[WaycoolJr]

Hi all. I have just recently purchased a TV that can handle HD. So naturally, I want to get dish network's HD service. Well, because cable is not available to me, and I have already burned a bridge with DirecTV. Because they angered me. Anyway, what do you think about their service?


I have heard of people saying to get FIOS or WOW, but what are those? Cable services of some type? Can someone please tell me what all is available in my area? I live in Cleburne Texas, 76031. But, I am outside of city limits and if I recall, cable does not run out here. My AT&T internet service is only capable of running at 1.5Mbps max lol.

 

[dcowboy7]

It sux.


HD Resolution:

DirecTV 1920 x 1080.

Dish 1440 x 1080.

 

[fredfa]

WOW is a cable service which operates in the Midwest and usually gets exemplary customer ratings.


FiOS (a fiber-optic service offered by Verizon) will, most likely, not be available in your area for a long time. It is concentrating on building its footprint in heavily populated areas.


If you prefer movies to sports, go for Dish.


Otherwise, rebuild your bridge.

 

[dcowboy7]



Quote:
Originally Posted by fredfa /forum/post/18108235


If you prefer movies to sports, go for Dish.

But with D12 the new sat going active this spring, then if directv adds HDs for hbo, starz etc. that "saying" may no longer be the case by the end of the year....maybe yes, maybe no.

 

[Rick_R]

I have had Dish Network HD service for 10 years and I love it. They typically have as many or more HD channels than anyone else and their price is maybe the cheapest. Their picture quality is pretty good. They don't have the NFL package that DirecTV has but unless you have out of area teams you want to watch that is not a problem. Also they have what many consider to be the best HD DVR available.


Just my two cents worth.


Rick R

 

[Ken H]



Quote:
Originally Posted by fredfa /forum/post/18108235


WOW is a cable service which operates in the Midwest and usually gets exemplary customer ratings.

WOW usually only has about 40 HD channels and do a 4:1 QAM mux, which reduces HD image quality significantly. They are not available in Texas.

 

[mr. wally]

dish has about as many hd channels as direct or any other provider. they also

have the best prices if you commit for 2 yrs. hd quality not as good as most cable, fios, or direct. they gave me a package that was $20 a month cheaper than the price i got from direct and $40 a month cheaper than comcast.


just stay away from their 612 dvrs. they suck!

 

[WaycoolJr]



Quote:
Originally Posted by fredfa /forum/post/18108235


WOW is a cable service which operates in the Midwest and usually gets exemplary customer ratings.


FiOS (a fiber-optic service offered by Verizon) will, most likely, not be available in your area for a long time. It is concentrating on building its footprint in heavily populated areas.


If you prefer movies to sports, go for Dish.


Otherwise, rebuild your bridge.

I am not a sports fan at all. So no sports will not affect me one bit. But it seems that they can't even broadcast in my TV's native resolution? That is a little off-putting.


But wouldn't even the movie channels look better, in 1920x1080?

 

[cyben]

Just switched from Directv (12 years) to Dish (for MSNBC HD) and I would give Dish a 'B' and Directv a 'B-'.

I do prefer Dish.

 

[Charles R]

I have had HD from DirecTV, Comcast, and currently have Dish. I think pricing and channel selections are more different than the image quality of the channels themselves. I have locals via an OTA and I can't tell any difference when viewing Dish's provided locals (on a 61" 1080p set).


I started with them almost two years ago and originally I would see artifacts (such as during fast motion) on several channels such as HDNet. After several months I stopped seeing them and I have been happy since.

 

[RDK006]

I have Dish and love it. It's also cheaper than Direct. If you need the sports, go with Direct; if not, Dish is the better choice.

 

[hmcewin]

I had Direct for a few years and then switched to Dish. Programming about the same except for sports on Direct. Edge to Dish on prem. movie channels. A huge plus for the DVR from Dish over Direct. Love the support for ex. hard drive by Dish. I am a movie buff and archive the HD movies on three HDrives hooked to the Dish 622. Have seen Charter cable and it is way behind in programming and DVR. Uverse looks just ok.


In terms of quality of piture, I am showing my Dish on a 110" screen and it is stunning. Some shows approach Blu Ray quality.


Hope this helps.

 

[marque1d]

i have E* (dish network) in Grand Prairie for a number of years. For me E* was superior to Time Warner in PQ, HD Lineup and DVR. I came close to switching to AT&T U-Verse but I'm two house too far down the street and thus SOL since they don't do fiber to the home. I visited a neighbor during the superbowl and PQ was atrocious, the macroblocking was insane.

 

[xrn0]

It's pretty decent, a little worse than DirecTV though a significant step down from FiOS. Don't count on FiOS coming to your area though as it's AT&T territory (FiOS is offered by Verizon) and you live in a rural area which Verizon isn't willing to deploy to.

 

[guffy1]

Back when I had DISH a few years ago I had a good half dozen service calls over the inability to lock in on the 129 satellite. Was a complete nightmare and they never did fix it forcing me to cancel. To this day they are still trying to charge me the $142 ETF fee for the service that never worked properly. I'll take the credit hit instead..Tx but no thanks DISH. I say avoid them the like the plague.


Oh, and the HD that I was actually able to receive totally sucked. Bit starved down rezzed garbage.

 

[ehren]

Dish does 8 and I am hearing 9 channels per transponder with some new blah blah blah encoders. The PQ SUCKS and now the new 8 HD channels they added today are not available to the majority of customers who have 61.5 as a wing dish in addition to the core 110/119 satellites for HD. 61.5 has the large majority of HD channels which I payed extra for a couple years ago and am not paying for an upgrade to 72.7 or 129 which I cannot get due to trees.

 

[Civrock]

Engadget HD:
DISH Network sports 9 new HD channels, but can you watch them?

 

[StonesCat]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Civrock /forum/post/18112492

Engadget HD:
DISH Network sports 9 new HD channels, but can you watch them?

Yes, and most can. "Majority of customers" is dead wrong. The mirror for 129 is 61.5, which is on the blink. Most all the country but the northeast has access to 129, if not the other one. It's not like Dish did it just for the hell of it.

 

[allargon]



Quote:
Originally Posted by StonesCat /forum/post/18112544


Yes, and most can. "Majority of customers" is dead wrong. The mirror for 129 is 61.5, which is on the blink. Most all the country but the northeast has access to 129, if not the other one. It's not like Dish did it just for the hell of it.

All you East Coast folks whining about the 61.5 satellite said nothing two years ago when the same imminent failure was happening on 129 driving the MAJORITY of the country (West of Appalachia). A new replacement should be up next year. Until then, upgrade to Eastern Arc or be patient.

 

[bobby94928]



Quote:
Originally Posted by allargon /forum/post/18113835


All you East Coast folks whining about the 61.5 satellite said nothing two years ago when the same imminent failure was happening on 129 driving the MAJORITY of the country (West of Appalachia). A new replacement should be up next year. Until then, upgrade to Eastern Arc or be patient.

Echostar has also petitioned the FCC to move E6 over to 61.5 to fix this issue. It will be much sooner than next year.