Reliability of DirecTV vs Dish Network

Mosey · Feb 25, 2005

I have a DirecTV dish and it has been very reliable for over 5 years now. But, I just found out Dish Network is cheaper, about $35 per month for their base package. So, I can get all the channels I need for about $10 a month less, including local channels for that price (right now I use an antenna for those and some barely come in). Can anyone report back on the reliability of Dish Network service?

DaveNay · Feb 25, 2005

What are you refering to when you say reliability? I have never in the last eight years had my Dish Network service interrupted due to a technical problem at their end. It is of course succeptable to extremely heavy rain, but I believe Direct TV is also. I would give you a very positive thumbs up in terms of reliablility and consistency of service from Dish Network.

Dave

gsxr1100 · Feb 25, 2005

I have DishTV for about 4 years. No huge issues. Went down 3 times in that time. Pay about $85 per month for everything I can get!

Both are about the same price for everything.

BB_TX · Feb 25, 2005

We have had Dish for 4-5 years now. I don't remember it ever being down for anything other than an occasional very heavy rain storm.

Dozernut · Feb 25, 2005

I think the deciding issue on either is the packages they offer. I don't think one is better than the other, go for the best deal.

getut · Feb 25, 2005

I don't know if this type of stuff influences anyones decisions but it sure does mine, but DirecTV has been suing people left and right for very bad reasons.

I'm sure everyone knows about people that steal digital dish television. It requires the use of a digital card writer in many cases. DirecTV had a seller of those cards raided and got hold of their customer list and started sicking their lawyers on those people... in civil court only. Basically saying that you bought one of those writers, we know you are stealing from us. Pay $1000 now and avoid being drug through court.

Thats all fine and good, but at the time of this, the type of card Dish Network used was not proprietary. It was used in MANY devices other than digital dish decoders. They basically extorted money out of those people.

Those things HEAVILY influence where my money goes, and I am with Dish Network now.

Here is an article about that on the law.com website.

Boondox · Feb 25, 2005

We don't watch TV but the folks we rent to have Dish. They called the 800# to sign up for it and some low budget crew installed the dish atop the roof, drilled right thru the Weatherseal (several times as the holes didn't align), and the resulting leakage forced us to do a LOT of drywall repairs and eventually to reroof!

So if you sign up, deal with a local in your area that has a decent reputation for good work.

Pete

gsxr1100 · Feb 25, 2005

DirectTV last I know did not have HU cards (football cards) anymore. They went to new cards to prevent this & are not hackable from what I have read online.

DishTV also shut the COMPLETE network down about 8 years ago since people were hacking them and people got upset and left. I would leave too. Paying XX funds a month and lose service.

I really do not care about the people paying thousands of dollars to get writers etc. People have been doing that for over 15 years with cable descramblers (nothing new). If people want to spend the time and money and do it make cards, whatever. The techo geeks will always find a path..I have no idea how they do. Just like virus creaters etc. I have no clue on how they do it, but they do.

GregMVT · Feb 25, 2005

We recently got directv. We had tried dishnetwork first but after they rescheduled us four times I cancelled it, that was on a saturday. Each time we they rescheduled they told us we were the priority and would be first on list. They did finally show up on the monday after I cancelled it. Just my 2 cents.