Thinking of Dish vs Direct TV

[bend302]

[QUOTE=Jimmerinwi;728144]I believe from my days as a dish technician, your DVR needs a signal from the satellite in order to watch the stuff on your dvr. May have changed in recent years but you couldn't watch the dvr without a signal a few years ago. Jmo

When a storm moves through our area and I lose the satellites, the screen says you can watch prerecorded TV shows. Which we occasionally do.

Bill

[KennyGolub]

I"ve had DTV at home for several years now. You can't beat the ability to record up to 6 channels at the same time. ANY channel. Their customer service has always been great for me.

However, for the camper, I use DISH. You can do it monthly without a contract.

Ken

[indybp57]

I've been a DTV customer for about 15 years now. Customer service is excellent. Don't let anyone discourage you based on rain-fade. It rarely happens, at least in the Midwest, and when it does only last for a few minutes. I've heard that Dish customer service is not that great, but have no personal experience to base that on.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by indybp57

I've been a DTV customer for about 15 years now. Customer service is excellent. Don't let anyone discourage you based on rain-fade. It rarely happens, at least in the Midwest, and when it does only last for a few minutes. I've heard that Dish customer service is not that great, but have no personal experience to base that on.

Been wish dish since it's inception and had no bad customer service.

Equipment has always performed great.

Correct on rain fade never longer then ten minutes and that's usually big storms rolling thru not just rain.

only big issue I ever had with dish is when they dropped program services that the Hawkeyes were playing on.

They refunded $15.00 a mo. Until programming dispute was figured out.

Turbs

[ironj]

11 yrs on dish for me...somewhere in there we tried (in no particular order) direct (was fine, but in the end more expensive for the programming we wanted) NTS Direct Fiber Optic Cable (kinda cool, but we didn't feel the 1080p/I quality was as good as dish) Uverse (was ok, but more expensive in the end) and suddenlink most recently. (still had to have dish or dtv for trailer, so kinda moot point)

I have 11 tuners (7 physical boxes) in my home right now, and for the most part never a problem with any...the hard drives on the old 612 boxes stink ...

I have both a tailgaiter AND a full size dish 500 for camping, as the tailgaiter can only run ONE box and pick up ONE satellite at a time. Usually this is fine, but for big family gatherings or when I got all the kids and in laws with me I like to have multiple boxes for sanitys sake...(if my father in law puts my outside tv to freaking cnn ONE MORE TIME while im watching a game its gonna get ugly! LOL)

since I have dish at home already, taking it on the road costs nada, but is worth its weight in gold!

[Toby]

I have worked with both Direct TV and Dish Network. I think Dish has a better DVR but Direct is a close second. I've had small gliches with both provider with my equipment and in all cases customer service handled appropriately. The difference for me is that Direct TV not only renewed my contract without telling me but told me on multiple phone calls that I was not renewing. It was only when I tried to shut the service off that they coughed up that small detail. Needless to say that alone is reason enough for me to go with Dish Network next round. Direct TV has also dumbed down their NFL Sunday Ticket package to multiple tiers which I don't like.

[TURBS]

Speaking of service.

DO NOT buy dish networks service plan!

If something goes wrong then add it at that time.

You have to carry the protection for 6 mo. Then you can cancel it again.

I've done this numerous times with no problems!

Also, when your contract is up with dish it's just "up"
You'll have to renew if you change services or equipment for another two years.

Just an fyi!

Turbs

[lbrjet]

I turn on my 211Z receiver without the cable attached, after a few minutes get a complete signal loss error message and then the DVR is available. It even gives you a message that you can watch shows on your DVR. If the cable is attached then can't get to the DVR without first connecting to a least one satellite.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Dudley6911]

It seems that dish network cannot get local channels if 150 miles from zip you gave them in activation. They say use over air antenna. I've been camping twice and can't get a single channel from the antenna. Any suggestions?

[ironj]

yup, they use spotbeam for the locals, and its location sensitive. you CAN call and have your home zip changed, but in my experience its more of a pain than its worth if you have dish at home.


If I want the locals where im at, I just run up my anteanna and turn on the amp....but yes, if your in the mts or way out in no where you may not get locals that way either...


but those are your two options for locals change your home zip, or try your amplified antenna....


the third and final option you MAY have is this....if you have cell service AND a way to use the dish sling feature, you can sling your home locals to your tv via your phone/pad....


that's all I got.....

[lbrjet]

Call Dish and tell them you are traveling and need to have your service address changed. Then remind them to update your locals to where you are. It is actually a two step process on their part. Put the guide on low numbers and you can see the old locals disappear and the new ones come in. Then you have to reboot the dish (change state if necessary) to bring in the new locals guide data. Keep in mind that this will also change your locals at home so if you are using your DVR at home then you will miss shows. We use our tailgater at home as well as on the road so this is not a problem for us. For others it is.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[bend302]

We have Dish at home and a tailgater and receiver we keep in the motor home

When we are going to be in the same location for a week or more, I simply call dish customer service and tell them I am traveling with a tailgater and would like locals where I am. Never been a problem.

Also, I can search for local digital channels picked up by my antenna. I have done that a few times with reasonble success. Have done that when staying only one or two nights rather than calling Dish.

Bill

[lbrjet]

I don't care if it is just an overnight stop. I call them and get the locals. Don't even put up my antenna anymore. I have found it is easiest to call in the morning and give them the address where I am going that day. I make sure the locals change and then pack up the dish. Then when I get to my new location the locals are ready to go when I set everything up. I did this at least 30 times on our Arizona to Maine and back trip this summer.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[lin164]

I have had Dish for about two years; works like a charm...no problems. Especially like the "no contract" component as well as the pause phase. Approximately $5.00 per month when the system is idle; once on road, I unpause the system.

[Fred and Christine]

I had DTV for the past 5 years and loved it at home. Wanted to get a satellitefor the RV and DTV doesn’t offer HD on an automatic Satellite. Last week at theAlameda County RV show the Dish TV rep made me an offer I couldnt refuse. Thispast weekend we watched the NFL divisional play offs and the picture wasFANTASTIC i think my picture at home is better too. Very happy with DISH.

[Toby]

If it matters any...I finally got the right person on the phone who did confirm that after actually verifying that my contract was indeed invalid so I am finally without a satellite system. The hardware shipped out already.


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