including free months and cash back through a visa card and still turns out cheaper than Dish/internet connection.
Dish also requires you to pay $149 to upgrade to a HD receiver and then another $6/month in lease fees. So if you want HD programming, I'd sayit's a no brainer. We're considering changing anyhow, but the Dual-DVR is causing us to shuffle our feet a little.
|
| 7 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 15:08
|
I'm about to get Direct-TV (unless someone talks me out of it).
But what about internet...they have some sort of satellite internet, but I'm not familiar with it at all. For whatever reason Comcast doesn't serve the area that I'm moving to, so another smaller company (Charter Cable) is my other option.
As someone with a still-new 52inch 1080DLP TV, I love that DirectTV is about to have a TON more HD channels.
|
| 8 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 15:22
|
J, I haven't looked at DTV much since I went with the Dual Tuner DVR and stayed with Dish (they gave it to me for free to keep me last year but don't seem to care this year whether I stay or not), but then Dish was a LOT better than DTV as far as price plus Dish had the Dual Tuner DVR, which is a huge advantage. Their HDTV also has a Dual-tuner DVR. DTV does not make have that.
With ATT U-verse, youcan record up to 4 shows at once and has 20 more hours recording time than Dish's DVRs. Plus you can watch other shows while they are recording. Occassionally the wife has two shows recording at once and I can't go to my office to watch a game at that time on another channel. I've pretty much convinced myself that ATT U-verse is the way to go, just hate giving up the dual tuner since no one knows when ATT is rolling out the auto-DLs to turn the single DVR into whole-house DVR.
From my understanding, all the channels that offer HD broadcasting will be available on all the networks and more are coming. Price-wise Dish is $20 and ATT is $10. I imagine DTV is at least $20. Do your due-diligence and see what is best for you. I have a 720P but no HD at this point and if you have the TV, you might as well have the channels--esp. when it's about the same price I'm paying now--and actually much cheaper for that first year.
|
| 9 | Mattinglyinthehall
Leader
ID: 01629107
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 15:29
|
My Direct TV experience in Broolyn, NY wasn't nearly as good as Balrog's.
I subscribed from 2001-2006 (it was the only option in the building we lived in). We'd lose service during most very bad thunderstorms, maybe 4 - 7 times per year, usually until the worst part of the storm passed.
I have heard that they send out stronger signals now and that the service outages are far less common.
Customer service would never come on the same day, wouldn't come at all on Sundays sometimes not come on the next business day.
Our box was shipped to us from Direct TV and we connected it to wiring that was already in the apartment. When a new tennant moved in upstairs, she had a Direct TV installer wire her apartment for her. He cut the cable leading into my apartment because there was no record of those wires being installed by Direct TV. When I called they apologized but told me that I'd have to pay for one of their techs to fix it because I didn't subscribe to their service plan. I argued that I'd been a paying customer for years and that they were the ones who cut the wire and they agreed to send a tech for free as long as I subscribed to the plan for the next 12 months.
I then had to wait two weeks for the next available appointment.
|
| 10 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 15:38
|
What I hate is they charge you up front for ANY different receiver you want, then charge you a monthly fee for using each receiver (both DTV and Dish). They want $149 ($50 rebate) to get the HD receiver then $6/mo/receiver and another $6/mo. DVR fee. Last year they waived the $49 up front fee to keep me as a customer as DTV offers new customers a lot. I think it's insane that they won't at least give current subscribers something to keep them a customer when they throw-in a ton to get new customers. I liken it to Verizon Wireless who give you a new phone every two years. Why can't The Sat. companies do that? As your unit's get old they can't even do what they want them to do. You're paying a monthly fee already that more than cover those costs. Then they get that equipment back and can recycle part of it. They are really making money on the programming anyhow. I detest those monthly fees.
At ATT, the only monthly fee would be if you get a 4th receiver, then it' $5/month for that one. I really don't like change when things are set-up already and working, but I think I have to make the switch to ATT.
|
| 11 | ChicagoTRS
ID: 4110481415
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 17:49
|
With any of the satellite or cable companies...if you want a deal and have been a subscriber for awhile...just call to cancel and they will offer you some sort of special to stay...usually similar to the new subscriber deals.
|
| 12 | Great One
ID: 201155199
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 18:00
|
I'm gonna try that with Cablevision (Optimum Triple Play) in a couple months. Going to call up and say I'm leaving because my introductary offer is expiring and hoping they extend it.
You get the Phone (unlimited long distance), Optimum Online and Cablevision with all the HD channels at no extra charge - all for under $100 for the first year. Lets hope they let me keep it!
|
| 13 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 19:31
|
I tried that. I told them to give me the best deal or the next time I call it will be after I signed a contract with someone else and they won't be able to keep me. I wasn't lying and appears I will be cancelling Dish very soon.
|
| 14 | Skidazl
ID: 189142212
Thu, Jul 19, 2007, 22:31
|
re: 11 True, so true. Because I threatened to leave and was so frustrated with their latest CS, DirecTV is now giving me the following:
1. MLB SuperFan upgrade for free($39 value)
2. A free HD DVR Plus Upgrade($299 value)
3. $10 a mo. credit for 12 mo.
