Direct TV & Dish Network

[tulip]

I'll be the lone voice in the wilderness--I have not had a TV in years, and it's been really wonderful. So if you are thinking of ways to reduce spending and increase time for things you like to do (in my case, yoga, Pilates, reading, gardening, and cooking), you might want to try being TV-free for a while.

I do occasionally (about once a month) watch a show here and there on my computer when I need to veg out. But that's pretty rare, and I really cannot imagine having the time to watch TV every night. As it is, I don't have enough time to fit in drawing and getting back to playing my instruments. I hope to fit those in this winter, after the gardening settles down.

Just a thought to consider.

[tongue_tied]

I have DirecTV in Chicago... lots of tall buildings around... I'd say about 91% of the time, I don't have a problem. If a storm rolls through, and the satellite goes out, it's never for very long. I've never needed to use their customer service (knock wood).

[TsPoet]

I have Dish (so thought I'd weigh in). My brother has Direct. He's constantly trying to get me to change and I would, except Direct doesn't have my locals in HD. As soon as they do, I'll be Switching to Direct.
As far as the DVRs go, the 2 companies are similar. I prefer Dish's menu system, it's more intuitive to me. But, I don't think I'll have too much trouble updated to Direct.
I've hated Dish's customer service, I laugh every time that commercial comes on that claims they have the best customer satisfaction of any satellite/cable company. I've been with them for years, and my DVR died, I lost a lot of shows and time. They finally sent me a replacement refurbished unit, but refused to upgrade me - something I'd expect for a loyal customer. Their phone help system is full of "push 2 to be disconnected, 5 to talk to someone that doesn't know anything, 7 to shoot yourself in the head, or 9 to get to yet another menu like this one".
Despite living in a little hole, I have had very little trouble with reception. Wind, rain, clouds... all fine.
I'd check the lineup in your area for what each has or doesn't have in HD. In the East, I think it's less than a problem, but out in the boonies, the line ups are different between the two providers.

[bmccasland]

I was a Dish customer for years, and when my receiver box died, and I couldn't get any help from them, I switched to Direct. With "new introductory" prices it was cheaper than me buying the new receiver box - only THEN did the fine people at Dish beg me to come back by offering to send me a new receiver box - this was after I drove around town at their direction looking for places to get my box fixed or even looked at. So now my Direct subscription is on hold as I'm in housing limbo land. I have to decide what I'm going to do - continue Direct or go with the local cable.

I would say that it might be a wash over which company has better customer service. At one time, I got great customer service from Dish when I needed it. Another time, I didn't. I'm not a high maintenance person. Just want the system to work when I turn my TV on - I don't order extra programs.

One other thought.... some foreign language (and there are lots of them, well beyond Spanish) programming is only available on Dish, should that be important to you.

[Bike Chick]

I'll be the lone voice in the wilderness--I have not had a TV in years, and it's been really wonderful. So if you are thinking of ways to reduce spending and increase time for things you like to do (in my case, yoga, Pilates, reading, gardening, and cooking), you might want to try being TV-free for a while.

I could soooooo do this. DH is the TV watcher. I rarely turn it on when I'm home alone. We have had DISH for 10 years and have been very satisfied. We switched to HD a year ago and I really do enjoy that. It makes watching sporting events that much better.

[OakLeaf]

For local HD programming, just attach a broadcast antenna. Seriously, before HD we could barely get a signal with a 20 foot antenna tower, from our "local" channels 45 hilly miles away. Now, we get unbelievable picture quality with a coat hanger.

[kermit]

We had directv since it first started with Tivo, the greatest invention ever if you work at night. For no reason the prices increased and after a few months we went to Dish. Completely different system, took some getting used to but like it. We also switched because our South Georgia house only has Dish in its area. Both are great, see what kind of deal you can get and what works in your area. Some are limited.

[Steph_in_TX]

We've always had good luck and service with DISH. It does go out when a large storm rolls through, but very reliable otherwise. However, they've raised prices three times over the last year and a half or so and we are ditching them. We can get the same service cheaper with either UVerse or FIOS in our area.

[Catrin]

Thanks to all for their experiences, I appreciate it. I have spent most of my adult life without cable of any kind - AT&T UVerse is the only service of that nature that I have kept more than 4 months before returning to no television. Currently I just have the local channels through them but may upgrade for the winter. I like having something to watch when I am doing needlework If I don't have cable, then I wind up spending money on DVDs - in the long run the cable is less expensive

I am still considering my options, and it may be time to return to no cable...but we will see. I tend to buy far more DVDs when I don't have television and that gets expensive over time.

[withm]

In my area there is essentialy no television reception with out cable or other services. The nearest "local" stations are 50 miles or more to the north or the south. My HOA does not permit antennas or satellite dishes but the problem with satellite providers is that none of them carry the "local stations" opting instead for network affiliates over 100 miles away.

This is a problem because there is no real local content - no local news, and no local weather. When a hurricane, snowstorm, or other severe weather is coming our way, it is far more useful to have weather warnings based on actual local conditions, not those expected 100 miles away. If I lived in an urban area with normal local stations this would not be a problem.

So I continue to pay a small fortune for BASIC service that I never watch except for the news.

Like the song says - 57 channels and nothing on....