DirectTv Questions

[DaleCooper]

Hello everyone, long time lurker here with a few questions for those of you with DirectTv. First off, thanks to all of you for all the useful info contained in this forum. I've searched here and other places for some answers but would specifically like to hear from some locals w/ DirectTv service. I'm fed up with TWC and ready to make the change, but am a bit hesitant. I've used DirectTv years ago at a friend's house and was unimpressed with the time it took for the guide to load and the overall responsiveness of the the remote and converter. Is this still an issue? It seems the picture quality difference between the two is negligible-fair assumption? Finally, are picture disruptions quite rare? How about with the recent snowfall and the particularly heavy, wet snow we saw? Does anyone need to use a dish sock or cover? The whole CBS58 issue is also a bit off-putting, but at this point I'd be so glad to throw Time Warner away I'd consider it. Thanks for any input.

[Chinatown]

Dish.......Direct.....& back to Dish.............

1. Snow has never been a factor

2. You will loose the signal for a 1 or 2 minutes when lightning passes through the dish signal.

3. Both have superior sd compared to Cable.

4. I have always received my HD  locals with a roof top antenna. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get them with an indoor device.

However, if you plan on getting a DVR, you will need to include the SD locals to obtain the program guide for same.

5. Dish has the superior receivers. That is the main reason I left Direct. I have 4 sets, but only need 2 units. Was able to rid myself of 200 feet of wiring.

6. If you auto-pay ( with Dish), you will get Cinemax for $.1 cents a year. Logic is that they save all the money on postage.

7. Direct does have more Hd, at this time, but Dish has 5 or 6 that will be  added for subscibers in the near future.

8. Dish also has an HD only package. It includes the duplicate sd as well

(see attached) http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/our_products/dish_hd/programming/index.shtml

only down side of that is that is does not include RSN in HD)

I have the A 200 package in conjunction with it as well as locals & the Sports pack.


Bill runs $66.00 per

Bottom line...........You will never regret switching to Satelite. I got rid of cable 12 years and have never looked back

Hope this helped....

[Bebop]

Depending where the dish is installed. I never had any problem with snow until the dish was installed on the roof this year. So far I have lost signal during the past few snow falls. The best advise to installed it where you can reach it without a ladder. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for the snow to melt.

The guides on the new receivers are much quicker.

[Leinie Lodge]

Recently made the switch from TWC to DirecTV, best move we've made.  Impressed with DirecTV's programming choices, especially if you like sports in HD.  CBS-58-HD is the only bummer (as you mentioned) but pluses far outweigh this minus.

Sprayed dish with silicon; long-handle broom to quickly clear away accumulations, zero signal losses thus far in our truly nasty WI winter!
Good luck with your decision.

[vegasvic]

Both sat companies are far superior to TWC.  I went with DTV because I'm a sports nut and love it.  You'll be happy with either one.

[syrett4]

Both sat companies are far superior to TWC.  I went with DTV because I'm a sports nut and love it.  You'll be happy with either one.

Agree.  Your debate should be Dish vs DTV not wether or not you should dump TWC.  Its a great feeling dropping those boxes off and telling them to stick it without saying a word, and walking away.

I have no issues with DTV, they have been great.  I've had to wipe the snow off a few times and then come back in the house and choose one of my 85 HD channels to watch.

[Talos4]

I've been Primestar/Directv customer since 1997.

As far as the guide response it really depends on the STB you get.  

I will say that the HR21 guide can be a bit pokey, Not with loading just surfing,  Not really a big deal and certainly not a deal breaker.

I've had my multitude of dishes all mounted on the roof of my garage since the beginning.  I thinK I've actually had to brush off snow a handfull of times in the last ten years. And had to knock ice build up off the LNB's once or twice.

During this winter I lost a signal once or twice and then only the new MPEG-4 channels for a short time. ANd that was during the height of the really heavy wet snowfall.

