Direct TV

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I have totally had it with our Comcast service. We just traded in our dvr box today (3rd time in four months) and the new one is turning off periodically. Watching our On Demand movie has been fun, with it turning off for five minutes every half an hour!

The only other option in our area is Direct TV. I know nothing about this type of service, and it's hard to make the jump without knowing what I'd be getting into. I've been happy with my bundle pricing with cable, but it's been months since I've been happy with the t.v. service.

I get that I need to have a satellite dish on top of our house, but that's all I know. I have a bunch of newbie questions that I'm hoping someone can shed some light on for me.

*How do they figure pricing? Is it per t.v. or one flat charge (like cable)?
*If the dish falls down, do they re-install or do we pay for that?
*Are you happy with the service? Do you have frequent interruptions?
*After the first year or so of the special pricing I keep seeing, is it a huge jump in price?
*Do they offer a dvr or something similar or do I need to purchase one on my own?

Anything else you can share to help with my decision?

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

[angwill]

I have totally had it with our Comcast service. We just traded in our dvr box today (3rd time in four months) and the new one is turning off periodically. Watching our On Demand movie has been fun, with it turning off for five minutes every half an hour!

The only other option in our area is Direct TV. I know nothing about this type of service, and it's hard to make the jump without knowing what I'd be getting into. I've been happy with my bundle pricing with cable, but it's been months since I've been happy with the t.v. service.

I get that I need to have a satellite dish on top of our house, but that's all I know. I have a bunch of newbie questions that I'm hoping someone can shed some light on for me.

*How do they figure pricing? Is it per t.v. or one flat charge (like cable)?
*If the dish falls down, do they re-install or do we pay for that?
*Are you happy with the service? Do you have frequent interruptions?
*After the first year or so of the special pricing I keep seeing, is it a huge jump in price?
*Do they offer a dvr or something similar or do I need to purchase one on my own?

Anything else you can share to help with my decision?

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Direct does have DVR service that costs more. I blieve it is $7 now for DVR service and for each tv after the first it is $6 per month. The DVR box is free when you first have installation done.

I have never had a dish fall down so I have no clue what they would do with that.

Yes the price jumps a lot after the first year. How much you can see on their website. Also I have had lots of problems with our DVR box as well and those cost to replace. If you have a problem with a box sometimes it is better to switch to dish network for a couple years.

Personally, I have never had problems with my directv unless we have a snow storm and the dish gets covered with snow then we have to go brush it off. I like Directv more than Dish network but I have not had cable in many years so can't compare the two.

HTH

 

[mkandjpsmom]

I have totally had it with our Comcast service. We just traded in our dvr box today (3rd time in four months) and the new one is turning off periodically. Watching our On Demand movie has been fun, with it turning off for five minutes every half an hour!

The only other option in our area is Direct TV. I know nothing about this type of service, and it's hard to make the jump without knowing what I'd be getting into. I've been happy with my bundle pricing with cable, but it's been months since I've been happy with the t.v. service.

I get that I need to have a satellite dish on top of our house, but that's all I know. I have a bunch of newbie questions that I'm hoping someone can shed some light on for me.

*How do they figure pricing? Is it per t.v. or one flat charge (like cable)?
*If the dish falls down, do they re-install or do we pay for that?
*Are you happy with the service? Do you have frequent interruptions?
*After the first year or so of the special pricing I keep seeing, is it a huge jump in price?
*Do they offer a dvr or something similar or do I need to purchase one on my own?

Anything else you can share to help with my decision?

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

I'm not sure how they figure the pricing. They do offer bundles with internet.
I would think they reinstall it. They are pretty secure. We had direct TV for a while. You don't own the dish they do.
We were happy with the service, but we switched back to Comcast to save $ with thier bundle. As soon as the price goes up we will switch back.
I didn't notice a huge jump in price when the year was over.
They do have DVR which I personally like better than Comcast DVR. It is very similar though.
Overall we were pretty happy with Direct TV. We live in the NH so when there were snow storms sometimes the signal would go out. But the DVR still worked. I think their customer service is better than Comcast.
We switched to get the $99 bundle from Comcast.
You do have to have a box to get service, but you can get a regular box w/o DVR for no charge if I remember correctly.
The dish is small and mine is on the side of my house. BTW when we switched back to Comcast they left the dish but asked for our boxes back. It's up to them to come get the dish back. These companys are very competitive and when we were originally switching to the Direct TV Comcast was really pushing us to stay and they offered us a much better price for our service. At that point we were so fed up with them we just wanted out.
Good Luck!

