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DirectTv
updated: Jul 25, 2012, 3:34 PM

By BellasMom

I was wondering if any edhatters out there had any comments on DirecTV (the satellite tv service company) before we signed up for it (24 month contract!). Please share any experiences such as how often the satellite goes off the air etc., it seems their prices are very fair...

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 301287	2012-07-25 03:45 PM
I disliked it more than Cox. The service was okay but the million channels you get end up having nothing on. If the wind is blowing you will lose signal and their long contract is no joke so if you change your mind they will charge you. I had them for a year and wasn't happy and went back to Cox.
COMMENT 301296	2012-07-25 04:06 PM
i like them better than cox (not hard to do). more HD channels. but they sometimes drop channels which stinks. really though, you should just toss the TV out the window. agree w/ 287 that there are a ton of channels w/ really nothing compelling.
COMMENT 301298	2012-07-25 04:08 PM
Had Cox when in Goleta, went to Comcast in the SYV. A guy came by one day and said we could switch to DirecTV and I was going to pass, but then saw the prices. They were about half what we were paying Comcast, for very similar channels, and a few others we wanted but couldn't get. Made the switch and generally like it better. It is cheaper, the picture is MUCH better, and zero issues with it going out due to weather (it's windy every day at our house). There are definitely a lot of channels that are useless, but there are enough good ones that I still feel it is better than cable. The guide and DVR are better too. Switching channels and going to the guide have a little lag time in them, but you get used to the delay and it isn't a big deal. I would make the switch again if I were in the same position I was a year ago.
COMMENT 301302	2012-07-25 04:11 PM
After trying them, I found cable more to my liking. I missed being able to get at least one L.A. station for the news, KCET and certain movie channels. It has been 5yrs now and the offerings may have changed, but like #287 there were a lot of nothing channels and every time I asked for the possibility of getting others, I was "always" treated rudely, until I told them I was dropping them.
COMMENT 301304	2012-07-25 04:11 PM
Don't do it! we had them for 3 years and changed services after many issues. Then they said we voided the 2 year contract and that we didn't return all the recievers. Which we did and have proof by form of return receipt from USPS. They tried to get us to pay over $500.00 but we sent them the proof and thought it was all over until we bought a house and it showed on our credit report that we still owed them. Cox is better but not much:( Better to get Cox fastest internet and use hulu + and netfilx. And Edhat for all the local news :)
EDHATBARBARA	2012-07-25 04:22 PM
We live in Carpinteria. We have Dish and really like them. The DVR system is very easy to use and we skip all the commercials! My husband handles scheduling all the shows (I'm so very electronics challenged) but I can get to them, pause them and go backwards and forwards without difficulty. We do have many stations that we never watch, but sometimes they carry our regular shows at different times because they broadcast in different time zones, which does help with overlapping schedules and recording. Personally, I'd not watch TV much at all but my husband is a TV-a-holic and he's very satisfied with our service. I don't recall a time that it has gone down.
COMMENT 301312	2012-07-25 04:22 PM
I've been a DirecTV subscriber for the past 17 years, and every time a friend comes over they end up switching. The HD quality is far superior to Cox. It's less expensive, has WAY MORE sports channel/package options, and as long as your dish is positioned correctly (facing southward, with no obstructions) you won't have many outages. In the entire 17 years, I've had three outages during periods of massive torrential rain.
COMMENT 301315	2012-07-25 04:28 PM
After not having DirecTV for four years, I just got service with them again this past week. Actually the service is through the people who rent the house where I have a studio. The one thing I noticed about them now that I have an LCD TV is that many of the channels are sent via a different resolution, so when you change channels, the resolution on the TV will change. I know this is happening since my Samsung TV pops up a little info box, which covers the guide so I don't know what is on that channel unless I press INFO again. Just a minor annoyance.
COMMENT 301316P	2012-07-25 04:29 PM
I had DirecTV and switched to Dish because they had a better DVR and more cost effective channel package for what I wanted to watch. They have a new Hopper DVR that's the cats PJs, if you want a DVR...which I'd get because you can skip all the commercials. On the other hand, what I'd really like is a la carte pricing to get only the channels I want...and I'm starting to care about TV less and less as time goes on.
