[mpayne]

Our cable bill keeps going up and up and up every month. So we're thinking of switching to Dish or DirectTV. Anyone have reviews of either to share? We don't need or want the "premium channels" like HBO, just the basics and Food Network, Bravo, Nick, etc..

Thanks!

[CarolynC]

Originally Posted by mpayne

Our cable bill keeps going up and up and up every month. So we're thinking of switching to Dish or DirectTV. Anyone have reviews of either to share? We don't need or want the "premium channels" like HBO, just the basics and Food Network, Bravo, Nick, etc..

Thanks!

I understand about the Cable!! AAARRRGGHHH!! We have had Direct TV and no problems except we lived in the mountains and had some difficulty getting it set up to catch the satellite signal. Once they were able to get it set...it was OK. The only other problem was in a heavy rain, we would lose the signal or if it snowed heavy, ya have to keep the snow from building up on it.

[Kmchamplin]

Originally Posted by c1cooper1

I understand about the Cable!! AAARRRGGHHH!! We have had Direct TV and no problems except we lived in the mountains and had some difficulty getting it set up to catch the satellite signal. Once they were able to get it set...it was OK. The only other problem was in a heavy rain, we would lose the signal or if it snowed heavy, ya have to keep the snow from building up on it.

They have some awesome deals out there right now too.

[A20SomethingMother]

My mom had Direct TV and hated it. She switched to Dish Network and has been lovin it for about 6 months now.

We have cable, but don't know what we are going to have once we move back to MN next month

[AngieP]

I've had both DishNetwork and Directv~~we switched from DishNetwork to DirecTV because dh wanted the NFL network~~well shortly thereafter DishNetwork got it~so whatever~~but seriously they're both very similar. I would shop between the two right now and go with the company that gives you the most for free~~seriously, it's pretty much the same equipment. The real issue comes with the customer service~~it's hit or miss~~

[kvilledrummer]

To really get the best deal, you about have to switch occasionally to pit one against the other. Once you're an existing customer, you never get their best deal anymore........

I'm on cable now because one of my buddies at work knew a Time Warner sales rep who got me a special bundle price since I was already a Roadrunner subscriber for high speed internet. That deal was supposed to expire last February but they keep billing me at the same price. I'm just going to ride the wave & see where it takes me.....

[AngieP]

Kville~~they're starting to crack down on the whole switching capability thing~~one of our tivo box wasn't working correctly and they told us it needed to be replaced~~they upgraded us to a HD tivo receiver for free but we had to agree to a 2 year contract~~yep a contract~~they said that they have so many issues with people switching back and forth~~

[adnil]

Originally Posted by c1cooper1

I understand about the Cable!! AAARRRGGHHH!! We have had Direct TV and no problems except we lived in the mountains and had some difficulty getting it set up to catch the satellite signal. Once they were able to get it set...it was OK. The only other problem was in a heavy rain, we would lose the signal or if it snowed heavy, ya have to keep the snow from building up on it.

If you go with DirecTV then I suggest going with the TOTAL CHOICE PLUS package, this will give you all the programs your wanting. I have been with them for 6 or 7 year's now and I wouldn't use anyone else, anytime I have a problem or just a simple question they have fixed and or asnwered it without blinking twice. There has been a few times that they even went as far as giving me FREE PROGRAMING (like HBO or SHOTIME for 3 month's) just to make it up to me, and it didn't matter as to wether the problem was from their end or mine.

I would go with DirecTV..............

[jmwolff]

I've had directv for several years and I love it. The customer service is very good. (although the sub contractors that install are sometimes flakey). However, like above when I have had any issues they give you freebies in service. (currently getting free HD, and Tivo for a year and 3-months of showtime because the sub contractor didn't show one day).

We do tend to loose th HD signal more often the regular, but usually we only lose tv if there is a REALLY bad storm and it comes back alot faster than if your cable goes out.

Does dishNetwork still need 2 dishes? Used to need one for local channels and one for cable.

[mcdlady1]

I have dish network and no problems here

[kvilledrummer]

Originally Posted by angpereces

Kville~~they're starting to crack down on the whole switching capability thing~~one of our tivo box wasn't working correctly and they told us it needed to be replaced~~they upgraded us to a HD tivo receiver for free but we had to agree to a 2 year contract~~yep a contract~~they said that they have so many issues with people switching back and forth~~

Angie,
I've always had to sign a contract when I switched. I wasn't referring to switching every other month.......just saying that if you stay with the same service for years on end, all of them will ding you for a price increase at least yearly unless you give them an incentive to offer you a lower price. My Dish account was hit for an increase about every few months for 3-4 straight time periods after I got through my contract & could switch providers at will. Even though cable doesn't "require" a contract for service, you won't get a preferred rate without one. Keeping reasonably priced TV can be a serious pain......