 

[Cruise]

I've often said to people before that I'd rather live in a cave without running water than have Direct TV again.

It's a long story, but basically boils down to the fact that we fulfilled our part of our contract, had proof (in the contract) that we didn't have to return any equipment, but yet they turned us over to collections saying we owed them $500 for equipment (which is the first we heard they even thought we owed them something - also illegal - they're required to contact you before turning you over to collections). Many calls to customer service who all claimed "we have no record of that" ensued.

Luckily, I keep all paperwork and faxed them a copy of the contract that clearly stated we didn't owe them either the equipment or the money along with a nasty letter that said if our credit rating was damaged by them turning us over to collections, then they'd be hearing from a lawyer. No surprise, we never heard anything from them again. But I was not happy.

I told this story to some poor guy trying to shill Direct TV at Best Buy and he actually admitted to us that it wasn't the first time he'd heard a similar story! This is a guy that works for Direct TV admitting this to us!

In any event, if you do decide to go with them, make sure you keep all your paperwork indefinitely as it was more than 6 months after we canceled our service that we got this random letter from a collections agency.

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

We have had cable and liked it ... but I have quite a few sports fans in the house and they like the football subscription which Direct offers and that is why we are with Directv for the past 5 years.

In comparing with cable, I've found Direct has more interruptions during storms ... but usually short-lasting.

If the DVR breaking down is your main concern let me tell you Direct's dvr and boxes DO break down. We have the maintenance agreement but every time there is a problem you have to call and go through all the hoops in trying to fix it over the phone with the customer service rep. Then, finally, they agree to send you a new box. However, the new box is a refurb that often doesn't last long. The last time this happen to us I asked "what do I have to do to get a new box?" and was told there was nothing I could do but buy my own at a pretty high price tag (well over $500) and then I wouldn't have a maintenance agreement.

We are still with Direct b/c of the football subscription and b/c in the long scheme of things all services (cable, fios, direct, etc) have their issues and we just roll with the punches.

 

[sam_gordon]

Dish Network (DirecTV competitor) should also be an option. The main difference between Dish & Direct is programming.

Both offer DVRs (extra charge per month)
Both offer HD
Both offer non-DVR receivers
Both will suffer from rain/snow fade. If well installed however, it should take a massive downpour to affect your service and don't last long.
I've never heard of a dish falling off a house/roof.
I believe both charge more for each extra (other than the first one) receiver you have.
Yes, like any thing, there is generally a rate hike after a contract runs out, but I wouldn't qualify it as "huge".
EVERY company will have equipment problems.
I've been a Dish subscriber for 13(?) years now. Obviously I'm satisfied.

 

[BCV2003]

I have had DirecTV for about 12 years and have been completely happy with the service as well as customer service.

I have service on three TVs in my house and one of those is a DVR. My DVR receiver has fortunately never broken, neither have any of my other receivers and they are all original from ten years ago, except for the DVR because I only added that service five or six years ago.

I have only had service go out once and that was when my dish was covered with a heavy amount of snow and I had to go out and clean it off.

I have never had any issues with customer service either. I have periodically received discounts by calling and asking for a loyalty discount and they usually give me $10 off per month. I frequently get showtime and HBO free. They will send me a post card and says its for an anniversary or something.

No issues with DirecTV here and I wouldn't choose any other service.

 

[staceyhzoo]

I had DirecTV for almost 13 yrs. In the past 3 yrs I have constantly argued with them over the bill-it was never the same amount month to month. The bill had gone up over $35 in one year. We were charged for pay per views (never used-have Netflix). I gave up. I went to Time Warner and have many more channels, whole house DVR, faster internet, free long distance at $65 cheaper per month. We are not on a promo.

I won't ever go back to DirecTV. If we have issues with Time Warner so be it. I won't have cable or satelite.

Good Luck with DirecTV

 

[DawnM]

We have had Directv since about 1997, minus one year that we got some faulty information, but whatever.

Anyway, we have been happy for the most part, with the service, however we are currently in the process of getting rid of all of it and going with over the air TV and Roku boxes.

