I had Dish Network (E*) for 8 years and was very pleased with it. Then went to DirecTV (D*) 2 years ago as part of a telephone package deal. I was not pleased with D* as the hardware was very flaky (especially the DVR), channel lineups were illogical, and DVR with menus were definitely inferior to the E* product. My D* two-year commitment contract is up at the end of October 2008 and I'm thinking of switching back to E* and going with HD service as I now have HD 720P Panasonic Plasma. My past experience with E* customer service was OK as I never had an issue with it. I've been reading the WAR ZONE posts trying to decide which way to go and cannot really find unbiased and real side-by-side comparison between the two providers. Opinions appear to be all over the spectrum, depending on whether you like (rhetorically speaking) your Mac or you like your Windows PC, if you folks know what I mean. I still have my (owned) E* SD DVR receiver & SD receiver, but the D* receivers are leased. I generally have disliked the performance of the D* DVR and SD receiver.

So, can anyone answer these questions to help me make an informed decision:

a) What is the installation / startup cost difference between E* and D* for HD DVR setup?

b) For the two providers HD service, how many antennas & LNB's will be installed?

c) For the two providers, do you own the receivers, or do you lease them? I don't think D* does anything other than equipment leasing, but I may be wrong.

d) Would anyone agree with me that E* appears to offer more channels for less? That is why I selected E* back in 1998.

e) Do you really think that E* is in serious financial trouble and will go out of business, or sellout to or merge with D*?

Thanks for replies..........

ciwsguy

I can only answer from a DirecTV perspective.



So, can anyone answer these questions to help me make an informed decision:

a) What is the installation / startup cost difference between E* and D* for HD DVR setup?

Call DirecTV and see what they will do for you. At most the HD DVR will be $199, most likely you'll get it for $99 and you may even get it free, especially if you have a Tivo unit. Dish and multiswitch upgrade will all be free.


b) For the two providers HD service, how many antennas & LNB's will be installed?

DirecTV is just one dish to get everything. You'll most likely get the Slimline 5 LNB model (99/101/103/110/119) but if your locals don't come from 119 then you may get the new Slimline 3 LNB (99/101/103) as everything come from these 3 slots now.

Only exception would be if you are in one of the few markets with SD locals on 72.5 then you'd need a second dish, but those are being moved to the core slot soon. And if you don't care about SD locals then you don't even need it at all. I assume you aren't in one of those markets or else you would have mentioned it.

Most people I know with Dish have 2 dishes, but this will vary on your location.


c) For the two providers, do you own the receivers, or do you lease them? I don't think D* does anything other than equipment leasing, but I may be wrong.

DirecTV is leased. Which is fine by me, if it breaks they replace it at no cost other then maybe $20 shipping.


d) Would anyone agree with me that E* appears to offer more channels for less? That is why I selected E* back in 1998.

This really depends on what channels you want. I think in general the package costs are now very similar between the two, Dish a couple bucks cheaper generaly. But DirecTV by far carries more channels I care about the Dish doesn't have, especially HD.

Basically just print out both providers packages with prices and compare. Only you can really answer this question for yourself. Not much advice we can give you on this one.


e) Do you really think that E* is in serious financial trouble and will go out of business, or sellout to or merge with D*?

I'd highly doubt it. But if they have a few more quarters of sub loss or no sub growth they might start having problems. But frankly I don't see this as an issue if you want the Dish service anyway. If they go under 2 years from now then simply switch to D* or cable. No biggy.

a) What is the installation / startup cost difference between E* and D* for HD DVR setup?You've probably been away from E* long enough to be considered "born again". You'll likely get something very near a new customer deal.

On the DIRECTV side, you will be offered and new dish, one HD DVR for $100 or less and a 24 month commitment.
b) For the two providers HD service, how many antennas & LNB's will be installed?Can't say unless you offer up the region in which you reside. A ZIP code is often helpful here.
c) For the two providers, do you own the receivers, or do you lease them? I don't think D* does anything other than equipment leasing, but I may be wrong.Both offer leases by default.
d) Would anyone agree with me that E* appears to offer more channels for less? That is why I selected E* back in 1998.This depends on what channels appeal to you and how your desires line up with the respective company's bundling. This is something you can (and must) investigate on your own.
e) Do you really think that E* is in serious financial trouble and will go out of business, or sellout to or merge with D*?No.

On the DIRECTV side, you will be offered and new dish, one HD DVR for $100 or less and a 24 month commitment.Can't say unless you offer up the region in which you reside. A ZIP code is often helpful here.

40014 is my ZIP

a) What is the installation / startup cost difference between E* and D* for HD DVR setup?

Between $0 and $99 for both companies, depending on which fiscal quarter you call during. Currently I believe the deal is $99 for Ds HD DVR.... $49 for Es. Installation is free from both companies.

b) For the two providers HD service, how many antennas & LNB's will be installed?

