Dish Network v. DirectTV

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This may already be a thread somewhere, but i can't figure out that type of search (nor do i want to know how to conduct it). i have been a cable guy for my entire life. i am now seriously considering the differences between dish and direct. i know you can get nfl sunday ticket on direct and i think nba league pass on direct as well. can you get the latter on dish? i know you cannot get sunday ticket on dish (right?).

any other experiences that would lead you to recommend one over the other? movie packages? overall costs of packages? customer service experiences? side-by-side consumer reports? dvr systems? technology? HELP!!!!!

 

[jw7]

Sorry to move this, but this belongs in tech corner.

I've had Cox cable and DirectTV. DirecTV blows doors off cox cable.

You are right. I think with DirecTV you also get the NFL network as well.

I've had mine for years and never once had an outage. Can't speak for dish, but if you want to pay for NFL Season Package you have to go DirecTV. Not sure about the NBA stuff.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I have Dish, and while I can't get Sunday Ticket, I do get the NFL network in HD, as well as the NBA, MLB, and NHL packages. I used to have Directv, but dropped them when their customer service went in the crapper. I've had Dish for almost 2 years now and just recently made my first ever call to their customer service and was very impressed. My father in law has been with Directv since their inception and has had nothing but problems since he upgraded to HD two years ago. He's leaving for Dish this summer.

I'm sure others have had similar issues with both Dish and Directv, but whatever you do get rid of cable.

 

[BirdMan21]

I have been with DirectTV for over 3 years now and couldn't be happier. To start it off the NFL Sunday Ticket already gives them a huge head start, then add in the rediculous number of HD stations and its not even really a battle in my mind. While their customer service isn't amazing, all you have to do is elevate the call and they will end up throwing something your way to make up for the problem.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Here's another thread on this, older and in EE: http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=67383

 

[ajcardfan]

If you don't want NFL ticket, I'd say get Dish network. I've had both, and have Direct TV right now.

 

[Shane]

I have Dish, and while I can't get Sunday Ticket, I do get the NFL network in HD, as well as the NBA, MLB, and NHL packages. I used to have Directv, but dropped them when their customer service went in the crapper. I've had Dish for almost 2 years now and just recently made my first ever call to their customer service and was very impressed. My father in law has been with Directv since their inception and has had nothing but problems since he upgraded to HD two years ago. He's leaving for Dish this summer.

I'm sure others have had similar issues with both Dish and Directv, but whatever you do get rid of cable.

I have had directv for a decade and now and from y experience their customer service has been nothing but top notch. No issues whatsoever. Nor have I had any problems with HD.

My inlaws have dish network and hate it.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

directv has pretty poor customer service ..... there was a 2 year stretch where it became really good, now it's getting back to it's poorer level

they want to sell you service plans, equipment and tons of other add ons ......... to me what's amazing is if you are having a problem with a receiver, even if it is a unit you are leasing, you either have to pay $60 a year to insure it or a $100 for a service call when their product malfunctions

my parents purchased DTV when DTV took over our small local "mini-dish" operator - they were with them for around 8 years before getting upset with the service, then they switched to Dish - they recently switched back to DTV because of the HD options and DTV throwing a huge promo their way ....... but they're having service issues as well

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

so what i'm hearing is . . . some of you like dish and some of you like directtv and directtv has had some customer service issues. oh, and nfl sunday ticket is directtv only.

thanks everyone for y'all's responses (and sorry for posting in the wrong forum). i now have no idea what to select.

anyone have any experience with orange county, ca in particular?

 

[UncleChris]

Direct has more HD channels, but you have to run a separate cable from the antenna for each TV in the house. With Dish, one cable suffices. Also, Dish's tuner/DVR is better technologically. As far as the service, I've not noticed much of a difference in the two (I currently have Dish).

 

[Shane]

Direct has more HD channels, but you have to run a separate cable from the antenna for each TV in the house..

I dont have to do that in my house?

 

[RON_IN_OC]

so what i'm hearing is . . . some of you like dish and some of you like directtv and directtv has had some customer service issues. oh, and nfl sunday ticket is directtv only.

thanks everyone for y'all's responses (and sorry for posting in the wrong forum). i now have no idea what to select.

anyone have any experience with orange county, ca in particular?

