Dish or Direct?? Decision Made.

Magicman · February 05, 2014, 08:35:24 PM

We currently have Cable One and are investigating whether to change. I am not a gung-ho TV watcher, but some outdoor/sportsmen channels would be nice. To get them on the cable that we have there is a huge price jump. :-\

I looked at the two satellite providers on the internet and I think that I am going in circles. smiley_dizzy

Anyway, pro's and con's.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 05, 2014, 08:36:35 PM

Where's Bibby? He'll know.

thecfarm · February 05, 2014, 08:41:48 PM

At least you can get cable. If we could do a "bundle" we could save some money. We had Dish,went to Direct because the land line phone company is somehow with Direct. Only reason we changed. I hate satalite. I don't watch much TV,but when I watch it,there is something on I want to watch. Than a storm cloud between my TV and the satalite and my TV starts searching for a signal. :

I use to have cable in my other house, always worked. Lots of commerical about getting refered and they-you can save money?
We don't notice a differance between the two. But we don't have the sports and spotsman shows.

pabst79 · February 05, 2014, 08:47:44 PM

The upside is that sat t.v offers more channels then anyone needs, the downside is that they keep jacking up the costs every 6 months, we have DISH, used to have Direct and it seems like they have figured out that if I only like and watch 5 channels, they put them in a upper tier package so it costs twice as much as I'd like! I wish I never had it, that way I wouldn't know what I was missing. >:(

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 05, 2014, 08:52:48 PM

We had Direct......hated it.

Now we have Comporium Cable based in our hometown.

Cable is not the same every where. We had cable with DVR where we could record 2 shows at once. If you recorded on 1 box, you had to watch your recording on that box.
Then out Cable company came up with another package which is actually cheaper......its the Moxie System.
We can record 6 shows at once and watch the recording on any other box, I have an app on my phone to where I can control all recordings from any where.
Now, I just waiting on the wireless cable boxes. Those will be cool.

The main thing I like is, I get a ton of HD Channels with cable.

sprucebunny · February 05, 2014, 08:57:34 PM

I have Direct TV. We got a $6/month discount from Fairpoint.
Now, Direct Tv charges us $6 for having a TV connected...not the second TV..that's another $6.. for having the first TV connected.

I asked them if a lot of people wanted to pay $68.99 a month and not connect any TV...

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 05, 2014, 09:01:23 PM

Quote from: sprucebunny on February 05, 2014, 08:57:34 PM
I have Direct TV. We got a $6/month discount from Fairpoint.
Now, Direct Tv charges us $6 for having a TV connected...not the second TV..that's another $6.. for having the first TV connected.

I asked them if a lot of people wanted to pay $68.99 a month and not connect any TV...

Do you get the Squirrel Channel? ;D

sprucebunny · February 05, 2014, 09:05:44 PM

The Rodent Survivor show ???

They get thrown out the doors and windows til only one is left ?

And he gets shot :D

luvmexfood · February 05, 2014, 09:07:59 PM

Quote from: sprucebunny on February 05, 2014, 08:57:34 PM
I have Direct TV. We got a $6/month discount from Fairpoint.
Now, Direct Tv charges us $6 for having a TV connected...not the second TV..that's another $6.. for having the first TV connected.

I asked them if a lot of people wanted to pay $68.99 a month and not connect any TV...

That's too funny. I have DISH and have had it for probably 15 years. Cable is not available in our area. Cannot get a cellphone signal either. Can get texts but not voice. Seems like for the last month or so the pipeline that brings in the sun has not been working to well either.

Corley5 · February 05, 2014, 09:10:57 PM

We've had Dish for a long time. Did Direct re-instate The Weather Channel?

beenthere · February 05, 2014, 09:21:50 PM

Quotebut some outdoor/sportsmen channels would be nice.

Both Dish and Directv (I have the latter) throw the Outdoor channels in the high price bracket, just under the one with all the movies of every description.

Have been going around and around in my head trying to figure out if switching to Dish is any cheaper than Directv. Maybe a bit for the first year when the promotion is in effect.

Dish has a grouping called America's Top 250 which includes the Outdoor channels... $75/mo.
Add the phone package another $20, Turbo (high speed internet) for $37, and the wireless Modem $5
plus an extra TV for $7. Add the Fed taxes and the total is $150 before local taxes. For a year or two, there is a discount for switching of about $37 a month, which ain't hay either. Add $20 for DVR service.

Way too much money for the benefit. But need to figure in the better half and what she enjoys too. While in her sewing room, the TV is on. She even watch's the news which I NEVER do. I glean all I need/want off the net.

