Dish Network vs DirectTV ???

[avholics]

I'm looking for an unbiased review and comparison between the 2 satellite providers.

Has anyone done deep reviews and analysis or can point me to any site that has these findings. I'm particularly interested in.

* Quality of Program Contents, HD vs Standard. Digital signal (MPEG-4 vs ???)
* Quantity of Prams Contents. # of HD programs offer. Local HD, etc.
* Hardware (DVR, Dish Installation)
* Customer Service
* Price and Value

Thanks for any response.

 

[majorloser]

I don't know where you can find a comparison, but I've had Dish Network HD for about 4 years with no problems. I have the Americas 180 package with the full HD package, including local channels. The receiver is the ViP 211 with the RF remote kit.

 

[Geno]

Kind of a Toss-UP, depending...

I think Consumer Reports did a comparison on them awhile back. They essentially came to the conclusion that they were pretty much the same with the exception that Dish had a better HD package (they acquired the defunct VOOM network), while Direct TV had a little better sports package. I personally looked at both of them pretty hard and chose Dish because of the Hi Def offerings. Their HD lineup (29 channels) is sent out with Dolby Digital sound, and is quite good, IMHO.

They both have pretty good sign-up package deals from time to time, so see which one is offering the best deal in your area.

 

[bandit]

I've had both.... and I feel that they were more or less equal as far as programming, ease of use etc... I haven't had the opportunity to trade off one of my older tv/monitors in favor of HD yet though... (someday soon I hope)
I do have something I'd like to comment on customer service though... when I had decided to change from DirectTV to Dish... I needed to at some point cancel my service with DirecTV. This process pretty much wrecked about 3 of my evenings trying to accomplish. They kept transfering me around... as if NO one had ever cancelled their service before. Eventually.. I got on a recording - you know the one - "our calls will be taken in the order they were recieved, thank you for your patience, and we will be with you shortly" After I'd sat their for approximetly 2 hours - the message suddenly changed. It said - "our office is now closed, please try again another time"... GGGGGRRRRRRRRR I felt that was absolutely ridicilous... I finally got it cancelled the next night... but all in all not a pleasant experience.

Bandit.

 

[Bigsilvs]

I've had both.... and I feel that they were more or less equal as far as programming, ease of use etc... I haven't had the opportunity to trade off one of my older tv/monitors in favor of HD yet though... (someday soon I hope)
I do have something I'd like to comment on customer service though... when I had decided to change from DirectTV to Dish... I needed to at some point cancel my service with DirecTV. This process pretty much wrecked about 3 of my evenings trying to accomplish. They kept transfering me around... as if NO one had ever cancelled their service before. Eventually.. I got on a recording - you know the one - "our calls will be taken in the order they were recieved, thank you for your patience, and we will be with you shortly" After I'd sat their for approximetly 2 hours - the message suddenly changed. It said - "our office is now closed, please try again another time"... GGGGGRRRRRRRRR I felt that was absolutely ridicilous... I finally got it cancelled the next night... but all in all not a pleasant experience.

Bandit.

I have had Directv for well over one year now. I have contacted customer service on several occasions with questions and some changes in my programing. Out of all those times, the longest I was ever on hold was around 3 minutes. I remember reading Consumer Reports a while back and they rated Directv the best customer service out of all Satellite and Cable providers in the U.S.

One thing I don't like about Directv, as stated in another thread, they do not offer any deals on equipment or programming for current subscribers. Once in a while you will get a free premium channel for a week, but other satellite and cable providers do the same thing.

Directv just came out with a new HD Dish (which picks up local HD channels) and a new HDDVR receiver in my area, that I would have to pay full price for them because I am already a subscriber...I don't know if this differs from other providers though.

As far as HD channels goes for Directv, I still do not get WGN HD or FSN HD...

 

[annunaki]

I have heard Dish Network is way ahead of Direct in terms of MPEG-4 capable units and number of satellites in orbit. They also use less compression for normal transmission. Most of this info was coming from a Dish Network distributor.

 

[sholling]

I don't know if they still do this but when I signed up with Dish though Samsclub there was no contract. Sam's didn't officially sell HD at the time but a little sweet talk and the sales girl made some calls and a week later I had HD service with all the discounts and without a contract.

 

[bandit]

Bigsilvs -

I too had had no problem with DirectTV's customer service - until it was time to pull the plug. Then NO ONE in customer service could do that. I finally had some manager do it after I told them I am not making any more calls to cancel this and I won't be paying the bill any longer. They were great until I wanted to cancel them...

 

[Geno]

I feel your pain with the bit about not giving current subscribers any of the upgrade deals offered to new customers. I called Dish and asked them if I had to switch to Direct TV in order to get the HD upgraded receiver and program package. They gave me the deal. Worth the try