Anyone have Directv or Dish Network??

[lbloodojunkieg]

We currently have cable tv but are seriously considering switching to Directv, because it's much cheaper and I want all the sports packages, like NFL Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass. The thing that worries me is the loss of signal in bad weather, or even not bad weather. I would hate to be watching the Super Bowl and the signal drops out, I would be furious!! So my question to any of you who have Directv or Dish Network, is how often do you lose the signal, when do you lose the signal, and how long is the signal lost for? Any other things I should know about satellite tv?

 

[darkwarrior3007]

I currently have cable but I used to have Directv. I didn't lose a signal very often unless it was really bad weather all though on my first night of having Directv I lost the signal. The length of the loss varied, sometimes for a few minutes and sometimes for an hour. I don't miss not having Directv. The only thing I miss is watching Tanya Memme host Directv News every month.

 

[lbloodojunkieg]

I currently have cable but I used to have Directv. I didn't lose a signal very often unless it was really bad weather all though on my first night of having Directv I lost the signal. The length of the loss varied, sometimes for a few minutes and sometimes for an hour. I don't miss not having Directv. The only thing I miss is watching Tanya Memme host Directv News every month.

Thanks for answering. Why did you switch to cable? Isn't satellite almost half the price? Also, where do you live? I live in Wisconsin, which means bad weather all year round, which only increases my concern. Thanks again.

 

[Hot Mega]

Signal loss is not very common at all with Dish or Directv services IMO. That's pretty much a thing of the past with first generation, commercial sat. service.

The fade margin thresholds for these and receive signals are so much improved that unless you live near salt water where ionized condensation will interfere (deflect) with wavelengths these services use...these services are pretty consistent with cable IMO.

I've had cable since I started using pay t.v. service and begrudgingly switched to Directv a few years ago and I couldn't be happier with the service. The packages could be a little improved but the service is better than I expected.

 

[lbloodojunkieg]

Signal loss is not very common at all with Dish or Directv services IMO. That's pretty much a thing of the past with first generation, commercial sat. service.

The fade margin thresholds for these and receive signals are so much improved that unless you live near salt water where ionized condensation will interfere (deflect) with wavelengths these services use...these services are pretty consistent with cable IMO.

I've had cable since I started using pay t.v. service and begrudgingly switched to Directv a few years ago and I couldn't be happier with the service. The packages could be a little improved but the service is better than I expected.

Thank you sir. Any input is appreciated.

 

[shayd]

I've got Dish, and I've never had a problem. Best service I've ever had to be honest. My neighbor a few doors down has Direct, and though he hasn't had many problems lately, he's more than once said that DirectTV has terrible customer service.

 

[lbloodojunkieg]

I've got Dish, and I've never had a problem. Best service I've ever had to be honest. My neighbor a few doors down has Direct, and though he hasn't had many problems lately, he's more than once said that DirectTV has terrible customer service.

Thanks for your input. I'm not very concerned with customer service, I am more concerned with the signal, as it is a satellite. The reason I want to go Directv over Dish is because of the sports channels.

 

[Jagger69]

Thanks for your input. I'm not very concerned with customer service, I am more concerned with the signal, as it is a satellite.

Where do you think the cable company obtains its feed? From a satellite!

I have had DirecTV for nearly 10 years and I love it. The only time I ever lose my signal is when a really bad thunderstorm cell is directly over my house. Even in the worst storms, I have never lost my signal for more than a few minutes. Have you ever lost your cable signal for some unknown reason? I lose it a lot less with DirecTV than I ever did with cable.

The best testimonial I can give you is last September during Hurricane Ike. The eyewall came within 5 miles of my house and I lost most of my roof. However, I never once lost my satellite feed and, by using my gas generator, I was able to watch TV throughout the storm (you can imagine my amazement when I went to look at my roof after Ike had gone and saw my dish still standing!). Everyone else in my neighborhood who had cable had to wait over a week to get it hooked back up.

The sports packages are incomparable. The HD choices are mind-boggling.

I've got Dish, and I've never had a problem. Best service I've ever had to be honest. My neighbor a few doors down has Direct, and though he hasn't had many problems lately, he's more than once said that DirectTV has terrible customer service.

I don't know what experience your neighbor has had but DirecTV's customer service is outstanding as far as I am concerned. For only a few extra dollars a month, you can get a service plan that will pay for any repair or equipment replacement you will ever need. Their crews are always professional and reliable. DirecTV is the only way to go in my book!

:thumbsup:

 

[darkwarrior3007]

Thanks for answering. Why did you switch to cable? Isn't satellite almost half the price? Also, where do you live? I live in Wisconsin, which means bad weather all year round, which only increases my concern. Thanks again.

I was moving back in with family members and they already had cable so it didn't make any sense to continue with Directv. I live in Connecticut.

 

[knowone]

We currently have cable tv but are seriously considering switching to Directv, because it's much cheaper and I want all the sports packages, like NFL Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass. The thing that worries me is the loss of signal in bad weather, or even not bad weather. I would hate to be watching the Super Bowl and the signal drops out, I would be furious!! So my question to any of you who have Directv or Dish Network, is how often do you lose the signal, when do you lose the signal, and how long is the signal lost for? Any other things I should know about satellite tv?

I had Directv for about three years in San Jose. It only went out once (other than power outages, which happened much more often) that was for less than 5 minutes when a weird low thunder cloud (looked like something George Lucas would have had ILM create in a computer;-) passed by. Now here in San Diego for over three years (condo complex where I can't have a dish) Time Warner cable goes out every couple months for hours.

 

[Hot Mega]

Where do you think the cable company obtains its feed? From a satellite!

I have had DirecTV for nearly 10 years and I love it. The only time I ever lose my signal is when a really bad thunderstorm cell is directly over my house. Even in the worst storms, I have never lost my signal for more than a few minutes. Have you ever lost your cable signal for some unknown reason? I lose it a lot less with DirecTV than I ever did with cable.

The best testimonial I can give you is last September during Hurricane Ike. The eyewall came within 5 miles of my house and I lost most of my roof. However, I never once lost my satellite feed and, by using my gas generator, I was able to watch TV throughout the storm (you can imagine my amazement when I went to look at my roof after Ike had gone and saw my dish still standing!). Everyone else in my neighborhood who had cable had to wait over a week to get it hooked back up.

The sports packages are incomparable. The HD choices are mind-boggling.

I don't know what experience your neighbor has had but DirecTV's customer service is outstanding as far as I am concerned. For only a few extra dollars a month, you can get a service plan that will pay for any repair or equipment replacement you will ever need. Their crews are always professional and reliable. DirecTV is the only way to go in my book!

While it's true cable carriers u/link and d/link their content using LEO satellites too. They're likely using hydrogen MASERs, super cooled oscillators, filters and high performance waveguides in addition to much larger antennas (dishes).:2 cents:

With respect to customer service....I could be wrong but the only people who complain about customer service in this case are the people who may not pay their bills on time.

However, If he's extending "customer service" to be installation and service personnel (which they are a form of customer-facing employees) then I think most of those people tend to be contractors.

 

[METAL HEAD]

i had dish and everytime it rained we got no tv channels till it stoped.

 

[Aces&Jacks]

I have Direct TV now. It goes out every time we have a thunderstorm.