dish vs direct??

[purvis]

Hello:

I am currently a dish subscriber. I also posted this message on the Direct board. I have a 522 and a 322 receiver. In a few weeks I will be moving to a new home. And, I want to be sure that I want to use Dish moving program and not move to direct ( cheaper for first time customers ??? ).
Questions:

1. Looking at directs web site, it appears that they don't offer Dual tuner receivers, I know that for some of you the extra $10 is not much, but is this a advantage or disadvantage for direct?

2. I noticed that direct charges a lot more for the equipment and installation for first time customers than does dish. Is it worth the extra charge?

3. I have heard that directs picture quality is slightly worst than Dish, especially in HD, is this true???

4. It seems that directs programing cost is slightly higher than dish for about the same programing??

5. I am not at all interested in the NFL programing packs.

Trying to make a informed decision with your help,

Purvis

5. Any possiblity of Direct offering the Voom channels down the road?? Or, are they exclusive to Dish???

 

[lvkewlkid]

see my reply in your other post.

 

[miguelaqui]

I have had both at the same time, so I was able to really notice the difference between the two.

I do not know why somone would get a "fuzzy" pic on E* and not D*. If they were connected differently, or one of the receivers was defective, that would make sense.

The part about the locals being differnet is true b/c one might be getting the signal from the station via microwave, the other via OTA

Are you moving somewhere locals will be on the Superdish? Some do not like the larger dish.

As far as pic quality. I thought E* was a slight bit better.

As far as E* receivers being a little no so stable at times. I know that some software versions are not free of bugs, from time to time, but at least E* can easily change the software for improvements for the guide adding sats, etc. For example, my neighbors who had to agree to another 12 month commitment when they switched the locals from 101 to 119. They had to get a receiver that supported sat. 119; E* would not have that problem.

The 522 can serve either as a one TV setup, where you can use the receiver with one TV and have picture-in-picture or run 2 different TVs at the same time and watch 2 different programs. I don't think D*'s Tivo can do that.

E* also has some older model DVR (PVR) receivers which do not have the DVR fee. I don't think that there is such a thing as a no-fee DVR with D*.

That $5.99/month can add up, they went up from $4.99, with D*. However, it is my understanding, that D* only charges the fee once ex: you can have 3 DVR receivers and only pay $5.99. If you have multiple E* DVR receivers, you have to pay the fee, $4.98, for every unit; ex: you have 3 510 receivers, you pay an additional $14.94/month. Yes, I know, with both services, you can have a high service package and not pay the fees.

As far as treatment of existing customers, I do think it is unfair that E* treats the new customers like gold and the current customer not so well. Back in 1999, I had to pay $99 for a Dish 500 upgrade, which is about the cost of the supplies back in 1999. I had the Spanish language pack, they added channels and changed the pack to Dish Latino, with some channels on 110. I was told I had to pay for the additional channels and had to pay for the upgrade, if I wanted it. Had I been a new customer, they would have brought a Dish 500 b/c I was subscribing to Dish Latino.

At least D* gave my neighbor a change to get new equipment with a 12 month commitment when they moved the locals . they came and put the multi-satellite antenna on thier house and gave them a new receiver; E* did not give me that option with the Dish 500 upgrade.

I was told by E* that the 522 was a rental only situation, that's why current customers cannot get one, maybe that's wrong. I also heard that they can be professionally installed by a retailer and they will add it to a non-renting customer.

I do think that it is unfair that a new customer can get an upgrade cheaper than a current one. EX: at one time, they were giving away 811 receivers to new customers as a part of Free Dish, not renting, but charging current ones $199. They also gave way lots of DVRs with Free Dish, while charging current customers for the upgrade and putting them in a 12 month ,or longer, commitment. I do not see the fairness in that.

I have never heard of D* giving away those free things to new customers. They charge new customers for a DVR or HD upgrade, just like they do current ones. I have heard of them giving stuff away for customer retention, but E* does that also; at least D* is trying to work with customers who have been loyal to them, not sucking up to the new ones!.

As far as programming. I like D*'s current packages better than I do E*'s.
Unless you were just going to get the lowest package available, it seems that D* is the better deal. I prefer the way they do premiums, HBO is $12, not $13.99, and Starz / Encore are the same package.

I like Spanish channels, Comedy Central, and History International. With E* I would have to have AT180 and Dish Latino, but with D* there is a $39.99/month package that has a lot more channels than Latino Max does and it includes History International.

I currently have a Dish 501, but I'm thinking about going to D*. I just HATE DVR FEES