Former Dish Sub - considering sat again

[varaonaid]

Hi,

I was a Dish subscriber off and on (due to various location) for over 4 years. Then I moved to an area that offered decent cable with a few HD channels and free HD equipment (with a lot of trees making a self install difficult) and switched over to Time Warner. However, TWC has only added a handful of HD channels and I see that E* offers 35-40 with D* hoping to add many soon.

My question is, is this a good time to return to Dish? Is anything coming up soon that could make any differences? Can E*'s current bandwidth match what D* is promising before the end of the year?

The second part to that question is what is the "typical" HD upgrade deal for former customers? What should I expect? Will I have a lot of upfront fees? Do they lease equipment or sell it? What's the best way to get upgrade info? If it makes any difference, I do still have my old equipment. It's SD only but we own it free and clear (the receiver/card and dish itself).

Thanks so much in advance! I look forward to your replies.

 

[richiephx]

I would wait to see what both D* and E* do over the next 4 months before I committed to anything. By year end, we should know the details better.

 

[KAB]

I would wait to see what both D* and E* do over the next 4 months before I committed to anything. By year end, we should know the details better.

If D* ever exceeds E* (and you need to careful about what D* claims will be HD), E* will catch up or exceed. The equipment of itself is the main reason to go with Dish. I would not hesitate.

 

[varaonaid]

If D* ever exceeds E* (and you need to careful about what D* claims will be HD), E* will catch up or exceed. The equipment of itself is the main reason to go with Dish. I would not hesitate.

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if you could elaborate more on the equipment issue and why it's the main reason to go with Dish. Is E*'s equipment superior to D*? If so, can you please explain why? (I like to learn!)

Thanks in advance!

 

[GeorgeLV]

Where do you live?

DirecTV currently has HD locals in about twice as many markets as Dish Network and that may be a huge consideration if you can't get OTA.

 

[KAB]

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if you could elaborate more on the equipment issue and why it's the main reason to go with Dish. Is E*'s equipment superior to D*? If so, can you please explain why? (I like to learn!)

Thanks in advance!

Better features, more dependable, FREE to new subs. Nuff said?

 

[sprintcarcrazy]

The Dish 622/722 DVR is a much better receiver than the Direct DVR. Request the 722 DVR for your HDTV. Run it in single mode for most options and get an additional receiver(s) for your other TV's.

 

[varaonaid]

Where do you live?

DirecTV currently has HD locals in about twice as many markets as Dish Network and that may be a huge consideration if you can't get OTA.

I live in Southern NH and qualify for the Boston locals with either E* or D*and both offer HD locals in that market. I'll likely be moving next year to upstate VT and neither one offers HD locals there (though I remember a press release from Dish where the Burlington VT market was supposed to be in the next group of HD local upgrades after the initial few were brought online).

Better features, more dependable, FREE to new subs. Nuff said?

Sounds good, with one possible caveat. As I mentioned, I'm not a new subscriber. I used to be a E* sub for 4 years and for the last 3 have had cable. What can I expect for an upgrade deal?

The Dish 622/722 DVR is a much better receiver than the Direct DVR. Request the 722 DVR for your HDTV. Run it in single mode for most options and get an additional receiver(s) for your other TV's.

I'd love to hear more about why the 622/722 is better than the D* HD DVR. That's a good idea to simply get another receiver for a second tv. The monthly fee remains the same as simply using the second tuner in the 622/722, correct? If I don't get that receiver when I first start back up with E*, what should I expect in terms of adding it on at a later date? Another contract? Is there a lease option or would I have to purchase?

Many thanks for all the replies!

 

[GeorgeLV]

I'd love to hear more about why the 622/722 is better than the D* HD DVR.

Well, they're better because E* leases them for free. In terms of realized features, the I'd argue the D* HR20 is slightly ahead because true VOD and media share from your PC network are fairly well implemented.

In any case, why not wait a few days and see what D* rolls out and what E* responds with.