Should I switch to DirecTV?

[mrblotto]

My contract ends in June, and I as well am looking between Time Warner, DTV, and Dish.
We used to have DTV back a couple years ago. I remember the picture being a lot better quality then Time Warner, but the audio wasn't as 'clear', for lack of a better word.

At present, I pay $113/month. That includes Digital Cable + Road Runner standard. I've been checking out DTV's online deals, but everytime some dude named 'James' comes online and wants to help me purchase a plan....lol.

The price seems to even out to 52.49/month. That includes
'Choice' Package @ 29.99/month
-1 free HD receiver (I guess 'HD access' is different as it is $10/month?)
-1 free SD receiver
-3 mos free Showtime (which I will surely cancel as soon as I can)

This gets confusing real quick. Time Warner's current promo is $51.90/mo for 2yrs, and I THINK it includes an HD receiver, not sure tho. That along with RoadRunner standard is $109 and change. Maybe I'll just stick with them *shrugs*

 

[Drako]

My contract ends in June, and I as well am looking between Time Warner, DTV, and Dish.
We used to have DTV back a couple years ago. I remember the picture being a lot better quality then Time Warner, but the audio wasn't as 'clear', for lack of a better word.

At present, I pay $113/month. That includes Digital Cable + Road Runner standard. I've been checking out DTV's online deals, but everytime some dude named 'James' comes online and wants to help me purchase a plan....lol.

The price seems to even out to 52.49/month. That includes
'Choice' Package @ 29.99/month
-1 free HD receiver (I guess 'HD access' is different as it is $10/month?)
-1 free SD receiver
-3 mos free Showtime (which I will surely cancel as soon as I can)

This gets confusing real quick. Time Warner's current promo is $51.90/mo for 2yrs, and I THINK it includes an HD receiver, not sure tho. That along with RoadRunner standard is $109 and change. Maybe I'll just stick with them *shrugs*

WTF is Road Runner? Is that internet service of some kind?

 

[cardiac]

I can honestly say I love Directv. DVRs hold a ton and can be upgraded with external hardrives
They also offer muti room viewing so I can watch something recorded downstairs on the dvr upstairs.

I have a HD DVR downstairs and DTV's standard box upstairs. How do i watch stuff from the DVR upstairs on the standard box?

Bob

 

[Drako]

I have a HD DVR downstairs and DTV's standard box upstairs. How do i watch stuff from the DVR upstairs on the standard box?

Bob

They have streaming (DirecTV Whole-Home DVR service) if you have your boxes networked. It works pretty well - the wife and I use it all the time.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I've had Dish for a little less than two years now. I like it well enough and the service and signal are both good. I get more HD than I would with the other guys and their customer service has always been helpful.

Here are my annoyances:
- They launched a new satellite in a different location earlier this year. Neither of my dishes are pointed in that direction, so I can't pick up any of the HD channels they've added this year to that satellite. I think it's somewhere around 8-10 channels. I have to pay to get them to move my dish so I can receive the channels I'm paying for.
- This isn't Dish specific. I don't get analog channels on my TVs that don't have set top boxes. I can connect each of my boxes to 2 TVs, but that leaves rooms without any TV capabilities. If I decide to move a TV between rooms, I pretty much have to call Dish to do the work, unless I can look up online how to swap the cables around outside my house.

 

[DougK62]

If your dish is dropping signal often it probably isn't aimed well. I've had Dish for about 6 years now and can count on one hand the times I've lost service, and it was always brief. Even in winter I don't clean it off and it'll still work fine with gobs of snow piled on it.

 

[bruceb]

I have Cablevision here in Wayne, NJ .. my bill for TV only (with IO Gold Channel Lineup) and 3 HD Cable Boxes runs about $120 per month. And now to top it all off, those bums decided to remove ESPN Classic (which was originally part of IO Gold) and move it into a new Sports Package (which I do not need, but do like ESPN classic) .. and of course the rates stayed the same. I had Direct TV a few years ago and I liked the picture. Very good. But here are the drawbacks:

Cost can be close to cable, depending on level, number & type of converter boxes.

