Electronics DirecTV - Considering it - Page 3

thecoffeeguy · 07-13-2010, 09:58 AM

So I have been thinking of going with DirecTV lately. Seems like my cable company (Cox) likes to continually drive the price up on my bill. I've seen it go up and up over the year and I am getting tired of.

I know a lot of people here are DirecTV customers and had some questions.

So I was looking at the choice xtra package.
If I sign up now, my monthly bill is $41.99 for the first three months. This includes, HD DVR as well as startz and showtime free.

After three months, the bill jumps to $65.99. My question is, after these three free months of starz and showtime, which are individually $12.99 a month, can I drop those packages?

I was looking at this particular package because I get a free HD DVR for life, free installation and a good amount of channels. I dont need a crap load of channels as I dont watch that much TV. The DVR is definitely a must though and the cheapest package on their site does not appear to have that (correct me if I am wrong).

So anyone have some feedback and suggestions?

Many thanks.

TCG

ToxSocks · 07-13-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanman

From what I have seen, yes. Directv obviously has Sunday Ticket which is an advantage but other than that, I don't see a big difference. There may be a handful of channels that one has that the other doesn't, and Directv has more HD channels overall, but all providers are about equal in that regard at this point. The picture quality was a push between DTV and Dish.

From my other posts, it's obvious I am not a fan of Directv at the moment due to some equipment/cancellation fee practices but I was happy with the service when I had it.

But I wonder how the customer service and support is with Dish vs. DTV? I know the DVR for DTV is a helluva lot better IMO.

Swanman · 07-13-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Dish and Comcast offer a vastly inferior product to DTV. So you have a contract? BFD. Do you have a cell phone?

Vastly inferior - not really.

From my month on Comcast so far, here are my observations:

Picture quality: push
Channel lineup: slight advantage to DTV but only by a hair
Equipment: haven't had to reset my Comcast DVR once, had to reset the POS DTV dvr once every couple weeks minimum
HD channels: I believe DTV has more overall, but Comcast offers basically every movie channel in HD, where DTV only offers a handful (especially with the HBOs)
Price: with the phone/internet/tv bundle, much cheaper overall than i was paying with my DTV/AT&T/Uverse combo. Comcast has the advantage of being able to offer those kinds of bundles.
On Demand - DTV doesn't really have it (having to download programs is not On Demand) and I am loving it with Comcast, especially with the movie channels.

Overall, will I miss Directv when NFL season rolls around? Absolutely. But I am happy overall with Comcast so far and in no way is it "vastly inferior". Maybe a couple years ago, but they have upped their game recently.

vailpass · 07-13-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

But I wonder how the customer service and support is with Dish vs. DTV? I know the DVR for DTV is a helluva lot better IMO.

Sister in law has Dish. Their HD DVR equipment is lame. So is their programming guide. No NFL. No BigTenNetwork. No Sprouts and a couple other channels my kids can watch.
Dish seems like the generic version of Sat TV.

Swanman · 07-13-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

But I wonder how the customer service and support is with Dish vs. DTV? I know the DVR for DTV is a helluva lot better IMO.

Anything that isn't Tivo kinda sucks a penis, in my opinion. With that said, DTV's DVR interface is a bit better. Dish's is unnecessarily convoluted and not intuitive at all. The actual hardware is comparable to DTV.

Swanman · 07-13-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Sister in law has Dish. Their HD DVR equipment is lame. So is their programming guide. No NFL. No BigTenNetwork. No Sprouts and a couple other channels my kids can watch.
Dish seems like the generic version of Sat TV.

If you go one level up from their most basic package, you get NFL, Big 10 and the kids networks (in HD too I believe).

Chief Henry · 07-13-2010, 12:23 PM

I've had Direct TV since 1993 (if i remember accurately) and I love it. The DVR is great. We use it all the time.

I'm thinking of not renewing my Sunday ticket. The Chiefs are just not that important as they use to be to me. At least it seams that way. Maybe if they start winning I might have a change of heart.

ToxSocks · 07-13-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Sister in law has Dish. Their HD DVR equipment is lame. So is their programming guide. No NFL. No BigTenNetwork. No Sprouts and a couple other channels my kids can watch.
Dish seems like the generic version of Sat TV.

I noticed that as well. I think they make you pay extra for that with Dish. Here is a comparison between channel packages.

http://www.dishcomparison.com/compar...sh-network.php

Like you said, Dish felt like a generic version of DTV. It really did.

**BigMeatballDave** · 07-13-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Sister in law has Dish. Their HD DVR equipment is lame. So is their programming guide. No NFL. No BigTenNetwork. No Sprouts and a couple other channels my kids can watch.
Dish seems like the generic version of Sat TV.

I had Dish a few yrs ago. I was fine with their HD-DVR. The reason I dumped them was due to the fact that they couldnt offer me local programming in HD.

vailpass · 07-13-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanman

Vastly inferior - not really.

