Direct TV Vs. Dish Network Vs. Cox

[Bdogg]

Hello everyone, I just recently got an HDTV Yea! So Exciting, however Cox only has 15 channels in my area, unacceptable if you ask me. I've been looking at both Direct TV and Dish Network and I just can't decide who to go with, I want to save $$ and get a good product. Has anyone had good/bad experiences they can tell me about. Thanks for any Advice here, I really am a newbie!

[xtop]

direc tv has more hd channels, but dish has a much better dvr. both have plans of launching new birds this year tho, so who knows who will be the leader

[The Don]

I have Dish and coming from Comcast, the PQ was automatically a noticeable downgrade...

they might be maxing out the bandwidth...they need a couple more birds to handle the HD content...

I haven't had Direct TV, but they have a whole bunch of HD channels available....it's ridiculous compared to the other companies..

[Bigwayne]

I have Directv, and overall I'm pretty happy with it. Of course my main reason for going Directv is because of Sunday Ticket.

[Shiggidy75]

I have Directv and love the picture quality. I cant get locals here but got east coast feed in HD so doesnt really matter. You can get on there website and see all the channels available in HD. I pay just over $70 for the choice and HD DVR and 1 extra receiver. Not too bad considering all the channels you get. PQ is great but Customer service not so much. Seems like everytime I call (which isnt often) they are updating there system. Not a big deal though.

[Shiggidy75]

Originally Posted by Bigwayne

I have Directv, and overall I'm pretty happy with it. Of course my main reason for going Directv is because of Sunday Ticket.

I love the ticket. How could I forget to add that in.

[ManUtd]

I have been with Directv for many many years, I'm still satisfied with their service.

[cpgator]

Had cable and Dish - now have Directv and I am very happy with it. I also have 4 of their HD DVRs and have no issues with them - much better than the cable DVR.

[BluDomain]

You might want to check this out at BestBuy.
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_ID=12219

If you have to get local channels over the air, be sure you do not
get the DirecTV HR 21. It will not do over the air. Get the HR 20
instead. Other specs are the same.

[awre]

Seems like for all their talk, Dish nickels and dimes you to death--in many ways worse than the cable companies they accuse of this very practice.

Dish keeps promising more HD but do not add--they get high total HD count by counting all the sport channels, like NHL, NBA, Big Ten, etc. which is worth nothing to non-sports fans--they need more cable channels in HD, like Sci-Fi, FX, USA, Lifetime, etc.

Many areas no locals in HD either--

Their equipment is good so no complaints on this matter.

Finally, customer service is great -- if you speak broken Hindi (India) or Tagalog (Philippines). If however you speak American English better go somewhere else.

I will soon change from Dish after 12 years because they have just lost their way with constant price increases, lie to you constantly about coming upgrades and timetables, and provide no customer service.

Their "Charlie Talk" has just turned into "Charlie Babble"!!!

[xman]

I switch from Dish to DirectTV last year, DirectTV has way more HD channels, Dish keep promising more channels but looks like it won’t be until the end of the year. DirectTV HR20-700 DVR Receiver is a nice piece of equipment it has Audio/Picture streaming from a media server; they also have a VoD in beta it work fairly will in SD but take a long time to download in HD.

[kingtuna]

I'm on TWC in LA area and want to switch to Dish because I only watch HD. TWC has a lot of little fees, and their HD channels suck. Any one have any experience with the switch? I'm looking to get the $29 all HD plan from Dish.

Is there really a "quality downgrade" to go from TWC to Dish? Thanks

[The_Architect]

I have DirecTV with the HD DVR and I love it. They have quite a few channels and it was the best value when compared with our other options here in San Diego. Customer service is pretty good. They have been quick to help each time I have called.

[Flomaster]

I have "cable one" and I think I have less than 10 channels
my contract is up next month and I can't wait to get Direct Tv with their HD DVR box.

only problem that sucks is I will be switching from Cable Internet to DSL and that requires me to sign up with a land line phone company which i DO NOT NEED but am forced to get in order to keep internet with the same company.

[CRMA]

I had Direct TV and moved. They wanted to charge me 1000.00 for a custom install. They charged me 225.00 to disconnect. They are going to move to 18 month contracts now too.

