We've gone back and forth a couple of times. Last time to DISH about 3 years ago. Like the remote responsiveness far more than DTV's remote, but that might have changed by now.

Have been with direct TV since they took over prime star years ago. I was with prime star then. We are happy with Direct TV. I don't have any movie channels any more or the sports packages, just choice package I think. I do wish it was cheaper. I have been able to call them and get a discount, I have to call when it runs out and they do it again. I told my neighbor to call and ask them for the senior discount and she got it too. It is not something they advertise.

If you get someone who is a direct TV customer to do the sign up for you with their account number you both get $100 off. I keep forgetting about doing that when I refer someone.

Refer a friend information

well right now direct is in threatening to drop nbc, at least here in mi...and dish? if you don't mind having that thing on the house...

We had DirecTV for about 13 years. It got so expensive. I finally called them and asked what they could do to keep me with them. After much hemming and hawing, they said they could take $5.00 a month off for six months. We switched to Dish the next day. THEN DirecTV said they could give us $25 off a month, too little, too late. WE didn't have HD TV with DirecTV, nor even DVR's that had HDMI inlets. They said if I wanted any of that, it would be a new 2-year contract.

With Dish, we got a Hopper, one Joey, and the Encore channels (we adore the western channel). First year, it is $60.80 a month. After that, the price will still be less than we were paying with DirecTV. I love the On Demand and the fact that we can watch the recorded shows from the bedroom or the living room. So far, we are very happy with it.

I switched to Dish from a cable provider 5+ years ago. I chose DISH over Direct for two reasons - first, the Slingbox feature that allows you to watch your DVR and any channel remotely on a PC, Tablet or phone, and because the channel packages DISH offered gave me specific stations I wanted to have (sports-wise) at a lower price. The Slingbox feature alone has allowed my kids to save money by not needing TV service - they have internet service and can connect remotely to watch TV or record programs they'll watch later using my DISH connection and my DVR.

The signal is excellent and has never gone down. I suspect in that regard Direct is probably exactly the same. All services offer lower introductory prices for new customers for the first year or so and, I suspect, discounts to existing customers for referrals.

We have been with Dish for at least 15 years. Right now we have the hopper and 2 joeys. Love the DVR, can record multiple shows at one time and watch them on any of the 3 TV's. Right now our bill is $62. a month. We have the largest package, 250 channels, but we don't pay extra for any premium channels, like HBO, Showtime, etc. Whatever movie channels are in the package are what we have.

Our bill is regularly just over $100. We call and tell them, we don't want fewer channels, but the cost is too high for us, what can we do? They gave us a $45 credit, for 5 months this time. Last time it was for 10 months. We are very grateful for the discount, but if they don't give it to us anymore, we are going to have to switch to something else. I hope we don't have to do that.

My brother got DirectTV and his premium doubled after the first 6 months or so, he called and really raised h$ll but it did no good.

Snidely, can you give me some more detail about the slingbox feature? Is this something I have access to now and don't use or is it something extra that has to be purchased? Thanks.

I'll try to give you a description but I suggest you look at the website AND call Dish to see if what you have is enough or if something else is required.

I have an older Dish box, the model before the Hopper. For my box, the access feature requires what they call a Sling Adapter. The device looks like a flat red plastic rectangular waffle about 6 by 4 inches. It plugs very easily into the USB socket on the settop box and just sits next to it in my cabinet. If I recall, it connects and configures itself. I got it for free as a new customer. Some Hoppers have Slingbox built in, some don't. For ones that don't, I presume the same adapter I use would also work.

Remote access is then made using the feature they call DISH Anywhere. You need to sign up for it (it's free) and then can use the web address (like on a PC) to sign on, or equally one of their free custom apps. They have apps available for both the Ipad/Iphone and also for Android. I believe the Apple ipad app also allows you to download programs to an Ipad to watch offline with no internet connection required. There's no monthly charge or charge for use.

Once it's set up (which I just described, nothing else required), you can access your setop box from anywhere. You can then watch any current program (as if you were sitting in front of your TV), or you can watch something you've already recorded. Or you can schedule a recording from a future broadcast. Or you can watch a movie on demand. Quality is excellent. I've watched programs when traveling in both Europe and Asia, the only requirement is a fast enough internet connection on the receiving side. My home internet connection is fast.

One proviso - you need to have a fast enough internet uplink connection to make it viable outside the house. In general, DSL is too slow but most cable connections are fast enough.

If your internet connection is too slow, you could still use it for TV watching anywhere in the house (on any device) over Wifi. We were able to remove a TV from the kitchen (that was used when cooking, not eating) because we have an all-in-one PC on a desk that can be used to watch anything from DISH. Or, if something essential (like a game) is going on when eating, we can put a laptop on the table and watch TV on that.

