[PonchoV8]

I finally broke down and got a new TV, so which service is recommended? I have analog cable now and we're about to switch to digital. Someone tried to sell me DirectTV at Sams Club yesterday. Which is the better service? Cost matters, because I don't worship movie watching or anything.

[Rob B]

I've had DirectTV for 13 years and the quality and service is excellent. The only problem I have had with them is when I switched to HD service. For some reason ( one they can't/won't figure out) the ends of the coax going into the B converter on the back of the HD box keep burning up or melting the copper core of the cable every 3-6 months. I use to have them come out but it just got irritating so I just replace the ends myself, give them a call and complain, then they normally give me some kind of credit or free service for a couple of months.
I think my issue has more to do with the company they subbed to do my install on my HD service than anything else. Have a feeling they used some cheap ass Coax cable, everything else has been replaced in the system.

[Jim Scites]

I had Dish Network for a few years and he picture was incredible. I switched to Comcast Cable because they had a deal and it was much cheaper, but the picture on my HD tv can't compare to when I had Dish. The only other downfall to Dish was rain fade, right in the middle of a program I wanted to watch it would rain and the clouds would block the signal for a few minutes. I really do miss Dish but not the price.

[rnrgoat]

we have att u verse, and the picture is incredible, far better than cable, cable HD is so compressed that the sound is barely audible. i've had dish,ditto on the rain fade, plus when dvr's were being given away, they would not give me one, been a client for 5 years at that time. also it is important to use hdtv cables i prefer the hdmi, but some say there is no difference between hdmi and the red, blue, green, rca type cable, gold plated ends ect (monster brand) are a waste of money check around with friends and neighbors to see what they have and look at the pic quality everything else is your preference

[rnrgoat]

oh yeah direct tv is dropping versus, so if your and indy car fan, look somewhere else

[JeffP]

What is the length of the contract for ATT, Dish, and Direct?

[Speargun]

I have Directv and have used them since they were Primestar way back when. Other than getting rain fade, which happens every afternoon here in Florida, the picture quality is great. When we had all of the hurricanes come through here a few years ago, I could run the tv off of a generator while the guys with cable had to wait 3 weeks before the lines all got repaired.

I haven't had any mechanical trouble, ever, but I think that some of the receiver models had issues.

The worst thing about Directv is their customer service. Years ago it was awesome, but the last time I had to call about something (a couple years ago) they sucked, but it may have been a temporary issue. The good news is that you rarely have to call about anything and if you do have an issue, make sure you ask what kind of service they can offer you for free. I.e. 3 months free HBO, etc...

One issue I fought with them about is that a few years ago, they started LEASING the receivers to you for $5 a month. I bought a receiver from Best Buy for $50 and 8 months later they started charging a lease fee. I was told that since I only paid $50 for the box, it was a lease box. If I had paid $100, I would have owned it. I was told that the receipt, box, or a sign in the store would have indicated that it was a lease box. Even after I sent pictures of the box, receipt, and from the store showing that there were no indication that it was a lease, they still would budge off of the fee.
It piss*d me off to no end, but satellite is my only option. (I even have to use satellite for the internet.)

Other than that, I like the service. I don't know how they compare in price to other services as I have the platinum package with pretty much every channel short of porn or pay per view.

Another good thing about satellite is that you can take it with you. If you go on vacation, hunt camp, etc..., as long as you have a dish, you can hook up your box and get the same programing that you get at home.

I've also heard of some people renting a spare box to a friend or family member for a small fee to help offset the cost of programing. Directv doesn't like this & may shut you down if they find out, but it's not illegal.

All in all, I would recommend Directv. It ain't perfect, but from what I hear, it's better than cable.

Hope this helps!

[edit] BTW, get the DVR! I can't remember the last time I actually watched a commercial. It's also nice for when it's raining, unless the program was recorded during a storm. I NEVER watch live tv anymore.

[Mr-Bratt]

Originally Posted by rnrgoat

we have att u verse, and the picture is incredible, far better than cable, cable HD is so compressed that the sound is barely audible. i've had dish,ditto on the rain fade, plus when dvr's were being given away, they would not give me one, been a client for 5 years at that time. also it is important to use hdtv cables i prefer the hdmi, but some say there is no difference between hdmi and the red, blue, green, rca type cable, gold plated ends ect (monster brand) are a waste of money check around with friends and neighbors to see what they have and look at the pic quality everything else is your preference

X2 for u verse We love it

[rexus31]

Originally Posted by Rob B

For some reason ( one they can't/won't figure out) the ends of the coax going into the B converter on the back of the HD box keep burning up or melting the copper core of the cable every 3-6 months.

It could be the receiver itself. Was it ever swapped out? If it is an H20 receiver request having it swapped out with a H21. Also, check to be sure your system is properly grounded.

