kvrdave

I was with Dish for probably 7 years. Started within 6 months of them offering service. Then, for no other reason than boredom, I went to Directv. I am not unhappy with directv, but I think my wife prefers the menu on Dish (actually, I do as well).

Here are some random thoughts as I wade through the thinking....

Dish is more prone to play hardball with stations, and even dropped OLN until they had enough complaints and got it back. Don't like that.

Dish has a better interface, in my wife's opinion.

Dish has a much better HD lineup, and if I went back it would be because the HD pack and "everything" pack is about equal to the "everything" pack on DTV without the HD package. And the DTV HD pack is tiny.

DTV has the NFL package. I have never ordered it because my wife doesn't like to see me happy, but suppose she got sick and died...then what? Directv does have the NFL channel in HD, though, so that is nice.

Neither has my local channels in HD and I can't get them OTA, which sucks.

DTV has tivo (or at least I still do), and I like it, but don't think it is leaps and bounds above the Dish DVR I had.

So fight it out fanboys...give me your opinions on why one is better than the other.

Red Dog

If HD is your primary concern, you have to go with Dish. However, I can't imagine not being able get the locals in HD (which is 90% of my HD viewing). That must royally suck.

aktick

Yeah, damn...I would maybe check to see if Dish or DirecTV is going to be offering HD locals in your area sooner. What local market you in?

kvrdave

The Portland Oregon market. Any way to tell when they are suppose to be up? I am about 120 miles from there, which explains the lack of OTA signal.

Jeremy517

What are your local channels? DirecTV is carrying Portland locals in HD starting on August 28th (soft date, so potentially it could change). FSNW HD is going to be available soon also, but I don't know a date.

Keep in mind you'll need to new hardware to receive them and that as of now there is no DVR for MPEG4 channels.

GradVT06

Dish Network's DVR's are much better than they were even 2 years ago. I love my dish network and even if I had the money to spend on NFL ST on Dtv, I wouldn't switch because my equipment capabilities. Overall, most professionals will agree both Standard and HD PQ is better on DishNetwork. I'd venture that Dish Network is more likely to add Portland HD locals sooner because I *believe* they have more available bandwith/more satellite transponder space available than DTV.

Also, I've played with directv receivers and tivos and would never be able to adjust to their interface and channel lineup. both are better w/ dish network.

aktick

I've had DirecTV forever, and have gotten all of my equipment for free (including an HD-DVR), but would switch to DISH in a heartbeat for their much better HD offerings, except for one thing - their HD-DVR only has 1 tuner for HD locals. That's the deal breaker for me, since I'm always recording 2 local HD feeds at a time during the "busy season."

EDIT: Forget all the other crap I said. I misread and was thinking you had DISH while I was typing. Portland, OR HD locals have supposedly been up since May on DISH.

kvrdave

GREAT SCOTT!!! They have the locals currently. They have a stupid ass lease program for the receiver, but I will call and see if I can't just buy it. It seemed like the switch was around $270 in credits, etc.

aktick

If Sunday Ticket isn't a big deal, I'd go with DISH.

And my previous post RE: single tuner for HD locals - probably wrong, since that's for OTA locals. I'll bet you can record 2 local HD feeds at a time.

kvrdave

It's a big deal, but I know I won't get it.

nazz

I just switched from DirecTV to Dish in May and I have no regrets. Many more HD channels and PQ is significantly better. I have the ViP622 HD DVR and it is getting used much more than my HD DirecTivo was because the HD is so much better with Dish. If you like horror movies Monsters HD alone is enough reason to switch.

You can buy a 622 instead of leasing if you prefer that route. I chose to lease mine. I sold my DirecTivo on eBay and haven't looked back.

Dalvin

I have Dish Network HD and the picture quality is simply stunning in the HD channels. My wife and I have the HD Platinum Package+ NBA League Pass and ESPN Center Court(I'm obsessed with basketball). If you have the means, definetly go this route. You get everything you possibly could want. Anyone else have the Platinum Package? Its a thing of beauty.

kvrdave

I would only do the platinum package. I have the similar package now. Don't watch much Cinemax or Showtime, but once you are into the others, the cost is not much more.

Dalvin

The platinum package is only $84.00 a month and WELL WORTH IT! My wife and I combined make a six figure salary, so its just a drop in the bucket for us. I do hear what your saying in regards to wanting your Sunday Ticket. I'm not much of a football fan, but the difference in quality is between night and day.

Chew

Same here. I'll give greater consideration to Dish when HD locals are added for my area. Until then, I'll be happy with my HD DirecTiVo.

kvrdave

Yeah, this will still let me record a few games in HD and I can watch a few others on the NFL channel, so I should be happy with that. Decided to pull the trigger.

maxfisher

I had Dish Network for about 7 months and was very happy with the quality of the HD channels and overall programming. Then I moved to a new apt. where they couldn't get a signal. Over the last month, I've been told that 1) I couldn't cancel their service and would have to pay $80/month for the rest of my contract, 2) I could cancel, but there'd be a $175 cancellation fee, and 3) they would cancel my account and not charge me anything if a second, more-expert technician couldn't acquire a signal for me.

Well, the specialist guy came and couldn't get a signal, and I've since been on the phone with them multiple times for multiple hours and have been re-told each of the above 3 things. They also told me they were sending a box to return my receiver and when it didn't come, they told me it'd already been delivered and gave me a tracking number that showed it hadn't even shipped yet. I finally received the box and sent it back to them, but they went ahead and charged me $175 for cancelling. When I called about it, I was told they hadn't charged me, even though the charge is there, plain as day, on my credit card statement. I've had multiple Dish reps call me to offer discounted programming plans if I don't cancel my service and one of them continued to try to talk me into it for over 5 minutes after I'd already explained the only reason I was cancelling was because I couldn't get a signal at my new residence. At this point, Dish would have to pay me to ever be their customer again. I'm sure this level of ineptitude exists at a lot of companies, but after having so much of time wasted by Dish, I just can't recommend their services to anyone. I suppose if you get a great signal, aren't planning on moving and don't foresee ever having to deal with anyone that works there, you might be ok to sign up with them.

guywall

You can ask this question over at:
www.dbstalk.com
as well. They like to fight about these sorts of questions...

SleepyW

Having worked at Dish for 4 years, I hate them as a company. I was also a customer for 3 years and finally dumped them because their equipment and customer service sucks.

I have no DirecTV experience.

However, even though Comcast is cable and is the devil, I'm liking the 2 dual tuner HD DVRs I have for only $10/month PVR fee each (I didn't have to spend$500-$600 each to buy them).

I'm on a promo getting super hi speed internet, all digital baisc channels, plus HBO and HD for $90/month (including all 3 receivers and HD DVRs). It's a Dish winback promo that lasts 12 months.

Dalvin

The man above me is correct about the customer service. My dad has DirectTV and their customer service is supposedly much better and more efficient at getting out and fixing the problem. I havne't had any real problems with Dish Network ever. The quality is simply better on Dish than Direct TV.

Congratulations KRdave on pulling the trigger. Did you get the HD Platinum Package with HD-DVR and local channels? That's what we have.

kvrdave

I've had Dish before, have great signal, and won't be moving in the foreseeable future. And I am getting the HD Platinum Package with HD-DVR. Looks like it runs within a few bucks of the Directv top package without HD channels, so it seemed like a no-brainer. Plus DTV doesn't have my locals in HD yet.

Never had a problem with their customer service. I don't really like their tactics at times, but I was never really unhappy. Like I said, I switched out of boredom.