Vanity - Direct TV or Dish Network???

me | 8-21-03 | Dan

[Dan from Michigan]

Thanks in advance here.

I moved two weeks ago to my new apartment, and I found the cable provider is the same company my last one was. I don't like Comcrap...I mean...comcast, so cable is out the window.

Which is the better way to go? Direct TV or Dish Network. I'm on the fence right now. Thanks.

[tiamat]

Talk to MarkL. He says Primestar is gone.

And a good thing, that!

Tia

[Myrddin]

I've had both services. Just about the same selection and price. I used DirecTV in San Diego. When I moved to Idaho, a huge tree in my yard made the decision for me. The tree blots out the patch of sky with the DirecTV bird, but leaves the patch served by DishNet open. Just check out the programming packages and pricing...select what please you. There is little difference in the picture quality.

[LittleJoe]

I've had Primestar and DishTV. Both had programming and customer service problems.

Bought Direct TV and have been very happy with it.
I think where you live may be a factor. Everyone in my area (Sierras) has Direct TV now.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

A couple of things that have been said that are not the case with my Dish coverage:

• I own my equipment outright - thus my consternation about having to buy a new receiver with free PVR (basically free TiVO) rather than just turning in the old equipment and renting new...I shouldn't be so cheap... I should just go buy the new receiver.
• I have my receiver in a room distant from my TV I think maybe I had to pay extra for and Infra red(?) remote or some such but it works just fine.
• no one has mentioned "charlie chats" Once a month the CEO does an hour long show with call in's and updates everyone on what's coming. Not a big deal but I occasionally catch it and like that the CEO is hands on enough to want to keep subscribers up to date.

[hattend]

How can all of you put up with dish outages during storms? Give me cable anyday.

Our antenna has to be nearly 6 feet in diameter because the satellite is right on the horizon here in central Alaska. The only time I've ever had a dropout is spring and fall when the sun glitches it for a two week period for about 30 minutes a day. We've had some pretty good summer thunderstorms up here and it doesn't affect the signal.

My mom in northern California had some pretty good snow in the winter and thunderstorms in the summer and it never glitched. I theorize either you had much older equipment or the antenna wasn't quite aimed right.

Cable is so 80's, man!

[netmilsmom]

Go to your channel 100 (I think) and it will tell you if you have local channels. If it isn't 100, it is available on http://www.directv.com. They have most major cities in MI. If they do not carry them, you have an option to buy the national feeds from NYC. I still like the antenna attachment.

Also, Directv has caller id pop up on the screen for you!!

[hattend]

oh, I also have Starband for the internet...trouble free!

[Miss Marple]

You must have a reliable cable company. Post Newsweek in our area was notorious for going out for LONG periods in almost every thunderstorm. In addition, they would cause outages while doing maintenance. Once they lost the playoff game in the NFL when our city was playing...and people who had guests all set to watch were really hot, let me tell you!

So, an occasional disruption during heavy rain is no big deal to me. Happens once a month or so, and usually for only 10 minutes.

[cmsgop]

"Sessions at West 54th,"

By Far One of the Best TV Shows ever......

[gorush]

"It's called "Sessions at West 54th," and one of the better programs on television if you like music."

That's the one.

[IpaqMan]

Dish Network.

I chose it over DirecTV because of the service and lineup. Dish owned the equipment and the programming. Back then, DirecTV did not own the programming, so you had to work between the service and the programmer to solve problems. In addition, Dish had TVLand and the WB. DirecTV did not. Things probably are different now.

[knews_hound]

It is really an Apples and Oranges discussion, and will become even more so soon.

Any station available on one dish will is or will be available on the other. What wise businessman would do otherwise.

Direct TV was in fact purchaed by Echostar (Dish Network) and the merger has been approved. I suspect that in the future they will settle on common equipment and will morph into something completely new.

IMHO, the only real matters for concideration are;

Your personal taste in programming and which package offers you the best deal for what you like.

If you are a rabid sports fan, which one offers you the package you like.

And most importantly is the reciever. It is the make or break on the service. A basic reciever will give you just that, basic service. The PVR feature (internal hard drive) is a MUST. As I understand, Dish Network does not charge for this feature and Direct TV does. It is, IMHO a must to own. It has changed our TV watching habits completely. It has enabled me to record the obscure programs that I like while the wife watches CSI. It is a MUST HAVE.


Now you just need to find something to watch....

Cheers,

knews hound

[Dog Gone]

You have me beat there. At least TW added Fox before I cancelled them. But the final straw was when they disconnected me for no reason and took forever to get me back on.

They admitted the mistake, had no explanation at all for it, and still took three days to get it back. I made the call to DirecTV on day two.

[gcruse]

DirecTV with TIVO is a life changing experience.

Almost as big as having your first kid.  I love it.

[Dan from Michigan]

Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

[mhking]

I got DirecTV in May, when we moved into the house. I'm glad we did, and have no desire to go back to cable.

[Iowegian]

Direct TV was in fact purchaed by Echostar (Dish Network) and the merger has been approved.

Sorry, you are wrong. The feds nuked the merger and Murdoch has been negotiating to buy Directv for Newscorp.

[apackof2]

Yikes, how scary was that tornado siren, I just came up from the basement!!

[Dan from Michigan]

You got one too?(I'm in Howell now) There was a touchdown at I-96 and M59 by the outlet mall which is about 3 miles from me.

I was doing what I shouldn't be doing....looking out my west window!!!

[tickles]

we have dish. abccbsnbcfox and so on are all available for an extra 4.99 or 5.99, not sure which without looking. the deal is you must live outside a certain set area to be able to get them. since we live at least 60 miles from the cities that carry these channels we get them. I think we're also concidered in a 'dead' area. It really is nice to watch those channels and not have to see two at once sometimes. lol. (we have dish)