[davidAZ]

I have cox here in Arizona. I use it mostly because my HOA is contracted with them and I'm paying for the basic through them whether I like it or not. I don't like that I can't get the extreme NFL packages that Dish has... but I don't want to mess around with the added equipment either. Yeah, I could fork over a fortune to add to my television programming, but I'd rather buy blu-rays at that point. Excessive HD programming gets expensive.

I have recently received a notice through cox that their HD programming is expanding...

Seven more HD channels coming in March!
Marching toward our goal of 80 HD channels by the end of 2008, we're adding seven more HD channels to the line-up on March 18. Joining the 22 HD channels already offered by Cox Digital Cable will be:
• TBS HD on channel 716
• Science Channel HD on channel 720
• Discovery HD on channel 723
• Golf Channel HD/Versus HD on channel 744
• Food Network HD on channel 746
• Animal Planet HD on channel 757
• History Channel HD on channel 762

They were also good about showing NFL Network HD during games and SuperBowl week, hopefully they'll add it full time soon.

[Bango]

Originally Posted by CRMA

I had Direct TV and moved. They wanted to charge me 1000.00 for a custom install. They charged me 225.00 to disconnect. They are going to move to 18 month contracts now too.

Well unless you have some crazy setup going on...I moved twice in the past year, and although technically they only move you once for free, they did it twice, with no fees whatsoever. They ran wires for 5 rooms, (3 of which needed 2 lines). I absolutely love DirecTV. I originally started with DISH...then moved to COX cable...and there's no comparison. To get the full experience and the best HD lineup....get DirecTV. That being said...they're not the cheapest...I pay $109.99 for their premier package with all premium channels and HD DVR service (I think i may pay a little less than most due to an arrangement I have with Directv...long story) Dish doesn't have as many HD channels...plus their picture quality leaves you wanting more. Cox Cable has like 20 HD channels...pathetic really...anyway, hope this helps

[Bango]

Originally Posted by Flomaster

I have "cable one" and I think I have less than 10 channels
my contract is up next month and I can't wait to get Direct Tv with their HD DVR box.

only problem that sucks is I will be switching from Cable Internet to DSL and that requires me to sign up with a land line phone company which i DO NOT NEED but am forced to get in order to keep internet with the same company.

It's not all that bad switching....I went from 7mbps Cox Cable internet...to AT&T 6mbps DSL....no noticeable difference and it was about $15 a month cheaper. I know that the availability of "high speed" dsl is a lot less than cable internet though. YOu have to be less than 6000ft from their Hub or whatever I believe.

[jd13]

I will be the lone advocate for E*, I guess. Switched over from ConCast when they moved to the Houston area. I am satisfied with all that I have. I have the 622 DVR, external hard drive, and OTA plugged into the DVR, which allows for the recording of 3 channels in HD while watching a 4th. I also use the OTA to get non-compressed versions of network broadcasts. The one thing about some of the HD channels on Direct is that they are in "stretch-o-vision." I would rather watch SD than have my HD stretched. I am a purist. Also, HD PPV is usually at a higher bit rate. Most HD records at 3 to 6 Gig, the PPV movies have recorded at 12 plus gig.

All in all, it really depends on what you need. I may get a BUNCH of HD channels from Direct TV, but looking at the list, I wouldn't watch half of them anyway. So you really have to get what fits your budget and your needs. You can go to any Radio Shack and check out the E* quality. I think BB allows for D*.

PAX
JD

[Bango]

Originally Posted by jd13

I will be the lone advocate for E*, I guess. Switched over from ConCast when they moved to the Houston area. I am satisfied with all that I have. I have the 622 DVR, external hard drive, and OTA plugged into the DVR, which allows for the recording of 3 channels in HD while watching a 4th. I also use the OTA to get non-compressed versions of network broadcasts. The one thing about some of the HD channels on Direct is that they are in "stretch-o-vision." I would rather watch SD than have my HD stretched. I am a purist. Also, HD PPV is usually at a higher bit rate. Most HD records at 3 to 6 Gig, the PPV movies have recorded at 12 plus gig.

All in all, it really depends on what you need. I may get a BUNCH of HD channels from Direct TV, but looking at the list, I wouldn't watch half of them anyway. So you really have to get what fits your budget and your needs. You can go to any Radio Shack and check out the E* quality. I think BB allows for D*.

PAX
JD

Not sure what you're watching...I know early on when most of those channels were released that was the case....but only because a lot of hd content wasn't scheduled at the time. Now....I hard EVER see stretch-ovision...xcept for the occasional Discovery Channel Broadcast..