Dish or Direct TV?

[shadows4]

Which one is better? We have never had satellite. Seriously considering making the switch from cable to satellite at home. One benifit would be to be.able.to use it camping. If you were to do this which would you choose.? Thanks, John

[mr__ed]

Bowti wrote:

mr. ed wrote:
I can't comment on Dish but I had DirecTV in my RV for many years. I was completely satisfied with the quality of the service and good response when technical assistance was needed. I let them go almost 2 years ago but NOT due to dissatisfaction with the service. I am just about ready to start up with DirecTV again since I did like the selection of programming as opposed to over-the-air TV.

One beef I have with any satellite TV provider is the number of useless channels that I never watch. I would love to be able to make up a package with my own preferences but I don't think that's gonna happen...

Sorry, but I just saw your handle and picture of Mr. Ed. I'm thinking I can't believe I used to watch and enjoy show with a talking horse. 😉 Life sure has changed.

Did you know they used to spread peanut butter on my lips to make me talk? Glad I didn't have an allergy to peanuts. Wilburrrr....

[Bowti]

mr. ed wrote:
I can't comment on Dish but I had DirecTV in my RV for many years. I was completely satisfied with the quality of the service and good response when technical assistance was needed. I let them go almost 2 years ago but NOT due to dissatisfaction with the service. I am just about ready to start up with DirecTV again since I did like the selection of programming as opposed to over-the-air TV.

One beef I have with any satellite TV provider is the number of useless channels that I never watch. I would love to be able to make up a package with my own preferences but I don't think that's gonna happen...

Sorry, but I just saw your handle and picture of Mr. Ed. I'm thinking I can't believe I used to watch and enjoy show with a talking horse. 😉 Life sure has changed.

[shadows4]

OPer here. Well was talking to a Dish rep and was almost ready to sign up. I asked him to either send me an email or mail me a copy of everything he was offering. I wanted to be able to see what I was getting. He said they weren't able to send out emails or mail proposals. I said if you can't do that we can't do business.
I can't believe they can't send out an email. So guess we will just keep doing it like we have been. Thanks all. Happy camping!!!

[ilvtravln]

Direct TV is an overall better service than Dish

[mr__ed]

bemmerz3 wrote:
I went with Direct TV and the reason is since we are seasonal campers spring, summer and autumn I can suspend my service for 6 months and there is no charge. With Dish if you suspend your service it will continue to cost you $5.00 per month the only option therefore is to cancel your service to avoid the $5.00 monthly charge. Living near Salt Lake City Utah we have gone as far as Estes Park Colorado 800 miles and Yellowstone National Part 300 miles and were able to keep up with the local news since we were able to receive the local Salt Lake stations. Just like clockwork May 1st I hook up my receiver and dish, call Direct TV and they transmit the signal to my receiver to activate the service. Then November 1st I call Direct TV to suspend my service. It is so easy they have the suspend service option as a menu choice you do not even talk to a representative.

I find this interesting. I am a previous subscriber to DirecTV and for a while they would allow me to suspend service for a period of time each year for $5/month. Finally they wouldn't allow me to do this any more. Perhaps I suspended service too often?

So the moral of the story is: you may be able to temporarily suspend service for a while but after a time that ability may cease. I would talk to one of their reps and see if this is in fact the case.

[mr__ed]

I can't comment on Dish but I had DirecTV in my RV for many years. I was completely satisfied with the quality of the service and good response when technical assistance was needed. I let them go almost 2 years ago but NOT due to dissatisfaction with the service. I am just about ready to start up with DirecTV again since I did like the selection of programming as opposed to over-the-air TV.

One beef I have with any satellite TV provider is the number of useless channels that I never watch. I would love to be able to make up a package with my own preferences but I don't think that's gonna happen...

[Vulcaneer]

shadows4 wrote:
Op'er here. I notice with the tailgater you can get the HD channels with Dish. Is that not the case with DirectTV?

This is correct. Tailgater has worked very well for us. Light weight, automatic, HD, easy set up.

Actually when considering dropping cable at home, it was the Tailgater (for the RV) that pushed us toward Dish over Direct. In this region, both Dish and Direct are Rep'd by the same company. So their installations, local service, etc., are by the same personnel.

Programming, and costs are pretty similar as well. But the Tailgater and the fact that is HD, made the difference. And we can take a Sling box out of the house to take with us when we Snowbird. Our Daughter and her children will house sit for us when we are gone. So we'll keep the Sat tv running for them.

[bemmerz3]

I went with Direct TV and the reason is since we are seasonal campers spring, summer and autumn I can suspend my service for 6 months and there is no charge. With Dish if you suspend your service it will continue to cost you $5.00 per month the only option therefore is to cancel your service to avoid the $5.00 monthly charge. Living near Salt Lake City Utah we have gone as far as Estes Park Colorado 800 miles and Yellowstone National Part 300 miles and were able to keep up with the local news since we were able to receive the local Salt Lake stations. Just like clockwork May 1st I hook up my receiver and dish, call Direct TV and they transmit the signal to my receiver to activate the service. Then November 1st I call Direct TV to suspend my service. It is so easy they have the suspend service option as a menu choice you do not even talk to a representative.

[Me_Again]

Directv SWM LNB is a really neat setup. I have a Slimeline dish that I use on a tripod stand. Very easy to align with the meters in dish setup on TV screen. The mount has scales for the skew and elevation which you per set according to locations(dish setup will give you the numbers), then with the mount set vertical you only have to swing the Azimult! 5 to 10 minutes max.

Full HDTV with a single cable to the dish! And for 3 dollars per month you can add Whole Home DVR service.

Chris

[hoopers]

I currently have both direct and dish TV.

Dish has lower priced packages available, so can be cheaper...which is a huge benefit, if you just want a few channels. But I think for the same channel sets, the price is comparable.

Direct TV, IMO, has better technology. I just like the way the technology hardware and software is setup vs Dish. For example, my second TV with Direct is HD using their basic setup. My second TV with Dish can only be run as analog, using their basic setup.

[brose38]

We use Dish because we can change local station when we move to a new area. However I really think that a person should change from one to the other every few years. They keep coming out with new things like the hopper or what ever and never offer it to long time loyal customers. They are really the same except for little items.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
For a dual set up, someone at home and a separate in the rig plan, you stated Dish is the way to go....I have direct TV and use the receivers from my home in my rig.

Then your situation doesn't apply to what I said in my post.

If you have Dish at home - using Dish on the road is cheaper and better.

If you have Direct at home - using Direct on the road is cheaper and better.

However, if you are like a lot of people, including me, and have a land-line cable provider at home - Dish no-contract is the best/ cheapest option in my opinion.

Excellent advice.

You can find more info for your decision in the *Technology Corner* forum (here), and another valuable resource here -

Escapees: "Satellite TV and Radio on The Road"

Bill Adams is the "go to" guy on that board for outstanding Q & A.

.

[Atom_Ant]

shadows4 wrote:
Op'er here. I notice with the tailgater you can get the HD channels with Dish. Is that not the case with DirectTV?

Correct - the HD is not available through a dome using Direct TV. Check out the Winegard website and it will give you a rundown.

[Michelle_S]

At the present time (I believe) the only way to get HD with Direct is via the large SlimLine dish. There may be another option, but I haven't read about it.