It need a Telephone hookup at each box, if you intend to order Pay Per View, but you can also do that by buying the PPV on the DirectTV web site

Each needs a cable run to it from the Antenna LNB ... you can not run one cable into the home and then split it off. It will not work for Satellite service (DirectTV or Dish)

You need a DVR Type box if you intend to record off the Satellite signal. That TV would get 2 cables, as the box has 2 inputs to allow Taping 1 channel & watching another.

 

[boomerang]

josh, I'm in the same boat on the HD. Have you ever been to satelliteguys.us? What's being discussed over there is that Dish is charging people $15 to come out and rework their dishes to receive all the new HD. Supposedly they are contacting customers affected, but I have not been as of yet. http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/202795-statement-dish-not-getting-new-hd.html

Now, $15 is not a whole lot but I may fight that depending on the mood I'm in at that time. I am paying for those channels. It was not my decision to move content to a different bird, so IMO it should be Dish's responsibility to make that change at their expense. Like I said, If they contact me for the change and I've got an attitude going that day, I'll fight.

My understanding is that the best way to deal with Dish is a chat through their website. They know everything is documented and they seem to have their brightest people manning the chats.

For the OP, it sounds as though you've made a decision. Don't be concerned about weather related dropouts. Mine are few and far between and short in duration. If the dish is setup properly, they are not an issue. If you experience issues after the install call and they will come out and repeak your dish. They have a tendency to sag after the initial install.

 

[SViper]

WTF is Road Runner? Is that internet service of some kind?

RoadRunner is the name for Time Warner Cable's Internet service. They licensed the RoadRunner character from Warner Brothers to be the internet service mascot.

 

[Drako]

RoadRunner is the name for Time Warner Cable's Internet service. They licensed the RoadRunner character from Warner Brothers to be the internet service mascot.

That's just wrong :thumbsdown:

 

[theprodigalrebel]

boomerang, you're referring to the 129 orbital migration. There's been about a dozen new HD channel launches in 2010 that are currently only being broadcast on the 129 orbital. (Dish subscribers currently get HD off either 61.5 or 129, depending on their location) The long-term plan is to free up 61.5 and move everyone to 129. And there is no charge for it. Everyone with HD service will eventually be moved to 129. I think the problem might be if you haven't yet received the letter/email notification and call in earlier (because you heard about it elsewhere), your account isn't yet updated to reflect the eligibility for a free migration work order. It gets a bit complicated and I guess some agents can't adequately explain that to customers. In short, if you have Dish with SD+HD with a 2-Dish setup (110+119 & 61.5), you will eventually get migrated to a 110/119/129 single-dish setup regardless of warranty or committment and at no charge.

Unfortunately, it means you would be missing the new 2010 HD channel launches.

(I've been on vacation since late April so some things may have changed since then. It would still be a free migration. I will check that other forum once I can get to a computer. My phone's browser panics on non-mobile friendly sites)

 

[Gunslinger08]

boomerang, you're referring to the 129 orbital migration. There's been about a dozen new HD channel launches in 2010 that are currently only being broadcast on the 129 orbital. (Dish subscribers currently get HD off either 61.5 or 129, depending on their location) The long-term plan is to free up 61.5 and move everyone to 129. And there is no charge for it. Everyone with HD service will eventually be moved to 129. I think the problem might be if you haven't yet received the letter/email notification and call in earlier (because you heard about it elsewhere), your account isn't yet updated to reflect the eligibility for a free migration work order. It gets a bit complicated and I guess some agents can't adequately explain that to customers. In short, if you have Dish with SD+HD with a 2-Dish setup (110+119 & 61.5), you will eventually get migrated to a 110/119/129 single-dish setup regardless of warranty or committment and at no charge.

Unfortunately, it means you would be missing the new 2010 HD channel launches.

(I've been on vacation since late April so some things may have changed since then. It would still be a free migration. I will check that other forum once I can get to a computer. My phone's browser panics on non-mobile friendly sites)

Yeah, this is basically what I heard (I also read SatelliteGuys forums). I haven't been contacted yet and when I used their online chat, they were trying to charge me. I'll keep waiting, but what I read said it could be a while.

