How is Dish Networks picture quality?

[russellj]

Could anyone tell me how the picture quality of Dish Network compares to Directv? Is it about the same, better or worse?

Thanks

[kevbeck122]

I've heard that dish picture is better than directv, though I've never seen anything on dish.

[GADGET71]

Having had Dish and D* at different times, I am currently back with Dish.  I loooove the picture quality of it.  It don't get much better than this.  D* was Ok but my biggest issue with them was $$ and what I watch.  For what I watch Dish does it all.  The guide is nicer to navigate as well. And having also had Charter's "100% digital" cable??  I would say Dish buries Cable even if they claim to be all digital.
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[russellj]

Thanks for the reply. I also had Directv for many years. I had nothing but trouble with the installers that they sent to my house in Waukesha. I just moved from there to Sheboygan and Directv's free installation when you move was going to cost me over $200.00. They wanted $50.00 a room to fish wires through my walls and some more for wall jacks. That is not included in Directv's standard install when you move. The installer even thought he was going to get away with installing an old beat up dish instead of a new one. When I went to HD I purchased my own dish at a cost of about $100.00 and was not about to settle for an old beat up one on my new house. I didn't consider it to be free because of the $100.00 I had to pay when I origionally purchased my dish and left it at my old house with the understanding that I would get a NEW one when they installed their system at my new house. I complained to them and their answer was something like "Oh well that's the way it is". So I dumped them like a bad cold and signed up for Dish Network. They will fish the lines through my walls and install wall jacks in 4 rooms as part of their standard install. I got a 2 tuner 2 room HD DVR from them for $250.00 and a 2 tuner standard DVR from them for free. They are both upgradable to Mpeg4 when they go to that next year. One really good thing about them is even though each box is going to control 2 tv's for a total of 4, they only consider it to be 2 boxes which means only a $5.00 a month extra charge for 4 rooms instead of the $15.00 that Directv charged me. :wave:

[GADGET71]

I will be moving myself in about 3 weeks.  Any experience with Dish Net on moving install?  I want to keep my Superdish to continue to receive Milwaukee Locals.  Does anyone know if this costs extra?
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[Chinatown]

I recently had D here to install a Tivo, to go along with my RCA HD Reciever. This now allows me 3 tuners, the use of PIP &  I can DVD 2 programs off of Tivo while either watching them  or switch to the HD receiver and view something else.  The install was free, as well as the Tivo, after the $100.00 rebate. I found the service excellant, as has been the case in the 3 + years I have had D. I have also had Dish. I believe the quality is the same, & far outshines anything TWC could ever offer.

[AndrewP]

I got a 2 tuner 2 room HD DVR from them for $250.00 and a 2 tuner standard DVR from them for free. They are both upgradable to Mpeg4 when they go to that next year.

No, they are not upgradable, but Dish will swap them most likely for free with some commitment.
And also HD DVR 942 rocks. I just hope that Dish will use it as a base for next MPEG4 HD DVR.

[jkane]

Over the past 9 years, they have flip flopped a couple of times.  For a couple years, DTV was considered better.  Then Dish was better.  Then DTV moved ahead again.  Today, I would say the wind is calm.  Both have their capacity problems.  That is what determines it.  The more channels they try to compress in the same bandwidth, the more picture quality suffers.

It's really not a question of quality of picture as much it is a question of hardware (tivo vs dishplayer) and programming available.  DTV does not carry a UPN superstation.  Not sure what DTV has this week the Dish doesn't.  I stopped trying to keep week to week track!   :p

All this said, next year the world gets turned upside down again.  As both try to convert to mpg4, who knows what will happen to all the things that we use to make the choice.

[vegasvic]

Not sure what DTV has this week the Dish doesn't.

For me, and many others, it comes down to Sunday Ticket vs. no Sunday Ticket.   :cool:

[AndrewP]

For me, and many others, it comes down to Sunday Ticket vs. no Sunday Ticket.   :cool:

And also more HD with better PQ vs. less HD, NBA on TNT HD vs. Universal HD, ...

[Nels Harvey]

After switching from D* to E* when I upgraded to a high def. TV, I was very satisfied with the installation, quality of the picture, and service.  I have the two channel SD DVR, and an 811 HD receiver.  

Recently, I dropped the HD service from E*, since I receive all of the Milwaukee HD signals just fine here.  I wasn't watching the ESPN pillarbox, or the other offerings anyhow.   I was suprised to see I still get the HBO HD signal!  The 811 receiver kind of sucks though, and unless it is powered down each night on a satellite derived signal it will not update.  It will not update on a local antenna channel.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with the service and quality of the E* network.  Bear in mind that I used to be a D* dealer!  Well, they fired me because I wasn't selling enough units to please them!  The quality of the E* installation was probably better than what I used to do for D* anyhow.  I don't think you will regret going to E*.

Nels....