Moved to Directv from Dish Network

[toddjb]

Great thread. I am one Dish CS call away from leaving them. Their fees and CS is awful. The reps don't even try to be polite to long time high content subscribers. They are awful.

I'll see how my current issue goes and keep my eye on D*. I'm glad Charlie wasn't able to buy D* and screw up it's CS as well...

 

[SpaethCo]

After 7 years of subscribing to Dish with upper-end packages (Everything Pack, TurboHD Gold, and AT250 or whatever that started out as) I switched to DirecTV last month for a few reasons:

- The HR24 finally presented a decent choice for DirecTV for receiver usability (I'm spoiled coming from the ViP series)
- DirecTV matched Dish's FreeHD for Life promotion
- MRV allowed me to bump up to 4 recording tuners and I can watch HD programming on all TVs. This is huge!
- The new subscriber discounts were too deep to pass up (referral, FreeHD, $29 first year / $14 second year, etc)

As a NHL Center Ice subscriber, it was easy to give Dish a pass on part-time RSNs in previous years because so many games simply weren't being produced in HD. Last year it just got too frustrating with how many HD games Dish missed that my friends with DirecTV had. People say DirecTV is the obvious choice for sports, but when I started out down this road it was only Dish who was showing both home and away games on Center Ice. HD is a game changer, so much so that I subscribed to satellite service from our northern neighbors to add more games in HD.

I honestly thought Dish would start addressing their HD RSN coverage before the start of next season, but the final straw for me was seeing they added more HD PPV channels after the last couple satellite launches and are still broadcasting some games with HD coverage in SD only. When the Charlie Chat said "maybe next year we'll have more HD on RSNs" that sealed the deal for me signing up for DirecTV.

 

[spokybob]

I'm one of the "other" guys. I've always wanted more choices. I had added a second HDTV and was thinking about a third. DISH still does not deliver HD locals in the Davenport IA DMA and even though I had an antenna hooked into my 622, the locals were not delivered to TV2, not even in SD. DIRECTV solved all those issues and I am now enjoying whole home viewing on three HD sets and I have the Smithsonian channel back...
My 622DVR had some quirks, and the replacement developed the same quirks. A small fan sucking cool air through the unit helped a lot. I did not have problems with DISH customer service.

 

[satjay]

Call me crazy unless folks keep it to themselves, alot of switiching going on in the past week??

 

[Mr Tony]

yep. A fair amount of folks moving to D*

 

[Rey]

i voted for all the above. made the move over 2 years ago and have never looked back!

 

[tigerfan33]

It will be interesting to see the numbers for this quarter from both sat companys. Looks like a lot of satguys have made the switch to Direct. Will be interesting to compare REAL world numbers.

 

[MikeFr]

I labeled my reason as Equipment fees because the fee to have a tech come out to move me to EA was the catalyst in searching for a new option.

I was never going to pay to have them move the dish knowing that they'd soon either do it for free for all or eventually fix the 61.5 issues. Been w/ them for 10 years, $90-100 a month.

Originally I looked into cable but even their triple pay $99 deals were more expensive than my then current setup.

The $29 off for the first year will help with budget issues that even I tend to ignore when it comes to entertainment spending, but paying just $5-6 more a month in the 2nd year will be tolerable because I'll finally have Rangers games and all Mets games in Hi-Def.

A week after cancelling dish I received a letter from them offering $10 off for 12 months, a bit late, but I wouldn't have taken the offer even before I cancelled, just wanted the install to be free.

Going back to Dish ever in the future could only happen if they get local rsn's in HD.

 

[fero]

I switched a while ago when they dropped Gol TV.
But I liked Dish as much as Direct. As a matter of fact, I still miss their DVR, too bad that they had to drop my favorite channel.

 

[88isgreat]

I switched to D* back in 02 for one reason - YES Network!
I want to watch the Yankees and still would not be able to if I sayed with E*.

