Author |
Message |
Boney95
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 11:15 am: |
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Anybody have DIRECTV that wants to give some pros and cons? Im considering the switch from cable due to the fact DIRECTV has 3x the HD channels and is a bit cheaper. |
Greenlantern
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 11:34 am: |
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I had Directv for 15 years until I switched to Fios. Not a Problem ever that customer service did not take care of instantly.(usually dropped channel / box problems which were minor and infrequent)The company rep was almost crying when I dropped service , I explained I lived in a heavily treed area and was not getting great service in summer time which was primary reason fro switching. I also said I would recommend the service to any who asked. I hate Cable almost to the point of the irrational, so there you go. |
Spiderman
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 12:03 pm: |
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Got Dish and I enjoy it, but I get pretty pissy when the dish goes out durring game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals!! LOL but the credited the account, I was gonna switch to fiber optic but they do not have the local Fox Sports in HD nor CBC or VS HD. I only miss out on CBC with Dish. If you get frequent heavy rains I would advise against any dish system, that seems to be the only time mine goes out. I actually had the thing covered 2/3 with snow and got more channels than when a heavy rain storm comes through! |
Just_ziptab
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 12:30 pm: |
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I got DirectTV when it first became available here about 14 years ago. I went with the cheapo plan with a great variety of channels. They kept taking away the "variety" and added movie channels along with a rate increase over the years. So now all I have is movie channels with nothing else....... and can't get nothing added with out adding a shit load of stuff I don't want to watch. Ala Carte does not make them money, I guess.They also tried to burn me for $90.00(and failed)when my card went belly up. It took a couple on months with no service, but I ended up with a new card for free.........and then the sound quit on me. I'm betting they had the ability to turn off the sound to force me to buy a new receiver. Good movies all the time, but not happy with their marketing tactics. Local phone company has installed fiber optic to every house in town and will soon have TV service in that. Guess where I am going! |
Buellinachinashop
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 12:33 pm: |
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I used to pirate Direct TV. Was easy as hell with cards and emulators. I loved it, but when the weather got crappy, so did reception. I suscribe to HD channels on Time Warner, kinda sucked because Discovery, History and TLC weren't HD's, TW just upgraded to add those. We also have three ESPN channels in Hi-def now. So, I'm happy with my cable's 20 or so HD channels. I just wish all the HBO's and all the Showtimes were in Hi-def....and that my local channels broadcast 24-7 in HD, not just in prime time. |
Josh_
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 01:36 pm: |
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just got a $50 credit as thanks for my 10 years with directtv. Every 2 years i threaten to go to dish and get the latest receiver, a 6-month discount and free HBO. Almost never goes out. Wish they had more bandwidth tho, you can see artifacts and pixelation when not on premium channels. |
Fresnobuell
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 01:37 pm: |
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Having had both D(irect) and E(chostar--Dish) (currently E), my take is that the E has superior equipment. THey have receivers that run 2 TVS, so you save money there. The E DVR is SWEET--I believe it is the 722 model. Lots of storage, runs 2 tvs so its like having 2 DVRs and paying for 1. IMO, D made a big mistake by leaving Tivo. On the flip side, I feel that D is stronger technically--meaning you don't get as many satellite inturuptions. I can count on one hand how many times D screwed up on me in 2.5 years. E seems to have a moment nearly every night. Nothing catastrophic, but it can be very annoying--especially if you have a crowd around the TV. HD-wise I am not current on what D is offering. I know Dish has this new TurboHD that I guess compresses the signal better allowing for more HD channels. Not as up on that either as I could be. Last note--if you are a hockey fan (or a fan of the Versus channel) it is only available on the premium plan on E. That really bugged me as I am a huge hockey fan. Lastly, if you are getting incentives to sign up for one or the other. Be sure to write EXACTLY what you are getting and for how long. Not surprisingly, many programming credits and other incentives get left off the billing. after 6 months it can be very hard to remember what you were supposed to get--I know from experience. Good luck. I know it can be a real challenge trying to evaluate these things as all the companies are quick to point out their good points, but you have to be knowledgeable enough to figure out the negatives. |
Bandm
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 01:43 pm: |
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If you are losing signal during rain storms you need to upgrade to a 1 meter dish. |
S1wmike
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 01:53 pm: |
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DirecTV is the Sh_t!!!! won't ever go back to cable |
Spiderman
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 01:54 pm: |
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If you are losing signal during rain storms you need to upgrade to a 1 meter dish I got the HD dish which is 3x the size of the standard dish... |
