Thoughts on Directv? Might leave TWC.

[mholtz2323]

Not sure on what to do. I have had TWC for a long time. Even before HD. I am starting to get fed up with TWC's customer service and prices. When i call for questions about a bill or for help, I always get a csr with an attitude problem and most times, they dont know anything!
Anyway, I am looking into switching to directv, but I am a little hesitant due to the poor HD picture quality i have been hearing about. HD Lite? And I hear about it cutting out way more than cable? Whether or not these are true, i dont know. Im sure it varies from location to location. But, I would like any help, suggestions, reviews on their experience with directv compared to cable.
Also, I am verry intrigued by the new HD lineup coming to directv, but if these channels are not going to look great than whats the point. Right? I heard that it will be in mpeg4, but what will that accomplish? I would also like to know if TWC is going to bring us new HDTV channels to battle directv and if so, what and when? Even if TWC brings us new channels, how do we even know their coming to WI seeing as how we got espn2 so late?
 I know I would save $60/ month for the same channels w/ directv!

Thanks for your help...
by the way, anyone here with samsung dlp led 87/89s?? How is it?

[basshive]

Just my thoughts. Do not get caught up in all the  "HD Lite" hype. Realize that 90% of the people who are saying that stuff either have not seen it, or have some diag tool showing them the data stream and because its compressed they decide the picture quality must be terrible.  I have seen more people who say the picture is great, and that the Locals compare well with OTA than I have people who did not like the picture quality.

It does NOT cut out more than cable. That is just outright crap. Obviously if your dish is not installed properly or you have trees blocking it out then you will have issues.

They have already deployed MPEG4. Its a great compression algorithm. Basically they get more bang for their bandwidth buck and the end user does not suffer.

I do not think there is a SINGLE person on this or any other board, Directv support or TWC supporter, who would argue this, TWC cannot and will not be able to compete with Directv's HD lineup for quite sometime. Even if they take steps to, as you noted. does that mean WI will see it? No... Look at what TWC has deployed HD wise in 2 years vs. Directv, even Dish.

The best thing I can say is see for yourself. Do not let "HD Lite" hype deter you. Do you know anyone with service you can go check out?  TWC is fine but I think DirecTV has 100% more to offer atleast in the coming few years. I had an emergency move a year ago and had to "break" my directv contract so now I am in the hole pretty deep with them otherwise I would not hesitate for a second to go back.

[hormy_83]

I'm a current TWC subscriber and I looked at doing the same thing you're talking about and what held me back was their lack of CBS 58 in HD.  Yeah I would have been able to pull that in OTA, but I couldn't record the shows that way with the DVR, I'd be stuck recording any CBS content in SD.  So I thought about doing Dish as they allow you to record your OTA broadcasts but for me it turned out to not be that huge of a price difference.  So right now I'm still with TWC - but am sitting on the fence ready to jump to either side if properly motivated.

[basshive]

Is it a new development that you cannot record the OTA channels with Directv? We never had a problem doing it before.

[vegasvic]

I made the switch from TWC to DTV 7 years ago and haven't regretted it for a second.  Certainly there are stories of bad experiences about every company and DTV is far from perfect but in my dealings they are so much better than TWC it isn't even close.  Sunday Ticket is great of course but even if I wasn't a football fan I would still enjoy DTV.  And with the new sat going online in about a month, the HD choices will be fantastic.

As for Channel 58 not being in HD, I don't care.  I boycotted 58 awhile ago.  I've talked with them a few times about their lack of progress on this issue and it's like dealing with Indian customer service.  They have no clue.  It's run like a high school AV department.

[Tom Snyder]

I'm with Vic... been with D* since 1999... although I had to switch back to TW when we spent 3 months in an apartment last summer waiting for our new house to be built.  Noticed no difference in the HD channels, but the picture quality on their mid tier SD channels was atrocious.. like watching TV through a screen door. Was so happy to have D* back when we got into the new place.

Really looking forward to the new HD channels. Here's what should be coming this Fall (from an earlier press release):

Agreements, or agreements in principle, with more than 70 major networks including:

-- A&E
-- National Geographic
-- Bravo
-- NFL Network
-- Cartoon Network
-- SciFi Channel
-- CNN
-- Speed
-- Food Network
-- TBS
-- FX
-- The History Channel
-- HGTV
-- The Weather Channel
-- MTV
-- USA Network

The ONLY drawback I see is not being able to get 58-1 or 36-1 via the satellite. But we're way up in Jackson, and I can get 90% signal strength on both of them with my little $19 radio shack indoor double bow tie antenna. And if I can get them here, anyone should be able to get them. And they record just fine on the DVR.

