Dish v Direct TV

[jimbo2012]

Or the Hopper v Geni

Your experiences?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Have had both Dish and DirecTV. No complaints of any consequence with either. Switched to DirecTV over 4 years ago as they offered better programming choices in HD (for what we wanted to watch) versus Dish, at least at that point in time.

I like that we can tote our DirecTV receivers to TV with us and hook them up when we're there - no extra charge on our monthly bill. Dish might also have a similar option - - - - -

Bill :)

[jimbo2012]

Bill one reason I'm going this way is that while using our RV for 4 months in the summer traveling I can take it along, so I'm with you there.

What about the channels, is one missing any over the other?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

......... What about the channels, is one missing any over the other?

At the time we went with DirecTV, Dish didn't offer The Speed Channel (now just called Speed) in HD. (We were looking to add HD service) They virtually guaranteed they'd have it in HD soon since DirecTV already carried it.........but they wouldn't commit to a date/timeframe. I checked back about a year after we switched and didn't see it in their listings yet. There were also issues with Dish not offering our local stations in HD whereas DirecTV did.

Keep in mind that this all dates back to over 4 years ago. Things are liable to be different now.

Bill :)

[gmcneill]

Bob, it's DirecTV for us for same reasons that Bill and you have listed: channel selections and receiver portability. Ive had no problems with the service or product.

[jkpender]

I've had DirecTV since 1994. No complaints, but they are raising the monthly charge a few dollars in February.

[BogeyBoy]

I've had both Directv and Dish, currently with Dish.

We switched last year after buying our current motorhome. I want HD while we travel and Dish seems to offer more antenna options. For example, the "in-motion" dome antenna I have on the motorhome can pick up Dish in HD, but Directv is only available in standard definition. We also wanted a portable alternate antenna - both Winegard and King Controls offer those in HD for Dish, not Directv. (When spaces are available we like to park the RV under shade trees, that blocks the rooftop dome antenna, I place the portable to the front or rear of the motorhome so it can "see" the southern sky.)

I do take the home receivers on the road.

[jimbo2012]

Great points

[buzzy]

Interesting points about RV, jimbo & Bogey Boy. We initially got DTV through a referral from friends, and a discount for the first year. Happy, so far, and recently upgraded to whole-home HD DVR (but not top line). Anyway, an RV is in our future in about another year. Is a portable antenna on a stand the typical setup? We won't need TV while moving.

[billethkid]

b&b...

? on the portability....I assume the channel line up in both locations is the same or it automatically adjusts to the locale the tuner is in.

How about local channels? If your tuner is set for locals up North what happens with local channels when you get to the southern location?

A couple of years ago I was told by Dish N they had a similar portability capability.

btk

[BogeyBoy]

Interesting points about RV, jimbo & Bogey Boy. We initially got DTV through a referral from friends, and a discount for the first year. Happy, so far, and recently upgraded to whole-home HD DVR (but not top line). Anyway, an RV is in our future in about another year. Is a portable antenna on a stand the typical setup? We won't need TV while moving.

Hi Buzzy,

There are a lot of antenna choices for getting satellite TV in your RV.

On our previous motorhome we had a dish on the roof that was totally automatic, just press a button and the antenna was raised and rotated to the proper position for reception. It also allowed for multiple TV's and recording one channel while viewing another. Only drawback was the tree issue.

My daughter has a small portable dish that you have to set up manually. Seems like a hassle and it is standard definition only. They do just short trips and usually choose one destination and stay there so it works out okay for them.

Our new motorhome has a dome antenna that only locks onto one satellite at a time. It can track satellites while driving down the road - have never used it for that. It gets HD on the Dish network but only standard definition on Directv.

There are a number of portable "automatic" and "semi-automatic" dishes. We have one of the fully automatic models that I stake to the ground. Once connected to the receiver I get a message that asks what state I am located in - then the antenna locks in on the appropriate satellite. It automatically changes between three satellites depending on the channel selected. Only drawbacks - it only works with a select group of Dish receivers and you cannot watch one channel and record another. A nice feature - you can plug in your OTA antenna and the Dish network recognizes the channels and adds them to your program guide.

I have considered another system which is "semi-automatic". You make one setting then it takes over and tracks the satellite automatically. It locks in on one Dish satellite that supposedly gets all the channels in HD.

The basic setup that comes with most RV's is an antenna mounted on the roof. If you are near a metro area this can work well - even picking up a lot of OTA HD channels. Here in The Villages I get very limited reception using that antenna, down near Tampa I get about 50 channels - but that includes many channels that are of no interest to me - advertising, languages other than English, etc. It is a very good way to get the major networks.

Which brings up one last issue - major networks on Dish or Directv. Major networks/local channels are spot beamed. That means once you drive out of the "local" area you don't get "local" channels. There are ways around this. Directv allows you to get either NYC or LA channels if you sign a form that says you are traveling in an RV (I think I had to send a copy of the RV registration.) Dish allows you to call and change you ZIP code.

[buzzy]

Wow, thanks BB. Lots of options, but it sounds like we don't have to wrestle with that issue while just shopping for the RV.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

b&b...

? on the portability....I assume the channel line up in both locations is the same or it automatically adjusts to the locale the tuner is in.

How about local channels? If your tuner is set for locals up North what happens with local channels when you get to the southern location?

A couple of years ago I was told by Dish N they had a similar portability capability.

btk

Yep, non-local channel line up is identical in both locations. You get all the channels that are in the "package" you chose when you signed up, regardless of which location you're at.

Local channels is where the difference comes in. It doesn't pick up the locals via the tuner - it's tied into the satellite and where you're located. (It might even be something programmed onto the Card that's inserted in the receiver). What DirecTV does is define 2 "service locations/addresses" for your single account (you still will have just a single account with them). They set this up for you when you make arrangements for the additional service through calling their Movers Connection department. When you take your receivers to your other location, you will not be able to receive the local channels for your original location, even though those stations will still be showing up in your Guide. If you select one of those to view, you'll get a "searching for signal" pop up on the screen - looks just like when the signal gets interrupted briefly by a storm. What you have to do to pick up the local channels at your other location is call the 800 number for DirecTV and have them switch you over to your other service location. They wave the magic wand and voila - the local channel for where you're now located start popping into the Guide and the original locals start vanishing. Takes just a short while for everything to settle out then you're good to go!

They do a "free" install for the antenna at your new service location as well. "Free" means a roof mount which we didn't want. So you get to negotiate the price of a pole mount install with the independent contractor when he shows up to do it - DirecTV will not quote you a figure for that when you arrange for the install appointment.

Hope all that's of some help!

Bill :)

[John_W]

Directv just added Hi-Def (HD) versions today of Headline News ch 204 and History2 ch 271. Last week they added TV Land 304, Lifetime 253 and Investigation ID 285 to the HD lineup. My wife watches 204 and 285 all the time, so that is great news for her. There must be at least 150 channels in HD now not counting all the sports channels above 600.

I've been with Directv since 2008 and wouldn't have anything else. If you're an NFL fan like me, I saw every Ravens game with NFL Sunday Ticket. With that just ending and my bill went back to normal, I noticed it was still higher than I liked for what I was getting. I had Choice Extra with ala carte of Showtime, Starz and HD Tier with maintence and two boxes with HD. I called Directv yesterday and I got the Premiere Package, which is eveything and with $20 off per month I'll be paying less than I was before and now I've got just about every channel available.