No way to tell.... both companies have a 1 Dish solution.... but it depends not only on your area, but what kind of foliage and Line of Sight you have and your installer. Impossible for anyone on here to tell you whether you will 1 or 2 dishes.

c) For the two providers, do you own the receivers, or do you lease them? I don't think D* does anything other than equipment leasing, but I may be wrong.

D is lease when you order through them. E is lease by default too, but you DO have the option to purchase the receivers up front. No advantage to doing this as you're going to pay a monthly fee per receiver anyway (didn't use to be the case)....

d) Would anyone agree with me that E* appears to offer more channels for less? That is why I selected E* back in 1998.

Dish Network is, and for the most part, always has been just a bit cheaper, per channel. This depends on what channels are important to you however, since some channels that both companies carry might only be available in a package that is a tier up in terms of cost compared to the other company. For instance, if you have to have "The Pink Elephant Channel" and it is available in Ds entry level package, but only available from E in their Premium package, E is obviously not cheaper for you.

e) Do you really think that E* is in serious financial trouble and will go out of business, or sellout to or merge with D*?

No... E is going nowhere. Charlie MIGHT get out... but even that I doubt... he is such an egomaniac that I can not see him leaving Dish Network on such a downward trend. This company is HUGE... the doomsayers are just speculating on something that has less than a 1% chance of happening. In the end, money talks, and Charlie has plenty of it.

I'm not going to trash D..... but I feel the same way you do about their equipment. I have had several of their DVRs, and I have used their newer DVRs that everyone claims are "so much better"... yeah, so much better than the lump of poop that my previous D DVR was? I still think they are trash compared to Dish DVRs.... nothing out there compares to my 722 yet, and I hardly ever watch anything that I haven't recorded anymore, so this is a HUGE selling point for me.

Personally, I would wait on FIOS... it is still too new, and just like with every other technology, It is never to your advantage to jump on the bandwagon until the kinks have been worked out.

Do your self a big favor and switch back to dish network,their model 722 HD DVR is a much better reciever than what directv has.just look at all the problems directv hd dvr receivers have had recently.i would not trust any receiver that unreliable.

Fios has more bandwidth and a better picture, but Verizon's DVR is awful I hear...... You also only get one for teh whole house instead of each TV so your kids may zap your recordings with too many Spongebob timers..... Not ready for prime time yet....

But if they improve the DVR and put a massive drive in it, I might reconsider (oh and allow us to expand capacity with USB drives like E* as well)

Do your self a big favor and switch back to dish network,their model 722 HD DVR is a much better reciever than what directv has.just look at all the problems directv hd dvr receivers have had recently.i would not trust any receiver that unreliable.
I have had the HR series for two years. Out of those two years I have had 2 times that required me to reboot them, both within the past month. Other than that, I have had ZERO problems. No missed recordings, no locking up, no deleted favorites lists, nothing.

Fios has more bandwidth and a better picture, but Verizon's DVR is awful I hear...... You also only get one for teh whole house instead of each TV so your kids may zap your recordings with too many Spongebob timers..... Not ready for prime time yet....

But if they improve the DVR and put a massive drive in it, I might reconsider (oh and allow us to expand capacity with USB drives like E* as well)

FIOS is a pipedream for alot of folks outside the major metropolitan areas. It's a moot option for many of us, including me! The only viable viewing option for me is Satellite TV. Digital cable is available, but doesn't offer near the quantity of channels (HD included) than satellite, and is more expensive than satellite. That in addition to being a fomer analog cable TV subsriber who became very PO'd about their constant rate increases, ......... Well, as I said, Satellite TV is the only viable TV viewing option for me. I think I've decided to go back to Dish Network. I'm sure Charlie Ergen is cheering me on! Expect to give Charlie a call by 31 October.

Thanks for the feedback folks.

ciwsguy

Congrats, and I hope you enjoy it!

May I ask what made you decide to go with E*?

Out of those two years I have had 2 times that required me to reboot them, both within the past month.So in your experience are they getting better or worse with recent software releases?

So in your experience are they getting better or worse with recent software releases?
I think they are getting better, the last release perhaps wasnt the best example though (assuming it was causing the past two problems)

I think they are getting better, the last release perhaps wasnt the best example though (assuming it was causing the past two problems)

The 290 release is what had the fix it in to prevent the lockup's that occured back around October 6th, that's why D* pushed it out so quick after this past Tuesday's lockup.

The 290 release is what had the fix it in to prevent the lockup's that occured back around October 6th, that's why D* pushed it out so quick after this past Tuesday's lockup.
True, I wasnt clear, I meant the one before the last one. The 290 seems to be very good.

I think they are getting better, They can't get any worse!:yikes:devil:

They can't get any worse!:yikes:devil:

Sure they can. They could be like people say they were at release:D

Sure they can. They could be like people say they were at release:DYea That was bad. I'll admit they are way better then when they first came out. Way Better.:)

c) For the two providers, do you own the receivers, or do you lease them? I don't think D* does anything other than equipment leasing, but I may be wrong.

