I've had both DirecTV and DISH Network while living in other states and found them to be about equal for picture quality, signal reliablility and equipment reliability. I basically switched back and forth between them as whatever provider I had at the time ran out its promotional prices and started to jump the prices up. I've been with DISH Network since moving to the Villages 6 years ago. Surprisingly, each time they've tried to raise the price, I've talked them into a better deal. Your mileage may vary. I would suggest listing out all the channels you prefer to watch and then check to see which of them carries those channels at a better price. You can also search online for Suppose.tv and have them figure out which streaming service (if you want to go that route) has the channels you want for the best price.
Satellite service do have an issue with heavy storms blocking the signals. That seems to happen mostly during the late afternoon summer thunderstorms here but I don't watch much daytime TV so it hasn't affected me much. You might find whatever cable services are offered in your niehgborhood might also give you the channels you want for as good or better a price than what you get from satellite provicers. Of course, they are just as likely to give great deals for the first year or so then bump up the prices. And all providers occaisionally have arguments with content providers and drop them for a while. DISH Network hasn't carried ABC in this area for several months now, for example.
Good luck!
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