I use Directv
Posted By: mtathome on 2005-11-29
In Reply to: Anyone using DirectTV- what are the pros and cons in comparison to cableTV? nm - MT
Satellite is all that is available out were we live, but my mom has cable. I am paying more that she is, but I have a lot more channels. Her basic cable is more than the basic satellite package, plus they are always changing her package around, usually resulting in fewer available channels in the basic package. Overall we have been very satisfied. We have a two-room set up. We have had the services for several years and have had few problems. I would have the internet too, if it were not so expensive.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
We have DirecTV and have had no major
issues. I have internet through the cable company and have had lots of problems. If cable is through Time Warner they have the worst customer service. In my area the programming is about the same between cable and satellite, except DirecTV has just added satellite radio. I don't know if cable charges per each box, but DirecTV does charge $5.00/mo per box after the first one. The only complaint I have about DirecTV is that we had a big storm and after that we could not get every channel on every box (we have 3). We're not sure where the problem is, but for them to come out is an automatic $70.00 and then depending on what the issue is there could be more charges. When my internet goes out there are no service fees, although it is a pain in the rear getting anyone out to fix the problem.
With satellite you may have to put the dish in your yard on on your house where it might be an eye sore, but if the dish is on the house they only have the run the wiring down the house and not in the yard. If you have cable they have to run it from the pole to your house and they barely bury it, so that you have to have it located every time you need to do any planting/digging.
With satellite when it rains real hard we lose signal, though it doesn't usually last long. When we used to have cable we might not lose signal entirely, but it would be very fuzy. Cable really utilizes satellite. Our local cable company has huge dishes setup and the cable feeds from those.
DirecTV is awesome...sm
We've had it for at least 10 years, maybe 12. I've loved it the whole time, and now, with TiVo, we are so spoiled that I couldn't go back to regular TV if I tried. Now, I can watch what I want when I want, by just recording it on TiVo. Since I work evening shift, I miss most of prime time TV, so TiVo helps me out. DirecTV has reasonable prices and a wide variety, and coverage here is better than any cable ever was. Considered changing to Comcast, but they tried to rip us off, so stayed with DirecTV and I have it in the livingroom and my daughter's bedroom so she can watch Disney without driving us nuts! It's the best thing ever, but do treat yourself to a TiVo unit to record your favorites. You'll never regret it, and some packages come with it now for free with new customers.
We have had directv for several years.
We own our equipment, but I understand that you do lease it now. The last offer I had from DISH, the equipment would have been leased. I consider it pretty expensive, but we have local channels, 3 movie packages and 2 receivers, so we could reduce that if we had to. We only lose reception during heavy rain. We live out in the boonies where cable does not exist, but DirecTv is less than my mom's cable for what we get. Overall, we are satisfied.
I absolutely LOVE Directv!!!
The picture is clearer than cable. The only time the picture may go out is if there is a severe thunderstorm and even then mine will usually work. I will never switch back to regular cable. We have the HDTV TIVO box and we absolutely love it. If you can get that, do. TIVO is awesome!!!
We just switched from Dish to Directv - sm
Dish is slightly cheaper, but we switched for the following reasons; Dish took away our FOX NY channel in November because of some law passed in congress recently (we watch Nascar) which we were paying extra for (we are in VA), we cannot get local channels with Dish unless we upgraded dishs and cut down about 5 trees. I thought it was insane to spend $400+ in order to be able to get local channels. We had them out here a couple years ago to evaluate the tree situation, that was their answer. So we have just been without the locals as they do not come in very well with the antenna. So all our neighbors here have Directv without any problems or cutting down trees, and all with the local channels ($4.99 a month). We have FOX again (local though, DH liked having NY FOX because of the football games). I also did the additional room box, another $4.99 a month which we had not done since living in MD, and it is a nice benefit to have with the kids, DH can watch his football and if a show is on that the kids wanted to watch they can without a bunch of fuss. That doesn't happen too often but it is nice to have that option. I am receiving a $5 rebate for switching right now, plus will be getting an additional $10 off for 10 months once my rebate kicks in, so right now it is $56 a month, but that will jump to $61 when all is said and done. We have the basic pkg and HBO. I liked the guide and ability to scroll the channels better with Dish. But the Directv remote seems much sturdier (plus they replace them free of charge), with Dish we had to pay for any replacements at $70 a pop, we went through a remote every 2 years or so, the last time I said forget this and bought a universal remote for $10, still works great. If trees are not an issue with you then either will work fine, Dish is slighty cheaper but you own the equipment, you buy it. They just lost another channel of mine though that was one of my favories, Court TV, Directv has it though so I am happy. Directv you lease the equipment, hence the free replacements. I think if you only get 1 unit then there is no charge, but with 2 units then it is $5 a month plus the free replacements, etc. We bought our Dish Network dish for $400 with a rebate, so I think we paid $100 for it in the end, have no idea how they do it now though. Happy hunting!
I just signed up for WildBlue thru Directv- sm
There have been no complaints on the board with regards to them; I will know in a few days they come out Saturday to install it. Cannot wait; my modem has been acting nuts in this heat. I believe WildBlue is cheapter than HughesNet too - it was $249 for the equipment (think HughesNet is $600, or at least it used to be)-- got the $70 a month package (they have $50, 70 and 80 I think)--higher the price the faster the connection in theory. At the rate I am going anything would be better.
we have regular TV satellite (Directv) but had ordered - sm
WildBlue for high-speed internet. Apparently they need a totally clear view of the southern sky. I am surrouned by very tall trees. Previous owners had one of those huge TV satellite dishes on a pole (still there but hidden by the trees) and we had Dish Network before. So I am not a happy. I do plan on contacting Verizon and seeing if a petition would help, I live less than 2 miles from a tower/verizon substation so I would think that putting in DSL here (boonies) would not be a hard thing to do. I know plenty of people who want it out here too. Just add it to my list of things to do and no time to do them in.
I love Directv. The picture is soooo much clearer than cable. sm
Prices in our area are comparable between cable and DirecTV. If you look at their website, you can pull up comparison charts showing exactly which channels are on each service package. You can sort them by number or alphabetically and print them out if necessary.
|
