Stick with Dish or go DirecTV?

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bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

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Apr 11, 2016 2:44 PM
Last week I became a free agent again....I've been with Dish for over 6 years but paying $140 a month not including internet is getting ridiculous....so after figuring out cord cutting wasn't an option yet(we aren't close enough to get any OTA HD channels)...I am deciding between switching to DirecTV or keeping Dish. Dish offered to get my bill to around $110 and upgrade me to the newest Hopper...DirecTV would be about $50 cheaper for the first year then go to basically what I am paying now....any one out there have experience with DirecTV or made the switch?
Apr 11, 2016 2:44pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Apr 11, 2016 3:26 PM
Call and complain and then threaten to switch to Direct....they'll lower you a little bit $15-$20 a month and probably give you 3 free months of something you don't have
Apr 11, 2016 3:26pm
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Apr 11, 2016 3:35 PM
That's always an option...I guess my question is..for those with DirecTV how happy are you...and if anyone switched between these two are they happy they switched.
Apr 11, 2016 3:35pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

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3,167 posts
Apr 11, 2016 5:55 PM
I had both and thought they were both bad enough that I switch to TWC. So good luck.
Apr 11, 2016 5:55pm
Classyposter58's avatar

Classyposter58

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6,321 posts
Apr 11, 2016 8:20 PM
DirecTv is mine and I use them primarily because of the DVR. That Genie is the best one I've ever used, especially working nights I can record the rest of the Tigers game for instance and then fast forward to every pitch when I get home easily bc when you press play it jumps back a couple secs so you never miss a thing. Also with the app u can set your DVR from your phone in case you forgot.

For Internet though I have TWC, far and away the best service I've ever used


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Apr 11, 2016 8:20pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Apr 11, 2016 8:56 PM
My contract for Dish is up too. I'm going to try and stick with them, but definitely get costs lowered.

I have experience with both Dish and DirecTV, and definitely want to avoid DirecTV if I can. Just not a fan of their setup and navigating through their channels. To me, Dish is setup better.

We'll see though, I just want to save some money.
Apr 11, 2016 8:56pm
Bio-Hazzzzard's avatar

Bio-Hazzzzard

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1,027 posts
Apr 11, 2016 9:12 PM
As long as Direct TV holds the rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket, no matter the cost, we will never part ways.
Apr 11, 2016 9:12pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 11, 2016 11:03 PM
bases_loaded;1791404 wrote:Last week I became a free agent again....I've been with Dish for over 6 years but paying $140 a month not including internet is getting ridiculous....so after figuring out cord cutting wasn't an option yet(we aren't close enough to get any OTA HD channels)...I am deciding between switching to DirecTV or keeping Dish. Dish offered to get my bill to around $110 and upgrade me to the newest Hopper...DirecTV would be about $50 cheaper for the first year then go to basically what I am paying now....any one out there have experience with DirecTV or made the switch?
Where do you live that you don't get OTA channels? Is PlayStation Vue an option? They offer all 4 networks with their cord cutting bundle.
Apr 11, 2016 11:03pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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Apr 11, 2016 11:30 PM
Laley23;1791477 wrote:Where do you live that you don't get OTA channels? Is PlayStation Vue an option? They offer all 4 networks with their cord cutting bundle.
Isn't Vue outrageous and only in a few areas now too?

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Apr 11, 2016 11:30pm
Benny The Jet's avatar

Benny The Jet

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2,987 posts
Apr 12, 2016 4:27 AM
I've had both, liked direct tv best. Dish kept in randomly raising prices within first year, which they aid they wouldn't. But, I'll be switching to a Roku/Fire stick in August. Prices after 1st promo year are outrageous
Apr 12, 2016 4:27am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

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Apr 12, 2016 8:00 AM
I had a poor experience with Dish. I don't mind the fact that I pay $10 more for DirecTV because the price is what I agreed to. Dish stuck me with huge equipment fees and HD fees that ended up being like 30% of my total bill.
Apr 12, 2016 8:00am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 12, 2016 9:55 AM
Midstate01;1791486 wrote:Isn't Vue outrageous and only in a few areas now too?

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Its available nationwide as of a few weeks ago. I have t done a ton of research, because the channels they get that Sling doesn't, I have access to anyway. So for me, $25 for Sling is still better than Vue at like $35 or whatever their base offer is.

EDIT: Looks like broadcast OTA channels are still being rolled out city by city. It's available in Raleigh/Durham, which had me thinking it was nationwide. The service itself is nationwide though.

Still would like to know where he's located. Crazy to me you're not within 50 Miles of a broadcast tower.
Apr 12, 2016 9:55am
Z

Zunardo

Senior Member

370 posts
Apr 12, 2016 10:11 AM
Switched from TWC to DirecTV in October, it's pretty good IMHO. We kept pushing TWC for a break on the ever-increasing bill, but they refused. So we went to AT&T to upgrade our Internet, found they just bought DTV, and bundled phone, Internet, and TV for the same price TWC was charging for basic digital service.

