Technical > Cable & Satellite TV > [DISH] How about Dish Network HD vs. DirecTV?

[DISH] How about Dish Network HD vs. DirecTV?

well, if you don't have either right now, it would be difficult to tell you to go with dish network especially if you have high def tvs. They also have more sports coverage if your into that. I'd say go with directv.
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Lets go Giants!!

reply to jimmiew
Yep, I have DirecTV now but want to upgrade to HD. DTV packages are more expensive than Dish and plus they want $299 for the HD receiver upgrade.

Both companies give better deals to new customers....so that's probably why I'll be going back to Dish after 3 yrs with DTV. For a $49.99 install fee I don't even have to make a time commitment....but they refund the $49.99 for a 18 month commitment. I'm fishing for someone who has Dish HD or DTV HD and is happy with it.....thanks!

reply to jimmiew
I'm in the same boat as you. I've been with DirecTV for almost a decade. I am one of the suckers that paid for one of the older HD receivers. It's a damn shame that DirecTV won't offer their current subscribers newer HD receivers for free. I know some have managed to get freebies by calling retentions. But, old-timers shouldn't have to beg. DirecTV should just offer the deals to us.

So, I'm seriously looking into switching to Dish. It's a big plus that they offer more Greek channels.

reply to jimmiew
well, i've been with directv for 7 years. I called up a couple of weeks ago and said I wanted to cancel, and I'm getting the HD DVR and standard HD receiver plus three standard receivers for my three standard tv's all without extra charge and waived shipping. Yeah, I know, you shouldn't have to beg, but they are willing to do it. Why let it slip away.
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Lets go Giants!!

reply to jimmiew

reply to jackknife
jimmiew,Jacknife
Yep, I have DirecTV now but want to upgrade to HD. DTV packages are more expensive than Dish and plus they want $299 for the HD receiver upgrade.
really that much? dang i would have thought they would have sent you a regular reciever-H20/600 with a converter on it to get the HD channel,
wow thing are sure changing fast @ DTV,
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hello obeythelaw hope your having a good day SIR.

jazzy

Same to you!

reply to jimmiew
I had had Dish Network for years 7 or 9 years I cannot remember which . I converted to HDTV a little over 2 years ago . Which required upgrading all of my equipment it was an nightmare got conflicting stories . At first they want to put up 2 dishes one to the east and one to the south . Then the 1000 system dish came out and they put it up and an new HD receiver . The install was extremely poor and not pointed correct had 2 service calls over it (I would loose one satellite's signal real easy ). End of this summer they demanded for me to sign a 18 month contract to allow me to lease their receiver.Since I owned my equipment I was really upset that the current receiver would no longer get the whole HD pack. I got in a heated argument with a real hard ass company rep and canceled service.To prove they were the boss they made me remove my antenna from the roof and return it since they said it wasn't really mine(the dish got upgrade at my expense twice over the years at one of the 2 upgrades the equipment became property of Dish Network ) .Upon removing the dish I found my reception problem was that all pointing adjustments lock hardware was missing or loose (they pointed it and walked away ) . Went with a local cable company .
You can have problems with any company Dish is just another big company with all the usually problems.
The biggest thing about HDTV is the problem of the lack of programing or channels . Then the channels mix non HD programing into their channel. I hate it when they stretch the show to fit the screen . My joke is that if one of these super thin actress saw themselves stretch it kill them .
To sum it up I notice the new Direct TV add promising 100 channels around New years now that's promising if true .

reply to jimmiew
I have been with Dish Network for about 3 weeks. I don't know what the argument has been on the HD content because Dish has MUCH more content than they even advertised before I committed with them. I get HBO, Cinemax, Starz,TMC, etc. ALL in true HD. I get all the standard HD channels such as HistoryHD, TLC, A&E, etc. as well. There is nothing missing that anyone would want.
My bottom line is that there is not much difference between the 2 at all. I think it boils down to the luck of the draw with your individual installer. They are "private contractors" and some are good and others terrrible.