[rexus31]

Originally Posted by Speargun

One issue I fought with them about is that a few years ago, they started LEASING the receivers to you for $5 a month. I bought a receiver from Best Buy for $50 and 8 months later they started charging a lease fee. I was told that since I only paid $50 for the box, it was a lease box. If I had paid $100, I would have owned it. I was told that the receipt, box, or a sign in the store would have indicated that it was a lease box. Even after I sent pictures of the box, receipt, and from the store showing that there were no indication that it was a lease, they still would budge off of the fee. It piss*d me off to no end, but satellite is my only option. (I even have to use satellite for the internet.)

You were still paying the $5.00 per month before as a "marrying fee" for an additional receiver. You just noticed it when they switched to the "Lease Fee" which is essentially the same thing. They have always charged $5.00 (used to be $4.99) for each additional TV installed after the primary. DirecTV switched to every additional receiver being "Leased" so they can show all of the receivers as company owned. It makes their books look better.

[rnrgoat]

the att uverse package deal with internet was a 1 year deal with automatic renewel,, been 18mos still same rate, but like everyone else, you do get charged for each reciever that you have, great new feature, only need one dvr, but each tv can play and record on dvr. so if something is on later, you dont have to go to the tv that has the dvr hooked up to it.

[rexus31]

Originally Posted by rnrgoat

the att uverse package deal with internet was a 1 year deal with automatic renewel,, been 18mos still same rate, but like everyone else, you do get charged for each reciever that you have, great new feature, only need one dvr, but each tv can play and record on dvr. so if something is on later, you dont have to go to the tv that has the dvr hooked up to it.

This technology has been in beta testing with DirecTV for some time and should be available in the near future. DirecTV's MRV will work with the R22 DVR, HR2x HD DVR's and H21 receivers.

[Speargun]

Originally Posted by rexus31

You were still paying the $5.00 per month before as a "marrying fee" for an additional receiver. You just noticed it when they switched to the "Lease Fee" which is essentially the same thing. They have always charged $5.00 (used to be $4.99) for each additional TV installed after the primary. DirecTV switched to every additional receiver being "Leased" so they can show all of the receivers as company owned. It makes their books look better.

I actually never had to pay a fee for each receiver. Since I was a legacy customer from Primestar, I was exempt. I still use several receivers that I don't pay mirroring fees for because I've had them for so long. I only pay the "lease" fee on a HD receiver I got last year and the one box that they say I don't own.

[cutrone]

ATT U-Verse

[Region Warrior]

Had Dish...never again. Besides rain and snow, went thru several receivers and remotes.
Wanted ATT, but not available in our area...even though they ran new phone lines about 5 yrs ago.
Dont watch alot myself(just sleep better when its on).
Was gon'a go with Direct(more selections), but ended up with Comcast do to less expensive base computer/tv package.
Of course then the computer went 10-0 three weeks later.
Be a year this fall.
So far not one problem. Not even a remote battery.

[ponjohn]

Rob-

I would guess there is a grounding issue between the equipment.

This would would put a potential voltage either on the core or the shield.

[fiedlerh]

Most are a 2 year contract.

DirecTV is OK, but I asked to get set up for a DVR plus more current equipment for the other 2 boxes to replace our 6 year old boxes (that have no noise isolation in the power supply) . All sorts of fees for that plus a new 2 yr contract. DirecTV DVRs supposedly have a bad reputation too. I can switch to Dishnet and get all new equipment for no up-front fees.

Did AT&T U-Verse run fiber optic to your house? If so, did they pull it underground and put a converter inside or outside?

If you are melting connectors on the back of your equipment you may have a ground loop problem. In other words the dish is grounded and the house's electrical system are grounded at two different points and voltage levels are different (for whatever reason). When the voltage levels are different, current flows and problems start. See http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/

I used my air hammer to drive in a ground stake, like one would use for a house. I connected it to the satellite dish ground via 10 gauge wire and no problems ever. Technically, single grounding is ideal, but our water table is only a few feet down, so there should be decent conductivity between the dish ground and the house electrical ground. In dry areas, single point grounding becomes more important.

[PonchoV8]

I still don't have a TV. Went for the Mit 60" 120hz DLP for $899.00 and ten percent more for a school coupon, and financed it for 12 months with no down payment, no interest and no PAYMENTS at all for 12 months. The problem came when I went to pick it up two days later. They're back ordered and no telling when they'll be in. No amount of negotiating could get me any replacement deal worth having. They didn't care. I'm totally off HH Gregg for life.
So I went to Bestbuy and had them match the price without the 10% coupon or financing but for a newer model with more features. I got it home and unboxed it to find it was repackaged (probably the floor model) and there was no remote control or operating manual. Back to the store it went.


Reworked the deal to get a 65" Mit 120hz DLP for the cost of the 60" on sale at $899.00 on Sunday. Hope it's there. Otherwise I'm sticking with the 36" Sharp crt.

[JeffP]

My brother-in-law has a 65" Mit. Take my advice and don't watch tennis as your neck will get sore. lol. His has a great picture with many good features but he paid about 3 times more than your price. Sounds like you got a great deal.

[PonchoV8]

It's gonna be AWESOME-----------if it actually gets here.