Pros & cons.
Why is one better than the other.

Please wait for poll. Thanks.
:howdy:

We switched from Comcast to DirecTV in Sept 2009 and are very happy. Customer service is 1000 time better with DTV than Comcast. Bill is a lot less too and it's bundled with our phone and internet, so there's only one bill to pay. Even during all those snow storms, we never lost signal with DTV. I can't say that about cable. We were always losing the picture, even for no apparent reason.

I voted for Dish, only because that is all we know. The problem is the two places that we have lived at are in areas that don't have cable. I used to work for a subcontactor for Comcast 20 some years ago and the first place of the two, I would ask him when would we ever get cable there he told me "When Pigs Fly"..... Well after we moved from there and moved to where we are now, I want to say about a year and a half later that first houses area got cable. I haven't seen any Pigs Flying??????:whistle::whistle:

DirecTV - no DISH Network. Only thing we had available 12 years ago. We have Cable internet, but decided to stay with DirecTV becuase of the channel lineup was more to our liking. have it in the RV too.

Now I was considering this myself..I have always had cable..because when we had a dish when I was younger the tv went out for every little gust of wind/rain storm... is that not the case anymore?

Now I was considering this myself..I have always had cable..because when we had a dish when I was younger the tv went out for every little gust of wind/rain storm... is that not the case anymore?

We have had direct tv for quite a while now and the only issue we have had is when we had that big snow storm. It took a little more than half a day for it to melt enough for us to get signal again. Occasionally if we get a lot of rain it will go out for a minute or two but nothing major.

Our dish is on the ground so we were able to clear it off. The only time we lose signal is when really bad storms are to the south. But we've lost our cable internet too, because guess where they get their signals? Yup - satellite.

DTV! Cheaper than cable, tons of channels, and rarely do we experience outages.

After ten years of DirecTV we're going to cable. We've had it up to here with surly inept support people. The switch over will save us, as we are bundling everything together and the cost for HD is minimal.

No more outages during storms or snow, no more poor reception, no more scheduling a tech to come out next week to restore service.

Which is a shame, really. As far as ease of use, DirecTV has them all beat, and when it works, it works well. Twice this year we've been without service for more than a week at a time, and we've had equipment also fail us twice. When we switched to cable internet, the tech guys arrived in AN HOUR - not sometime next week.

I've always said that excellent service always trumps excellent product.

After ten years of DirecTV we're going to cable. We've had it up to here with surly inept support people. The switch over will save us, as we are bundling everything together and the cost for HD is minimal.

No more outages during storms or snow, no more poor reception, no more scheduling a tech to come out next week to restore service.

Which is a shame, really. As far as ease of use, DirecTV has them all beat, and when it works, it works well. Twice this year we've been without service for more than a week at a time, and we've had equipment also fail us twice. When we switched to cable internet, the tech guys arrived in AN HOUR - not sometime next week.

I've always said that excellent service always trumps excellent product.


Yes, service really counts in my book, too. I called comcast yesterday to let them know we'd be switching to Dish, if we couldn't bring the price down. I was paying 124.96 per month ans they reduced it to 77.40 per month for 1 year. Then it will go back up. I won't lose any channels. Everything will remain the same. They just reduced the price. Go figure. So it looks like I'll stay with Comcast for another year. :shrug:

You get a local forcast on the weather channel with cable, usually every 10 minutes.

Don't get that with satellite

Went to Dish Network because Comcast On Demand never worked when I wanted to watch it. Also I never received a bill that was the same after the initial promo period. Also they charge rental fees on everything. I had the triple play package now I just have Comcast High Speed Internet. Bought the Magic Jack, can't recommend that, though it is cheap. Any way saved a bundle. I don't have the rental fees. I do miss TWC local weather though. But I just go to WUSA9.com and get it. I had the service guy here rom Comcast like 6 times in 2 mos. that was a pain.

We switched from Comcast to DirecTV in Sept 2009 and are very happy. Customer service is 1000 time better with DTV than Comcast. Bill is a lot less too and it's bundled with our phone and internet, so there's only one bill to pay. Even during all those snow storms, we never lost signal with DTV. I can't say that about cable. We were always losing the picture, even for no apparent reason.

I want to get satellite TV and I have heard/read all kinds of good things about DirecTV. I'm just gonna have to do a little more research and consulting with someone I know who is better versed in this kinda stuff; before I really commit to anything.