Not bad if you ask me...
re:13 when I left Dish, they didn't offer me diddly...
|
| 15 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Sun, Jul 22, 2007, 09:15
|
I called directv yesterday to get signed up, but they wanted me to pay $300 for the HD DVR! Screw that, my friend that just signed up got it for free and the guy thought I was crazy. He actually said that he'd put his job on the line as a bet that that wasn't true.
But he did, he got the HD/DVR and $20 off his bill for the first 20 months of a 2yr deal. I want that!!!!!
|
| 16 | Balrog
Dude
ID: 02856618
Sun, Jul 22, 2007, 10:02
|
Re: 15
J, depending on what programming package you go for, you can get a better deal than that by ordering online.
|
| 17 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Sun, Jul 22, 2007, 10:39
|
I've been looking online for a while now and I can't find my way around having to pay at least $200 up front for the HD-DVR.
|
| 18 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Sun, Jul 22, 2007, 11:49
|
ATT Uverse HD DVR is free and free installation. 3 receivers for free too. Also $15/month for the first year and a free month back in the form of a visa card which is good anywhere that accepts Visa. I ordered it last week and it will be installed at the end of this week. Oh yeah for free. HD service is $10/month too and appears to have every channel that the satelites offer. uverse.att.com and see if it works for you. The deal was even sweeter that expired June 30. The current deal goes until Sept. 30.
Never thought I'd leave Dish once I found the dual DVR, but like I said before, ATT supposedly has a download coming that will allow the other receivers to connect with the DVR.
The best thing is the faster internet and free networking to all other computers in the home. Plus you get an extra $10 off because of the bundle. It's supposedly the same speed I'm getting from DSL for a buck cheaper but there is no hessitation that the DSL sometimes has.
|
| 19 | Boxman
ID: 571114225
Sun, Jul 22, 2007, 14:11
|
As a person who has had both, I am bewildered everytime I see someone pick satellite over cable. While it is the lesser of two evils IMO cable still wins out.
I remember the dish, the damn thing would've made a better wok than a TV receiver. To get consistently good reception I had to aim the dish at a degree towards this direction in the sky, whisper the patronum spell from Harry Potter and say five Hail Marys and then I would have a 20% probability of being able to watch TV while it rained. Every spring I'd have to trim the trees because God forbid something interupted the dainty little dish's line of sight. Screw that. The damn thing always went out during my shows too. It was a running joke in my house. I can't remember the party I had at my house where we were joking about this (Illini final four a couple years ago?), but it was raining outside and we all said thank the good Lord Jesus I didn't have the dish.
I have cable, and while Comcast CS is a total joke, at least I can splice the wires to my hearts content and the service is consistently good.
I'm glad your situation is turning out well. Hopefully there is a strong cable alternative in your community because I would jump at that.
|
| 20 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Mon, Jul 23, 2007, 15:46
|
I finally made the decision to go with cable (Charter) for a while, then Direct TV in a year or so when they actually have more HD channels available.
Called to setup cable...you can only have 1 DVR per household with them!!!!! ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Back to Direct TV i guess.
(AT&T thing isn't available where I'm moving)
|
| 21 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Mon, Jul 23, 2007, 15:52
|
J, you only need one DVR per household. Very soon all receivers will be connected to the main DVR. Dish already has this. ATT U-verse is set to release this very soon.
|
| 22 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Tue, Jul 24, 2007, 00:54
|
Ok, signed up for Direct TV
Got essentially $250 in credits/rebates from them in order to cover most of the $299 HD-DVR fee.
Now I just gotta hope I dont have any trees in the way!
|
| 23 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Tue, Jul 24, 2007, 16:15
|
I just talked to ATT today about the timeline for whole-house DVR. I was told that ATT already has the technology completed and ready to send it out. Said they have to wait for the Video Act currently in congress to be signed. Once that happens, all the carriers will join the fray but ATT already has the technology in place. Apparently there is something procluding competition in that realm and this bill would end that.
|
| 24 | Perm Dude
ID: 386132511
Wed, Jul 25, 2007, 14:00
|
What Video Act is that, Ref? There is a bill called "Fair Competition in Video Act" (which should set off some alarm bells with just the title). This would grant ATT a statewide cable franchising license (thereby bypassing the need for municipal agreements as is the law right now for cable companies).
One (of several) problems with the bill is that the revenues that local municipalities get from the agreements would be slashed, and the customer service controls that would be part of a normal municipal agreement aren't there. Neither is the provision for local municipal access channels.
I love how ATT blames Congress for not passing their sweetheart bill, instead of negotiating an agreement with the local authorities under the same terms as cable companies do. The only thing holding ATT back is money. They want more.
|
| 25 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Wed, Jul 25, 2007, 14:29
|
No clue PD. Looked for it yesterday and all I could find is the DMCA or soemthing like that and that iddn't make sense. Found a bill in Congress where they are trying to forbid comsumers from skipping thorugh commercials. WTF?!?!
Anyhow, I couldn't find a bill that would allow ALL INDUSTRIES to provide whole house DVR. Maybe it's couched in another bill. No clue.
|
|
|
|
Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?)
|