D is lease when you order through them. E is lease by default too, but you DO have the option to purchase the receivers up front. No advantage to doing this as you're going to pay a monthly fee per receiver anyway (didn't use to be the case)....
This is not true. You only pay a fee for Additional receivers. The first receiver (at least with Direct) has not monthly fee.

Do your self a big favor and switch back to dish network,their model 722 HD DVR is a much better reciever than what directv has.just look at all the problems directv hd dvr receivers have had recently.i would not trust any receiver that unreliable.
What problems would this be? I have had mine for 2 years and have not had a problem. My parents have a HR21 for a year and a HR20 for 3 years and have not had a problem. My sister has had a HR20 for 3 years and have not had a problem.

Dogerking, you have to admit that this month hasn't been a good one for the HR2X/R22 DVR's. First there was the guide data problem that locked up the vast majority of them back around 10/6 and then again this past Monday. Then after D* sent out the reboot command they decided to force a download of the 0x290 software which caused another reboot. But other then that they've been good.

Dogerking, you have to admit that this month hasn't been a good one for the HR2X/R22 DVR's. First there was the guide data problem that locked up the vast majority of them back around 10/6 and then again this past Monday. Then after D* sent out the reboot command they decided to force a download of the 0x290 software which caused another reboot. But other then that they've been good.
I have stated in other posts that this was the exception to the rule for me over two years. We have had negative posts about the HR's for years (most of them being post like the one I quoted...people who do not have the equipment themselves) and I, and everyone I know, have yet to have a problem with them, until this week. The issue, at least for me, only lasted about 5 minutes. I hit the red button, and it rebooted (not that big of a deal...once in 2 years for me).

Heck, my computers and my XM receiver have more problems than that. Does a once in a 2 year reboot, with no missed recording, no glitches, no lock ups, ex, mean that this equipment is bad? Not in my book. I have more issues with my TiVO on weekly basis than with my HR20 on an annual basis.

This is not true. You only pay a fee for Additional receivers. The first receiver (at least with Direct) has not monthly fee.

How is what I said not true? I don't dispute what you say, but I fail to see how I said anything untrue in my statement.

E* doesn't charge a lease fee for the first receiver either. So 2 rooms for free.

How is what I said not true? I don't dispute what you say, but I fail to see how I said anything untrue in my statement.
You said, "No advantage to doing this as you're going to pay a monthly fee per receiver anyway."

I was just pointing out that this is not true for the first receiver. You only pay a monthly fee for each ADDITIONAL receiver. It was simply a statement of clarity more than anything.

E* doesn't charge a lease fee for the first receiver either. So 2 rooms for free.

Thanks for clarifying. I referenced it by saying, "at least with Direct", because I was only 90% sure this was the case with Dish as well. I just didn't want to give any false info.

Congrats, and I hope you enjoy it!

May I ask what made you decide to go with E*?

I had them before for 8 years and was very pleased with it. Some people gripe about their customer service, but my experience was very good. E* hardware was much superior to the D*.

I have stated in other posts that this was the exception to the rule for me over two years. We have had negative posts about the HR's for years (most of them being post like the one I quoted...people who do not have the equipment themselves) and I, and everyone I know, have yet to have a problem with them, until this week. The issue, at least for me, only lasted about 5 minutes. I hit the red button, and it rebooted (not that big of a deal...once in 2 years for me).

Heck, my computers and my XM receiver have more problems than that. Does a once in a 2 year reboot, with no missed recording, no glitches, no lock ups, ex, mean that this equipment is bad? Not in my book. I have more issues with my TiVO on weekly basis than with my HR20 on an annual basis.

Well, the HR20 I have is a royal PITA. I get reboots every few weeks, most of the time during primetime viewing. Very frustrating..

Well, the HR20 I have is a royal PITA. I get reboots every few weeks, most of the time during primetime viewing. Very frustrating..

The same handful of guys on here post that their D DVRs are great and they have had no problems.... I guess I was just one of the unlucky ones that had 2 do the exact same thing... clunky as hell and the response I finally got out of D Customer Service was along the lines of:

"We know about the problem and expect it to be addressed in a future software update".

I had those boxes for 2 years and was still waiting on that "software update" when I cancelled and switched to Dish.

The same handful of guys on here post that their D DVRs are great and they have had no problems.... .

I could more or less say the same about most of the guys that say otherwise. Alot of the same posters (in some cases) saying the same thing over and over.

Look, I know that the people that post on here generally tend to post things that are wrong with a piece of equipment or service. Its how it is, people generally dont post to say everything is working as it should (unless they are asked, directly or indirectly). That is one reason people that just happen on a forum tend to think things are worse than they may actually be.

I was with E* for three and a half years. I had 2 622's. They were great, they didn't have a screen saver though. I switched to D* this past July. I have 2 HR21's and I haven't had any problems so I guess I have been lucky