Direct TV

[CJH]

I have Comcast and have been pretty happy with it, other than the DVR is mediocre and I can't get the NFL Sunday Ticket. Looked at the bill and it seems like I am paying a lot with them. I would probably keep the Comcast Internet, because that is pretty darn fast.

Saw a really good deal with Direct TV and am considering switching. So just wanted to get general feedback from people who have it. (I know I will lose signal during bad weather, but I will have high speed internet to keep me busy as well!)

Any feedback would be appreciated!!

[RebelSS]

I'm as picky as all heck about my TV pic, and in my opinion that "losing signal" is mostly hogwash, IMO. I've had DirecTv for 2 years, and I friggin' love it. I've lost signal twice, both times during severe T-storms with heavy rain...for about 5 minutes. NEVER lost signal during huge snowstorms, wind storms, etc. Cable went out a LOT more than this. Tip: If you DO lose signal, you can watch the shows that you've recorded on the DVR...just flip over to 'em.

I recommend it 100%.

[Superduty]

Have it and love it. I can save you another $10/month with a referral discount. Just let me know, it's a pretty easy switch.

[CAMAN]

We've had DirecTV for about a year now and love it. We've lost signal about three times two were over the winter during the storm that brought down the Metrodome and that was from snow sticking to the satellite, went out with a broom and knocked it off, and one was during a recent severe storm, other than that it's been flawless. Our previous MediaCom cable would go out that often in a month and we're paying less now and have DVR included.

[hanson]

I really like Direct TV as well, and I was a long time Comcast cable customer.

After I switched to Direct TV, I called Comcast and told them I had to cancel my cable TV and told them I was exploring options with my internet service. Ended up with a really good deal on internet through Comcast after that.

[remington 300]

another thumbs up for direct tv,i had it for years now and love it,with the dvr and HD reciever,i woulnt worry too much about loosing signals either,another plus is i just saw an ad for the NFL sunday ticket,its now

included at no charge,plus during the OPEN championship there were like 3 or 4 stations dedicated to it,the masters had that well,alot of pluses forr sports nuts!

plus if you put my name down you will get a 100.00 off your first bill and ill get 100.00 for the referal, win/win

mike.

[Tom7227]

Isn't it important to figure out the long term cost? They both will play all sorts of games to get you to sign up and make it hard to figure out the cost, but 12 months down the line you're going to be paying what???? I looked at the rate cards for both and if memory serves me right it was a carp shoot on who was less expensive - less than $5 difference. For me the issue was the number of lines and boxes that have to get run for the satellite and I have been told that some of those installations can get pretty sloppy. Toss the cable over the roof, punch a hole through the wall, and that's it, next room same thing. Those stories are all second hand so I'm not going to say they're true but it was enough for me to back off on the satellite.

[Tip Up Rookie]

I have had cable and satelite - both punch holes in the wall the same way in my experiences. I had Mediacomm and now direct tv. no comparison, direct tv gives more for your money, the DVR is my favorite part of the deal.

[Dave]

If you already have the cable system installed in the house, they can use that,instead of new cables on the outside.

[CAMAN]

For me the issue was the number of lines and boxes that have to get run for the satellite and I have been told that some of those installations can get pretty sloppy. Toss the cable over the roof, punch a hole through the wall, and that's it, next room same thing. Those stories are all second hand so I'm not going to say they're true but it was enough for me to back off on the satellite.

If you already have cable throughout the house it's a non-issue. They find where the coax cable is coming into the house and splice into it. Connect the satellite dish to it and you now have satellite throughout your house. Place a satellite receiver box at each tv and you're done! It may be a little more labor intensive with a second dish, but I don't need one so I don't know what that requires.

My installation looks very good, dish placed on the roof and they ran the coax down in the corner of the house. Hardly even notice it's there.

[MuleShack]

Just one thing to consider with pricing is that their listed price for the package is only part of the ocst.

You also have $5 per receiver, $10 for DVR service, $10 for HD service etc, etc.

I have DTV and love it. Ever since I switched the dishes on the roof to the new style oval and lined it up so that i have 90%+ reception we hardly ever loose signal.

