|   Help me Decide: DirecTV or Dish Network??? | Chris009
Oct 22, 2002 9:08 PM | | For better Picture and Sound, I have decided to go satellite. I will be needing 3 receivers but it doesn't have to be a HDTV tuner or a DVR/PVR...just need a receiver to start off with. By the way, are these receivers free as part of some offers/packages? that's what the $5 fee for right? Which one do you prefer DirectTv or Dish Network? and Why? I wanted the Direct TV coz of the NBA league pass but it looks like more people prefer Dish Network rather than DirecTV. If this is so, how come there seem to be more DirectTV receivers out on the Market than Dish Network (especially HDTV receivers/tuners). Dish Network have 7 satellites but DirectTV only have 3. Is this right? |
| re: Help me Decide: DirecTV or Dish Network??? | caddyman
Oct 23, 2002 7:59 AM | | IO am looking right now too and I have TIVO, so I have been told that i have to go the way of Direct. Something to think about if you want to get TIVO |
| You've been misled, caddyman | woodman
Oct 23, 2002 8:42 AM | | Whoever told you that you HAD to go with DirecT instead of Dish in order to use TiVo, is dead flat WRONG. They either don't know any better or they have some agenda of some sort that they're not mentioning.
As far as making a choice between the two systems, it's a "no-brainer" in my book. Echostar (Dish) is run with some business ethics and morals - DirecT isn't! They don't even have Customer Support people working for them ... that function is "farmed out" to an independent company!
Furthermore, IF the merger of the two is indeed dead (as it appears to be), then chances are really, really good that Rupert Murdoch will succeed in buying DirecTV from Hughes, and if that happens, lotsaluck to all the DirecT subscribers. They'll have to contend with one of the world's top mercenaries who'll put the screws to 'em in a heartbeat if doing so will improve the ol' "bottom-line".
Go with Dish - you will be FAR better off, IMO
woodman |
| You've been misled, caddyman | caddyman
Oct 23, 2002 11:08 AM | | Woodman - I was told by several Direct TV/Dish salesmen that if I have a TIVO player, it is not compatable with Dish. I would like to get Dish because it seems like they have a better deal right now. I have Comcast Digital Cable right now and the picture is horrible. I have tried using a signal booster, but it didn't help. I am giving the cable tech one last shot this weekend to fix the picture, if he can't I'm gonna geta dish.
Woodman - which Dish receiver would you recommend for my home theater set up, and is there anything more I should know in regard to the way it is hooked up to the TIVO player? Thanks again for your help. |
| Booster will not help picture quality. | KiD SmokE
Oct 23, 2002 11:22 AM | | Since you have digital cable, your booster is useless. You either will get the picture or not.....nothing in between.
I have TiVo version of dish network (Dish Player 500) and it is great. Not only it have recording capability, but also have Dolby Digital output via Optical output. Dish network have new Dish Player out called PV501 so try to get that one.
Their promotion differ from time to time concerning new customers, so check yours out locally. The picture quality is awesome, even on basic commercial channels. |
| Booster will not help picture quality. | caddyman
Oct 23, 2002 12:01 PM | | but what if i already have a TIVO player, can it be incorporated to the DISH reveiver? |
| Well, yes and no..... | KiD SmokE
Oct 23, 2002 1:32 PM | | You can incorporate TiVo with any analog source no matter if it is Satellite, or Cable, but it have to be in analog domain only.
But if you get a PV501 from Dish network, you can record shows in digital domain (only from satellite) on PV501 meaning the recorded picture quality is better than TiVo since two signal conversions (analog to digital, and back to analog) are eliminated with DishPlayer. |
| Directv Tivo has two tuners... | IsmaVA
Oct 24, 2002 7:14 AM | | ...which means that you can record two different shows, while watching a previously recorded one. Plus you can rewind and pause two shows at the same time. Last time I check Dish tivo can not do that.
In deciding which service to use my advice have always been that you should look at what you will be watching and what price you will be paying for it, since both systems are basically the same.
Personally, I disregard Woodman's rantings about Directv, since I have not had any problems with Directv, but that is just me. Plus Dish is no angel company, either.
