Dish TV, suggestions?

[moparguy]

Well after years of living with the local broadcast stations, I'm considering going to a dish.



We're mainly interested in RFD type programing, hunting, camping, western movies, the classic movies from the 50's through the 70's, and country music. Financial news, Fox and CNN.



A basic package that included the above would be great.



Thanks for any suggestions.



RJR

 

[GFrance]

We just went back to direct tv. Had it years ago but could'nt get the local networks. Now you can get the local networks in most areas. Cable was $60. 00 a month for the same thing I'm paying $39. 95 for. Plus I got a new dish & reciever & I'm useing are old dish in the 5vr.



You can go to www.directtv.com or www.dishnetwork.com see what kind of package fits your needs.

 

[Headshot zod]

I'm going with this service. Voom TV. I haven't watched network TV since 1991 and dumped cable back in 1997. You don't need an HDTV to watch it but it helps.

 

[GFritsch]

we have used Direct T. V. for last 4 years. We have zero problems. I would recommend it. I have not checked out Voom yet, but if it is high def I would be very intersted.



Headshot zod, do you need additional equipment, or just a high def t. v. and their satellite box? What channels are available in HDTV?



Thanks for any input. I will check out the link you posted.



Greg

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Honestly, only you can determine which one to go with. Decide what you want as far as service goes - the number of TV's you want to hook up, the basic channel line up that you want, and whether you want DVR or TiVO (I HIGHLY recommend it). Then look at the different providers and what they are offering as far as installation and monthly rates go. I talked with a number of people that used all the different providers and everyone was happy with their service (sure can't say the same about cable companies). I went with Dish Network based on what I wanted. We have 3 tv's on our system. Two of them run off of a DVR base station. I went with their America's top 180 channel lineup plus HBO and Cinemax and local channels. At the time I was buying Dish Network was slightly cheaper than DirecTV based on what I was looking for (like $2/month I think) but they were offering the DVR equipment plus installation for free which would have cost $300 from DirecTV. As said above I'd highly recommend going with either DVR or TiVO (depending on who's system you go with). 95% of my tv watching is off of the DVR. I just set it to record all the shows I like to watch and I can watch them any time I feel like it.

 

[catoiler]

I just got Direct tv and it came with 4 rooms,TiVo,DVD,and showtime and cinemax for 3 months and it cost $54. 00 a month and $65. 00 upfront for the TiVo. Cable was $80. 00 a month for the same thing without the TiVo or the 2 pay channels. And it is going up after the first of the year!

 

[Headshot zod]

certainly worth looking into............

I was looking at their PDF files on how to install their equipment. Their box has a standard video out in adddition to s-video and HD. They have 21 HD only channels that only their service offers. I would check first that you can view them through the other Non HD outputs. Their standard service "Voom" is like a decent basic cable service with their 21 extra channels. And "Va-Va-Voom" is the full blown service. I think its 39. 00 and 79 . 00 a month for each service. I don't have a need for the premium pay channels since they rarely play "letterboxed" movies. But if you are thinking about HD



Since I really don't know how much their equipment is compared to direct and dishnetwork you'll have to compare. There are several ways of getting their equipment. Buy it up front or rent. I think you can see the service at Sears of all places. I'm looking at it when I go back to work. And if the HD works through the non-HD outputs, I think its the sharp call until I get an HD setup. Unfortunately I thought I could cheat and run the HD to my 24" computer monitor because they have HDTV cards for pc's..... but they only work with local broadcast signals

 

[Patriot Diesel]

What Steve said is exactly what we did too. We switched from DirecTV to DISH because of the fantastic deal that Dish Network was offering on the DVR (similar to TIVO).



We set the DVR to record all of our shows and then watch them when we have time. I would feel lost without my DVR now... we love it.



I had great luck with DirecTV also... we just switched because of the offer DISH had at the time.

Honestly, only you can determine which one to go with. Decide what you want as far as service goes - the number of TV's you want to hook up, the basic channel line up that you want, and whether you want DVR or TiVO (I HIGHLY recommend it). Then look at the different providers and what they are offering as far as installation and monthly rates go. I talked with a number of people that used all the different providers and everyone was happy with their service (sure can't say the same about cable companies). I went with Dish Network based on what I wanted. We have 3 tv's on our system. Two of them run off of a DVR base station. I went with their America's top 180 channel lineup plus HBO and Cinemax and local channels. At the time I was buying Dish Network was slightly cheaper than DirecTV based on what I was looking for (like $2/month I think) but they were offering the DVR equipment plus installation for free which would have cost $300 from DirecTV. As said above I'd highly recommend going with either DVR or TiVO (depending on who's system you go with). 95% of my tv watching is off of the DVR. I just set it to record all the shows I like to watch and I can watch them any time I feel like it.