The "Just switched to D*" bandwagon

[mattopia]

It seems like a lot of people have been switching lately -- I think the BSG premiere was a tipping point for a large number of people.

I thought it might be interesting to have a thread going where people can briefly share their reason for switching, how their install went, and compare the two services based on first impressions.

I've already stated that I switched and was happy in a few other threads, so I'll let someone else go first.

 

[nickg420]

Just switched, my install was on Saturday, The guy actually did it in the pouring rain. He was knowledgeable and had me up and running in about 2.5 hours. The issues I had posted earlier ended up being a non issue as he somehow managed to take care of the 2 wires needed for the HR-21 without drilling into any of my walls. I offered to buy him a biscuit, which he turned down, when I left to go get McDonald's breakfast shortly after he arrived...I assume he left happy I tipped $20...It was the I could do he was nice polite and worked in the pouring rain...

My first impressions are pretty much similar to others here HD channels are slightly better than dish on most and SD channels are hit and miss....I would assume highly watched channels are dedicated more bandwidth. My wife watched "Must Love Dogs" on Oxygen and the picture was not that good at all, but watching Fox News the picture was great..

I absolutely love the HR-21. The Media Player alone is worth the switch to me...The DVR functions pretty much the same and it does respond a bit slower than the 622. The On Demand service is awesome. I will get much use out of that...I just wish they would put Supernatural on there for my wife...

All and all I must say I completely happy with the switch and for a full year I'll be paying a little over half what I was with Dish for more channels. That's like putting money in my pocket and getting something in return for it....no brainer...

 

[ddinsm]

Switched back in February, but currently have DISH still active. I'm a 12 year customer and its hard for me to let go, heck I still the 501 in my wife Lisa's office with some movies on the PVR I haven't watched yet!!! It was actually Lisa I was most worried about, she loved the DISH PVR and I liked how I could route Output 2 threw the house via COAX. The UHF remote is awesome for controlling the TV in our bedroom and her office. I have this great little box that converts 3 red, white, and yellow inputs into coax and broadcasts on the house coax on channels 17,20 and 25. With the UHF remote I could sit in the hot tub and change the channel on old Sony TV.

Anyway, it is one huge setup that is taking time to figure out the best way to replace, but I will say its going better than I expected. Lisa hasn't even looked at the DISH receiver in over a week. I purchased this RF extender thing that replaces one of the batteries in the remote and I output from one of the receivers to channel 20 on my magic box.

My main reason for switching was NESN HD and I've seen so many great games in HD with the Extra Innings pak already that I'm very happy with the service, every time I call I get someone who is very helpful and the picture on all the HD channels is amazing. Can't wait to watch the Masters coverage starting Thursday and see what extra channels Direct is offering.

The only thing left on the Dish receiver is the fact I've "moved" to Chicago and can watch TV shows early. It was Boston but I'm sure those are being spot beamed soon so I relocated. If I can figure out a way to get East Coast locals and a OTA receiver (which I hear is coming) I'll be done with Dish, which is sad, and while I'm waiting I might finally watch those movies on the 501 and 622.

To make a long post even longer I have to give credit to everyone on this board who make it so people can get answers to questions, find out about new channels, and save you money or learn about new offers. It really is a great community.

 

[IceRunner]

I just switched last week for two reasons: NHL Network in SD and Extra Innings.

I like being able to program the DVR remotely on my computer.

Among the things I don't like compared to Dish:
* Channel switching takes longer;
* No PIP; and
* No button to easily switch from one tuner to the other.

 

[jcrandall]

If you switched just for BSG (scifi) than don't look now, rumor is that Dish will have it this week.

Don't worry - you'll be happier in the long run

If you switched for MLB EI - you'll be EXTREMELY happy withe the package this year! Almost everything is HD, and almost every game has two feeds!

 

[IcEWoLF]

If you switched just for BSG (scifi) than don't look now, rumor is that Dish will have it this week.

Don't worry - you'll be happier in the long run

If you switched for MLB EI - you'll be EXTREMELY happy withe the package this year! Almost everything is HD, and almost every game has two feeds!

We heard the same rumor for about the last year now Masterdeals.
LOL!
People kept saying next week for 5 months now, but it never came, and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't get SciFi-HD next week.

Cut the cord and let Dish Network go, they are drowning themselves in their own mess.

 

[ddinsm]

I'll be really happy when they release the OTA tuner, any word on it? Should I just order it online and hope the price is 59 when its released?? What was the website that was taking pre-orders?

 

[rad]

I'll be really happy when they release the OTA tuner, any word on it? Should I just order it online and hope the price is 59 when its released?? What was the website that was taking pre-orders?

This site, ValueElectronics Home page is taking preorders for $59.99 and they're good people to deal with. They're still saying May and they've started rolling out the software needed to support the AM21, which I'm testing as part of the early support group, and it works.

 

[GeneWildershair]

Just switched over from Comcast. Couldn't see paying what I was for a soon to be degraded PQ. I used to have Directv, years ago, some may remember me here in these forums, but most may not... I've been away since the demise of VOOM, anather service I had. Anyway, Directv installed today, and I have to say the Mpeg4 HD is every bit as good, if not better *with some channels* than I recieved with Comcast! Impressed with that, and the fact that I have so much more HD to choose from now. BUT, about an hour after the installer left, I keep getting a 771 error, (searching for satellite) on many HD channels. It's funny because I can tune into a channel just fine one minute switch channels come back and it "searches for satellites", Then tune back to the other I was just on and it "searches for satellites", then go back to the one that wasn't working, and bam it works!!! Very frustrating. I've got someone coming back out tomorrow, hopefully they can fix this. Anyone else experience something like this? I don't think it's a signal quality issue, because when it finally tunes in, it doesn't pixelate or tune out.