COMMENT 301317	2012-07-25 04:32 PM
We have had DirectTV for several years after a series of unpleasant issues with Cox. We have no issues with weather and the HD reception is great. Granted there are many channels that don't interest us, but you can create a custom list of channels so you only see what you want. Love love the DVR with it. Wished we had gotten that sooner. Initially had free channels and then forgot we were going to get charged after the free ride ended. The charges were removed after one phone call, no problemo! Good luck!!
COMMENT 301324	2012-07-25 04:46 PM
I still miss KTLA and heard Dish carries it? I have Cox......I am tired of watching Ktla on my computer. Any Dish users please help.
COMMENT 301330	2012-07-25 04:55 PM
I have had all 3 services (Dish, Cox, and DTV) and decided on DTV based on picture quality and price. They seem to always be upgrading and go the extra mile for some of the major sporting events. One poster said they ALWAYS had outages when the wind blew... you must of had a really bad install. After 10 years with DTV we have never once had an outage. IMO, Dish wasn't even close to the quality of DTV.
COMMENT 301331	2012-07-25 04:56 PM
I had Dish Network for several years and had nothing but problems. I switched to Directv 4 years ago and I love it. the service is reliable and the DVR is simple to use. I have been really happy with it.
COMMENT 301349	2012-07-25 05:34 PM
My vote is for Direct TV....Find a friend that has it and they should be able to give you their number and you both save money!!! we have receivers in our RV...it's nice to travel and always know what channel and when our shows are on. Great picture!!!
BURNTTHISTLE	2012-07-25 05:41 PM
Invest in an antenna first. You might be surprised
COMMENT 301356P	2012-07-25 05:43 PM
We've had DTV for nearly 4 years now. Never once an outage and it's VERY windy at my place. We've always been happy with the service. We just upgraded last week to HD and it's fantastic. The first year we were with them we had such an awesome deal that I got through my work - we saved nearly $600 that year!
COMMENT 301365	2012-07-25 06:01 PM
I have both cox and DTV I use DTV more, the dvr functions are more user friendly IMO you should get a 30 day trial
REXOFSB	2012-07-25 06:06 PM
I had DirecTV for years, and in the space of two (2) weeks, they stood me up eleven (11) times to replace a defective converter box. I've had Dish Network since then and they are FAR superior to DirecTV. Yes, Dish does offer KTLA, as well as Superstations WSBK in Boston; KWGN, Denver; and WPIX and WWOR, New York City. The new Dish "Hopper" is GREAT--it automatically records ALL network programs from 8 to 11 p.m. and you can then watch them without commercials.
COMMENT 301377	2012-07-25 06:33 PM
As for satellite TV - if you are losing signal in winds - make a service ticket since a properly installed dish will not move unless winds exceed 55 mph. Sat dishes in SB are problematic due to the rust that develops from the salt air and acid fog from LA. The two corrode key points on the back assembly that can fail and cause the dish to lose proper alignment. If your dish is five years or older - get it replaced.
COMMENT 301389	2012-07-25 07:32 PM
I've got a file for my Directv rip offs, they send defective equipment make you pay for sending it back to them and you install the replacement. They've not sent a rebate because they said the form wasn't signed, however I had a copy and it was signed. The rejection form had a three page list of why they weren't paying. I'm sure no one got the rebate. I have Dish currently and we have no problems at all with it, moved and the re install was done immediately. My two year contract will be up in a few months, I'll see what's out there at that time for price comparison but would never go back to Directv.
COMMENT 301390	2012-07-25 07:34 PM
Another vote for DirecTV. The day I switched from Cox Cable was one of the happiest days of my life. Agree with others that the only outages I've had were during very heavy rain, rare enough in these parts. Best sports programming. Excellent picture quality. I have no interest in KTLA.
COMMENT 301394	2012-07-25 07:48 PM
direct T V all the way. Had both Cox and Dish Network , there is no comparison. Better Hi-def picture (though you have to subscribe to Hi-def service) and a lot less problems and way better sports programming.