As I said, my kids all save money, not needing to have their own TV services, because they can connect to ours and watch for free (they're all adults and live elsewhere). WIth the equipment I have now, only one connection can be handled at a time but they're good about sharing. I could get an additional box and have an additional connection.

I have a few friends with vacation homes and they use the Sling feature as their TV provider at their vacation homes, saving an additional subscription.

Good luck, as you can see, I do recommend it, we use it a lot.

PS,

I forgot to mention, many content providers, like Fox Sports or ESPN, allow direct connection to their sites (from anywhere, of course) to customers of various services - Direct, Dish, a cable provider, etc.. Many also have their own apps. Some of the providers may also provide access to current programming through their sites, rather than a redirect from a customer's connection. That's also something people may want to check out.

That sounds great. I have heard of it before and didn't pay enough attention, I figured it would be an additional charge. If Dish is going to continue giving us such a great discount, I think I will have to check this out. Also considering switching to them for my internet service. We have had Verizon DSL for a long time, before that dial up. Took forever for DSL to get to us. Anyhow, they upped our monthly bill another $6. to $51.99 a month. Dish is advertising $39.99 a month, I'm sure for only a certain amt. of time, but I am going to check that out also.

Anyone have internet service from Dish? Happy with it? Or steer clear?

Thanks for al the info Snidely, I appreciate it. I have some research to do.

If you're talking about a satellite internet service, katlan, it's unlikely it would provide enough speed or monthly capacity allowance for away from home access. Or, maybe what you mean is a Dish rebranded service? If you get a rebranded DSL connection from DISH, while the price may differ, the specs will likely be the same as the DSL from the phone company (they would be using its equipment).

Dish is less expensive all around.

We had Directv for years; even owned a couple of their receivers. When we moved from California to Michigan we did the move plan with them too. But when I got our first bill it looked high and had charges on there I questioned, more than once. Each time, I was told nope it's correct! Almost 4 years later when we were having reception issues, the rep disclosed that we had actually been over charged all that time but could only credit us with 1 year of over charges. To help "compensate" he would throw in an upgraded DVR which he promptly sent to us. Unfortunately, it had a new interface that we hated. When I called to return it, I was told we couldn't return it. That we had been put into a new 2 year contract and once we were in a contract those are NEVER broken; it would cost hundreds to get out of it. That guy lied to us and we were never told a new contract would be in place, if we had, I would have refused because we didn't want to be under contract with anyone at any cost. It took over a month but after a lot of kicking and screaming, I finally got a hold of their executive services and they retracted the contract "as a 1 time favor to me" even though 1. they never disclosed a contract was initiated and 2. they owed us years of over charges.

The minute I received notice of the cancelled contract, I promptly cancelled our service with them, switching first to Comcast and lastly with Dish. It's been almost 4 years that we've had Dish. We pay a whopping $28 per month for the 2nd tier of channels and we stream everything else. We have no real complaints AND I tell my Directv story every opportunity I get to warn people.

If you do a search, you willI find a ton of reviews where people have had similar problems with Directv. The slightest of changes to your account and wham, you're locked into a new 2 year contract; it's the only way they can seem to keep people. IMHO, the only company worse than Directv is Comcast but either way it's a pretty close race at the bottom.

When we built our house there was no cable service, so we needed a satellite service. I chose Dish. They came out and installed everything and I was dismayed the only "local" news I could get was NOO YAWK City! I'm 5 hours north in Vermont. But I'm stuck hearing about the goings on in the Bronx for two years.

On top of that I would keep losing the signal. The guy came out and pointed out a few trees that had to come down. No problem, as I needed to cut firewood anyway. It was better, but when we had wind we would keep losing the signal. We had a contract so we dealt with it. Then we had Tropical Storm Irene come through Vermont and the top 70 feet of a pine snapped off and opened up a portion of sky.

"Hello, I would like to schedule someone to come out and move the dish 3 feet so I can get a clear signal."

"We can schedule someone in three days and the fee will be $99 to move the equipment."

"Three feet?"

"Yes."

Looked into DirecTV. I discovered I can get LOCAL channels out of Albany, NY AND Burlington, VT! The guy came out on New Years Day to install the equipment, and yes, the new dish is 3 feet away from the old one. Now it's a rarity that I lose the signal.

Comcast ran the cable about 3 or 4 years ago and only one person signed up. The one at the very end of the road. They ran almost 1/2 mile of cable for one house. Everybody else is keeping DirecTV.