Direct TV or Dish Network

[Shasta]

I just paid my local cable bill. I pay $82 for basic cable and a few addition digital channels. No HD, no movie channels, etc.

I'm about ready to change over to either Direct TV or Dish Network. Please choose one of the two and let's see who wins!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just paid my local cable bill. I pay $82 for basic cable and a few addition digital channels. No HD, no movie channels, etc.

I'm about ready to change over to either Direct TV or Dish Network. Please choose one of the two and let's see who wins!

We just changed from our local cable company to DISH. I'm so happy to have all the channels to watch that the cable company has been taking away from us (and not changing how much they charged us).

 

[stm61]

we chose Directv over Dish. Directv has more channels in each tier of service and they don't hit you with all the service fees that Dish does. I had to get satelite because we get nothing with antena and cable isn't available either, heck we can't even get DSL. Anyway, it rarely goes out, a storm has to be really bad before service is interrupted. I've gotten emails offering the middle tier, which I pay $60 for, to new customers for $40 for a year. Just be aware that satelite charges $5 per box and you need a box for every tv in the house. Never had any problems with customer service either when we've had issues with the boxes. Just make them send you every upgrade offer in writing, our only issues have been "miscommunications" in prices that salesman have given, it was higher priced on the bill after we accepted the offer.

 

[FireDancer]

I have had DirecTv on two different occasions, including the present. Both times I compared both Dish and DirecTv for the channels I wanted and the price. Both times DirecTv was ahead. The equipment is comparable as is the satellite signal strength.

I would recommend shopping both for the channels you want and see which gives you the best choice for the money. They tier their packages a bit different so it might be that the channels you care about on one are included in a lower priced package. I am also pretty sure their dishes need aimed at different areas. Go online and get the direction and angle that each dish would have to be aimed in your particular zip code. It might be that only one of the two are available to you because of the surrounding obstacles like trees and buildings.

If you are in a FIOS area check them out. I know that that would be the best option for me on both the Internet and television front but they aren't anywhere close to me.

 

[golfgal]

We have Dish Network because they bundle with our phone/internet. It really isn't any less expensive then cable for a similar channel line up. I don't know what the previous poster was talking about with "service fees". We don't have any on our bill. Keep in mind that if you have cable internet you will have to got to dial-up or DSL, which means paying for a phone line. We switched over to satellite after a HORRIBLE experience with our local cable company.

 

[DVCMikey]

I think dish network only allows you to have 4 tvs on one dish at a time. If you have more than that...you have to have another dish put up.

 

[Shasta]

To get local channels, do you still have to have an extra antenna? That was the case a few years ago when I lat checked. I still want local news.

 

[ICF]

To get local channels, do you still have to have an extra antenna? That was the case a few years ago when I lat checked. I still want local news.

no, at least not for most people. I've had both, and only had 1 antenna with either company.

 

[Carly_Roach]

We have Dish Network because they bundle with our phone/internet. It really isn't any less expensive then cable for a similar channel line up. I don't know what the previous poster was talking about with "service fees". We don't have any on our bill. Keep in mind that if you have cable internet you will have to got to dial-up or DSL, which means paying for a phone line. We switched over to satellite after a HORRIBLE experience with our local cable company.

HORRIBLE experience with Comcast is why we changed, too. Ours is also bundled with our phone bill and we now get highest-speed DSL internet, land-line phone service and all the premium channels for less than what we used to pay for just cable. We love our Dish Network, but have heard the same amount of bad things about DN as we do about DTV. So far we haven't had any problems with DN and will be staying with them as long as possible.

To get local channels, do you still have to have an extra antenna? That was the case a few years ago when I lat checked. I still want local news.

We get local news on our dish (no extra antenna) for $5.00 a month. Totally worth it!

 

[glitterkittyy]

I have Dish network. I've never had Direct TV so can't compare the service, but I love my Dish service. I have internet through them too. I cannot complain about either aspect. The internet is always reliable, and the tv has only gone out when there are severe storms (maybe twice in the last year). My Brighthouse cable used to go out more often that that. And I pay way less with Dish than I did with bundled cable/phone/internet.

 

[luvsJack]

I had Dish, and really never had a problem with it, but switched to Direct for the new year. They just offered a better deal that I am guaranteed for 12 months.

My mom has always had Direct and I had to call twice for her over some pretty stupid issues. One they charged her for some movies from over a year prior that they said they "found" in the broken receiver they picked up--they took those off. The other, they were charging her lease on receivers that she owns--they took that off too. So, I am watching my bills very carefully.

 

[servicetechdtv]

I have installed both systems and Directv has the highest qaulity. The dish picks up a differnt tybe of signal then dish network and it produces a better picture compared side by side on the same style of televison and simular high definition recievers. I currently solve problems that are considered case managment calls. The new equipment is very impressive if you have a good line of site and a qaulified tech comes to your home to do the install.

And Dish Network LOST The partnership with AT&T and DirecTV took over because of the better quality

 

[servicetechdtv]

To get local channels, do you still have to have an extra antenna? That was the case a few years ago when I lat checked. I still want local news.

In some areas they do have local channels. You would have to call the 1-800-531-5000 to find out if they are availible in your area.

 

[tvguy]

In some areas they do have local channels. You would have to call the 1-800-531-5000 to find out if they are availible in your area.

Dish has locals in all of the top 200 TV markets now. I used my antenna for locals until last year, finally popped the extra $5 a month for locals on the dish to make life a little simpler.

I would have to say as someone who works at a TV station that you can't go wrong with either Dish or Direct based on the calls we get (and we DO keep track of those calls). You just have to see what works best for your.

DIRECT advantages:
NFL package
More channels per tier

DISH advantages.
Better customer service
Lower price

 

[Planogirl]

I've compared in our area and unless you want extra sports channels I see no difference and Dish costs less. As for picture quality, it is only as good as our TV's which aren't top of the line.

 

[MIGrandma]

We've had DirecTV for several years (8? 10?) and are satisfied with the service.

 

[ICF]

DIRECT advantages:
NFL package
More channels per tier

DISH advantages.
Better customer service
Lower price

better price can go either way....it's not a cut and dry situation. For example, AAA gives new customers $10 / mo for the 1st 2 years....dish doesn't do that.

You have to check out what you want and see what the best deals are based on provider.

 

[Muushka]

We had DirecTv for about 4 years. When the bill slowly creeped up to $93 a month (no premium channels) we had enough.

We may get Dish (we had them for about 12 years prior to DirecTv) and are comparing prices.

DirecTv charged for additional receivers, Dish has the HD DVR that we can use in the other room so we won't need 2 receivers. Dish won't charge extra for HD, Dir charged $10. Dish will lock in lower price for 12 months. I don't know what Dir does now, but when we signed up it was only discounted for 3 months.

 

[LiberalPrincess]

I love Directv. The baseball package makes it worth it for us. My only complaint is that it sometimes goes out during the rain. Argh.

 

[ICF]

Dish won't charge extra for HD, Dir charged $10. Dish will lock in lower price for 12 months. I don't know what Dir does now, but when we signed up it was only discounted for 3 months.

At least as of a couple of months ago when Dish rolled out the "free HD for life" promo all you had to do was call Direct TV and ask for them to waive the HD fee and they would for the next 2 years...as long as you were signed up for CC auto pay.

I made the call and they credited me in less than 5 minutes.

If you are out of contract, call and see what discounts they'll offer you.