I've heard DTV will eventually do the same thing, but for now we like it. Excellent picture and signal, only lost it briefly twice for rain storms, and we have about 10 premium movie channels we didn't have before.

Strangely, right after we switched over fully, TWC started calling us constantly and mailing us a flood of literature begging us to come back and have our bill lowered. Geez, guys - too little, too late.

Only drawback was that DTV didn't carry NBC Columbus channel 4.2 (MeTV) on DTV, which TWC did have. So we just hooked up an old HD antenna I had laying around, switch the input to TV, and my wife can watch her Perry Mason show to her heart's content when she wants her fix.
Apr 12, 2016 10:11am
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

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6,912 posts
Apr 13, 2016 9:53 AM
Laley23;1791477 wrote:Where do you live that you don't get OTA channels? Is PlayStation Vue an option? They offer all 4 networks with their cord cutting bundle.
When I put 44622 into a majority of websites that say they can tell you signal strength...I only see PBS available.
Apr 13, 2016 9:53am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 13, 2016 10:22 AM
bases_loaded;1791622 wrote:When I put 44622 into a majority of websites that say they can tell you signal strength...I only see PBS available.
There are definitely a bunch of towers north of canton and south of Cleveland. Out of range for a normal antenna, but the really good ones mounted on a roof can usually get up to a 100 mile distance. The terrain in that area might be tough, but with a try?? Could probably negotiate a return policy if it doesn't pick up all the towers you need.
Apr 13, 2016 10:22am
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

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Apr 13, 2016 11:09 AM
Until you can get live sports over the internet conveniently I think I have settled on keeping satellite TV... I guess the question is...does that happen within a year or not. If it does then there is no reason to sign a 2 year deal, so I stick with Dish and pretend Im leaving...if its in the 1-2 year range then DirecTV is the best option
Apr 13, 2016 11:09am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 13, 2016 11:25 AM
bases_loaded;1791637 wrote:Until you can get live sports over the internet conveniently I think I have settled on keeping satellite TV... I guess the question is...does that happen within a year or not. If it does then there is no reason to sign a 2 year deal, so I stick with Dish and pretend Im leaving...if its in the 1-2 year range then DirecTV is the best option
You already can?

I don't have cable, and get MLB, NBA, all 4 OTA w/antenna, ESPN/2/U, TBS, TNT, NBCSN, FS Go, Watch ESPN and BTN2GO. The only network k don't have access to, is CBSSN.

Half of those are via SlingTV, the other half I just borrow cable logins from friends in exchange for my HBOGo account info.
Apr 13, 2016 11:25am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 13, 2016 3:08 PM
It looks like you would struggle to get 2/4 major channels, even with a rooftop antenna. All digital signals are HD, but not all HD is Digital. Analog CB be an HD signal, but for your purposes, I would only focus on the digital signals that would reach you.

My suggestion, if you truly want to cheapen the bill and cut the cord, buy a rooftop off of Amazon...I got one for about $30...if it doesn't work for the OTA channels you need (CBS, Fox and NBC...ABC can be attained via Watch ESPN) then go with one of the providers.

That said, the only OTA channel you truly need FOR SPORTS, is CBS. NBC has an app, Fox has an app and ABC has Watch ESPN. You would just need a cable login to access those apps, but a few bucks towards someone, and they will give it to you...
Apr 13, 2016 3:08pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 13, 2016 3:10 PM
Ad for the record, I did do this. So I'm not just blindly telling you something lol.

Cut my bill from over $200 when you factor in all channels, HBO, Netflix, Internet etc to under $100 a month. Only thing I do not have access to is a FULLY functioning DVR (but SlingTV stores shows for 2 weeks time...walking dead, etc) and I don't have Comedy Central.
Apr 13, 2016 3:10pm
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

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6,912 posts
Apr 13, 2016 3:37 PM
yeah I've been crunching numbers for weeks. Wife is due with our first child in 3 weeks...she's a teacher, so shes going to be at home for 4 straight months...so that might be the biggest thing, DVR and her ability to navigate it lol.
Apr 13, 2016 3:37pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Apr 13, 2016 4:40 PM
bases_loaded;1791679 wrote:yeah I've been crunching numbers for weeks. Wife is due with our first child in 3 weeks...she's a teacher, so shes going to be at home for 4 straight months...so that might be the biggest thing, DVR and her ability to navigate it lol.
Lol. Better go with a carrier!!!
Apr 13, 2016 4:40pm
Midstate01's avatar

Midstate01

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14,766 posts
Apr 14, 2016 7:43 PM
I thought vue was like 100 bucks. But turns out its not that badly priced. So I'm trying it out. So far it's pretty good. Not real user friendly, but assume it'll get improvements.

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Apr 14, 2016 7:43pm