Comments on: DIRECTV vs Dish Network http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/ Technology Reviews and Perspectives Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:18:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Regina http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1342 Regina Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:54:59 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1342 I have had both and they seem the same. No matter what package, with either company, you end up with 75% of channels you never watch anyways. Seems like dozens of infomercial channels alone. You see the great deal and by the time you get your first bill, it's a lot bigger than what the deal said because of all the fees for all the little things. Directv seemed to go 'offline' a lot more than Dish. Dish customer service was always more friendly and helpful then Directv's customer service. I did like how easy it was to operate the features of the Dish setup (dvr, remote, etc). Directv is not as user friendly. I have had both and they seem the same. No matter what package, with either company, you end up with 75% of channels you never watch anyways. Seems like dozens of infomercial channels alone. You see the great deal and by the time you get your first bill, it’s a lot bigger than what the deal said because of all the fees for all the little things. Directv seemed to go ‘offline’ a lot more than Dish. Dish customer service was always more friendly and helpful then Directv’s customer service. I did like how easy it was to operate the features of the Dish setup (dvr, remote, etc). Directv is not as user friendly.

]]> By: Tom http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1081 Tom Wed, 27 Apr 2011 06:39:45 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1081 There are some pretty dumb comments on here. As an electrical engineer, I can tell you point blank that Directv is BY FAR a superior satellite service. Dish is pretty much the trailer park version of satellite services. Here are some key reasons why? 1. Directv has more satellites in orbit (5) than Dish Network. This allows for more HD channels and a broader spot beams or footprint to earth. Also, Dish only operates in a MPEG 2 format while Directv operates in a MPEG 4. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE CUSTOMER? What this means is that Directv can offer more FULL TIME TRUE HD channels. Secondly, Directv broader bandwidth means that they don't have to compress thier HD signals near as much as DISH which means a clearer HD picture quality. Also, Directv sets thier spot beam at a 90 percentile instead of Dish's 70 percentile. This means that it is much harder to lose Directv's service in storms than with Dish network. 2. Customer Service- This is hard to judge because I'm not a marketing professional but at least Directv has all of their English speaking customer service centers in the U.S. 3. Tidbits about Dish - Dish has been losing a lot of customers lately because they are in constant fights with Broadcast companies over Rights fees. This is not a problem with Directv. Dish just bought Blockbuster in bankruptcy court. This was a good move for Dish network but they'll never tell you the reason why. It's because they don't have the bandwidth to offer that many high quality movies through satellite so they're going to do Netflix style service with Dish customers. You guys will here more about this in the next few months. Hope everyone has a nice day. There are some pretty dumb comments on here. As an electrical engineer, I can tell you point blank that Directv is BY FAR a superior satellite service. Dish is pretty much the trailer park version of satellite services. Here are some key reasons why?
1. Directv has more satellites in orbit (5) than Dish Network. This allows for more HD channels and a broader spot beams or footprint to earth. Also, Dish only operates in a MPEG 2 format while Directv operates in a MPEG 4. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE CUSTOMER? What this means is that Directv can offer more FULL TIME TRUE HD channels. Secondly, Directv broader bandwidth means that they don’t have to compress thier HD signals near as much as DISH which means a clearer HD picture quality. Also, Directv sets thier spot beam at a 90 percentile instead of Dish’s 70 percentile. This means that it is much harder to lose Directv’s service in storms than with Dish network.
2. Customer Service- This is hard to judge because I’m not a marketing professional but at least Directv has all of their English speaking customer service centers in the U.S.
3. Tidbits about Dish – Dish has been losing a lot of customers lately because they are in constant fights with Broadcast companies over Rights fees. This is not a problem with Directv. Dish just bought Blockbuster in bankruptcy court. This was a good move for Dish network but they’ll never tell you the reason why. It’s because they don’t have the bandwidth to offer that many high quality movies through satellite so they’re going to do Netflix style service with Dish customers. You guys will here more about this in the next few months. Hope everyone has a nice day.