[zrt6]

i also have had dish and direct tv in my opinion direct tv is the better of the two, way better customer service

[Hardyboy]

I have directv and its been awesome. their HD choices are numerous and with directv cinema you get thousands of free options to watch for and for me it was bye bye to netflix with the on demand addition. plus with a spare dish i can have tv at the cabin or fish house. I would not have cable again.

[Jim Almquist]

I switched to Mediacom because it was such a great deal. After 4 months I went back to DirectTV. I believe the picture quality is much better and the DVR is about a 1000% better. The menu and hard drive storage are what I hated with the Mediacom DVR. It seemed like we would have maybe 20 shows recorded and it was full. the DirectTV DVR lets you record a ton and it barely has used 30% of its storage. Like others have said very little rain fade problems and they don't last long when they do occur.

[RebelSS]

The install guy with DirecTv was pickier than I was...didn't figure that was possible!!! A perfect, meticulous install. Field supervisor came by later while he was still there and double checked his work. Really took his time and was great. A little over 38 bucks a month for a ton of crytal clear channels, movies, a top-of-the-line DVR, great service...and I was paying double that for 71 fuzzy channels with lousy equipment and worse service from that rip off cable jokester company. I'll never go back.

[Bigbartguy]

I got sick of my Comcast bill and called and asked about their 'bundling' packages. I was told that I didnt qualify because I was an existing customer and there wasnt anything they could do.

I got DirecTV installed and cancelled Comcast. Comcast called me a week later and said they really wanted my business and asked if I would like to 'bundle' to save money? ....too little too late Comcast!

Love DirecTV AND I can use it at the cabin also!

[CJH]

Thanks for all of the feedback!!! I didn't expect this many replies. And no real negative feedback??

At first glance it looks like it is going to save me around $40/month for service and equipment the first year. Second year would save about $25/month for service and equipment. Plus I would get NFL Sunday Ticket this year (which I really do want), and that is not cheap. So over two years it looks like some fairly substantial savings.

Have to sit in an airport tomorrow, so I am going to break down the costs to exactly what they would be vs what I have now.

My only other concern is if Comcast Internet can play nice with Direct TV over the Coax already in our house. Is it possible for them to share the main line coming into the house until it hits my main splitter/junction in the mechanical room? (The internet hits my router there and goes wireless from there).

[PierBridge]

I gonna say no on sharing the cabling for interent service.

[Jim Almquist]

I agree with PB. My guess is that DirectTV will want to run all new cables for their feed.

[CAMAN]

I agree. But just allow them to run new cables to the splitter in the house. You can then isolate the cable internet line to the modem yourself.

[CJH]

I agree. But just allow them to run new cables to the splitter in the house. You can then isolate the cable internet line to the modem yourself.

That sounds like a good plan!!

Thanks All!!

[zamboni]

I have had DirecTv for awhile now, and lost my signal once. During that torrential downpour last fall that lead to Truman being on the news. I have had Dish in the past and DirecTv BURIES them as far as value, service and pretty much everything.

[hanson]

My only other concern is if Comcast Internet can play nice with Direct TV over the Coax already in our house. Is it possible for them to share the main line coming into the house until it hits my main splitter/junction in the mechanical room? (The internet hits my router there and goes wireless from there).

Like others have said... No. You're DirecTV installer will run new cable into the house from your dish on the roof. You can have him run the satellite cable into your mechanical room and then tie into your existing coax network from there to your TVs. Your Comcast cable will still come into that room where it will connect with your wireless router. I had the same situation and it wasn't a big deal at all.

[hanson]

I got DirecTV installed and cancelled Comcast. Comcast called me a week later and said they really wanted my business and asked if I would like to 'bundle' to save money? ....too little too late Comcast.

I told one of my co-workers to call Comcast and tell them you were planning to cancel cable TV service and switch to satellite, but were wondering if they could get a better deal on cable. Comcast said no. They switched. Comcast called back and wanted to give them a better deal. I don't get it. I have no problem switching back and forth between the two every two years to get the best deal possible if thats what it takes.