Our bill with Directv has gone up to $100 per month.

$70 for Total Choice Plus
$7 DVR service (one fee covers all DVRs in the house)
$6 receiver
(times 3 receivers)

HD is "free" if you have a higher package

all of the above, plus tax, comes to $100.

Now, you will receive a 12 month promo rate if you sign up for 24 months of service.

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

How much is your whole house DVR?

Dawn

I had DirecTV for almost 13 yrs. In the past 3 yrs I have constantly argued with them over the bill-it was never the same amount month to month. The bill had gone up over $35 in one year. We were charged for pay per views (never used-have Netflix). I gave up. I went to Time Warner and have many more channels, whole house DVR, faster internet, free long distance at $65 cheaper per month. We are not on a promo.

I won't ever go back to DirecTV. If we have issues with Time Warner so be it. I won't have cable or satelite.

Good Luck with DirecTV

 

[ndfi78]

I have had DTV for 10+ years and I have no complaints. I would recommend them to anyone.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We had Direct TV a few years ago. Every time we had a storm, we lost reception. I've now had cable for years with no problems.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. We still haven't made a decision. I say this as my "new" dvr box just turned itself off..for about the 20th time in less than 2 days. Dh wants to try another box, so he'll go wait in line to get another one today. Ugh! I was happy with Comcast/Xfinity until the whole issue with the boxes began. I wonder if they have any good boxes, or if they just rewrap the ones people turn in and pass them off as new.

I'm reading that many of you mention having to remove snow after a big storm. Our house is very tall with a steep roof, so there is no way we can get up there to do this. I will say that the actual cable service never goes out during snow or thunder storms.

Decisions, decisions. Maybe the 4th dvr box will do the trick (ha ha).

Thanks again!

 

[mrodgers]

We had Direct TV a few years ago. Every time we had a storm, we lost reception. I've now had cable for years with no problems.

I had Dish Network from 1997 through 2002 and Direct TV 2002 until now. I hardly ever loose reception, but sure see the cable vehicles out everywhere putting the lines back up with every storm....

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm reading that many of you mention having to remove snow after a big storm. Our house is very tall with a steep roof, so there is no way we can get up there to do this.

The dish doesn't need to be on your roof. I've seen them mounted ~5 feet off the ground on the side of a house. You need a clear view of the southern sky (only a segment of it, but the segment depends on which satellites you're trying to hit).

 

[mrodgers]

The dish doesn't need to be on your roof. I've seen them mounted ~5 feet off the ground on the side of a house. You need a clear view of the southern sky (only a segment of it, but the segment depends on which satellites you're trying to hit).

Mine is mounted on the corner of my house about chest height. It points directly into a tree. I have only lost reception at this house with Direct TV (9 years) maybe 4 times, one of those times was when I found the snow hanging off the roof to the ground in front of the dish.

Oh, I had my kids crying inside about the satellite going out one day. I went inside to look at the receiver signal bar and it was fine. Go back outside and they are yelling for me again. That was when I realized I was standing with a ladder working on the house siding, right in front of the dish, LOL.

 

[Hardy]

We have directv and I don't love or hate it. Yes, the prices can go up quite a bit, but call and they will lower them. I just called and saved $30 a month, and we are still in contract. They recently had a settlement (few months ago maybe) where they now have to replace faulty leased equipment, but you will still pay shipping, $20 i think (with no maintenance plan, with the plan I think it is free). We had a huge fight over this before the settlement for a DVR that went bad, and they did finally replace it.

I can't imagine the dish would ever fall down without something pretty major happening, but if a tech needs to come out, you either will need to pay for it, or extend your contract. Which, you can rarely get anything less than 18 months, 2 years is typical.

Dvr is one charge per household, 7 or 8 bucks, I'm not sure, we are on an old plan that is grandfathered that covers the fee. Receivers all cost $5 a month, but the first is credited back so it's free.

Ours is mounted on a pole at the far end of our yard for better reception, there was no extra cost bc we buried our own line. It rarely goes out, maybe a few minutes in really bad storms, but in another house with not as great of a signal, it was all the time.

Oh and we had comcast awhile back, and went through 4-5 hd/dvr boxes a year! luckily the place was really close and we could swap them out. It was ridiculous though.