[bklass]

DTV's HD picture is fine.......... don't let that stop you.  
However, whenever it rains hard, or rains south of us....we do loose the signals.  I am running 5 boxes at this time and we eventually loose the signal or get breaking up on all of them (some last longer than other).  Then we are stuck with either pre-recorded shows off the DVR or OTA television.  I wish they could do something about the weather problems.

[Steve Mann]

DTV's HD picture is fine.......... don't let that stop you.  
However, whenever it rains hard, or rains south of us....we do loose the signals.  I am running 5 boxes at this time and we eventually loose the signal or get breaking up on all of them (some last longer than other).  Then we are stuck with either pre-recorded shows off the DVR or OTA television.  I wish they could do something about the weather problems.

Rain fade. I see that about twice, maybe three times a year. I would venture to say that your cable will be out at least that many times over a years period.

D* and I go WAY back... started with DISH and then switched to DirecTV.  Been with them for at least 10 years. Before that, I worked in the CATV industry (splicing fiber) for about 11 years. I know how they conduct their business. I stay away from them whenever I can.

[mholtz2323]

Thanks for the help so far. I am so so very close on switching. The only thing keeping me from switching is the 2 year contract. It's just scary for me to enter a contract when u have never used the service before. I think im going to go to state fair on saturday and look at the directv setup they have going on. I honestly am scared of what would happen with bad weather. I hear good and bad. Neighbor has the dish network and has no problems whatsoever.
I do know it would be much cheaper, but if the signal does drop out a lot or i have lots of problems, can i break contract w/o forking over tons of cash?

Arghhhh, Im not sure what to do!!
I wish i could try it out for a month!

[Talos4]

I honestly am scared of what would happen with bad weather. I hear good and bad.

Seriously, Rain fade is a fact of life with DBS. is it a major issue like the cableco's play it up to be?  NO!

I've had D* for 10 years, I have TWC RR and TWC VOIP.  

My phone and internet are down more than my D* service.

Rain fade happens, sometimes even snow fade, when it happens it's for minutes not hours or days like my Phone and Internet service has been.

The new larger elliptical dish's have more surface area to pull in more signal than the old 18" round dish.

Since I had my 5 lnb AT-9 installed rain fade is nearly non-existent.

As far as the 2yr agreement, that time will pass sooner than you think.

Go ahead and call.

[Tom Snyder]

Don't worry about the two year thing. It can be your friend... over the years, I've been able to take advantage of two year contracts to get all sorts of free stuff.. free receivers, free DVRS, free installations, etc...

[picopir8]

Have you considered Uverse? Its cheaper than both D* and TWC, presently offers more channels and more HD than the others, and includes 3 set top boxes (one dvr) in the price.  Everything runs off a network so the installers will run network cable for you.  There is no contracts so if you dont like it, just cancel and you end up with a home network.  The service has its glitches and tradeoffs but it offers the most bang for the buck right now.

One thing to watch out for with D* is that they do not offer video on demand.  However they are supposed to be adding it over broadband (but you will need a broadband connection and if you are watching a movie on demand then your download speeds will slow to a crawl).

[hop]

Dear MHoltz,

I switched from TWC to DTV 2 years ago.  The analog picture quality on SD channels was terrible with cable on my two HD tv's.  Of course, the SD picture on DTV was not great, but it was considerably better than cable.

My brother has both.  He has always claimed that he got a better picture with DTV.

Yes, the picture may go out during very severe weather, but this interruption is usually short lived.  This can still happen with correct alignment of the dish and no obstructions, but it is so infrequent, I don't worry about it.

If you watch a lot of HD on WDJT58 (CBS), you will be disappointed with DTV.  They do not have an agreement to carry HD content locally.  That sucked for the last two Super Bowls.

My recommendation, if your $60 savings is even close to accurate, make the switch!

Good luck.

Hop

[FiberOptic]

I made the switch from Twc to Direct about 4 months ago and to date the only thing I regret is missing the on demand and INHD channel.  Other than that I think the picture quality is better and I have only experienced rain issues twice and they only lasted a few minutes.  I am very stoked about the new HD channels in September and the on demand feature that is supposed to follow

[Steve Mann]

...I am very stoked about the new HD channels in September and the on demand feature that is supposed to follow

I guess I just don't get the appeal of 'on demand' when you have a DVR. Doesn't that turn make everything 'on demand'? I never watch live TV, everything is prerecorded. So, when I sit down to watch TV, I just choose from the Now Playing list. What does TWC's 'On Demand' offer that I'm missing?