Dish vs. Comcast

[windycitymom]

Has anyone switched from Comcast to the Dish Network?

How do you like the Dish Network for cable? They are running a special of $24.99 for one year for 120 channels - plus HD for life. Includes free activation, 2 DVRs and up to 6 room installation. This price includes all the channels we need.

I currently have Comcast with HD & 1 HD-DVR on our main TV - plus 5 other TV's in our house with nothing special attached to them. The cost is approximately $57 for just a digital basic package.

The only requirements are the ESPN channels for the males in my house (which both offer).

With the Dish, I need to sign a two-year contract. The second year is $39.99
Can you tell me if the Dish is reliable? I heard if it storms or snows, that the dish can in and out of service. Does the tax add alot more the cost? How satisfied are you with the Dish? How satisfied are you with Comcast? Thank you,

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can't compare because I don't have satellite, but I remember there being something fishy about the Dish offer... make sure you read all the fine print really carefully. It's something like, yes you get the DVRs but you pay extra for the DVR service (the actual ability to record), or HD for life just means you get HD but it's not free, or something. And what else? Um,,, do you have to pay for the satellite and its installation? Shoot. I have the ad at work. Do me a favor? If nobody else replies, don't make any decision until after the weekend?

I remembered!! If the offer includes On Demand, it's not really On Demand - you can't watch what you want when you want, you need to download it onto the DVR, and it takes time and space.

 

[JB2K]

If you're contemplating Dish Network and are a fan of the following cable networks:

• FX
• The FSN Family of Regional Sports Networks (FS Midwest, among others)
• National Geographic Channel

These networks are scheduled to be deleted by the end of today (as Dish and FOX couldn't come to terms).

Far as I know, none of the other FOX channels (Your local FOX affiliate, FOX News Channel, etc.) are affected by this.

For more information, go here.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We've never had Comcast but considered them because we needed a new DSL provider. All of my neighbors who have them warned me against them - most called them Comcrap . (We ended up going with Clear, but that's another story).

During the time I was looking at Comcast for internet, I also looked at Dish for satellite. We had DirecTV in the past and HATED them. In fact, we paid an early termination fee because they were so horrible to deal with. We've had Dish for just over a month and love it. We had it installed on 1 TV with a DVR and our monthly bill is $32.19 including all taxes (which includes a $6 monthly fee for the DVR) for the first 12 months on a 2 year commitment. After that it goes up to $47.19. We get free HD for life, and also a free 3 month trial of HBO and Showtime.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've had Dish for almost a dozen years now. While they are not "better than sliced bread", I've been happy with them. I like their menu/schedule view better than DirecTV. I know folks have had customer service issues with Dish, but I'm sure folks have had similar problems with Direct.

With regards to the signal cutting out... if the Dish is properly installed, you should only have issues with heavy rain or heavy (ie: "wet") snow. The longest I've had signal issues is ~10-15 minutes. Generally it's less than 5 minutes. Cable on the other hand if the signal goes out could be hours or days (depending on whether someone cut the line, etc).

I hope this helps.

 

[amylevan]

We rarely loose signal - usually only is a huge downpour. And generally, downpours don't last too long, and then the signal is back.

You do understand how the additional tvs work though, right? With 5 additional tvs in your house, you'll need additional boxes. Each Dish box can do a feed for 2 tvs. Any more than that, and the tvs have to watch the same channel. i.e. we have 3 tvs, so we need 2 boxes.

 

[JB2K]

FOX wasn't bluffing!

According to their website, FX, the FSN regional sports networks, and National Geographic Channel have been removed from Dish Network.

Furthermore, they are now saying if no agreement is reached, your local FOX affiliate station and MyNetworkTV (known locally as "My__") affiliates will leave Dish Network by November 1.

 

[windycitymom]

Thank you everyone. My family like shows on Fox and FX so switching to the Dish could be a problem.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

FOX wasn't bluffing!

According to their website, FX, the FSN regional sports networks, and National Geographic Channel have been removed from Dish Network.

Furthermore, they are now saying if no agreement is reached, your local FOX affiliate station and MyNetworkTV (known locally as "My__") affiliates will leave Dish Network by November 1.

Thanks and to the other pp who mentioned this. My Direct TV has been creeping up every few months. I was thinking of switching to Dish but we do watch the NatGeo cannel and Fox quite often so that wouldn't work. I may just switch to cable. It would cost the same as what I am paying now but I would have phone tv and internet all on one bill so payments would be all in one. I've been with Direct for about 6 years now and have been satisfied with my service for the most part but I will take my business elsewhere if I can get a better offer.

 

[sam_gordon]

Furthermore, they are now saying if no agreement is reached, your local FOX affiliate station and MyNetworkTV (known locally as "My__") affiliates will leave Dish Network by November 1.

I'm guessing this will only affect local affiliates that are owned by the network.

That might sound confusing, but many local stations are owned by third parties, they just broadcast the network feed. The networks do own some of the locals, and they can control whether those get pulled.

 

[JB2K]

I'm guessing this will only affect local affiliates that are owned by the network.

Could be -- since OPs name is "WindyCityMom", I would suspect she lives in the Chicago TV market.

If that be the case, she watches WFLD (FOX 32), which is indeed a FOX Owned-and-Operated TV station, which is very much in the thick of this...