 

[Mark Strube]

I just switched from Dish to DirecTV today... loving it. Install took a little while but that's because the installer had to run a 4th line from the new dish, and we have the line buried out to our backyard shed... the family is anal about the dish being on the house. My only gripe is the HD boxes are a tiny bit slow, but it's the only gripe. I must say, both SD and HD picture quality is a few steps above E*. They seem to allot more bandwidth to their SD stations, and their HD encoding is a notch above as well. (Both the E* and the D* receivers were set for 1080i only and used component going into a properly calibrated 1080p Sony SXRD... so things don't look better just because I have a shiny new box. D* actually has better picture quality.)

I just got off the phone with an "account specialist" at Dish, wow they are annoying to deal with - I practically had to get in a debate with the guy of E* Vs D*... interesting that they transfer you to the clear-speaking call center when they think you'll leave.

 

[jcrandall]

We heard the same rumor for about the last year now Masterdeals.
LOL!
People kept saying next week for 5 months now, but it never came, and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't get SciFi-HD next week.

Cut the cord and let Dish Network go, they are drowning themselves in their own mess.

This time the tri-fecta of NBC Universal channels made it to Scott's signature, and the bandwith used for the uplinked but not available channels surged from dish network slate to actual content a few days ago.

I think it is almost time for Dish to do something.

Either way, you guys are better off for having switched

 

[ddinsm]

This site, ValueElectronics Home page is taking preorders for $59.99 and they're good people to deal with. They're still saying May and they've started rolling out the software needed to support the AM21, which I'm testing as part of the early support group, and it works.

Just ordered it, perfect.... thanks

 

[TenaciousJoker]

Switched today, installer got here two hours earlier than the install window. Only took an hour and a half to install, he even put in a new pole for no extra charge. Took a quick look and PQ looks a lot better on D* than it does on E*. My main reasons for switching were BSG (yes, I'm one of THOSE people), all of the Star Wars flicks on Spike HD, and it will cost me $30 less per month with more channels SD and HD alike. Basically saving $30 was the main thing, but having more HD on a 56" DLP isn't bad either.

BTW, Revenge of the Sith was on this afternoon on Spike HD, and it looked BETTER than the DVD!

 

[rad]

If you haven't already can you please vote at http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-ne...between-two-dbs-companies-since-3-1-08-a.html if you've switched from E* to D* since 3/1? Thanks

 

[GeneWildershair]

Just switched over from Comcast. Couldn't see paying what I was for a soon to be degraded PQ. I used to have Directv, years ago, some may remember me here in these forums, but most may not... I've been away since the demise of VOOM, anather service I had. Anyway, Directv installed today, and I have to say the Mpeg4 HD is every bit as good, if not better *with some channels* than I recieved with Comcast! Impressed with that, and the fact that I have so much more HD to choose from now. BUT, about an hour after the installer left, I keep getting a 771 error, (searching for satellite) on many HD channels. It's funny because I can tune into a channel just fine one minute switch channels come back and it "searches for satellites", Then tune back to the other I was just on and it "searches for satellites", then go back to the one that wasn't working, and bam it works!!! Very frustrating. I've got someone coming back out tomorrow, hopefully they can fix this. Anyone else experience something like this? I don't think it's a signal quality issue, because when it finally tunes in, it doesn't pixelate or tune out.

Update:

Today I had an installer come out, and he tested everything for me, and right away knew my problem was a bad LNB. He changed it, and everything is working fine now. Man I can't help but kick myself for not coming to back to Directv sooner. I just can't get over the amount of HD channels here.

 

[icelite]

Well I made the switch last month, the 21st of March was my installation date. The install went great and only took them about 1.5 hours.

What made me switch was the following reasons:

ScifiHD, SpeedHD and MGMHD (already have recorded many programs on my DVR)
Promotions in price for a year
Co-workers with D*
Actually getting ABC HD in my market (with E* they only had NBC,FOX and CBS...no ABC HD)
ESPNewsHD "coming on April 2nd" (now have it and love it)

Now I am watching BSG in HD along with many other programs. The kids love the nick and disney HD.

 

[markd]

Just switched myself. D* customer service has improved 100% from when I had it last time. At least for the install. They called me three or four times to check if the installer had arrived and hows his progress.

Also, the installer left the local number to call for service if I need it.

I really haven't had time to sit down and see how the new mpeg-4 channels look. The HD channels in the 70s range still look the same as they did about four years ago (soft). I assume they are still mpeg-2.

 

[rad]

I really haven't had time to sit down and see how the new mpeg-4 channels look. The HD channels in the 70s range still look the same as they did about four years ago (soft). I assume they are still mpeg-2.

Yep, they are. The same channels in the other numbers, like HBO-HD at 501 is just a mirror of 70, same physical channel.

 

[Cincyray]

Switched in December because of the year promo price. I love Direct over D i will have no problem paying the full price after the year. Nor do i mind the 2 year contract so far the product is much better than expected.

 

[jcrandall]

This time the tri-fecta of NBC Universal channels made it to Scott's signature, and the bandwith used for the uplinked but not available channels surged from dish network slate to actual content a few days ago.

I think it is almost time for Dish to do something.

Either way, you guys are better off for having switched

Don't usually quote myself - but it looks like Dish flopped another week with no new national HD.