Dish Network or DirecTV

[MadReferee]

For you techies out there here is what you need according to DirecTV:

RFD TV Channel 379
Channel transmits from 119-degree or 110-degree orbital slot for viewing with special multi-satellite equipment - oval dish antenna and either dual LNB (for 119-degree) or triple LNB (for 110-degree).

 

[Richard]

My understanding is the biggest difference between them is, if you want more of a sports offering, then you gotta go with DTV, if you want more of a movies orientation, then Dish.

Don't know how accurate that is, it's just what I've been told.

Richard

(who has DTV & NFL package and agree... priceless... after all, where else could I have watched my beloved Bengals flounder for last 13 years? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )

 

[BB_TX]

RFD stands for Rural Free Delivery and goes back to the early days of mail delivery to country folk. RFDTV is dedicated to the rural life style with programs on farming, livestock, tractors. music, etc. They have several programs each week on antique tractors and farm equipment. The only thing I don't like is the abundance of programs on horses. Not that I don't like horses, but at 9pm every night is a different horse related program. It would be nice to have a little variety at that hour.

 

[NIXON]

I have to agree with you about the abundance of horse shows . Not that I hate horses , I just don't have the time to maintain one properly . But the tractor shows more than make up for it .
I love watching some of that old machinery run . I especially appreciate the effort some of those guys went through to get it working . I wish I had the expertise ,patience ,and dedication that these guys have . John

 

[BillG_in_TX]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ... at 9pm every night is a different horse related program. It would be nice to have a little variety at that hour. )</font>

I guess that's a good argument for getting a DVR or TiVo. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[PBMAX]

also if you get the PVR they now offer 2 tuner models that will record 2 shows at once using DTV. Not sure if Dish offers them But would suspect they do.

That way while you're out working with the tracot you can record RFD tv while your wife watches a diff channel or record a show of here own. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Cable PVRs I'm told do not offer duel tuners...

The one thing that would be nice is an out put for each tuner so I could use them with PiP. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
but alas they ony have one out put... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Paul,

Check out the DVR 522 or 721. They appear to be what you're looking for. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

edit: I just noticed that you're a DirecTV customer. Probably not worth switching providers for this, huh?

 

[fishman]

Hey, thanks to all. I'm going to check on that rfdtv channel and how much one of those oval dishes are. Might be a good excuse to get a tivo unit too. My 2-year-old thinks tractors are the coolest thing ever created on this earth, so some recorded tractor shows would probably blow his little mind he'd be so happy.

He gets more seat time than me even. Of course, he just sits on the tractor and pushes every switch, but he likes it just as much.

 

[Dozernut]

Fishman
We just got Dish Network last Friday. If you catch one of their specials, like we did, it will cost you nothing for the dish and receivers and we also got a digital recorder. We got the 500 system with the dual LNB (which is the newest system out), plus they will install it for free. They will charge you $49.00 which is applied to your first bill. The monthly bill will be according to what package you choose and a commitment for 12 months. BTW RFDTV had some great shows on tonight, old iron and heavy equipment, it was great!

 

[fishman]

That sounds like a good deal to me! I've emailed Directv and we'll see about how good their customer service is. Strange that new customers are being offered great deals to come on board, but existing (loyal?) customers have to pay for the same stuff. At least according to their website.

 

[fivestring]

<font color="red">"Strange that new customers are being offered great deals to come on board, but existing (loyal?) customers have to pay for the same stuff. At least according to their website." </font>

Raise cain with them on that issue. When it comes time for me to upgrade, you bet I will!
I have been told that when you bring up that argument, they will give you the same deal they would a new customer, including signing a year's contract.
I've had them for 10 years, so it's not like I'll go back to cable!
Let me know what they tell you.

 

[PBMAX]

One of my pardners here at the office did that to Dish. Said if they did not give him the free tivo he would switch to DTV. He's had the tivo free installed for a few weeks.

 

[PBMAX]

Bill, yep thats cool maybe I'll buy on out right and hook it up me-self if the sell them for DTV. And no I have compaired the pricing and channels of them both and would not switch. My wife sister went to dish when their old DTV tuner gave out and are not as satisfied with it.

from what I could tell the $39 package from DTV has more channels that I watch than the equivilantly priced package from dish.

I have also talked to several installers in my area and most of them including the fellow who put in my tivo. have told me thet have rarely taken out a DTV sys to install Dish but have done many going from Dish to DTV...

I think it comes down to channels available at the lower end packages per each persons viewing taste..

I made my original choice based on channels available at the lowest monthly fees.
As well as sticking with DTV this time and not going to Dish...

 

[jwstewar]

We are considering switching from DirecTV (actually Pegasucks) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif over to DISH. Right now they are offering up to 4 rooms of service installed free, but only 2 receivers but with a UHF broadcaster. I currently have one of these to go from our bedroom to the kitchen that I purchased from X10. The microwave oven will interfere with ours currently. Did you get any of the 322 receivers that have this feature? This will give us tv in the Living Room and the 3 bedrooms as well as I'll continue to use our current sending unit to the kitchen from our bedroom.

On another note, we'll actually be receiving more channels as well as service on 2 additional TVs for the same amount of money. ($54.99)

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have Dish TV. They do not carry our local stations as they do in many other markets )</font>

They are adding new local channels everyday. They just added all our local channels except 1, and I expect that one will be along soon. You do need a special dish to get the local channels (Superdish). We signed up about two days ago. Cost for the local channels is $4.98 mo additional. Dishnetwork customers can get free dish and installation with 1 year contract. If you go to the dishnetwork website, you can enter your address and they will tell you if you are eligible.