My experiences are in Orange County.

 

[jw7]

anyone have any experience with orange county, ca in particular?

Yes, the traffic sucks and housing is expensive.

j/k Should not make a difference. As opposed to cable, both networks are run nationally - just need to point a dish at the southern sky and you are good to go.

I can't vouch for DirecTVs customer support as I have never had a reason to call them, ever, in over 7 years. But then again I don't have the Tivo and options that others have.

My parents have Dish and they have never complained, either.

If you want to watch the Cards, NFL Sunday ticket is awesome in quality. However, a couple of years ago they re-signed a deal with the NFL and now I believe it is around $270 a season or so.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

thanks everyone! i think it's going to be dish. that'll also make my gf happy as that's what she has and understands how to use it already (just please no dvring of America's Got Talent!!!).

one last question: if i don't currently have an HD television (ducks), but am planning on getting one within the year, can i use the HD tuner/dvr on the standard tv i have now until i get the HD tv?

 

[HeavyB3]

thanks everyone! i think it's going to be dish. that'll also make my gf happy as that's what she has and understands how to use it already (just please no dvring of America's Got Talent!!!).

one last question: if i don't currently have an HD television (ducks), but am planning on getting one within the year, can i use the HD tuner/dvr on the standard tv i have now until i get the HD tv?

Yes, you can.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i love this website. i can literally count on you people to provide me any type of information i need. and i can rely on y'all to get unbiased objective experiences from y'all without worrying if you have an agenda (as one online comparison website seemed to have). thanks all!

 

[Covert Rain]

Direct has more HD channels, but you have to run a separate cable from the antenna for each TV in the house. With Dish, one cable suffices. Also, Dish's tuner/DVR is better technologically. As far as the service, I've not noticed much of a difference in the two (I currently have Dish).

Not sure I understand this statement. I have one set of cables running into an HD compatible splitter (multi-switch). I don't have to run separate cables into each tv into my house for DTV and I do have HD programming.

 

[conraddobler]

Not sure I understand this statement. I have one set of cables running into an HD compatible splitter. I don't have to run separate cables into each tv into my house for DTV and I do have HD programming.

You could theoretically run hundreds of recievers off one set of cables if the cables on the dish go into a HDTV capable multiswitch.

This is how bars do it.

One set goes into the multiswitch, I have one and then is split however many times the mutiswitch is capable of, mine has 4 but you can do much more.

Direct TV is superior to Dish, customer service is still good at DirectTV you just have to get past the first level support.

I just got a free HDTV DVR out of them and free install with a new dish to boot.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

You could theoretically run hundreds of recievers off one set of cables if the cables on the dish go into a HDTV capable multiswitch.

This is how bars do it.

One set goes into the multiswitch, I have one and then is split however many times the mutiswitch is capable of, mine has 4 but you can do much more.

Direct TV is superior to Dish, customer service is still good at DirectTV you just have to get past the first level support.

I just got a free HDTV DVR out of them and free install with a new dish to boot.

damnit. you're making me rethink my decision . . .

 

[Shane]

damnit. you're making me rethink my decision . . .

DirectV RULES! Dish Network Drools!

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I just learned over the weekend that my father in law, with DTV, doesn't have the skip ahead or go back feature on his DVR. He was jealous that I could fly through commercials and not have to fast forward and back up and queue things up.

 

[Covert Rain]

I just learned over the weekend that my father in law, with DTV, doesn't have the skip ahead or go back feature on his DVR. He was jealous that I could fly through commercials and not have to fast forward and back up and queue things up.

DTV receivers have a 30 second skip and the same backwards.

 

[Sandan]

I Miss My Tivo !!!!!!!!!

 

[mjb21aztd]

I really have directv just for the nfl sunday ticket comes in real handy during fantasy football season

 

[RON_IN_OC]

DTV receivers have a 30 second skip and the same backwards.

Do they have different remotes/dvr's???because my father in laws does not have that feature.