 

[DodgerKing]

It will be interesting to see the numbers for this quarter from both sat companys. Looks like a lot of satguys have made the switch to Direct. Will be interesting to compare REAL world numbers.

Those on here tend to do things before the rest of the public or tend to do things outside of the parameters of the population. Dish will probably still have a strong 3 quarter.

 

[SpaethCo]

Those on here tend to do things before the rest of the public or tend to do things outside of the parameters of the population. Dish will probably still have a strong 3 quarter.

I don't know -- that FreeHD promo may have backfired if I judge simply by the folks at work who are switching.

Dish had the $99 up-front for existing customers who didn't already have the $10 HD&Platinum pack to get FreeHD, meanwhile you could sign up for DirecTV and get FreeHD, save a boatload of cash in new subscriber credits, and end up with lower receiver lease costs.

 

[goaliebob99]

One of many reasons is people are tired of charlies excueses when it comes to channel negotations. I also switched becasue of the lack of HDRSN's.

 

[XMichigan]

I switched to Direct a year ago. My monthly just went to 100.88. BUT I found that Direct's HD receiver per the two installers, wouldn't accept a roof antenna so I lost a couple dozen local stations from Detroit, Lansing etc. because the Dish receiver integrated the roof antenna and I could see all the locals. Direct gives a few locals and just the main signals. Why should I not switch back to Dish if I want locals? Was I lied to by Direct and I should be able to receive all OTA stations in my area?

 

[Mr Tony]

If you have a AM21 tuner added to the HD receiver/DVR you can get your OTA channels

 

[crimpshrine]

So Ice or anybody else, is there any chance of getting an AM21 free during my install?

I have an antenna connected to my 722 Dish receiver and would love to have that option on my Directv receiver..If I have to pay later down the road, it's no biggie but it would be great to have an added bonus!

 

[DJ Lon]

I like my D* set-up so far but I do have to admit I'm having an issue: I can't use on demand. When I try to select a program it says "would you like to add this channel?" instead of adding it to queue. Tech support says this is a known issue and engineering is working on it. The HR24 and H24 are awesome and I can finally see HD content on my 2nd HD TV.

I just wish there was some way I could access all of the Dish programming I had archived on 3 external USB hard drives or re-use them for D* instead of having to purchase new eSATAs.

 

[Poke]

Well 1st do not like cable tv I think it's behind the times so forth and the same with telco's as well which is like FOIS. Was with Dish for like 6yrs it was a good service but it seem liked they were having to many contract issues so forth. I was at the point I was wanting to get on a HDDVR Dish was going to charge me $100 to $200 to get on one. So I thought well Direct has somethings I like and Dish has not offered yet plus I could get a HDDVR for free. So I made the switch and glad I did.

I like Directs receivers allot better smaller and some really cool features like the Apps so forth.Locals on the 8's work with Direct to where on Dish seem like it never did. Also like their website allot better easier to get around and their guide on their site is easy as well. Like it that I can watch my recordings from any room or MVR. Also it seem Direct does a better job with their picks of channels in their plans. I get some channels on Direct that I did not with Dish I would have had to be on one plan higher with Dish.Also so far it seems Direct HD PQ has been better and their also ahead in 3D as well. Like it that I can record something and it Does Not tie up any of my Tv's. Overall just a better product and right now I think their the best provider out there. Had a good friend over tonight who is a Direct installer he said they been real busy working late. Either way go with what you like but for now I think Direct's is doing it right.. Just my 2 cents..

 

[XMichigan]

Thanx Iceberg. Looks good. We don't own the receivers under the contract and this looks like a purchase...but it would resolve the problem.

 

[Poke]

Let us know how your install goes!

For me if I was going to cancel, I would be doing so because of the equipment fees. I was lucky this time and was able to drop my bill down by removing programming I never watched, however the next time DISH jack things up I will consider moving to DIRECTV.

Yeah Scott you need to join the Empire.