DISH or DIRECTV (live, prices, vs)

[HTPR]

Hi all! I live over on the west side in Estrella. With new rate hike from COX, think it's time to make a switch, especially due to the less than poor HD lineup.

So any of you that have either of the two satelites, can I get some feedback on which one is better, or why you picked one over the other?? Thanks so much for the help.

Rod

[observer53]

I "picked" DirecTV due to the bundling with Qwest. I just got a notice that they are raising rates too. I've been happy with the service, though.

[khuntrevor]

Dish is cheaper. Both, are good. I wonder if they still have the landline requirement?

[Beware_of_Dog]

I just Friday called my Direct TV customer service department. Told them I was changing to Dish Network because they are cheaper and I want the newest DVR equipment. They immediately lowered my rate of $108 per month down to $68 and are sending a service guy out Monday to update my receivers for no cost. They said it was because I was a long time premium customer and they don't want to lose my business. They said if I call back every 6 months they will make sure I keep the lower rate or give me an even lower one if their rates come down at all. Sounded like a good deal, plus I love the NFL package which no one else has.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by khuntrevor

Dish is cheaper. Both, are good. I wonder if they still have the landline requirement?

DISH figured out that DirectTV didn't care about plugging into a land-line. Therefore they dropped that requirement because they lost customers.

For vidiophiles, DISH does compress the HD channels a little more so it's "softer" (due to compression). But the GUI (Graphical User Interface) and user friendliness on the DISH is nicer IMHO.

Direct TV is also fighting to steal customers from DISH and their retention department hates the other guy. So use it to your advantage. DISH did a preemptive strike and offered some discounts if you agree to a 2 year extension (free 3 month movie package and dropping the $10 HD fee per month). Of course they now "own you" if they have a price hike.

That's more info than you wanted but I play the game to get the best rates.

[dasmin5]

Years ago I was more of a Dish Fan. But I will always go with Direct now because I like their programming better.. When we lost Direct not to long ago we settled for Dish again, and I was like they still have the same boxes, we had in 2002. When we move in March, we are definitely going back to Direct. But the other poster is right Dish is cheaper. But I will go with the higher because it has the channels that we like: I like TV One, MTv's, BET's, The WORD network,etc. And Dish didn't have these and still don't. In 2002, they had a kind of tech channel on Dish called CCCSAT/CCN, and that was the main reason I got it,since I am a techie person, and then that channel went away.

Ridah Gee

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by khuntrevor

Dish is cheaper. Both, are good. I wonder if they still have the landline requirement?

Haven't had landline with dish in over ten years?

[lilsprstr]

We've had Dish Network for 8 years and have been happy with it. Whenever I've compared prices, it's always been cheaper than Directv.

[Ponderosa]

I was just pricing Dish vs Directv and noticed that Dish has a limit of only 3 HD sets. Is that right?

[Luckylady3]

I went back to Cox. I couldn't stand the DVR options with Dish!