I had DirecTV for years but dropped it a few years ago when they couldn't seem to get some technical issues straightened out and talking to customer service brought on Exedrin headaches.  I switched to Cox Cable and have been generally satisfied but I'm on my fifth DVR/HD Cable box in 9 months, I think they hired the customer service reps from DirecTV and the price keeps going up.

I'm considering going back to DirecTV, maybe just for a change, but they do have a lot more HD content than Cox has.  My question is, any DirecTV stories out there (good or bad)? How about Dish?

Thanks!

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Joe
If you can't have fun doing it, it's probably not worth doing.

I have been a dish user for 12 years.  There customer support has always been good.  The price seems to creep up over time but there are always adding channels, many of them pretty obsure.  I have not made the jump to HD but they seem to have a pretty complete lineup.  I believe Direct has a few more HD channels but the 2 usually keep up with each other pretty well.

 

Cheers

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Russ

Joined you!

Hey Guys,

I feel like this is one of those decisions where you're forced to reckon with the lesser of evils. I have good and bad things to say about my experiences with DirecTv, Comcast and DishNetwork.

I recently moved and, along with the move, picked up a new LCD for our living area. I had completed my contract with Dish long ago, but decided to stick with them through the move and upgrade to HD. I got the latest, greatest, DishDVR and I must say, I'm pretty happy. The dual tuner DVR that I got offers 55 hours of HD programming/350 SD programming. It's user interface is pretty intuitive and we've had no problems thus far. I do make sure to call Dish early enough during the day, though. At a certain point, they forward their calls to a call center in India and the help that you get on the phone gets more, er.... frustrating. Other than that, they've treated me well and are always quick to point out that I am a "highly valued" customer since I haven't jumped ship in 5 years.

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Caleb Denison
Home Theater Guru
Aperionaudio.com

Started years ago with DirecTV.  I ended up quitting them because they would not upgrade me for free to HD equipment (only new customers).  Went with Comcast and they could never get a good HD picture for me.  I did a bundle package with comcast since I use them for the internet.  Quit Comcast cable and went with Dish for two years until my contract came up.  I never could get the bill the same amount from mos. to mos. with Dish.  And always hovering around or over 100.00 per mos., without any movie channels.  Went back to DirecTV a few months ago and have been happy so far.  DirecTV seems to be less expensive than Dish.  Also for some reason we lost Dish reception easier than with DirecTV.  The dishs' for the sattellite reception are diffrent sizes maybe that made a diffrence but probably more of a installation problem.

If Verizon FIOS is available in your area, I highly recommend it. You can get phone, internet and TV all at a great bundle price. It is fast and works really well. If you get the DVR you can access your digital content on your PC over the network using the media manager. The downside is it doesn't recognize iTunes content. I've had it for about 6 months and really like it.

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Cheers,

John Wanderscheid

Heard good things about AT&T U-Verse to.

I am quite envious John...I am soooooooo waiting for FIOS to be available in my area. You would think the LA area would have it. They are unsure as to when it will be available. I am currently with Charter Cable, and I hate them. But I don't want to get locked for two years and then to have FIOS become available. FIOS is the winning hand for sure.

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Scottiemon

I've heard nothing but good things about FIOS from friends in other parts of the country who have it.  My neighborhood has underground utilities and the last time Cox was out here they took the cover off their outside box and the tech pointed to one line and said that was fiber optics but it's not hooked up to anything on the other end.  So - maybe someday!

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Joe
If you can't have fun doing it, it's probably not worth doing.

joetag:

I've heard nothing but good things about FIOS from friends in other parts of the country who have it.  My neighborhood has underground utilities and the last time Cox was out here they took the cover off their outside box and the tech pointed to one line and said that was fiber optics but it's not hooked up to anything on the other end.  So - maybe someday!

I have had fiber from the phone company within 1 mile of my house but I still have dialup at home.  Yes I live out in the boonies of NW Georgia but it is 2008 after all.

Cheers.

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Russ

Joined you!

Just becuase you live out in the boonies doesn't mean you still can't get complaints from neighbors with your new Bravus...Enjoy your new speakers!

 My apologies..that was a bit on the bubbly side now wasn't it.

Dan:

Just becuase you live out in the boonies doesn't mean you still can't get complaints from neighbors with your new Bravus...Enjoy your new speakers!

 My apologies..that was a bit on the bubbly side now wasn't it.

Nah, down here in the Georgia backwoods we got some ways of takin care of um.

Actually, we are pretty far out but there is a cluster of several homes around us.  Nothing real close of course or what would ber the point, but it is a pretty close group of neighbors.  Everybody minds there own business but will be there in a instant to help if you have trouble.  It is kind of special because in a lot of ways it is the way it was many years ago in all rural communities.  When the kids grow up out here the folks split off a few acres and the the kid builds a house on it instead of like me when I was young.  I had a good family life but could not wait to move on.  One thing though, I have lived here for 13 years now and I am still a yankee, actually I am considered a damn yankee, a yankee comes to visit and then goes home. 

Ah, back to the speakers, Friday seems a long way off!

Cheers

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Russ

Joined you!

 

 Why we gotta burst Russ's bubble?

FIOS.. I can't beleive I didn't mention it. Maybe because I CAN'T GET IT.

For those of us that live in the "Classic" neighborhoods of Portland, FIOS is not likely. Their website won't even acknowledge my zip code. Now THAT'S sad news.

Tiny bubbles..... 

 

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Caleb Denison
Home Theater Guru
Aperionaudio.com

A man's parents move to Kentucky when he was 2 months old. He's raised in Kentucky, educated, gets married, raises a fine family, active in community work and charities and dies at the age of 82.  His obituary reads: Yankee Dies at 82"  

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Joe
If you can't have fun doing it, it's probably not worth doing.

More Like...

 

That is just over the top there Dan....

Very nice indeed!

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Scottiemon