DVR: DishNetwork or DirecTV or ??? + other questions...

[joeyjojo]

We've been with DirecTV for a few years. It's OK. We just have one TV hooked up.

We'd now like to upgrade. Ideally, we'd like a set up where:

- 2 (or 3) TVs
- 2 TVs able to view content from the DVR

And I'm just completely confused as to what to go with.

For starters, any comparisons between the two provider's DVR systems? I haven't been able to find much in the way of recent reviews of what Dish is offering in terms of the interface and ease of use.

If we want to watch TV from the DVR from two TVs, do we need two separate DVRs? That seems less than ideal, as then we need to maintain them both in terms of setting up recording. Ideally, we'd have one 'main' DVR that any of the TVs could access.

Programming in general...is there really much of a difference? The channels we mainly watch are:
- all the locals
- Nick
- Comedy Central
- HGTV
- USA
- TLC
- Discovery
- Travel
- Food
- IFC (The only one I'd REALLY miss not having...)

Local channels...what's the deal with Dish? I'm seeing news reports saying that they don't carry them anymore after Dec 1 of '06. Is that true? Their website still advertises them.

HD...we don't have HD yet, and likely won't for another year or so. So, by then it'll probably be time for us to reconsider again. That said, my parents have HD via DirectTV and it doesn't really seem to be worth it, as they get maybe 6 channels at the moment (minus the premium channels).

Sports...I'm an odd guy. I can live without the sports packages. ;o)

Any advice appreciated!

 

[FavreJL04]

EQUIPMENT: It seems as though Dish has a better setup for DVRs as they seem more realiable and have the ability to do two TVs independently where the DTV DVR can only do one. DTV is also having software issues with their first non-Tivo DVR unit, although results seem to vary. Right now I would say the edge goes to DISH.

PROGRAMMING: Both providers pretty much carry the same channels. They just package them differently. DISH always seems to have at least one issue a year where they can't come to terms with a network causing it to be removed for a time. DTV doesn't seem to have that problem. I would have to give DTV the edge here though.

LOCAL CHANNELS: Most markets are covered by local channels. I believe there are a few that only DISH has and a few that only DTV has. The local channels are not what DISH had a problem with on DEC 1, 2006. That was the distant networks that were provided since DISH couldn't follow the rules properly. DISH still has them available through a different company. DTV has always followed the rules so they can provide them within. I would give DTV the edge here, unless your market is only covered by DISH.

HD: I am not too familiar with HD. What I do know is that DISH has a lot more programming available for HD right now than DTV does. I hear DTV is coming out with a lot more in the next year, but that is heresay. DISH gets my vote here.

SPORTS: DTV has more sports packages than DISH. DTV has the NFL Sunday Ticket and the new NASCAR Season Pass exclusively. I heard through the rumor mill that the MLB may be headed down that same path. If you can't live without your sports packages then DTV is the one for you. They have, by far, the most sports programming available.

That's about all I can tell you. I am a happy DTVer. My analysis is not biased, but I have had DTV for almost a year now and am happy with it. I have never had DISH before.

DISH seems to have a ton more BS fees and charges though than DTV does.

Give www.dishnetwork.com and www.directv.com a looksy. There is a wealth of information on each site.

 

[cobra2225]

We've been with DirecTV for a few years. It's OK. We just have one TV hooked up.

We'd now like to upgrade. Ideally, we'd like a set up where:

- 2 (or 3) TVs
- 2 TVs able to view content from the DVR

And I'm just completely confused as to what to go with.

For starters, any comparisons between the two provider's DVR systems? I haven't been able to find much in the way of recent reviews of what Dish is offering in terms of the interface and ease of use.

If we want to watch TV from the DVR from two TVs, do we need two separate DVRs? That seems less than ideal, as then we need to maintain them both in terms of setting up recording. Ideally, we'd have one 'main' DVR that any of the TVs could access.

Programming in general...is there really much of a difference? The channels we mainly watch are:
- all the locals
- Nick
- Comedy Central
- HGTV
- USA
- TLC
- Discovery
- Travel
- Food
- IFC (The only one I'd REALLY miss not having...)

