DTV vs Dish Network

[hitthebricks]

I know this has probly been asked but I couldn't find anything in the searh for it. I'm looking at switching from Comcast to DTV through Qwest and was wondering if I will have the same problems I hear about with using a dish or would I have a dish also. Any good info would help. Thanks Bob

[jigeye]

The only downsides to a Dish IMO are the big dish on the roof and signal loss during storms. I have had both Dish Network and Direct TV and I like Dish Network better.

Jigeye

[Hibbing]

Had cable for 20+ years and Dish for 3 - 4 yrs now. Would never go back to cable. I can count on 1 hand the # of times it has gone out due to storms. Very satisfied with Dish.

[Ryan_V]

I have had dish network for about 8 years and love it. just upgraded to HD. otherwise, I still had the receiver I bought in 2001. Only 3 times we've had it go out, and all of those were due to heavy snow built up on the dish, which was fixed by brushing it off.

[Ralph Wiggum]

We just made the switch from Comcast to DirecTV and have been very happy so far, except the guy who installed it was a POS and did a half-arsed job. The actual television service is awesome, and I don't know how I lived without DVR before.

[jwmiller33]

i had directTV for 8 years, dish network for the next 5, and now comcast for the past 3 and by far, the best of my experiences are all with comcast...

i think it largely depends where you live, but i lived in duluth/hermantown area and whenever there was a storm, any high winds, or anything along those lines, i would lose the signal with both directTV and dish network.. between the two dishes, dish network was way better.

I don't know what kind of tv you have, but comcast has wayyyy more HD channels then either dish or DTV

just my $.02 from someone who has had all 3

[jwmiller33]

also, comcast has the "on demand feature" which is amazing... it blows away anything dish network or DTV has to offer..

for example, i am a huge entourage fan on HBO and if i ever happened to miss an episode, OR wanted to watch a episode again, i would just go to my on demand on my comcast guide and would be able to watch it whenever i wanted. can pause a show ur watching on 'on demand' and finish watching it in any other tv in the house.

also, with on demand, it's basically a big hard drive and stores tons of shows for you to watch over and over.. like for entourage, it saved every episode of the season on the on demand so its basically like having the season to watch on DVD before it ever comes out on DVD...

ON DEMAND is a great feature of comcast that in my mind, tips the scale in favor of comcast.. dish network and DTV dont have anything to compare to this

[MuleShack]

DTV had on demand also

[jwmiller33]

didnt know that. what is the show selection like compared to comcast?

[harvey lee]

In approx 8 years of service from DTV, I have had a couple boxes go out which they covered. Maybe 10-12 times I lost a signal for a few minutes in all the years I have been with them.

I had switched to comcast as I thought they may be better but after 3 months I was back to DTV.

Very happy.

[LakeDocktor]

I know that I have said this before in different forums. Your satellite signal really shouldn't go out if the signal is peaked out to its performance. Your service is only as good as the person who installed it. It doesn't really have anything as to where you live or than line of sight from the dish to the satellites. If you have an installer who insists on installing it in a location where there are trees present, ask him to put it in a different location. The installer should clear everything with the customer before the equipment is installed. Having installed cable, as well as both satellite services, I would go with Dish Network. It has actually been researched that cable systems have more outages than satellite systems.

Hitthebricks, shoot me an email, Rhino0018 at yahoo dot com, if you are leaning towards Dish Network. They have some pretty good promotions going on until the end of January and I can get you set up or answer any questions you might have.

[IndyEFI500]

Ditto to what the DR. says. I had DTV years ago when it first came out and loved it. Moved to the burbs and had cable but it was spendy. Went to Dish and had lots of problems because the install was directed into the neighbors tree. Cable called and gave a heck of a deal so we went back. Now DTV gave us a tremendous deal and have been with them for a year. Overall, they are all three good but pick what price point you want for the features that you want.