I've been there, done that with all 3. Comcast is expensive and doesn't have as much to offer, with some problems with snowy channels from time to time. Customer service however is good with Comcast. DirectTV has a wide range of clear channels. But, customer service is piss more with DirectTV. I then gave up on DirectTV for that reason. Went to Dish. Same if not better selection for cheaper price at the time, although all of them are not about the same. However, customer service tops DirectTV every time. The only draw back with DirectTV or Dish is the signal may go out, depending upon heavy cloud cover or rain. It has to be heavy, with thick clouds. Moderate overcast will not do it. Also, DirectTV and Dish do not provide as good local weather, although Dish and DirectTV are attempting to get better in this area. They still have a way to go.

I want to get satellite TV and I have heard/read all kinds of good things about DirecTV. I'm just gonna have to do a little more research and consulting with someone I know who is better versed in this kinda stuff; before I really commit to anything.Now may be a good time to subscribe to DirecTV. From now until July 21, new subscribers can get the $10 HD fee waived for the life of the account provided you have an HD receiver or HD-DVR and pay by auto pay. Current subscribers can get a $10 credit on the HD fee for 24 months(also need HD receiver/HD-DVR and pay by auto pay). DishNET has a Free HD for life deal also with similar restrictions to DirecTV.
In my experience, if the installer sets up the system and aims the dish properly, you will have minimal problems.
As for local weather. It's a lot better over the past year. All currently shipped receivers/dvrs have the ability to view active content similar to TWC local on the 8's when tuned to TWC. It will be displayed at the same time local on the 8's would normally be displayed.

Now may be a good time to subscribe to DirecTV. From now until July 21, new subscribers can get the $10 HD fee waived for the life of the account provided you have an HD receiver or HD-DVR and pay by auto pay. Current subscribers can get a $10 credit on the HD fee for 24 months(also need HD receiver/HD-DVR and pay by auto pay). DishNET has a Free HD for life deal also with similar restrictions to DirecTV.
In my experience, if the installer sets up the system and aims the dish properly, you will have minimal problems.
As for local weather. It's a lot better over the past year. All currently shipped receivers/dvrs have the ability to view active content similar to TWC local on the 8's when tuned to TWC. It will be displayed at the same time local on the 8's would normally be displayed.

Well, from a purely physical perspective, I have a "small window" between the trees that can be aimed at or through; so that shouldn't be a problem.

But that "auto pay" thing.....is that required in order to subscribe?

DTV! Cheaper than cable, tons of channels, and rarely do we experience outages.

How do you get broadband Internet if you have DTV?





I notice you're heading to Nassau in Aug. We're going in July.

I stick with cable for a couple of reasons. I have a lot of tv's and with cable I don't need a cable box (or rental fee) to get the basic channels. Also with DirectTV "on demand" really isn't on demand, you have to wait for it to download. With Metrocast it is instant. I price it out at least once a year and it's always just been more cost effective and convenient to stick with cable.

How do you get broadband Internet if you have DTV?



You can still get cable modem service without TV, or Verizon DSL.

DirectTV is offering a break on their HD channels because Dish is now offering free HD on all their channels. I'm sure it's just a promo, but they say in their ads, free HD for life. Who's life, I wonder? :lol:

I used to have Dish and was very pleased with it. It only dropped out when there was a severe t-storm coming in from the south. Otherwise, solid as a rock. I canceled it when I could no longer justify the cost. I now get TV over the air on antenna, and I use Hulu.com to get most of the programs I'd miss otherwise.

Well, from a purely physical perspective, I have a "small window" between the trees that can be aimed at or through; so that shouldn't be a problem.

But that "auto pay" thing.....is that required in order to subscribe?

Have to watch that, trees grow and fill gaps:)

Have to watch that, trees grow and fill gaps:)

I know; but the trees I'm talking about hasn't filled the gap since I've lived there. Don't know what kinda trees they are; but they're not gap fillin' trees.

How do you get broadband Internet if you have DTV?

I'm not sure what you mean. We have MetroCast (cable internet). We just don't use MetroCast for our television service.

Well, from a purely physical perspective, I have a "small window" between the trees that can be aimed at or through; so that shouldn't be a problem.This can be more of a problem than you think. If you're expecting to go HD, the dish would need to "see" a fairly wide arc to the South-southwest. There are 5 satellite locations between 99º WL and 119º WL. You need to have a clear line of sight to all that area plus a degree or two on either side. If you're only interested in SD, then you would only need to "see" the main satellite at 101º WL.

But that "auto pay" thing.....is that required in order to subscribe?No, but you won't get the HD(if you want HD) fee waived without it.