COMMENT 301445	2012-07-26 06:46 AM
We unplugged our TV 3 yrs ago and the peace & quiet is astonishing. News on the computer and we read a lot.
COMMENT 301452	2012-07-26 07:10 AM
Directv does not get KCAL (many Dodgers,Lakers games) does dish and is Dish as clear as directv?
COMMENT 301453	2012-07-26 07:12 AM
Directv is better than Cox in everyway. My advice is to sign up thru a local dealer. Going thru the 800 number is a disaster. I got my system from SB Auto Stereo+Wireless on Las Positas and State. They are by far the best local authorized Directv dealer. Fantastic customer service. No 800 numbers that get transferred to call centers around the world. They know their stuff.
COMMENT 301458	2012-07-26 07:39 AM
The best part about Direct TV is their iPhone app. You can browse listings and set programs to record directly from the app. We've never had our service go out. Yes, there are TONS of useless channels, but overall, I really like them. You can also login online and set programs to record. We never watch anything live anymore, except tomorrow's Opening Ceremonies!
COMMENT 301469	2012-07-26 08:04 AM
@452, If you have or can obtain an LA billing address, you can get KCAL. Only problem is, you will lose all local channels for LA's locals. (Which really isn't a bad thing considering that KEYT news sucks and it isn't HD). I have a friend that actually pays for a PO box in LA just so he doesn't miss Lakers away games.
COMMENT 301537	2012-07-26 09:22 AM
We have had Dish for about a year now and we've been really happy with their service. What I like is that they don't play games with pricing like Cox does. Dish tells you the promo AND the everyday price so you can make a fair comparison.
COMMENT 301538P	2012-07-26 09:24 AM
We just switched to Direct tv. The technician that came out to install everything drilled crude uneven bolts through our roof for the satellite. It looks horrible. He also drilled through fixed cabinets. He did not run new lines like we expected so we are still stuck with the shoddy work the cable company left. Large white wires coming through the ceiling and running across rooms. Very attractive. They also did not give us the right equipment and have yet to make that right. We have been trying to work with them and now that we are past the 24 hour return period we will be charged hundreds of dollars if we want to switch. Good picture though.
COMMENT 301586	2012-07-26 10:31 AM
538P - Sounds like you should have done a better job of keeping an eye on the installation. Where you gone when they came to do it?
COMMENT 301593	2012-07-26 10:44 AM
We've had DirectTV for over 10 years. Great service. Great picture. Okay, so they had their 9 day stand off over certain channels (which I didn't miss), but overall they've been great. I would highly recommend them.
COMMENT 301658P	2012-07-26 12:35 PM
Pay close attention to what @1469 says. It's true. You don't even need an LA address--any Ventura County address works just as well, since Ventura County is considered the L.A. demographic. Obviously, this approach won't work with cable, only satellite, and you never want to have a technician come to your residence, since the jig, as they say, will be up. But there's never really a need for a technician in the first place.
COMMENT 301760P	2012-07-26 02:43 PM
Where I live, our options are DirecTV, Dish, or nothing (we can't get cox.). I hate that I haven't been able to decide to ditch tv altogether yet. I think I will eventually, but for now we keep the minimum package of DirecTV so that we can flip on the tube and watch something now and then. Like others have said, we get many channels with close to nothing to watch. I like network sitcoms in the evening and sports on the weekend. The satellite internet we also purchase isn't great at streaming so we pay for this service and only use a handful of channels. I applaud those of you who have ditched these overpriced companies...
COMMENT 301766	2012-07-26 02:48 PM
I have had DirecTV since they began over 20 years ago and find them to be very good. My experience with customer service has always been positive.
COMMENT 301784	2012-07-26 03:18 PM
Another vote for DirecTV. Also, once the deal ends, the prices didn't jack up, like Cox. I used to pay $150 for Cox cable, internet and phone. Ditched the phone. Between Verizon and DirecTV, my bills are like $80 monthly. Not bad.

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