[SomethingFishy*]

also, comcast has the "on demand feature" which is amazing... it blows away anything dish network or DTV has to offer..

ON DEMAND is a great feature of comcast that in my mind, tips the scale in favor of comcast.. dish network and DTV dont have anything to compare to this

I don't know what kind of tv you have, but comcast has wayyyy more HD channels then either dish or DTV

Not sure where you are getting your information but DirecTv has more HD channels (many exclusive) and Also has On Demand Service.

I know very little about Dish Net so can't speak to that.

[LakeDocktor]

Josh, any luck on that dish yet? Just let me know when you want to get it done. I'm only a couple minutes away and I have this week pretty much free.

[jwmiller33]

i think it depends on what package you have and where you live but i think comcast has more hd channels

[JeffB]

Love dish network with dual tuner DVR

[SomethingFishy*]

picked a dish up today.

[LakeDocktor]

i think it depends on what package you have and where you live but i think comcast has more hd channels

Comcast does not have more HD channels. Cable companies cannot utilize the maximum amount of bandwidth as satellite companies. It has nothing to do with where you live either. HD programming comes off of certain satellites and those satellites provide everyone with the same programming based upon the service subscribed to.

[LakeDocktor]

Josh, you have mail!

[jwmiller33]

i call your bluff

[jwmiller33]

jp

[LakeDocktor]

Ok, say as you will. But then again, how much professional experience in the industry do you have? That's what I thought. Another customer brainwashed by the cable company. If you actually watch the advertisements for cable companies. When they negatively target the satellite companies, look down on the bottom of the screen and read the fine print. It flashes by fast, but it does protect the cable company from any slander lawsuit from satellite companies. I guess you know more than the cable companies know as well jwmiller.

[trollingforeyes]

I had DTV for 13yrs. Switch to comcast for 3 mounths and went back to DTV. Picture was superior to cable. I heard yesterday that DTV with the new HD programing option has a new oval shaped dish. Word is that black outs due to storms ect. are next to none.

[jwmiller33]

wow lake doctor why dont you go cry about it? if you did not see my other post i said "jp" as in "just playing"... looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.

first of all, i have no professional experience in cable/satellite industry because i have a real job... JUST PLAYING again.. but seriously, i would shoot myself if i worked for one of those companies..

second of all, i had dish and DTV for 13 years combined and thought they honestly sucked... ever since i have switch to cable a couple years ago, i have been completely more satisfied.

haha this is hilarious.. i have never seen somebody get so worked up over such a little and meaningless thing...

[setterguy]

I've had both and am happier with Dish Network as far as service and product. The only thing I like better about DTV was the use of the system, seemed to be a little quicker response on things. We also had many billing issues with DTV. Sometimes we wouldn't get a bill for 2 months then get one for 300 bucks...Dish network has been great with the customer service as well when I did have problems. We have had it for 2 years and have lost signal twice that I can remember. Just one man's opinion thought too.

[LakeDocktor]

jwmiller, I wasn't trying to really come across like it sounded I did. I reread my post and I guess, even to myself, it sounded like I was coming down on you. In all honesty, this is more a personal decision. All companies have their places. For television service, I would go with a satellite company, but for internet service, I would go with a high speed connection from a cable provider. Some don't like the fact that they have to look a round or oval piece of metal on their house, while others don't like dealing with cable companies. Depending on who I worked for, I heard negatives on the competitor. Most people make a switch because they are not happy with their experience with a product they have used. I have seen cable systems where a tech has been out at least once a month to render a problem. I have also seen satellite systems that go in and out of service. When it comes down to it, and I have always said this, your service is only as good as the technician who installed it. Satellite and cable companies take a hit each and everyday for something that should have been done right at the initial install. A couple years ago, Dish Network spent $26 million for repeat troublecalls. These could have been prevented if the installer would have done what he is getting paid to do. Enough rambling for me. Once again, having seen and installed both services, including cable, I would go with Dish Network.