I would jump to Cable regardless of the satisfaction providing you could get High Speed Internet. DishNetwork and DirecTV do not support High Speed Internet - period! I live on a farm - have crappy phone service (fads, static, etc.) for over 5 years now. Verizon knows that have a monopoly going and could care less about my problems. They acknowledge the noise is coming from their lines (not my house) and never do anything about it because they would no doubt have to run another line about a mile or so. There is simply nothing I can do but suck it up and live with it - and Verizon knows this. If I had Cable InterNet - the first thing I would do is tell Verizon to shove it!:killingme

I've been there, done that with all 3. Comcast is expensive and doesn't have as much to offer, with some problems with snowy channels from time to time. Customer service however is good with Comcast. DirectTV has a wide range of clear channels. But, customer service is piss more with DirectTV. I then gave up on DirectTV for that reason. Went to Dish. Same if not better selection for cheaper price at the time, although all of them are not about the same. However, customer service tops DirectTV every time. The only draw back with DirectTV or Dish is the signal may go out, depending upon heavy cloud cover or rain. It has to be heavy, with thick clouds. Moderate overcast will not do it. Also, DirectTV and Dish do not provide as good local weather, although Dish and DirectTV are attempting to get better in this area. They still have a way to go.

Almost sound like you're saying none of them are worth a cuss.

As far as the local news & weather.....I can look up the D.C. news channels' websites online for that kinda stuff.

I just was just wondering if I still have to bow to the monopoly held by METROCAST even if I didn't want more than expanded basic.
Maybe I'll check out Dish Network a little more. :shrug:

:ohwell:

Work from home 3 days per week. Need cable for computer set up. Dish / Direct TV use satelite. Long delays and lost data the norm for computer use.

Loved my "DISH". Had to let it go so I could work from home. Now looking size up costs using cable just for computer and DISH for TV. Will let you know how it works out. Initial look, not good.

They make a heating element that you can install on your Dish to melt away snow and ice, something to consider.

COMCAST just completed their Digital Transition in my area of Calvert County, which then they locked their cable service into a proprietary system that can only be accessed by COMCAST's proprietary equipment. Local Channels have to remain unencrypted, by law, so the only thing my recording equipment and digital TV's could tune/record was local channels. The STB's COMCAST provided are horrible, I had to figure out myself, contrary to all the advertising, as an existing customer I did NOT get on demand automatically, even though I payed the same rate, I had to call COMCAST and have my package changed to get On Demand. Then my COMCAST supplied STB failed when attempting On Demand and I had to drive to prince federick to trade it in for a new one. I had to get extra DTA's to try to get my recorders working, stood in line behind people trading in their COMCAST's DVR, complaining this was their 3rd DVR and it still doesn't work. COMCAST equipment was extremely difficult to set up with 3rd party recording equipment, needing IR Blasters and then half the time the wrong channel was recorded. The guides and channels on the STB's are NOT editable, you have to sort through hundreds of channels and PPV trying to figure out what channels you do receive. You go to COMCAST's website to download channel guides to get around their unworkable channel lists and guides in the STB's and they do NOT have any for the packages that COMCAST offers, choose a guide that sounds close to your package and its less than %50 accurate. I made up my own guide and e-mailed it to COMCAST and they still haven't updated their guides. To get your service working like it used to, for many people, you had to rent additional equipment at outrageous rates.

If you don't think the rental rates are outrageous, think about it for a minute, don't dismiss it like, well its only an extra $2 a month, OR I get a DVR for just $16 a month. Those little DTA's COMCAST rents, only cost $30, probably less since COMCAST buys them in bulk, a DVR at $16/mo is $192 a year. In 18 months you would pay more in rental fees than it would cost to buy a brand new consumer model of this equipment, but COMCAST rents you a refurbished model that is far older and less capable and far more likely to fail or have problems.

Thats only a small list of how awfully COMCAST has implemented their digital transition, in short, COMCAST changed their service into poor 20 year old Satellite Service over Cable. I had it and canceled COMCAST TV, had Dish Network installed and I am so much happier, it is better than COMCAST's service in every way. Better equipment, better guides and channel lineups, more HD, it costs less for comparable service, etc...

Of course COMCAST jacked up the price of cable modem service by %33 when I canceled TV. Anyone know who I write a letter to, that can effect the franchising for Calvert County?? The Board of Commissioners? I should have a choice in service and NOT be forced to go to one company for internet service, open the franchise to Verizon FIOS or any other internet service.