Maybe so! I would like to see the VERY latest HD line-up from each because like I said -- there is MUCH more HD content offered on Dish than even they advertised a month ago. I'm not "thrilled" having 2 HD receivers working 4 separate Tv's -- but so far, I have not had any "buggy" problems.

reply to jimmiew
What I am saying about the lack of programing is you have to pay for the whole HBO package and you get one HD channel . Same with all the premium channels .Then you pay for a HD package. Dish was also charging me for the Voom HD package.The rest of the programing is digital. So you paid thousands for a HD setup with about 30 HD channels to watch for about 120 + $ per month . Which you seen most of it in standard definition. So you watching HD reruns. That's what I talking about lack of programing. Direct is saying 100 HD channels by New Years if they live up to that that's a good amount.Also Dish use to not have a contract but now you signed a 18 month long one now .So you best be happy with what you selected . Think Direct doing the same thing. I was told they are requiring the 18 month contract because soon we be able to select what channels we want in HD off the internet for a fee . This is why they want you locked in with that contract . I hoping in the future to select my personal channel pack I could delete all sports music cartoons and religious channels this would allow me to be able to afford all the movie channels .

Well, with my local HD's and Sports -- it's more like 50+ HD channels. I would like to see a side-by-side comparison of the actual HD channels for both. I'm betting the "extra" HD channels from Direct are pretty superfluous.

reply to jimmiew
Let me get this straight you had Dish for 3 weeks . And you running down Direct ? So you got it all figured out In 21 days ? I got regular HD cable now which leaves a lot to be desired so don't get any ideas I pushing Direct. I just trying to give someone a straight answer about satellite TV between to companies.

I'm not running down Direct at all -- I'm just saying that I don't think Direct is THAT much ahead of Dish. This forum seems to be DirectTV heavy -- that's all. I'm just sayin' that maybe the Direct fans are not aware completely of exactly what Dish is offering.

Here's a rough list of what's NOT available on DISH that DirecTV currently has:

CNN
USA
Sci-Fi
FX
MGM
Smithsonian
Bravo
Cartoon Network
CNBC
Fox Business
The Weather Channel
Starz Kids/Family
Starz Comedy
Starz Edge
Showtime Too
The Movie Channel East
Speed

DISH currently has some FSNs (Regional Sports) that D* does not, and DirecTV has some (like YES) that DISH doesn't.

DISH has the VOOM channels, D* doesn't. (Note: some of these might not be VOOM related - but D* doesn't have them anyway)
Animania HD
Equator HD
Family Room HD
Film Fest HD
GamePlay HD
Gallery HD
HDNews
Kung Fu HD
Monsters HD
Rave HD
Rush HD
Treasure HD
Ultra HD
World Cinema HD
WorldSport HD

Hope that helps.

reply to jimmiew
In 2009 if the FCC sticks to its gun this time.....

It will be irelevant.... as even though like cable sat will not ne REQUIRED to ditch ANALOG/SD TV but the WILL because they finally CAN have the excuse to do so.

This will free up HUGE amounts of space for mor ED/HD TV, and like the phonecompany LONG charging for touch tone service, realized it was costing them much more to maintain and even expand old physical pulse switches vs just making touch tome the standard.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)

I just spoke with a Dish retailer and he said Dish currently has 50-some channels and is pushing to get to 80-some by yearend. Not as high a # as D* but I can only watch one at a time so if I get the quality channels from Dish at a lower price then I may have my answer. This is a great forum! Thanks to you all for your input thus far....and in the future. Will the following comment (fact?) make a difference to my HD viewing experience? i.e. will I be able to see the difference between 1440x1080 and 1920x1080?

"In addition DirecTV is only putting 4 MPEG4 channels per transponder (Dish Network does 6 per transponder at 1440x1080) DirecTV will be doing 4 per transponder at 1920x1080. (The 720p channels will be at full resolution which is 1280x720)"