Sleez
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 02:19 pm: |
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i prefer Dish |
Uncbuell
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 03:38 pm: |
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I have the DirecTV HD DVR package and it is truly awesome. The only thing that sucks is when there is a very bad storm - then reception goes out. Otherwise, it's great. I looked into Dish Network, but there were fewer HD channels and they would have had to put up 2 dishes in order for me to receive local channels. My only other option is Time Warner cable - fewer HD channels for $30 more per month. Screw that. I love my DirecTV! |
Torqd
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 03:40 pm: |
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Dish Network for me. I do Home Theaters for a business (big 100"-120" projector's, LCD's, Plasma's)and I have always liked Dish Network's picture better than Directv and Cable. Good Luck |
Buellinachinashop
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 03:53 pm: |
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Isn't Dish Net owned by Direct TV? |
Torqd
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 04:02 pm: |
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No the Killed the Merger a few years ago... that's the last time I head of them becoming one co. |
Ryanhook
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 04:09 pm: |
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no on-demand with the dish which is the only reason for watching tv any show or movie at anytime plus HowardTv. |
Shadyplace20
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 04:15 pm: |
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I've had DIRECTV since '96 and my bill has only been raised 2x. My best friend has had cable for the same amount of time and his bill gets raised almost yearly. DTV also has NFL Sunday ticket and living in a Panthers/Redskins market I would miss the Cowboys often if I didn't have it. |
Imonabuss
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 04:26 pm: |
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DirectTV is wonderful. Way better and cheaper than cable. |
Fresnobuell
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 05:15 pm: |
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Hey if you decide to go with Dish I just rec'd today an "exclusive" offer for a friend. Some highlights $80 credit on first bill Free PlatinumHD for 3 months Free HD DVR upgrade 5 premium movie channels for a year 1 penny and a few others. I'll be happy to send it along to you. PM me. |
Boney95
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 05:30 pm: |
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I'm going with DIRECTV. $49.99 for 1yr for a HD DVR, the HD package, with 200+ channels . Even after the yr, the monthly bill is only going to be 87.99. Thats with all the above, plus HBO and another box. Pretty solid deal. Right now I pay $99 per month with HD, HBO, and only one box. Thanks for the offer FresnoBuell, much appreciated. NFL Ticket here I come! |
Court
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 05:40 pm: |
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I was gonna buy a VCR last year since I figure the early bugs were worked out but opted for a microwave. |
Badlionsfan
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 05:49 pm: |
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When you do go for the VCR, beta is the way to go. VHS is a fad. |
Court
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 06:53 pm: |
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Someone told me the price was coming down . . . |
Just_ziptab
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 06:55 pm: |
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Some say my rabbit eared B&W television set ain't gonna work next year. Probably cost me a fortune to dump it........ |
Prof_stack
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 07:14 pm: |
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We've had DirecTV for a few years and it is basically very good. A snow storm killed the signal last year but usually all is fine. I'm sick of the price increases that have shot the monthly bill up more than inflation. I think HD is better with cable based upon my dad's experience with artifacts and delayed screen refreshes on the DirecTV HD. He went back to cable within 3 days. Personally, I'd rather be free of the monthly expense and go back to rabbit ears for reception, but I don't see that happening. |
Froggy
| Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 - 11:24 pm: |
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I will be switching from cables to Fios on Monday, I have been waiting years for this! |
Bbbob
| Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 08:41 am: |
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My TV needs new tubes & the local drug store's tube tester is on the fritz... |
Court
| Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 09:21 am: |
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Thank goodness for Russian aviation . . . |
Teddagreek
| Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 10:56 am: |
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Does anyone know who has the best Quality of HD.. I swear MOST of my HD channels aren't any different than my normal version of the channel and some those channels are 1080. |
Stevasaurus
| Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 12:40 pm: |
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DTV HD is 1080i. I've been a customer of theirs for eight years. The new DTV receivers are HORRIBLE, especially after coming off of the old DirecTivo DVR's. If it weren't for them having NFL Sunday Ticket locked up, I would be looking very hard at AT&T U-Verse. Customer service has been decent for me. |