The last I looked, The Weather Channel was on the Directv.
But I get weather off the NOAA for local and national updates.

MM, wish you good luck with your decision. I have no complaints of our Directv for the 10 or more years we have had it, other than it too is expensive.

BBTom · February 05, 2014, 09:41:31 PM

If you are getting your internet thru your cable, you are lucky. Dish and Directv don't provide internet. Dish can for about $60/mo, but it is not as fast as cable internet. Satellite based internet has delays when loading pages and doesn't work well for Skype or Internet phone or gaming. Dsl on the phone line is ok, but mine is rather slow (400k) compared to most cable (1.5-3m).

I am very happy with my dish tv. we get the 250 package and I can normally find something of interest to watch.

Good luck, MM, hope you can find something that suits you.

Corley5 · February 05, 2014, 09:44:44 PM

Direct had a dispute with TWC and it was dropped from there offerings. Haven't heard that it was put back in.

Magicman · February 05, 2014, 10:10:11 PM

My internet is through my landline telephone service and no complaints. I am ½ mile out of reach for AT&T uverse.

Gary_C · February 05, 2014, 10:28:47 PM

I have had Direct for a few years and have considered switching to Dish but it's hard to find a difference. Direct periodically raises their rates and then I complain and they give me some discounts for a year or so and I'm still there. But you have to watch your bill every month for changes.

My internet now comes from Hughes Net after Verizon abruptly dropped our broadband service.

Bill Gaiche · February 05, 2014, 11:08:23 PM

I have direct, Have had both at different times. Direct gave me a better deal the last time and the people I spoke with spoke the same language as me which helps to understand what you are getting into. They can give you a pretty decent deal or contract if you deal real hard with them. They are still to expensive. Just try and figure out what you really watch and see what they will do for you. You pay way more for what you get than what you really need. Remind them that they are not the only fish in the barrel. New customers usually get better deals to start off with. When your contract runs out tell them you need a better deal They can and sometime give a little break on price. They did for me the last time my contract ran out. They don't want you to switch. They have dropped the weather channel. Its called Weather Nation now on the same channel. Good luck MM, I don't envy your shopping for a better deal. bg
luvmexfood, try a cell phone booster. I have a Wilson and has given me the ability to use my cell anytime now.

Holmes · February 05, 2014, 11:14:33 PM

I've had Dish for 8 years now, Americas top 200 $65 a month plus $7 for additional receiver. I have no complaints except the $. I also have internet thru the phone line, dsl? and that works fine also.

LeeB · February 06, 2014, 06:55:59 AM

We have tried both and have DirecTV now. Have been DTV for years before moving to AR and decided to try Dish. We weren't happy with Dish at all and switched back to DirecTV. I have no idea what we pay. I put the money in the bank, Lindy takes care of keeping the economy alive.

Holmes · February 06, 2014, 07:15:46 AM

They usually offer free install for a 2 year commitment to new customers. I was thinking of switching and getting new equipment. I believe it is what we get used to is what makes one stay with the product.

LeeB · February 06, 2014, 07:24:25 AM

You may be able to get new by threatening to switch. They really will do things to keep you there if you get vocal enough.

Chuck White · February 06, 2014, 07:27:41 AM

I don't think it matters much, the company you go with!

IMHO, you'll get a zillion channels and end up only watching 8 - 10 different ones, so you're paying quite a bit for stuff you're not interested in!

MattJ · February 06, 2014, 07:29:28 AM

I have Dish and haven't had any issues with clouds bothering the signal except during a Hurricane! I have the more basic 120 channel plan but Dish allows you to add sportsman/outdoor and some other misc hunting fishing channels for around $2 a month for all of them. Not too bad. They call it something like the outdoor package.

drobertson · February 06, 2014, 08:07:47 AM

We have dish, know many that have direct, not sure the pro's or cons between the two, It's a luxury, and the cost does increase over time, david

blackfoot griz · February 06, 2014, 08:45:17 AM

We had direct for years. They came out with a special package for new customers. I called and said I would like that new package. They refused saying it was only for new customers so... I switched to Dish.

Since I switched to Dish, we get all kinds of "we want you back" letters, emails and phone calls from Direct.

I had no technical problems with Direct and a lot with Dish.

ely · February 06, 2014, 09:14:46 AM

we have direct now and I had it down to 62 bucks a month for the basic package, no movie channels anyway. I get 600 some odd channels on my guide but most do not work, why are they on there? now the went to 82 bucks, we called and the brought it down to 72 bucks, I said I will cancel if that all they can do, they told me that was my decision and they would respect it... I am still there for now, I guess all I wanted was a little respect.