I have a D* installation scheduled today, so I can't comment on their PQ yet. However, I have had E* in the past. About 3 years ago when I first bought my big 55" RPTV (standard definition) I thought E* was superb PQ; however, I ended up cancelling because customer service sucked and I was tired of their BS on moving charges, receiver upgrades, etc.

Fast forward to Jan '06. I decided to try E* again as I'm tired of the analog cable signal which is about 70% of the channels I watch. I give them a try, and get it installed just a few days before the big Rose Bowl football game between USC & Texas. I am hyped and ready for a great picture, and then comes my worst nightmare. My PQ resembled that off a computer video that you enlarge too big and it looks blurred and blotchy. It was so bad that when the ball was thrown I could not track it in the air. I tried the reception on my bedroom TV (27") and while it was better because of the smaller picture, it was still very present.

After several calls to customer service and numerous repair techs to my house, I was finally able to cancel my contract w/ no penalty after the fight of my life. I was already pissed because of the bad PQ but because the way E* handled my request to cancel because of THEIR quality I will never use them again. I will go back to cable first, which is where I'm at now until my D* installer arrives.

Personally I just don't think there is a *great* cable/satellite provider out there yet. People need/want so much more, and while each provider seems to offer a slice of the pie to their customers I don't see any that offer the whole pie. It's probably a matter of picking the less of evils. I don't have HD yet, so I don't have to fight that battle, but when I do upgrade I plan to use OTA reception. And then when HD is a standard vs. bastard child as it is now I will upgrade my equipment or switch providers at that point. Honestly I don't see it happening for a few years.