Reliability of DirecTV vs Dish Network

[Mosey]

I have a DirecTV dish and it has been very reliable for over 5 years now. But, I just found out Dish Network is cheaper, about $35 per month for their base package. So, I can get all the channels I need for about $10 a month less, including local channels for that price (right now I use an antenna for those and some barely come in). Can anyone report back on the reliability of Dish Network service?

 

[DaveNay]

What are you refering to when you say reliability? I have never in the last eight years had my Dish Network service interrupted due to a technical problem at their end. It is of course succeptable to extremely heavy rain, but I believe Direct TV is also. I would give you a very positive thumbs up in terms of reliablility and consistency of service from Dish Network.

Dave

 

[gsxr1100]

I have DishTV for about 4 years. No huge issues. Went down 3 times in that time. Pay about $85 per month for everything I can get!

Both are about the same price for everything.

 

[BB_TX]

We have had Dish for 4-5 years now. I don't remember it ever being down for anything other than an occasional very heavy rain storm.

 

[Dozernut]

I think the deciding issue on either is the packages they offer. I don't think one is better than the other, go for the best deal.

 

[getut]

I don't know if this type of stuff influences anyones decisions but it sure does mine, but DirecTV has been suing people left and right for very bad reasons.

I'm sure everyone knows about people that steal digital dish television. It requires the use of a digital card writer in many cases. DirecTV had a seller of those cards raided and got hold of their customer list and started sicking their lawyers on those people... in civil court only. Basically saying that you bought one of those writers, we know you are stealing from us. Pay $1000 now and avoid being drug through court.

Thats all fine and good, but at the time of this, the type of card Dish Network used was not proprietary. It was used in MANY devices other than digital dish decoders. They basically extorted money out of those people.

Those things HEAVILY influence where my money goes, and I am with Dish Network now.

Here is an article about that on the law.com website.

 

[Boondox]

We don't watch TV but the folks we rent to have Dish. They called the 800# to sign up for it and some low budget crew installed the dish atop the roof, drilled right thru the Weatherseal (several times as the holes didn't align), and the resulting leakage forced us to do a LOT of drywall repairs and eventually to reroof!

So if you sign up, deal with a local in your area that has a decent reputation for good work.

Pete

 

[gsxr1100]

DirectTV last I know did not have HU cards (football cards) anymore. They went to new cards to prevent this & are not hackable from what I have read online.

DishTV also shut the COMPLETE network down about 8 years ago since people were hacking them and people got upset and left. I would leave too. Paying XX funds a month and lose service.

I really do not care about the people paying thousands of dollars to get writers etc. People have been doing that for over 15 years with cable descramblers (nothing new). If people want to spend the time and money and do it make cards, whatever. The techo geeks will always find a path..I have no idea how they do. Just like virus creaters etc. I have no clue on how they do it, but they do.

 

[GregMVT]

We recently got directv. We had tried dishnetwork first but after they rescheduled us four times I cancelled it, that was on a saturday. Each time we they rescheduled they told us we were the priority and would be first on list. They did finally show up on the monday after I cancelled it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Dish does NOT carry THE YANKEES /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif, Direct does /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[gsxr1100]

I am sure the Red Sox (World Champs) are on both! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Kidding I do not watch any sports.

 

[homeinwestIL]

We've had DishTV for three or four years. It never goes down except in heavy storms, and then only briefly. We chose just based on programing we wanted. They did install the dish right on top of the roof, drilling thru the shingles. I was shocked by that but installer said they've never had it leak, and it hasn't yet. I imagine that the reliability of installers is going to vary from one place to another.

 

[getut]

I might have misunderstood you... but here goes.

I don't really care about the people buying the readers either.. but its the business tactic that DirecTV took of suing everyone who bought a device capable of programming the cards.. Even though at the time, the cards they used were not used in just DirecTV devices. They were standard cards used in MANY other devices.