 

[boomerang]

boomerang, you're referring to the 129 orbital migration. There's been about a dozen new HD channel launches in 2010 that are currently only being broadcast on the 129 orbital. (Dish subscribers currently get HD off either 61.5 or 129, depending on their location) The long-term plan is to free up 61.5 and move everyone to 129. And there is no charge for it. Everyone with HD service will eventually be moved to 129. I think the problem might be if you haven't yet received the letter/email notification and call in earlier (because you heard about it elsewhere), your account isn't yet updated to reflect the eligibility for a free migration work order. It gets a bit complicated and I guess some agents can't adequately explain that to customers. In short, if you have Dish with SD+HD with a 2-Dish setup (110+119 & 61.5), you will eventually get migrated to a 110/119/129 single-dish setup regardless of warranty or commitment and at no charge.

Unfortunately, it means you would be missing the new 2010 HD channel launches.

(I've been on vacation since late April so some things may have changed since then. It would still be a free migration. I will check that other forum once I can get to a computer. My phone's browser panics on non-mobile friendly sites)

Ummm, I don't know how to say this, but I think you're a little off base. What about those customers on Eastern Arc? My understanding is that programming on 129 is going to be mirrored onto 72.7 although I believe there is an exception for one, or possibly two channels.

I have HD/SD now with a two dish setup. A dish 500 aimed at 110 and 119. I have a second dish aimed at 61.5. At this point in time I am not receiving all the HD I am paying for (although in reality, I don't really care). But what I need due to trees (or will need in the near future) is a single dish solution, in my case a 1000.4, Eastern Arc setup aimed at 61.5, 72.7 and 77. I will have a clear line of site forever under that setup. Right now, I highly doubt I could get 129 due to it being lower on the horizon due to the trees I have.

110/119/129 = Western Arc
61.5/72.7/77 = Eastern Arc

Although there are many areas of the country that can use either, Dish is trying to get consistent with setups based on geographical location whenever possible.

There are pricing changes coming June 3rd and I have not yet been able to figure out how they will affect me. This will be the second price increase this year for Dish. I do know I will be dropping some programming if this latest change increases my bill. Right now, it looks like I may actually save some money, but the wording on the increase is, as usual, ambiguous which makes it nearly impossible to figure out what's coming.

On a personal note, I will be coming off contract this August and will need to investigate what if anything I would gain by renewing.

The site I linked to earlier is where I get my information from. There is post after post of folks saying they are being charged $15 for the change.

I know I sometimes sound confrontational when I'm not trying to. Correct me if I'm wrong or add to it or whatever. I'm not jumping in your shit, just talking about what my understanding is. I'm not saying I'm right.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

you're right when you bring up Eastern Arc but I didn't bring that up to add any confusion and didn't want to needlessly complicate things but looks like you are an informed ATer Eastern Arc customers are a bit different because 72.7 and 77 only broadcast MPEG4 (both SD & HD) and that only works for customers with all MPEG4 receivers on their account (who currently are a small percentage of the overall customerbase). When the simulcast does start on 72.7/77, it wouldn't be a solution for most consumers because that would then require replacing all MPEG2 receivers with newer ones. The current migration doesn't affect Eastern Arc customers, only the 110/119/61.5 folks with SD+HD hardware.

Everything I've read so far suggests 61.5 won't be used for HD nationals in the long term. Then again, things do change.

If I missed something just let me know. I'm currently getting my brains scrambled at an outdoor shopping mall. In the mideast. And it's about 113F.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I have a HD DVR downstairs and DTV's standard box upstairs. How do i watch stuff from the DVR upstairs on the standard box?

Bob

If by "standard" you mean a non-DVR HD receiver, you need to contact DirecTV to have them enable the Whole-Home DVR. It'll cost you an extra 3 bucks a month.

If you mean non-HD receiver, you can't use the Whole-Home DVR service. You can't steam between an HD-DVR and non-HD receiver. It also only works with the H2X receiver models so those with older DTV HD-DVRs and receivers are sol.

btw, Whole-House DVR does not require that your DVRs are networked via ethernet cables. It also works using DECA/SWiM which streams through the DTV cables.

 

[cardiac]

If by "standard" you mean a non-DVR HD receiver, you need to contact DirecTV to have them enable the Whole-Home DVR. It'll cost you an extra 3 bucks a month.