Local channels...what's the deal with Dish? I'm seeing news reports saying that they don't carry them anymore after Dec 1 of '06. Is that true? Their website still advertises them.

HD...we don't have HD yet, and likely won't for another year or so. So, by then it'll probably be time for us to reconsider again. That said, my parents have HD via DirectTV and it doesn't really seem to be worth it, as they get maybe 6 channels at the moment (minus the premium channels).

Sports...I'm an odd guy. I can live without the sports packages. ;o)

Any advice appreciated!

don't forget dish will charge you extra if you don't keep a landline connected to your reciever,directv doesn't charge this fee.

 

[FavreJL04]

Yeah...that's one of the BS fees I was referring to. So you could end up paying your $5 mirrorring fee PLUS another $5 no phone line fee. So get 4 receivers and you pay an extra 30 bucks in fees. Cable isn't even that bad.

 

[GaryPen]

Dish two-tuner DVR's can connect to two TV's independantly, and allow independant viewing on each TV.

With DirecTV DVR's, you can connect to two TV's, but you will be limited to watching the same thing on both TV's. Even though they have 2 tuners, and can record 2 programs simultaneously, you can only play back one at a time.

Dish has a big advantage there, if you need independant viewing. With DirecTV, you'd need a separate DVR at each TV.

In defense of DirecTV, even with a rise in bug reports for their new line of DVR's, their DVR's are no buggier than Dish's, which has a long history of releasing buggy equipment. In fact, when Dish finally irons all the bugs out of a particular model, they usually discontinue it and release a new bug-ridden model. It's their way.

 

[joeyjojo]

Why couldn't these companies just realize Tivo already had it figured out instead of reinventing the wheel!? ;o)

So, it looks like Dish might have the edge. The one tuner = 2 TVs sounds nice. How does that work remote-control-wise? Is there a receiver for the remote signal that connects to the DVR on the other TV?

The BS fees scare me a bit. I'll have to look into those in more detail. We do have a land line (We use DSL for internet) so perhaps that won't be a huge deal.

 

[GaryPen]

The dual-tuner Dish DVR has two remotes. Remote 1 is infra-red (IR), and used in the same room as the receiver. Remote 2 uses radio signals (RF) to control the receiver from the other room.

 

[joeyjojo]

Any idea on the range of the radio remote? Ideally, we'd have the DVR upstairs (family room), and the second TV in the basement (excercise room) with one floor in between (main floor).

 

[GaryPen]

I couldn't tell you. I don't actually own a Dish DVR. Hopefully someone you does will chime in about the RF remote range.

You could try asking in the Dish DVR forum.

 

[FavreJL04]

Why couldn't these companies just realize Tivo already had it figured out instead of reinventing the wheel!? ;o)

So, it looks like Dish might have the edge. The one tuner = 2 TVs sounds nice. How does that work remote-control-wise? Is there a receiver for the remote signal that connects to the DVR on the other TV?

The BS fees scare me a bit. I'll have to look into those in more detail. We do have a land line (We use DSL for internet) so perhaps that won't be a huge deal.

DEFINITELY take a look at any fees they can charge you for. As far as I remember, DTV has fewer and lower fees on non-obvious stuff (cancellation, late, programming changes, etc...) That is a good part why I chose DTV over DISH. Each website does have the fees listed somewhere so they are documented. Take a look at all of them and see how they apply now and think of other possible scenarios where they may come into play.

 

[GaryPen]

Dish BS fees:
DVR fee PER RECEIVER $6 (vs. Direct DVR fee is per household)
Programming Downgrade or "Sidegrade": $5 (no charge to upgrade)
Lease fee: $6 (sometimes waived for 1st receiver)

There are probably more. Plus, they are strict with them too. OTOH, I often read stories of DirecTV waiving fees and giving credits if you call and complain. Dish rarely does that. If you're lucky, they'll send a PPV coupon.

 

[SatinKzo]

The RF on 622 seems to work quite well and has a decent range, but each home is different. I know of at least one person who used the old cable TV coax in his house and all through the walls, hooked it to his RF antenna input so he had one big antenna for his secondary remote. No idea if it actually improved anything but he said it worked great.

