Dish or DirecTV

HAULN-SS · 01-02-2010, 07:19 PM

So I bought a TV today. I called direcTV to see about switching to HD programming. I have been with them a few years, and they will give me an HD DVR or HD receiver for free, but want a 2 year agreement to hook it up, which i think is AIDS, and so I am taking the opportunity to shop around.

Anyone compared the two satellite providers? for basically the same channels, with the HD channels, Dish is offering 41/month for the first year, and 56/month for the 2nd year. This is for 2 HD receivers and a standard receiver..all fees included.

DirecTV is going to give me ONE HD receiever, and 2 standards, more or less the same channels, maybe slightly more, but probably crap channels no one cares about, and charge 81/month because they charge me 5$/month for the extra receivers, and charge more for the TV package.

How can DirecTV even stay in business with a difference like that? I realize 41 is introductory, but with dish, 56 was the regular cost...so is there a catch to switching? Dish obviously wants a 2 year agreement as well, but if i gotta have one, might as well go cheaper, right?

Apoc · 01-02-2010, 07:35 PM

Two words: NFL Ticket

HAULN-SS · 01-02-2010, 08:00 PM

Ehh..i dont buy in to all that shit because I don't care enough

**JohnC** · 01-02-2010, 09:05 PM

We had DirecTV for several years and didn't have any complaints. They re-installed a couple of times for free when we moved, didn't give me any grief about finagling our billing/service addresses so we could get the DC locals in Charlottesville. We only canceled it because we weren't really watching anything that wasn't available for free on Hulu (most network shows), via our Netflix subscription (movies, documentaries, etc), or freely available over the cable network (football, ESPN).

Now we have a Mac Mini and an HDHomerun (network-enabled QAM/ATSC tuner) hooked up to the plasma, and life is good. Chan has a similar setup.

**JustinG** · 01-02-2010, 11:19 PM

I dunno if FIOS is an option? doubtful with the area im assuming you live in. But I have always had direcTV until we switched to FIOS and are saving about 20 bucks a month with the multiroom DVR, 1 HD receiver and 1 SD receiver. FIOS has most of the premium programming your charged extra for on DirecTV included in their normal HD package.

HAULN-SS · 01-03-2010, 12:02 AM

I had thought about doing the networked only thing - and using MS zune or netflix...but I am not sure how often that stuff is updated..any ideas? What i mean is, how soon can I see a new episode of the office, or whatever, after it comes out?

**JohnC** · 01-03-2010, 12:16 AM

HAULN-SS Wrote:What i mean is, how soon can I see a new episode of the office, or whatever, after it comes out?

With Hulu, it's usually available the day after it airs. If you had the HDHomerun or some other tuner hooked into an HTPC, you could always just grab it off the air too.

We've been using the network/Netflix solution for 3-4 months, and I'd never go back to paying for satellite or cable TV.

WRXtranceformed · 01-03-2010, 02:39 AM

DirecTV is the shit. I've had a few other providers and it's by far the best, especially for sports. The sports mix channels are so money.

**G.Irish** · 01-03-2010, 10:55 AM

HAULN-SS Wrote:I had thought about doing the networked only thing - and using MS zune or netflix...but I am not sure how often that stuff is updated..any ideas? What i mean is, how soon can I see a new episode of the office, or whatever, after it comes out?

For current TV shows it shows up on Netflix streaming within about 2 or 3 days. And you can go back and watch any episode you want instantly. Great for episode binging.

WRXtranceformed · 01-05-2010, 12:46 PM

BTW DirecTV is the first provider that will have 3D channels. Yeah, you have to buy a new TV to get them, but who cares that's sweet! ESPN is going to have a 3D channel for the 2011 BCS bowl games, the winter X games and World Cup soccer apparently.

HAULN-SS · 01-05-2010, 02:14 PM

Have you ever actually seen a 3D TV or projection? I have, and it's not all that it's cracked up to be.

**Mike** · 01-05-2010, 03:00 PM

WRXtranceformed Wrote:Yeah, you have to buy a new TV to get them, but who cares that's sweet!

We don't need no stinkin' reality!

WRXtranceformed · 01-05-2010, 08:15 PM

HAULN-SS Wrote:Have you ever actually seen a 3D TV or projection? I have, and it's not all that it's cracked up to be.

No but I saw Avatar twice and it was BADASS!! :lol:

WRXtranceformed · 01-06-2010, 10:31 AM

<a class="postlink" href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/06/news/companies/cable_bill_cost_increase/index.htm">http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/06/news/companies/cable_bill_cost_increase/index.htm</a>

The exact reason why I dropped TWC, aside from their DVR boxes being collossal piles and their included channels and spottiness being garbage for cable.

**Jeff** · 01-06-2010, 10:40 AM

DirecTV is the win. Dish Network is full of fail and everyone I know who has it HATES it. DirecTV can be a bitch...I know it well, but its better then my other option of shitty cable from the only provider in my area.

Evan · 01-06-2010, 11:12 AM

A few years ago I went from Dish to DirecTV and Dish was much better. Better UI on the box, more responsive, better channel organization and easier to use.
Certainly could have changed since then.
Now I dont have TV and dont miss it. HTPC with Bittorrent and Hulu for tv shows and movies (may get netflix soon), realtime streams and OTA HD for sports. (If NHL or NFL ever sells a good affordable web streaming service I will pay for that)

WRXtranceformed · 01-06-2010, 12:20 PM

Evan Wrote:A few years ago I went from Dish to DirecTV and Dish was much better. Better UI on the box, more responsive, better channel organization and easier to use.
Certainly could have changed since then.
Now I dont have TV and dont miss it. HTPC with Bittorrent and Hulu for tv shows and movies (may get netflix soon), realtime streams and OTA HD for sports. (If NHL or NFL ever sells a good affordable web streaming service I will pay for that)

I know some people that go this route, it just sounds way too complicated to deal with. You guys are all tech gurus and work in the industry so I'm sure it's easy stuff to you. I can't speak for everyone, but I know I don't want to fool with hooking my laptop into a TV when I want to watch TV. I just want to be able to turn it on, push a button to record, and watch what I want later.

Aside from all that, I'll probably snag the NFL Sunday Ticket next year for fantasy football, that alone is primarily worth having DTV service for me :thumbup:

HAULN-SS · 01-06-2010, 04:18 PM

What is there to hate? They all show the same programming, right? Are there more outages? It's like half the cost..i don't see how i couldnt put up with a shitty UI or channel layout for that advantage

WRXtranceformed · 08-06-2014, 12:59 PM

So I am thinking about after almost 5 years cutting the satellite cord. For those of you that have done it, how has it been? It sounds like there is some media PC being set up to help with streaming service....I have a gaming system of some kind on every TV in our house so we can watch Prime and whatever on that. I looked through the Hulu Plus list and it didn't really have any of the shows I would watch other than Top Gear.

I just don't find us watching that much TV, i have a set of about 10 seasonal shows on the DVR and most of those I can watch on the network sites for free (and beam it to my TV). Our DirecTV bill has blossomed to $117/month with a $300 contract buyout (16 months) that I am seriously thinking about paying. I have been trying to eliminate the distractions lately and that is a big one we could probably do without. The only things I would really miss are the non-regional football games and live golf.

Do any of you guys have withdrawals? :lol:

JPolen01 · 08-06-2014, 01:19 PM

firstrowsports.eu for all sporting events.

Dish or DirecTV
DirecTV	28.57%	2
Dish	71.43%	5
7 vote(s)

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