]]> By: keith http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1077 keith Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:47:37 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1077 I Signed up for their "PROMOTION" for 24.95 a month for 2 years. After 4 months it went up to 29.95 a month. I called to ask why and was told they can raise the rate anytime.What a fraud!!They also charge for service calls even though you pay $6.00 a month for a service agreement.Also you only get HD free for only 1 TV,all others will charged $6.00 a month.IM COUNTING THE DAYS WHEN I CAN DROP THIS RIPOFF COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!! I Signed up for their “PROMOTION” for 24.95 a month for 2 years. After 4 months it went up to 29.95 a month. I called to ask why and was told they can raise the rate anytime.What a fraud!!They also charge for service calls even though you pay $6.00 a month for a service agreement.Also you only get HD free for only 1 TV,all others will charged $6.00 a month.IM COUNTING THE DAYS WHEN I CAN DROP THIS RIPOFF COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Jeff http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1054 Jeff Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:14:58 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1054 I was just treated horribly by Directv....I am switching to Dish TODAY! I was just treated horribly by Directv….I am switching to Dish TODAY!

]]> By: Alex http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1013 Alex Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:42:55 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-1013 I've been with DIRECTV for about 5 years. Not too bad but STAY AWAY from their promotions! They tell you "NFL Sunday Ticket for X amount of months for X amount of dollars but make sure you cancel it before a certain date". Yeah right..They WILL screw up your billing anyway then play stupid when you call to get a credit. I've been going back and forth with them for 5-6 months now. I can't imagine the job of billing customers correctly would be so tough but they haven't figured it out yet. Programming is good, service is okay as long as you don't bombard them with anything too complex. Switching to DISH ASAP! I’ve been with DIRECTV for about 5 years. Not too bad but STAY AWAY from their promotions! They tell you “NFL Sunday Ticket for X amount of months for X amount of dollars but make sure you cancel it before a certain date”. Yeah right..They WILL screw up your billing anyway then play stupid when you call to get a credit. I’ve been going back and forth with them for 5-6 months now. I can’t imagine the job of billing customers correctly would be so tough but they haven’t figured it out yet. Programming is good, service is okay as long as you don’t bombard them with anything too complex. Switching to DISH ASAP!

]]> By: Sarah http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-979 Sarah Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:07:35 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-979 As a DISH employee I have experience all the comparing. We have HD Free for life for not just our new customer like DIRECT TV but also for our existing customers. Direct does not offer all-Spanish channels and one of their Latino packages cost more than 2 of DISH NETWORKS Latino packages. You will pay more for some sporting channels with Direct then Dish. Even with the HD that you would pay for with Direct you still miss some channel that you would get with Dish in HD like E!, Style, G4, truTV, etc. Our pricing is lower and we do our best to keep it that way for you. @ Bud, I'm very sorry you are having problems with the billing situation. If you would like to go through it let me know. As a DISH employee I have experience all the comparing. We have HD Free for life for not just our new customer like DIRECT TV but also for our existing customers. Direct does not offer all-Spanish channels and one of their Latino packages cost more than 2 of DISH NETWORKS Latino packages. You will pay more for some sporting channels with Direct then Dish. Even with the HD that you would pay for with Direct you still miss some channel that you would get with Dish in HD like E!, Style, G4, truTV, etc. Our pricing is lower and we do our best to keep it that way for you.

@ Bud, I’m very sorry you are having problems with the billing situation. If you would like to go through it let me know.