Yesterday during all the heavy rain, ice and snow, my picture was un-effected.  

As far as during the rainy season, The big T-storms with heavy rain will interrupt your signal for a few minutes and then it's back.    

As said above, Your only choice is Dish or Directv.

I cannot comment on Dish equipment and programming. So I wont get involved in the dispute between services.

[gparris]

When the end of March comes and TWC has installed the very-malfunctioning Navigator with no big increase, if any HD channels, I will have one big question (or at least, a big question for me and my household):
Watching CBS in SD on TWC isn't really all that bad, as it is digitally-delivered analogue right (standard channel 58)?
-so IS the digitally-delivered SD CBS58 channel the same picture, too?

Since I know that I cannot get CBS58HD from my location and using the HR21 without the add-on box (I don't want to buy one for every 4 boxes installed even if it did), I can live without CBSHD a little while longer until CBS58 grants it on Directv (or hell freezes over)
- I'd like to tell the rest of the household what it will be like in advance:
Does anyone have an idea how good (or bad) the Directv CBS SD picture is compared to TWC's standard-def Channel 58?

[Chinatown]

The CBS 58 SD is crystal clear both or Dish & Direct.............I am certain it is better then TWC..........


Are you sure that you dont want a roof top antenna?

I mean, they will be up there putting up the dish anyway.........They could add it to the install process........

That way you will be able to get the HD feed from all the locals and not have to wait till hell freezes over fo 58 to be avaialble......

[gparris]

Thanks for information - CBS 58 SD from Directv looks about the same as TWC's Channel 8 (in Kenosha, since we get a god-awful NBC5 from Chicago in analogue, too).
CBSHD would be great, but unless the installer can mount a less obtrusive square shooter antenna for this channel and have it actually work in my house, I'll pass.
-My house is on the side of a hilly area with higher houses surrounding it from the north (where the Milwaukee signals are).

[Leinie Lodge]

DirecTV's 58 picture quality is the same analog feed as cable, on par with the lower numbered fuzzy analog stations on TWC.  Precisely why CBS-HD is overdue for satellite, ahem, Weigel.

Parris...on DirecTV you may actually discover many gorgeous HD alternatives to CBS  

[jeaves79]

I was a long time TWC customer when i switched to DirecTv in 2005 for a year, then I went back to TWC after some issues with DirecTV over their, at the time TiVO installations.  got an HD Tv this past fall and dropped TWC after 2 months of it with numerous problems with the HD-DVR that they would not fix, and I am not looking back either.  DirecTV it is for me from now on.  Even with my Monthly letters to CBS58 asking when the HD will come over DirecTV since I can't receive a signal OTA where I am at, I'll still stick with them.  As far as snow?  I only had to brush mine off when we had that really bad snowfall a couple weeks ago.  other than that, i have been having some issues the past week or 2 with NFLN HD when i turn to it sometiems it says it's searching for Sat 2 line.  so i either change the channel and it comes back or I reset the box and it's back.

[Chinatown]

DirecTV's 58 picture quality is the same analog feed as cable, on par with the lower numbered fuzzy analog stations on TWC.  Precisely why CBS-HD is overdue for satellite, ahem, Weigel.

Parris...on DirecTV you may actually discover many gorgeous HD alternatives to CBS  

I diagree with the fuzziness....................I have 2 Sony's............One a 4 year old RRPTV & a 10 year old  32 inch Trinitron...................They are both Crystal............

[Leinie Lodge]

I diagree with the fuzziness....................I have 2 Sony's............One a 4 year old RRPTV & a 10 year old  32 inch Trinitron...................They are both Crystal............

I guess 58/Weigel transmits only their low-res analog signal to DirecTV who beams back digitally to us, the GIGO principle.   Engineers here will certainly know more about this process:  please chime in!

OP, All things considered we enjoy DirecTV >>> TWC, great switch for us, YMMV.
Go Brew Crew!