JM,
Two dishes not required for local channels with Dish anymore and they've been able to provide it on a single dish for over 3 years now (I believe mine was installed on Feb 14, 2004). They have this elliptical monstrosity that is 36" wide that will pick up all 3 satellites. You can still use two dishes if you can't find a good place to locate the big one but most of the "free" installers with a new package want to do the big one to prevent having to dial in the signal on seperate dishes. No way I'd allow them to mount that huge dish on my roof the way I've seen them do at some houses......

[tootsie roll]

We have Directv, but when we get a HD tv, dh wants to switch to Dishnetwork. I think it is cheaper - especially as a new customer. We also have Tivo, which is great, though it has been acting flakey lately.

[mpayne]

Thanks everyone - I'll call around and see who will give us the best deal (including the cable company when I tell them we're probably leaving them! )

[erp0620]

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm am about through with the cable here. We have digital cable with DVR (don't know how we lived without it!) and our box is so tempremental! Plus it's SO expensive!!! We've got digital cable (one box) with DVR (same box) and Road Runner internet (but not the most expensive one...it's about $25). Our bill after taxes and fees is $106! That just seems crazy high. I think I might do a little research today/this week on the three tv providers here and give TWC a little ringy-dingy.

[rach]

Erp...me too! I am moving in about a month and checked out the prices and directTV is so much cheaper with the package deal. Cable is just getting too ridiculous and they want to charge me $60 for a transfer fee?!?!

[lah123]

I have Directv and have had for about 6 years. We get all the channels + tivo except Cinemax and I have the ppv option "blocked" where no one in family will buy movies. 3 tv's but only one has the tivo, and I should get the HD-because our living tv has that but I already pay too much..Really do like Directv over Dish, my mom had Dish and they changed it when they saw Directv at a friends house. And yes they do up the cost of the service around March each year it seems to go up about $3..But we have to have some entertainment. Did have Charter cable and hated it. Didn't get good channels and it was still expensive.

[Natesmom]

We have DirecTV and love it!

[mintman72]

One thing you might want to think about is that with some dish companies, if you get your internet service through them as well, they have a limit on the amount of data you can download on a daily basis. If you view a significant amount of streaming video, or even watch full TV shows online, you could easily reach your limits.

Now, we have cable, and while I hate it, I believe I would hate dish more. We actually called on a special installation deal for dish when we first moved into our house, and after they got finished with quoting us, our "free" installation was going to end up costing us close to $400.

Plus, several of our neighbors have dish, and they are always complaining about how they lose the signal whenever the weather gets the slightest bit cloudy.

[mommyhope]

I too have directv and I love it. My bills are understandable. The CS is pretty good. And although I do lose my signal in very heavy rains or strong winds, it is really no big complaint.

[apsufan82]

We have Dish Network. We have 2 receivers (for 4 TVs), 1 DVR, and I think it is about $53 a month for basic service.

[tootsie roll]

Erp - check out directv. We decided to stay with them for our hd dvr, and are paying $70 a month for everything. They overcharged us for a few months and were more than accomodating to get it fixed - they are giving us Showtime for free for a month because of their mistake. We have been with them for 8 years, and haven't had any problems. We had to get a new roof installed and our satellite was out for a week - Directv comped us for that week, even though it was our fault that the service was out.

[itsbelong]

Everytime it rained we lost Dish.

[erp0620]

So here I sit...waiting to talk to someone at Time Warner Cable. First, the 800 number is experiencing *technical* difficulties and hangs up on me after telling me to try again later. The local number took 20 minutes to get past a busy signal and then said my expected wait time is 25-30 minutes. So I go on-line to talk to someone and I'm number 5 in line at the moment. Why is it so hard to talk to someone???


*waiting*

[lpurvis08]

We've had both. Orginally had Dish but the signal was horrible with them from our old house, and we had some bad customer experience. We switched to Direct and LOVE it and its been cheaper! We have the basic package (includes locals, HGTV, kids channels, Food network, etc) with TIVO and we love it!

I'd ask some of your neighboors what they have and if they like it! That always helps!

[erp0620]

*Just* got off the phone with them...they knocked my bill down from $106.92 to $87.43, so I'm happy with that. We just have SO much stuff on our DVR box that I don't want to deal with getting a whole new provider, LOL. Though, the box is on the fritz right now so we'll see how that goes, LOL. But a successful 30 minute phone call, if you asked me!