If you mean non-HD receiver, you can't use the Whole-Home DVR service. You can't steam between an HD-DVR and non-HD receiver. It also only works with the H2X receiver models so those with older DTV HD-DVRs and receivers are sol.

btw, Whole-House DVR does not require that your DVRs are networked via ethernet cables. It also works using DECA/SWiM which streams through the DTV cables.

Thanks for all the info, guys. I have an old, non-HD, receiver in the bedroom, so that won't work.

I do have the HD-DVR hooked to a Linksys WR54G running Tomato as an access point so I can do On Demand movies, which is so cool. They have 1,000's of free movies on there. I set it up to D/L them at night and they are on the DVR ready to go....

Bob

 

[TangoJuliet]

Well, I just got off the phone with CrookVision and they wouldn't budge on the pricing. I told them I was going to get the 3 services for about $100/m and would prefer to stay with them if they would match the offer and they would not.

I said I would call back again to cancel the service as soon as I got DTV installed.

So here is the deal......

Going to go with the Choice Xtra DTV service and get 1 HD DVR and 1 HD receiver. Getting multi-room DVR service and STARZ for 3 months.

I am also getting $350 in gift cards to Best Buy (have to buy a HDTV from BBY to qualify) and another $100 for the "refer a friend" promo.

Then I am going to get Verizon's Double play Internet and phone service. The phone is a landline so no more of this VoIP crap. With my discount that package is going to run about $37/m.

All in all I am paying $97/m for exactly the same channels, 1 more cable box, a real phone and slightly downgraded internet service and I am saving $70/m. I also can cancel my Tivo service as the multi-room DVR will take care of that. (So a total of $82/m in savings)

 

[disappoint]

DirectTv will supposedly be the first to offer EPSN3D June 11th if that matters to you.

 

[boomerang]

Well, I just got off the phone with CrookVision and they wouldn't budge on the pricing. I told them I was going to get the 3 services for about $100/m and would prefer to stay with them if they would match the offer and they would not.

I said I would call back again to cancel the service as soon as I got DTV installed.

So here is the deal......

Going to go with the Choice Xtra DTV service and get 1 HD DVR and 1 HD receiver. Getting multi-room DVR service and STARZ for 3 months.

I am also getting $350 in gift cards to Best Buy (have to buy a HDTV from BBY to qualify) and another $100 for the "refer a friend" promo.

Then I am going to get Verizon's Double play Internet and phone service. The phone is a landline so no more of this VoIP crap. With my discount that package is going to run about $37/m.

All in all I am paying $97/m for exactly the same channels, 1 more cable box, a real phone and slightly downgraded internet service and I am saving $70/m. I also can cancel my Tivo service as the multi-room DVR will take care of that. (So a total of $82/m in savings)

Sounds good. It's always good to shop around from time to time IMO. Sorry for kind of hijacking your thread too.

 

[zebano]

I have DTV and their promo deal was great, but the second year isn't. That said their service & signal are excellent but their DVR boxes leave a little to be desired. They are very unresponsive and have actually gotten slower/less usable (I had one fail and the replacement has more disk space but lags more and lacks features the old had).

 

[TangoJuliet]

DirectTv will supposedly be the first to offer EPSN3D June 11th if that matters to you.

nice. new hdtv will be 3d capable (55lx9500).

 

[Fingolfin269]

I've had DTV for almost a year now. The only time it has crapped out due to weather was during the torrential downpour that hit middle TN a couple of weeks ago. You may have heard about that weather but to put it in other terms... it took a storm of epic proportions to block my DTV signal.

(For what it's worth, I also faced skyrocketing Comcast cable bills and that's what helped make me decide to switch.)

 

[Zee]

That's just wrong :thumbsdown:

time warner.... OWNS warner bros

 

[BoomerD]

I had a fellow try to tell me that AT&T's Uverse is provided through DirecTV. Anyone else heard of such a thing? (DTV's satellites and earth receivers, channeled into AT&T's systems.)

He claims that one of the AT&T reps told him this when they were trying to sign him up for the service.

I'm skeptical, but wouldn't be totally surprised if it were true.

 

[SViper]

time warner.... OWNS warner bros

I stand corrected. Time Warner does own Warner Brothers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros