Dish Network or DirectTV

After years of only broadcast TV, I think we're going to break down and get more. I've heard enough Adelphia stories to avoid cable and go with satellite, but what are the recommendations out there between the two satellite choices?

 

I can't speak for DirectTV but I have had DISH since about 10 years. They both have pluses and minuses, so you need to decide what's important to you. I've provided some links below where you can compare programming and equipment for yourself.

Everytime I've made a comparison of the two, DISH offers more programming for less money than Direct TV. Another change that is scheduled for the near future in the AT120 package with DISH is that they are replacing their CD music channels with Sirius satellite radio (supposedly 20 May but don't anyone hold me to that date!). Not that the music selections will be much different than what is offered now but, hey, it's Sirius instead of generic music channels. I've provided a listing of the Sirius music channels scheduled for DISH. This list was obtained from DBSTalk.com.

Select the Comparisons menu at:
http://www.dish-vs-direct.com/comparisions/channels-comparison.htm

Check the info on both services here or select Compare Dish Network and Direct TV at:
http://www.kaptainsatellite.com/index.html

Or here:
http://www.dish-network-vs-direct-tv.com/dish-network-vs-direct-tv.htm

Sirius music channels:
6001 SIRIUS HITS 1 // Top 40 Hits
6002 STARLITE // Lite Pop
6003 SIRIUS LOVE // Love Songs
6004 MOVIN’ EASY // Easy Listening
6005 SIRIUS GOLD // The ’50s
6006 ’60s VIBRATIONS // The ’60s
6007 TOTALLY ’70s // The ’70s
6008 BIG ’80s // The ’80s
6009 THE PULSE // The ’90s & Now
6010 THE BRIDGE // Mellow Rock
6011 KIDS STUFF // Kids
6012 SPIRIT // Christian Hits
6014 CLASSIC VINYL // Early Classic Rock
6015 CLASSIC REWIND // Later Classic Rock
6016 THE VAULT // Deeper Classic Rock
6017 JAM_ON // Jam Bands
6018 THE SPECTRUM // Adult Album Alternative
6019 BUZZSAW // Classic Hard Rock
6020 OCTANE // Pure Rock
6021 ALT NATION // Alternative Rock
6022 FIRST WAVE // Classic Alternative
6023 HAIR NATION // ’80s Hair Bands
6024 SIRIUS DISORDER // Eclectic/Free Form
6026 LEFT OF CENTER // New/College Rock
6027 HARD ATTACK // Heavy Metal
6028 FACTION // Hard Rock, Hip-Hop, Punk Mix
6029 SIRIUS BLUES // Blues
6030 REGGAE RHYTHMS // Reggae
6031 NEW COUNTRY // Today’s Country Hits
6032 PRIME COUNTRY // ’80s & ’90s Country Hits
6035 THE ROADHOUSE // Classic Country
6036 THE BORDER // Alternative Country
6037 BLUEGRASS // Bluegrass
6038 FOLK TOWN // Folk
6040 HIP-HOP NATION // New, Raw & Uncut Hip-Hop
6042 WAX // Mixes, Remixes, Freestyles
6043 BACK SPIN // Old Skool Rap
6044 STREET BEAT // New Hip-Hop Hits
6050 HOT JAMZ // Hip-Hop and R&B Hits
6051 HEART & SOUL // R&B Hits
6052 SLOW JAMZ // Soul Ballads
6053 SOUL REVUE // Classic Soul & Motown
6054 PRAISE // Gospel
6062 REMIX // Non-Stop Club Mix
6063 PLANET DANCE // Mainstream Dance
6064 CHILL // Smooth Electronic
6066 THE BEAT // Dance Hits
6068 THE STROBE // Disco
6070 PLANET JAZZ // Contemporary Jazz
6071 JAZZ CAFÉ // Smooth Jazz
6072 PURE JAZZ // Classic Jazz
6073 SWING STREET // Swing
6075 STANDARD TIME // Standards
6077 BROADWAY’S BEST // Broadway Show Music
6080 SYMPHONY HALL // Symphonic & Chamber Music
6085 CLASSICAL VOICES // Classical Voices
6086 SIRIUS POPS // Classical Pops
6090 UNIVERSO LATINO // Latin Pop Mix
6091 MEXICANA // Mexicana
6092 TROPICAL // Caribbean Dance Music
6099 HORIZONS // World Music

 

I switched from Adelphia to Dish about 2 years ago, feel that I've gotten much more for my money, and way less downtime than with the cable. One thing that seemed to come up when I was looking was that DirectTV had better sports packages, but it wasn't key to my selection so I didn't look into that thoroughly. Something to check out though if it's important for you.

 

Another thing with Direct TV is that if you have a 20148 Zip code, you can't deal with Direct TV directly -- you have to go through Pegasus Satellite Television in MA (866-426-7488). They don't offer the same Direct TV install specials and all programming costs about $2/month extra.

Check the Direct TV site, type in your Zip code, and it directs you to: http://www.localprovider.org/. Type in your Zip code there, and it directs you to: http://www.localprovider.org/search_zip.jsp, and Pegasus as the only provider option you have for Direct TV. I considered switching to Direct TV to get an HDTV deal but the only way to do that through Pegasus was to buy a regular receiver (plus installation) and then switch to an HDTV receiver by buying one at Best Buy and replacing the brand new non-HD receiver with the HDTV receiver.

No thanks. I bought a DISH 811 HDTV receiver instead.

 

Thanks for putting so much effort into the response!
This will help a lot.

 

How is that receiver? Was it worth the price. Right now I have a Low-Def PVR receiver hooked up to my 43 inch widescreen Vega. The locals look terrible on the big screen.

 

I am 20147 and we had to go with Pegasus also. What a scam that is. But am happy with Directv selections and have had minimal down time.

 

So far, the 811 is great. However, DISH is still working out some program guide bugs and probably other bugs that haven't affected me. I considered the 922 HD DVR until DISH pulled it to work out software bugs. I haven't decided that a PVR is that important to me, so I'm happy with the 811.

DISH doesn't offer the locals in HD so I use an outside antenna for those. The outside antenna plugs directly into the 811, so there's no need to change sources when switching between the locals and DISH. There isn't that much HD programming on DISH or the locals but what there is, looks absolutely fantastic on my 65" Toshiba HDTV!

Last night there must have been some heavy rain in the Channel 7 transmitter area or between me and it, because the digital signal kept breaking up. That's the first time I noticed a local digital signal breakup. Channel 7 actually has two digital signals -- one for regular programming and the other displays their local radar weather map continuously without sound.

 

Dish is running a promotion where you can get an 811 and a DishPVR for free w/ no commitments.

I can't live without my DirecTivo tho...Dish's PVR sucks.

 

The DirecTivo dual-tuner receiver is great because you can record two shows that are on at the same time.

I bought my DirectTV package deal through Circuit City about 3 1/2 years ago and never had to go through Pegasus.

The only major complaint I have heard about Dish is that the PVR isn't that good as compared to Tivo. A lot of people say that if they have used Tivo before and switch over to the Dish PVR, they find themselves having to buy an external Tivo because of the lack of features like season pass and record by show title instead of time.

 

One major difference: DirectTV has the "NFL Sunday Ticket" monopoly, which you cannot get with Dish (or any other cable provider, for that matter).

IMO, this is a deal breaker. I don't have either right now (I'm already stuck with the Openband monopoly), but if I were to get one I can't imagine not getting the service that gives you the option to have Sunday Ticket.

 

Maybe you fell through the cracks. Others in these forums living in 20148 mentioned having to deal with Pegasus instead of DirectTV. At any rate, this is not an issue with DISH.

 

Yeah, the whole NRTC/Pegasus issue for DirecTV is BS. I had directv when i moved to the broadlands and then mayeb about a year later I realized that my phone number on the invoice was my old number, so I called them up and changed it and the lady said "sorry, the computer has cancelled your account since you're in NRTC territory" and then gave me the number to pegasus to sign up for service.

Pegasus is like $6 more a month for me... the locals with Directv were only like $1 more, but pegasus charges $5 or $6... .and they also charge a "franchise fee" of a few bucks -- what BS.

But, like brim, I can't live without DirecTivo, even though Dish Network is technically superior (based on the DVB standard) and typically their compression rates are lower which you can see in picture quality, especially on bigger TVs.

 

I lived in Fairfax (22033) when I got my DTV system and when I moved to Ashburn (20148) and updated my info (both address and phone) they didn't blink. I knew about the NTRC so I was a bit hesitant about updating my info but I guess I 'fell through the cracks'.

 

Brim,

How long ago did you change your address and phone info?

 

Homer,

Sorry for the delay -- I missed your question.

To me it was worth the cost. I had an older 5000 receiver with r-e-a-l-l-y---s-l-o-w TV guides and program info, so just having these displayed instantaneously alone was worth the cost to me.

DISH dowloaded a software update in the past couple days that fixed a problem with the Doblby Digital audio output that didn't work on the upper HD channels and on a couple regular channels. Other than that, I haven't had any problems and I'm real happy with the receiver.

I get my locals from an outside antenna and only have the digital HD channels setup. As you would expect, the digital signals are crystal clear.

If you have any other questions, I'll try to pay closer attention to this forum next time...

 

20148 is not under that rule. 20147 is considered rural while 20148 is not. At least that's what some folks in the villiage have told me.

 

Thanks! I'm waiting for the price to come down a little.

 

When I moved here in Aug 2002.