My $0.02 |
| All I care about is picture quality :) | KiD SmokE
Oct 24, 2002 2:27 PM | | As of now DirectTV have only one satellite for their regular customers, where Dish have two satellite configuration. To me, two satellite mean better picture quality since more bandwidth is available. I have never been happier with my picture quality (you know how fussy I am about picture quality) from DishNetwork, even on basic channels :) |
| But Smoke . .. | IsmaVA
Oct 25, 2002 7:19 AM | | Directv has a multisatellite service, and even if you are comparing Directv's one satellite service with Dish's two satellite, the "two sat means better picture" argument is not really true.
Anyway, if you are happy . . . that is all that matters . .
:-) |
| Let that be a lesson for you ... | woodman
Oct 24, 2002 3:30 PM | | ... don't put any faith in what you might be told by a "salesman". More often than not, they don't actually KNOW much of anything at all about that which they sell! Perhaps they're saying that you can't record directly off the satellite - but your TiVo won't record directly off a satellite either - whether it's DirecT or Dish either one - doesn't matter. There are such things as DirecTiVo units that WILL record the sat signal from DirecTV directly, but that's a whole other can-o-worms. That would force you to use DirecT as your sat provider, and I strongly urge you to avoid doing that. It's not an honorable company now, and if it gets bought by ol' Rupert, things could get even worse!
I'd recommend a PVR-508 - which is a combination satellite receiver/hard disc recorder. Since you already have a TiVo, you could opt for just a bare bones model like the 301 - but if it was me, I'd get the PVR-508 and sell the TiVo. There are several reasons why.
If you DO decide to go with Dish Network, e-mail me and I'll get you set up with a FREE system.
woodman
The e-mail address is: woodman@pe.net |
| Let that be a lesson for you ... | caddyman
Oct 25, 2002 6:38 AM | | I may be interested in your idea of selling my TIVO and going with Dish Network. How much will the receiver you are recommending cost me? I have the Comcast Digital cable guys comingover tomorrow to give them one last shot at getting my picture cleaned up. If they are unsuccessful, they are gone. |
| Caddyman, go to your local Sears. | KiD SmokE
Oct 25, 2002 1:14 PM | | Right now they are offering two receiver deal (one of them is PVR) for one time fee of $100 which include free installation and first month of programing free. |
| Give Comcast cable a chance? Whatinthehell for? | woodman
Oct 25, 2002 4:15 PM | | My "deal" is even better than what SmokE suggests that Sears will give you - unless you're gonna buy ALL of the programming available. If that were the case, then a free month of programming could be worth $75-80 ... possibly even more. If you're looking for programming at a much lower rate than that, then I can beat the deal from Sears.
woodman
P.S. The PVR-508 is a $50 "upgrade" |
| Give Comcast cable a chance? Whatinthehell for? | caddyman
Oct 25, 2002 5:05 PM | | I wanted to give them one more chance because I paid all the set up fees and I would hate to just throw that money away. I would need 5 receivers, but only one with RPTV. I owuld want HBO included. Any idea of what that will run should I go with Dish? My e-mail is 4saps@comcast.net if you want to take this off the message board. Thanks for your help. |
| I have a tree behind my house (South) will that be okay? | Chris009
Oct 24, 2002 3:46 PM | | Where are the Echostar satellites located? Isn't it south just like DirecTV? DO i need to have a clear view of the southern skies? It says the azimuth and elevation is 110/119 degrees West longtitude so i guess that is towards West? The Huge tree (south) in the backyard is what i am worried about...it'll proabably work if the dish if mounted on the roof. |
| I went for the DishNetwork | Chris009
Oct 24, 2002 5:06 PM | | I just ordered this evening and went for the DishNetwork even though it doesn't have a NBA league pass. I just can't pass on the promo they have. I also got the two 301 receivers and one PVR (50 bucks). I don't have to pay a monthly fee for the PVR and i dont have to buy any equipment. Hey Woodman, KidSmoke and others! i trust you guys on this...this better be worth it. :) |
| Chris, you did good :) | KiD SmokE
Oct 24, 2002 10:44 PM | | I also saw that promotion with PVR ($50 more). I think it is worth it.
The view is south (slightly to southwest). The tree might be problem if they are too tall (especially in the summer...too many leaves). You also have to remember the more north of US you live, the lower your dish antenna angle will be (relative to ground) since satellite are located over the equator (remember earth is curved).
So if you live in the extreme North part, trees will be a problem. But you will never know until you give it a try.
So let us know how it is going. |
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