DirecTV vs Dish vs Cable?

A

ACuriae

500+ Posts
I have Suddenlink with two HD DVR boxes, Internet, and all the movie channels, and our promotional package recently ended (~$80/mo. when we initially signed up, good for 2 years...renewal price is ~$220/mo.).

Dropping all the movie channels will only bring the price down about $36/mo. Getting rid of one of the boxes only drops the price by $10/mo. So now I'm exploring other options. Right now, DirecTV has a package of everything we have with Suddenlink plus about 100 more HD channels for $80 for 2 years. I'm concerned because it sounds eerily similar to what Suddenlink offered us.

Suddenlink/cable or satellite? Why?

DirecTV or Dish--is one better than the other? What's the difference?

High-speed Internet--they both seem to offer it but I can't find pricing?

If I want a second receiver, why do I have to pay $199 for it AND $5/mo. to lease it? Or did I read that wrong?

Edit: I know that the DirecTV price will increase in year, but supposedly the contract will only increase by $24, barring changes to the subscriber package or other changes.
 
I have had DirecTV for 5 months. I like the programming, but I don't spend too much time watching all the channels they offer because there's just not that much freetime. We switched solely due to the NFL Sunday Ticket, which is fantastic. I also like being able to set recordings online.

That said, I abhor their customer service so much that I'm sometimes torn on whether or not it was even worth it, especially because now I'm stuck for another year and a half with these ********. I cannot say enough how ******* incompetent and horribly uneducated their CSRs are.

I will give but one small example, although I had situations like this happen everytime I've talked to them. I signed up under an American Express deal where I would get a $200 giftcard. I confirmed this on a few different calls when we were setting up my service, etc. After a couple of months I call to see where it is, and they have no record of it at all. The CSR can't find anything in there, so I asked to be transferred. The next lady also can't find it, and says she only knows about the $100 gift card deal. Meanwhile I am staring on my screen at the internet offer, still valid, for the $200 gift card. She finally finds an offer buried somewhere in my account, not even under American Express, but she's unsure what the value of the giftcard will be. I ask for her to email, fax, mail, or somehow give me confirmation of this, since everytime I call they somehow don't have what the last CSR promised me. She tells me she is unable to do this, and that I should just "have faith".

Through all of this, I was also given HD Access ($10/mo) free for a year and Showtime ($11/mo I think) free for a year. These were to start after my initial 5-month Premier package were up. Well, they just billed me for the first month post-package and guess what....no HD Access for free, no Showtime for free. I don't know if I have it in me to call again, because I know I can't be nice to them anymore.

I think if you're willing to put up with this you can come out "ahead" by a few bucks a month in that you can get the CSRs to give you stuff for free...but you really have to want to do that. Or, if you just want to pay the price and not worry about any special offers they are probably just fine.
 
I have had all of them at one time or another and have hated all of them at one time or another. Just find the one with the best price and internet speed. And realize the price won't remain the same for long.
 
i guess i switch cable companies alot.... because i can review three or four off the top of my head.

however, my favorite is Direct TV over dish, TW. as a new direct tv customer you will be entitled to great things.... like a new HD dvr. however, if you are an existing customer you have to pay $200. it pisses me off, but that is their business model.

they work EXACTLY like a wireless character. you sign the contract, when you contract is up you are can get an equipment upgrade. but if you need one before then, you have to pay, just like a new cell phone.

pisses me off, but i like their programming the best..... and they never seem to be fighting with the companies about prices. except for versus, but that is different.

anyway, you usually will have to go through a partner for internet service. for instance, i use ATT, and it is the same price as they offer, but it comes on my DTV bill. they also offer a satellite internet bundle.

other than those two things, DTV is tops for one reason...... sunday ticket. once you have it, it is like your dvr. you wonder how you got by without it.
 
I currently have DirecTV at my house near Austin, and have had it for about 5 years. I'm happy with it and, counter to another poster on this thread, I've had good luck with their support (however, my questions have been technical rather than commercial). I have Dish at an apartment in Houston. Got it because they had a better deal than DTV. I like DTV's programming and packages better.

Don't be concerned about not being able to get a satellite in bad weather. I only lose satellite if the rain is very heavy. When I had cable years back, it always went out when it rained, too, except it took hours to come back on. The satellite comes back as soon as the rain stops.

One thing to look into that I haven't tried is AT&T's TV + internet package. It might be a better deal than getting them separately.
 
I've had Directv for over 8 years and I might be in the minority, but like Lake_Travis_Horn, I've had pretty good luck whenever I've had to call in about a problem. And I like Directv's programming due to the premium sports packages.
 
Rex - Uverse just rolled out into my neighborhood and my neighbor signed up. Has been nothing but a nightmare. Already have had a couple service calls, they replaced all the boxes in the house already, etc. He's had it less than a month.
 
We have had DirecTV for 10 years plus. Generally speaking I'm happy. Gotta say, folks, that it seems you'uns are pissed off at their business model than their customer service folks.

Recently spent the weekend at my mom's who has Dish and the on-screen guide (TV Guide branded) sucked. Maybe it was simply different than what I was use to, but DirecTV's is pretty good.

For Internet I use the cable company and that's all I use them for.
 
This is a classic your mileage may vary thing. What you get in terms of service can be vastly different from your neighbor. Just try them all until you find one you like and switch around often.
 
I have had DISH and TWC. I currently have DISH. I really really like their GUI. I like their DVR as well. I like both better than TWC.
 
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