 

[Todd Humphrey]

Yeah...that's one of the BS fees I was referring to. So you could end up paying your $5 mirrorring fee PLUS another $5 no phone line fee. So get 4 receivers and you pay an extra 30 bucks in fees. Cable isn't even that bad.

Dish does not charge extra if you do not have a phone line. They give you a discount if you do have a phone line, which offsets the "mirroring fee" as you call it. Up until Dish released their dual tuner receivers, you always paid a additional outlet fee for each additional receiver. With a 322, 625, or 622 they are reducing the monthly fee if you provide a phone connection.

If you have a 322 with a phone line connection, you get two room service for the price of single room system.

How is that BS?

I agree that the DVR fee is BS, and I think it will go away within a year or two.

 

[Todd Humphrey]

The RF on 622 seems to work quite well and has a decent range, but each home is different. I know of at least one person who used the old cable TV coax in his house and all through the walls, hooked it to his RF antenna input so he had one big antenna for his secondary remote. No idea if it actually improved anything but he said it worked great.

Using a coax to extend the RF remote range will not work by itself. The shield on the coax blocks the UHF. The only antenna would be the exposed center conductor on the other end. You can use a F-81 and move the UHF antenna to the other end of the coax. That works very well.
You can also use the coax back feed to the 2nd TV to carry the UHF from the 2nd to the receiver. I have a 2nd TV backfeed over 400' in cable length that works very well. Needed an amp to boost the UHF TV channel 21, but the remote worked.

 

[GaryPen]

I used to use a length of RG-59 and an F barrel connector to extend the little UHF antenna from behind my old Dish DVR in the entertainment center, and taped it to the back of one of my tower speakers. It definitely helped the range of the remote.

I don't have any of the current models, so I'm not familiar with their range.

 

[Todd Humphrey]

Sometimes you have to get the antenna away from other devices. When you place the receiver inside an entertainment center, under a TV, the UHF has trouble getting to the antenna, or there is so much interferance the UHF receiver inside the satellite receiver is overloaded with noise.

 

[joeyjojo]

I played with the DVR today at radio shack. I'm impressed! Not too shabby.

I'm still a little confused by their web site, though. How does the hardware work? Do you just rent it with the monthly progrmaming? OR do you buy the hardware up front?

 

[Todd Humphrey]

If you are a new customer you can lease or buy. The lease is FREE with 18 month commitment.
Existing customers can do a dish-it-up program where they pay a small fee (with signed 18 month agreement), or you can buy it.

I STRONGLY suggest you use a local dealer. If that RS is non-corporate owned, and they use their own installer or a local sub, then use them. Just avoid large stores who use dish corp installers.

If you cannot get the phone number of the person who is going to come out to install your system, then find another dealer. That way you know who to call when you have troubles. You NEVER want to call dish or dtv when you have a problem. At least not until you have talked to your local installer first.


http://www.dbsinstall.com/Search/installersearch2.asp

 

[GaryPen]

OTOH, my local Dish retailer/installer sucked. I had to re-do everything myself.

 

[cybok0]

Dish two-tuner DVR's can connect to two TV's independantly, and allow independant viewing on each TV.

With DirecTV DVR's, you can connect to two TV's, but you will be limited to watching the same thing on both TV's. Even though they have 2 tuners, and can record 2 programs simultaneously, you can only play back one at a time.

Dish has a big advantage there, if you need independant viewing. With DirecTV, you'd need a separate DVR at each TV.

In defense of DirecTV, even with a rise in bug reports for their new line of DVR's, their DVR's are no buggier than Dish's, which has a long history of releasing buggy equipment. In fact, when Dish finally irons all the bugs out of a particular model, they usually discontinue it and release a new bug-ridden model. It's their way.

I don't know about Dish but with Directv you can have up to 10 dvrs(might be more) and still only pay one DVR fee, same price for 1 or 10.

So a DVR in multiple rooms shouldn't be a problem, I have 3 getting my 4th soon.