The fact that DirecTV sicked their lawyers on everyone who had bought one of those devices is what was so despicable, especially when there was no proof they were hacking. They did it all through civil courts so that people had basically no recourse... Defend themselves and pay a load of cash, or pay the extorted fee of $1000 to keep from going to court.

I choose not to give my money to companies who use these kinds of tactics.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

But isn't the important question which one carries RFD-TV?
Cliff

 

[slapshot]

Both carry RFDTV on DishNetwork it is channel 9409 and on DirecTV its channel 379.
I had DirecTV for about 5 years and have had Dish Network for nearly a year. There really is no difference in service or quality.
It is a bummer with Dish Network that you MAY need a 2nd dish to recieve some or all of your locals. They give it to you free, but at some point it looks a bit ridiculous.

-dave

 

[BigAl]

Hi Danny,
I have a ranch way up in the mountains of Idaho and my TV antenna is pretty much useless to get local channels . I had Direct TV installed and they also set me up with local TV programming because of the limited access . Have you called Direct TV and checked to see if you are entitled to it ?
I had both Dish TV and Direct TV at the same time , when my kids were smaller and always wanting to watch something different from me . They were both good .I found I like the set up of Direct TV a little better and dropped Dish Network after the kids moved out on their own . Just my 2 cents .
Big Al

 

[thcri]

I thought Dish was bought out by Direct? This was about 5 years ago?


murph

 

[LWFrisk]

I have had DishNetWork for about 7 years. When they changed the cards in November, they took away several channels that I had had for the seven years. When I complained, their answer was that their activator had made a mistake when it was originally installed and they would be billing a back charge for the seven years. After several phone calls to supervisors/managers, they dropped the back charges.

I saw a DVR for DishNetWork on eBay at a very reasonable price, in fact there are many of them on sale. The seller said to be sure to call DishNetWork with the DVR numbers to be sure they would provide service as the unit as is usually not sold but leased. I called their service line and spoke with a very nice young lady who took several minutes to look up the numbers, etc. and came back on the line and said that some dealers do sell that model, and there would be no problem to have it activated. I gave it to my wife as a Christmas gift and when I called to have it activated, they said there was an $800 account charge on that account number and they would not activate it unless I paid the $800. When I spoke with three supervisors, they all said that they were not responsible for their employee who provided me with the information even though I had her name, etc.. They were not interested in getting the DVR back, and would send out a new unit along with a sizable fee for the unit and a required installation charge.

I have no desire to deal with a company that will not back the information that their employees provide. They said they would discipline the person who provided the mis-information. I will likely switch to a cable company and go with a TiVo DVR. -- Leo in San Diego

 

[ducati996]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't know if this type of stuff influences anyones decisions but it sure does mine, but DirecTV has been suing people left and right for very bad reasons.

I'm sure everyone knows about people that steal digital dish television. It requires the use of a digital card writer in many cases. DirecTV had a seller of those cards raided and got hold of their customer list and started sicking their lawyers on those people... in civil court only. Basically saying that you bought one of those writers, we know you are stealing from us. Pay $1000 now and avoid being drug through court.

Thats all fine and good, but at the time of this, the type of card Dish Network used was not proprietary. It was used in MANY devices other than digital dish decoders. They basically extorted money out of those people.

Those things HEAVILY influence where my money goes, and I am with Dish Network now.

Here is an article about that on the law.com website. )</font>

Dish does the same thing (as in sueing people) they were hacked up until recently as well....as for being unfair? I disagree. If You play then you pay, somehow these peoples names came up, it wasnt by chance. Everybody was involved so they had to get aggressive. People just hate getting caught...I always find it funny especially when listening to rationalization as to why they feel like they do /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ducati

 

[GerardC]

I had DirecTV for a couple of years a few years ago and was satisfied with the service.
I've since switched to cable because the dish system would've broke the bank to have it on all 11 TV's around the house. I like TV. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif See attachment. Gerard