DIRECTV vs. DISH

I have only had Direct TV for a little over two months. Moved from DishNetwork. I think I may have made a BIG mistake. Now I am committed to two years with Direct TV. I moved because I wanted the more HD channels they offered. they might have more HD channels but their receivers aren’t worth bringing home. I have a HD H21-100 and HD HR21-100(DVR). I called on the DVR the first week. It kept locking up. It seems to have gotten better, I don’t know if they sent a new update to it or not. But don’t get the plain HD receiver. They don’t tell you that every time the electricity blinks that you will have to go through a complete setup of the receiver each time. You better hope it doesn’t happen more than once in a day or that is all you will be doing. You have to go through and choose what dish you have outside, your zip code, then some numbers punched in using also the mute and channel up/down and select keys. Several continues. Then waiting for each satellite to pick up their signal. After all this then you will need to go back and reset your HD statuses, such as screen ratio, crop, stretch etc and other stuff. Then if that isn’t enough if you buy an RF remote separately (because only and IR comes with) you will need to reprogram it to work and if you have a DVD or surround sound hooked you will need to reprogram that too to the remote. What a headache. I have called several times. Was told that is the way the receiver is (this is the TIVO version for DirectTV receiver) and won’t be any different. I can either upgrade to a HD DVR and pay $200 more or downgrade to a standard receiver or buy a UPS and hook to it so the power is never interupted again. Needless to say that as soon as my subscription is up I will more than likely go back to DishNetwork unless there are changes made in the receivers. Also, I was told how TIVO and their products are so much better in searches and everything. I don’t think so. DishNetwork receivers are so much easier to use. The only beef I had with Dish’s was if a show lasted longer or changed time it would cut it off or tape the wrong program. But with as many problems I have had (there has also been billing problems with overcharging too) in the two months, I sure don’t look forward to the other 22 months with DIRECT TV.

Tivo no longer exist.

With the new DVR, you can’t switch from 1 program to another without first recording it.

It took a while to get used to subtle differences between DIRECTV & Dish Network. They both have their pros & cons. With DIRECTV I really like the TiVo system I got. It was the first time I could record two shows at once, or record one show and watch another. This was probably the best part. What I didn’t like was the Guide. My biggest complaint is that it doesn’t show channels in red that you don’t have like Dish Network does. So you never really knew if you had a channel unless you clicked on it and got a message. Plus it only allow on favorite list and you had to wade through some menu options to change your favorite list.

Switched from cable several years ago, and love it. Moved to Michigan and had tons of trees on my property and couldn’t get my dish installed. We hated having cable again. Moved back to Indy, and have DirecTV again and would recommend it to anyone. My Father in Law has the Dish Network, and hates it, and will get rid of it after his contract expires. He will be switching shortly. I’ve used his system and he doesn’t get near the channels, or options on his system for the price that we do with DirecTV.

I think Direct TV is good.
I prefer TIVO to Dish’s DVR.
I like Direct TV.

I dumped Comcast for DirecTV about 4 years ago. I had to do it while my wife was away or she would have never allowed it. We have been happy ever since. Even added the DirecTV-Tivo’s to our home. When we moved, I asked my wife if she wanted to move back to Comcast, she flat out refused, even though we have broadband through them. So we used the “Movers Package.” This was great! We purchased a new Tivo unit for $50 (Half Price), then had dual lines run to 3 rooms for the Tivos, and a single line run to the third bedroom. 7 Lines total plus a $250 mutliswtich, all for free. You can’t complain about that! And the customer service has been excellent. I even got Vonage to work with all of the systems! I cannot recomend DirecTV enough.

I have had Directv for about 9 years now with no complaints. However, this was pre-TiVo. I installed my first system myself; running cables to the 4 TV’s and phone lines to each receiver.
I moved to another house abour 2 years ago and decided to get the free “professional” installation because I was too old and tired to do it myself.
The installers (contracted by Directv) seemed like they just got out of jail and they were trying to make alittle money to start their own biker gang. Installation went OK, however they said they wont installed the phone line to the extra box like it will benefit me. I have heard this from other people who had their Directv installed. Don’t listen to them, they are just lazy. You need a phone line connected to each receiver or else once you turn the box off, you will have to call Directv back, have a phone line connected to it, and they will “zap” the box so it will work again.
As far as the programming and service, I have no problems. I was very happy with everything. I just moved again and I am thinking of switching to Dish Network because their is no contract, DVR is free for 2 rooms, the price is a few dollars cheaper, and the main reason is because of the Hawaiian music channel. It will be nice to have it to remind me of home.
I will have to update you on Dish Network after about a month of service. If I don’t like it, I will switch back to Directv as soon as possible

jofa90@hotmail.com

I think both Direct TV and Dish Network are great.
They are both good I would give Direct TV 3.25.