The gal I talked with at Dish said she is from PA and I'm pretty sure she said she was getting local channels. You might want to call them and check, they might have changed something for your area recently.

The downside is the super dishes are pretty scarse, apparently everyone wants their local channels too. They scheduled our install for May 4. (Unless someone else cancels out. Then I can get mine faster.) So, now I get to be miserable waiting for several months... Unless one of you nice fellows would like to give up your place in line? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Steve

 

[jwstewar]

When I talked to them around noon today, they wanted to schedule my install for Wednesday and the included the dish to get local channels. Not sure what is going on. I didn't order yet, but probably will call back to tonight and schedule it unless Pegasus can beat their offer - but I will probably schedule my install for next Friday. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Hope you can get yours before May 4 - that is a long time to wait. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Dozernut]

jwstewar
Our system is three receivers and one of those is a digital recorder. They are all hard wired, no transmitted signal receivers. They might offer one but I am not aware of any at this time. I sure like this system! We had a big dish but kept losing programing and would have had to buy a digital receiver to get back some of the stations we lost. It was no decision to go to a free modern system. The picture quality is better on the little dish then it was on the big dish, I guess because it is a digital system. They have several offers for the system, just do some checking to find what is right for you.

 

[fishman]

O.K., this is what I emailed DirecTV:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I was wondering if the offer for a $99 dvr also included the
oval dish replacement. I have been a directv customer for a while now
and wish to replace my dish with one that is capable of receiving RFDTV
and other oval-dish only programming. I am also strongly considering
the option of adding a dvr. What would be the cost of something like
this?
)</font>

And this is what I got back:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks for writing. We are excited to hear that you're interested in
upgrading your current DIRECTV System to a DIRECTV DVR with TiVo. In
fact, we're so confident you'll love the DVR equipment and service, that
we're offering a 30-day money-back guarantee on DVR equipment purchases
from us through February 28, 2004. The DVR offer does not include
multi-satellite dish. And if you choose to upgrade your system, you can
still use your existing receiver on another TV in your house (additional
receiver fee of $4.99/month may apply). For answers to all of your DVR
questions, to find out the terms of the offer and to buy one today,
please our DVR website at www.DIRECTVDVR.com. You can also call us at
customer installation support at (888)355-7530 for all your questions
regarding upgrading to DIRECTV with DVR.

Thanks again for writing, and I hope you enjoy your new DVR!

Sincerely,
)</font>

So as you can see, my question was only partially answered. Looks like I'm going to have to call to find out anything important. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

But, I guess it was an answer at least, and in less than 48 hours. I rate their customer service a C, so far.

 

[BUCKSNORT]

Good luck on your call to dtv.I was a dtv customer for a long time including direcway, dtv's two way internet.I found their customer service lacking in all fields.and of course one of my favorite things holding for 30 minutes only to hear click, dial tone.
I switched to dish, better picture HDTV if you have home biased equipment,and most important, customer service people who speak the same language we do.also I understand dish does not sue its customers, as dtv is now doing nationwide /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif <font color="red"> </font>
Satellite TV giant DirecTV has sent ominous letters to an estimated 100,000 individuals, accusing them of purchasing "pirate access devices" and threatening to haul them into court for stealing television channels. The letters tell the unlucky recipients that the prospect of an expensive legal battle will go away if they pay up, usually to the tune of $3,500. Yet, in too many cases, the targets of the letters never intercepted DTV’s signal; they're only guilty of owning smart card technology. This dragnet is catching innocent security professionals, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs. Without proof of a violation of law, DTV’s unsubstantiated threats to sue are an abuse of the legal system.

As if that's not bad enough, DirecTV has filed over 9,000 lawsuits against purchasers of smartcard technology, employing an army of lawyers to squeeze even more costly settlements out of individuals nationwide. Ask your Members of Congress to initiate an investigation into DirecTV's misuse of the law and blatant disregard for the public's right to use technology.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue">...they're only guilty of owning smart card technology. This dragnet is catching innocent security professionals, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs. Without proof of a violation of law, </font>
No offense meant, Bucksnort, but it's got nothing to do with 'violating the law'. Use of any card except the card that came with the receiver violates the Customer Agreement. DirecTV clearly spells out what the Terms and Conditions are concerning the Access Card. If people do not like these Ts and Cs, then they shouldn't subscribe to the service. Dish has a similar clause in their agreement.

DirecTV Clause
e) Access Card and Receiving Equipment. You have been provided with a conditional access card that is inserted into your receiver unit (referred to as the "Access Card"). The Access Card and the "Receiving Equipment," which includes a receiver unit, a remote control unit, and a receiving antenna dish, are necessary to receive our Service. The Access Card will work only in the Receiving Equipment that it came with. Access Cards are nontransferable and will at all times remain the exclusive property of DIRECTV. If you tell us that the original Access Card was lost, damaged, defective, or stolen, we will replace it, as long as there is no evidence of unauthorized tampering with or modification of the Access Card and your account is in good standing. A replacement fee will apply (described in Section 2). Tampering with or other unauthorized modification of the Access Card is strictly prohibited and may result in criminal or civil action. DIRECTV reserves the right to cancel or replace the Access Card, and the card must be returned to DIRECTV upon request. If you do not return the Access Card to DIRECTV when you cancel your Service, you may be charged a fee as described in Section 2.

Dish Clause
You will also be provided with a conditional access card ("Smart Card”) that is inserted into your satellite receiver. The Smart Card remains the property of EchoStar Communications Corporation, the corporate parent of DISH Network and any tampering or other unauthorized modification to the Smart Card is strictly prohibited and may result in, and subject you to, legal action. You agree to return the Smart Card to us upon request.