From my month on Comcast so far, here are my observations:

Picture quality: push
Channel lineup: slight advantage to DTV but only by a hair
Equipment: haven't had to reset my Comcast DVR once, had to reset the POS DTV dvr once every couple weeks minimum
DTV HDDVR performs flawlessly

HD channels: I believe DTV has more overall, but Comcast offers basically every movie channel in HD, where DTV only offers a handful (especially with the HBOs) DTV has more HD than anyone

Price: with the phone/internet/tv bundle, much cheaper overall than i was paying with my DTV/AT&T/Uverse combo. Comcast has the advantage of being able to offer those kinds of bundles. I'd rather pay a little more for quality

On Demand - DTV doesn't really have it (having to download programs is not On Demand) and I am loving it with Comcast, especially with the movie channels. ?? You don't download On Demand from DTV, you order via internet, phone or on screen and it plays. Or you can order from NetFlix or Blockbuster or VuDu.

Overall, will I miss Directv when NFL season rolls around? Absolutely.
A provider that can't give me NFL is not a provider

But I am happy overall with Comcast so far and in no way is it "vastly inferior". Maybe a couple years ago, but they have upped their game recently.

Glad you are happy with them. It appears we have both found the provider that is right for us.

**DaFace** · 07-13-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanman

Vastly inferior - not really.

From my month on Comcast so far, here are my observations:

Picture quality: push
Channel lineup: slight advantage to DTV but only by a hair
Equipment: haven't had to reset my Comcast DVR once, had to reset the POS DTV dvr once every couple weeks minimum
HD channels: I believe DTV has more overall, but Comcast offers basically every movie channel in HD, where DTV only offers a handful (especially with the HBOs)
Price: with the phone/internet/tv bundle, much cheaper overall than i was paying with my DTV/AT&T/Uverse combo. Comcast has the advantage of being able to offer those kinds of bundles.
On Demand - DTV doesn't really have it (having to download programs is not On Demand) and I am loving it with Comcast, especially with the movie channels.

Overall, will I miss Directv when NFL season rolls around? Absolutely. But I am happy overall with Comcast so far and in no way is it "vastly inferior". Maybe a couple years ago, but they have upped their game recently.

DirecTV's On Demand works great for me. You can usually start watching a video only a few seconds after you add it to you queue.

vailpass · 07-13-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanman

If you go one level up from their most basic package, you get NFL, Big 10 and the kids networks (in HD too I believe).

Sunday Ticket?

**Donger** · 07-13-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Sister in law has Dish. Their HD DVR equipment is lame. So is their programming guide. No NFL. No BigTenNetwork. No Sprouts and a couple other channels my kids can watch.
Dish seems like the generic version of Sat TV.

No NFL, as in NFL Network? If so, I have that. My kids have their own menu with all their crap on it (Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, etc.).

thecoffeeguy · 07-13-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

No NFL, as in NFL Network? If so, I have that. My kids have their own menu with all their crap on it (Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, etc.).

So you have dish network?do you like it? Drawbacks?

**Donger** · 07-13-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecoffeeguy

So you have dish network?do you like it? Drawbacks?

Yes, I do. Hardware is solid (the 722 HD-DVR) and the firmware is decent. I've been a customer for 12 years.

The only drawback is that there is no Sunday Ticket and that a lot of snow (and sometimes extremely heavy rain) will interrupt signal.

vailpass · 07-13-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

No NFL, as in NFL Network? If so, I have that. My kids have their own menu with all their crap on it (Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, etc.).

Sunday ticket is a deal breaker for me. I'd switch to Cox frigging cable if that was the only place that had the ticket.
On second thought I'd still keep DTV, just add Cox for the football season.

07-13-2010, 09:58 AM
thecoffeeguy That Rascally wabbit! Join Date: Aug 2009 Casino cash: $10001564	DirecTV - Considering it So I have been thinking of going with DirecTV lately. Seems like my cable company (Cox) likes to continually drive the price up on my bill. I've seen it go up and up over the year and I am getting tired of. I know a lot of people here are DirecTV customers and had some questions. So I was looking at the choice xtra package. If I sign up now, my monthly bill is $41.99 for the first three months. This includes, HD DVR as well as startz and showtime free. After three months, the bill jumps to $65.99. My question is, after these three free months of starz and showtime, which are individually $12.99 a month, can I drop those packages? I was looking at this particular package because I get a free HD DVR for life, free installation and a good amount of channels. I dont need a crap load of channels as I dont watch that much TV. The DVR is definitely a must though and the cheapest package on their site does not appear to have that (correct me if I am wrong). So anyone have some feedback and suggestions? Many thanks. TCG
Posts: 1,565

07-13-2010, 12:23 PM	#36
Chief Henry MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: IOWA Casino cash: $10005088	I've had Direct TV since 1993 (if i remember accurately) and I love it. The DVR is great. We use it all the time. I'm thinking of not renewing my Sunday ticket. The Chiefs are just not that important as they use to be to me. At least it seams that way. Maybe if they start winning I might have a change of heart. __________________ Patrick Mahomes...The only QB to ever play in the NFL with at least 5,000 passing yards in a single season and 5,000 passing yards in a single college season.
Posts: 8,361