]]> By: BUD http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-964 BUD Sat, 04 Dec 2010 20:37:45 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-964 I'M SO FED-UP WITH DISH. AFTER BEING WITH THEM FOR OVER 6YRS. THEIR BILLING DEPT. & CHARGES ARE NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT.TRYING TO GET BILLING PROBLEMS SOLVED IS A MAJOR PROBLEM , THEY TRY AND MAKE YOU OUT TO BE A FOOL BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT . ADDING ON EXTRA CHARGES THAT ARE NOT TRUE. DONT EVEN THINK OF AUTO- PAY WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD ,THEY CAN TACK UP MORE CHARGES BEFORE YOU GET YOU BILL FROM CREDIT CO.I'AM CONSIDERATING GOING TO VERIZON FIOS WITH ALL THEIR BUNDLE PACKAGES.CUSTOMER LOYALITY W/DISH IS UN-HEARD OF. I’M SO FED-UP WITH DISH. AFTER BEING WITH THEM FOR OVER 6YRS. THEIR BILLING DEPT. & CHARGES ARE NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT.TRYING TO GET BILLING PROBLEMS SOLVED IS A MAJOR PROBLEM , THEY TRY AND MAKE YOU OUT TO BE A FOOL BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT . ADDING ON EXTRA CHARGES THAT ARE NOT TRUE. DONT EVEN THINK OF AUTO- PAY WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD ,THEY CAN TACK UP MORE CHARGES BEFORE YOU GET YOU BILL FROM CREDIT CO.I’AM CONSIDERATING GOING TO VERIZON FIOS WITH ALL THEIR BUNDLE PACKAGES.CUSTOMER LOYALITY W/DISH IS UN-HEARD OF.

]]> By: graciela http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-956 graciela Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:32:55 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-956 It does not matter which cable provider you choose, they both are going to take your money for nothing, they both offer 150 or more channels and 70% of that would be commercial channels I made that terrible mistake and regreted it !!! It does not matter which cable provider you choose, they both are going to take your money for nothing, they both offer 150 or more channels and 70% of that would be commercial channels I made that terrible mistake and regreted it !!!

]]> By: Bill Hanson http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-949 Bill Hanson Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:47:04 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-949 Have had Directv for many years, and have been happy, up until the last two satellites they have launched. The promise was for 200+ HD channels. They are well short of that number, EVEN WHEN THEY INCLUDE THEIR REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORKS AND PPV CHANNELS. To me, the decision is easy. I am switching to Dish. If you LOVE sports and have a need to see every game ever played, and if you want a plethora of HD bandwidth wasted on Pay-Per-View channels, then Directv is for you. If you like/love sports, but don't need to see every game ever played, and if MOVIES and acclaimed series, such as The Walking Dead series that is coming up on AMC, are important to you, then Dish is your better option, as they have FAR more National Channels in HD, including such channels as AMC, TCM, BBCA, LMN, etc. Directv used to be the leader, and in sports they still are, but when sports is taken out of the mix, they are a very distant competitor. Have had Directv for many years, and have been happy, up until the last two satellites they have launched.

The promise was for 200+ HD channels. They are well short of that number, EVEN WHEN THEY INCLUDE THEIR REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORKS AND PPV CHANNELS.

To me, the decision is easy. I am switching to Dish. If you LOVE sports and have a need to see every game ever played, and if you want a plethora of HD bandwidth wasted on Pay-Per-View channels, then Directv is for you. If you like/love sports, but don’t need to see every game ever played, and if MOVIES and acclaimed series, such as The Walking Dead series that is coming up on AMC, are important to you, then Dish is your better option, as they have FAR more National Channels in HD, including such channels as AMC, TCM, BBCA, LMN, etc.

Directv used to be the leader, and in sports they still are, but when sports is taken out of the mix, they are a very distant competitor.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.defefx.com/directv-vs-dish-network/#comment-948 Lisa Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:36:48 +0000 http://www.defefx.com/direct-tv-vs-dish-network/#comment-948 Does anyone know if you have to have a phone line plugged into the DVR to receive updates etc? Or can this be done wirelessly? I am considering Dish or Direct but haven't decided yet. Does anyone know if you have to have a phone line plugged into the DVR to receive updates etc? Or can this be done wirelessly? I am considering Dish or Direct but haven’t decided yet.

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