Dish Network is it OK

[hammersley]

Thoughts on Dish Network - we have Comcast and it's getting more and more expensive... ... . I had heard some issues with Dish - i,e, getting in touch of anybody for service once you have it..... any issues... .

 

[GHarman]

I've had dish network for almost 13 years. They are best dealt with during regular business hours, when you have problems. They route after hours issues to the Phillipines. I politely refuse to give out personal information and wait until Monday or the following business day. All that being said, other than keeping the snow off the dish, changes in cloud cover density and poor DVR longevity, it has been a very reliable TV service. Far superior to Comcast. My Mom has Comcast, down in town. It is not reliable and has outages, often, for no apparent reason. GregH

 

[Jim W]

I have had Dish Network for 10 years now. At home I have had no real problems with the service, cheaper then Comcast. We have the full package of 250 channels to watch, mainly for History International and all of the Discovery channel along with all of the sport channels. Premium channels and movies are extra, such as HBO.



I am thinking of changing to Direct TV. We have had issues with the Dish Network when camping, I have a satellite dish and receiver box in the 5er. We have had programming issues with Dish when we are on the road. We usually end up calling Dish to have them restart the programming on the RV box every time we go out.

I pay a monthly $5. extra fee for the additional box on the account, but they usually stop the programming on the extra box do to the interrupted service and no phone line on the extra box.

Jim

 

[hammersley]

I had forgot about Firect TV.....

I don't have any reception issues - we happen to live in Comcasts Home - the Portland Oregon Area, so we have all the New Bells and Whistles... . and when I call somebody at anytime of the night I usually receive somebody in town - NEVER in Outer Mongolia - BUT - we have DVD's and HD on 2 sets and TV in 3 areas - actually 5 BUT I don't watch TV in my shop or garage anymore... ... SO what I need is how do they provide service to the other rooms? Can they use my existing wires in my walls?

 

[GHarman]

How old are the co-ax cable running through the walls? If you want premium services, like HD, etc. That could require a rewire? (Unless you have the latest and greatest tech in coaxial cable?) Its very simple unless the Co-ax cables you presently have were installed, inside the walls, when the house was built. If you have exposed wiring with simple pass throughs, no big deal. Mine was old and installed inside the walls. It was abandon in place and a new wiring system was installed on the wall, outside, with simple pass throughs. The best way to find out would be to call and talk to a rep. GregH

 

[CAPTPHIL]

Have had DISH for 5 years. Great service, they just up graded my antenna free and they keep me up graded with latest equip. . I live in 35ft. fiver in RV park and learned the call in during normal working hours trick after first call. I am well pleased with them.
Capt Phil

 

[BimmerAgent]

DirecTV

Just switched from Dish to Direc when Dish wouldn't deal on price. Cut my fee in half and got more channels at the same time. Very satisfied. Bruce

 

[Bill Lins]

We've been with Dish for about 10 years- no problems with service or support. They have had to replace our DVR twice now but did so without a hassle. I know a number of people around here with Direct & none of them are pleased. Channels such as Speed & NFL are premium on Direct but included in our package with Dish.

 

[TboneMan]

I've had Directv for 16 years. I wouldn't connect to cable if they paid me (well maybe if they paid me a lot of money).



Anyway, there was some talk a while back on some techie forums about the technology differences between Dish and Direct. As I remember, Direct compressed the signal far less than Dish allowing for greater quality. Do a bit of research before making the leap.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

We've been with Dish for about five years and no complaints. They just recently replaced the DVDR's (2) and some cable re-routing in the attic to add 5th TV... cost me $15. 00. Prior to having Dish we were on Directv and I wasn't real pleased with their customer service.

 

[2Rowdy]

I had dish for years, 2 hd and 2 dvr's no problems what so ever. I got a divorce and now I only have regular over the air tv. I went got a HD amplified antenna that hangs on the wall and I recieve all the local programming and in HD when broadcast that way.

 

[Harlacher]

I have had Dish and Direct TV and as far as I am concerned service for both is horrible. They always want to charge more, sneak in additional options that show up on the bill. If you watch your bill and stand your ground it will work out OK. I do loose reception with dish when it storms out. HD goes first then the rest follows.

 

[GHarman]

I know about that billing stuff. However, they ALL do that! I just had a $100 charge against my Dish bill for "unreturned equipment"! We got that corrected, straight away! I always read my bills and challenge anything I did not agree to or dont understand. Thats just good management practice. GregH

 

[GHarman]

6 of one and half dozen of the other

Consider that Charlie Ergan owns both Dish and Direct TV.

It really depends on your needs and reception. We do not get good reception with the new HD conversion boxes and antenna. Even in the direct path of the transmitting antenna, at my Moms place. It was worse than the old rabbit ears with the tinfoil on the tips to enhance reception:-laf. While I do not care for the price of the satelite services, what few issues we have had have been managed successfully. Mostly I watch local news/weather and an occasional movie, the History Channel and the Military channel and Science Channel throughout the month. The best decision for you is the one that works for you. If it doesnt work, get rid of it! GregH

 

[BoeingDiesel]

I have had Dish and Direct TV and as far as I am concerned service for both is horrible. They always want to charge more, sneak in additional options that show up on the bill. If you watch your bill and stand your ground it will work out OK. I do loose reception with dish when it storms out. HD goes first then the rest follows.

Hmmm... I have my wife take care of the misc. bills... maybe i better have a look at the next statement.

 

[Skydiver]

Had Direct, have Dish.
Dish is a little harder to set up the antenna if you are camping. From what I understand now with dish, the phone line has to no longer remain connected. Lots of folks no longer own a phone line. I still do.
With todays technology it is possible to run all communication siginals through one wire. Phone line would be my choice since it never fails. Well almost never. It's all a racket. I'm paying $240 for month for 2 (no internet) cell phones verizon, ATT house phone with 6. 0 internet hook up included. Somethings got to go.

 

[BullyDogJason]

I used to work fir direct. now i have two dish dvrs. i have no complaints with them at all

 

[Makensmoke]

I have had direc tv for 11 years with no problems. I have known people with Dish and don't care for the menu's so I have always thought I was one up on them?

I have known people with Comcast as well and have heard complaints from them, but it could just be venting.

 

[SOLER]

I am thinking of changing to Direct TV. We have had issues with the Dish Network when camping, I have a satellite dish and receiver box in the 5er. We have had programming issues with Dish when we are on the road. We usually end up calling Dish to have them restart the programming on the RV box every time we go out. Jim

Same issue here, though I wouldn't necessarily call it an issue. I used to complain about it needing to be plugged into the phone line all the time, since I didn't have a phone line in the tv room. Recently I moved, and when they set it up they gave me an e-z jack, which is a wireless phone line deal. Works great. All receivers need to be plugged in and turned on regularly to receive the updates. I'd take the box out of the RV and set it up real quick at home before you take off. Better than being on the road and trying to call cust. serv. in the middle of nowhere trying to get it to work. Better to take a known-working box on the road. Helps eliminate possible problems when you're setting up camp.



I've had Dish for 12 or 13 years, and have no large complaints with them. It in nice to take the extra box camping. Well, it's not really camping anymore



SOLER

 

[The patriot]

We finally got rid of comcast about 2 yrs ago.

The TV portion was OK other than the bill was getting high, we had high speed internet with them also. When the internet went down(Often) it was down for a week at a time.

Dont miss the comie cast at all.

I do wish the DSL that we have now was a little faster.

I cant wait until FIOS is in the area.