Texas Photo Forum

Spec A! · **Anyone with Dish Network HD? -** 08-12-2008, 10:41 PM

Or even better, any experience with their TurboHD? I'm so sick of Comcast raising their rates, and and extremely tempted to switch. We used to pay $110 with TWC for cable internet and HD DVR TV. Now since the Comcast switch it's slowly raised to $130. I had them come out to fix a signal issue with their equipment- they used the wrong splitters that not only split too much frequency off the signal, but they put the cable modem off a third split! I get my bill and they try to charge me $25 for coming out to fix their mistake! Not only that, they raised my normal bill by $10! And I have no idea where it came from (I have yet to compare to last month). We used to have Comcast back in MD and were so happy to be rid of their horrible practices and customer service when we moved here, only to have them come back into our lives a little over a year later. Needless to say after this last bit, I'm ready to give them the shaft and even switch back to DSL and get Dish.

So, if I read it right, I can get all the channels I want in HD plus Skinemax for a penny for a year for $40 a month, with an HD DVR that has better recording capacity and can operate two TV's (SD in the bedroom and HD in the living room which works perfect for us). So how is Dish, how is the reception, any issues? How does their DVR fare compared to the Comcast one (if you have the experience)? Pros and cons?

Thanks!

MikeC · 08-12-2008, 10:52 PM

Check into AT&T U-verse........if you can get it in your area.

Great vaule and all the HD networks you can ask for!

Sonny · 08-12-2008, 11:00 PM

I can't get either FIOS or U-Verse. Still not available in my area

So I'm stuck with Comcast. Good luck Anthony.

Spec A! · 08-12-2008, 11:09 PM

No ATT or FIOS either- I'm stuck with DSL from Consolidated Communications which does half of The Woodlands, ATT does the other half (go figure).

We had consolidated when we first moved here and decided to ditch the landline and get vonage with a cable modem from TWC. Never any real issues with either, until Comcast arrived. Now we're thinking of ditching the vonage too as we tend to use our cells for everything anymore.

Get this- Consolidated dedicated DSL line, $14.95 a month for 3mbs down. I think I could live with that as we get maybe 5mbs with Comcast.

JohnT · 08-12-2008, 11:09 PM

I have Dish HD and like it just fine. There's no way I'd go with cable in my area. Been there, done that.

Charles Putnam · 08-13-2008, 08:09 AM

Double dittos on what JohnT said. Dish Network added a number of "free" movie channels (Universal, MGM, etc.) that great. Overall, we're quite pleased with the service.

We dumped ComCrap after they took over the Houston area from Time Warner (which we were about to dump anyway).

Roadrnr · 08-13-2008, 08:50 AM

I had Dish HD (before this turbo HD)

I liked the HD DVR and it was cool to have one to control 2 TVs, but the cost of Dish was way to expensive in the end.

I actually switched to TWC and I save about 30 a month overall on all my stuff. I had my phone and internet with Embarq, switched it all and saved a bunch. Most of my savings were on the cable service.

That being said, I HATE the TWC interface on the DVR and the menu system...Dish was waayy better. If they ever went the rout of "Free HD" I would switch back in a heartbeat...

The reception wasn't bad with Dish...storms still affected the signal, but overall pretty good.

Spec A! · 08-13-2008, 10:57 AM

Matt- if you don't mind me asking, how was Dish more expensive in the end- for what services? What made it more expensive than TWC/Crapcast? When I had done comparos a while back, it pretty much equaled out so cable won out over convenience. Now with this new Turbo HD service it seems they are running a killer deal for more HD programming than I can get with my stupid expensive Comcrap.

JohnT · 11:24 AM

Another thing with Dish is they're steadily adding new HD channels without increasing my package pricing. I'll be going through the menu and notice all these new HD channels and think to myself, Hey, it's in HD now. Cool. :-)

Texun1 · 08-13-2008, 11:17 AM

I have Dish and from what I understand the 1080P "Turbo" is only available on the VOD movies (read the fine print on the commerical). I still only get 1080I on my regular HD selection.

Roadrnr · 08-13-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spec A!

Matt- if you don't mind me asking, how was Dish more expensive in the end- for what services? What made it more expensive than TWC/Crapcast? When I had done comparos a while back, it pretty much equaled out so cable won out over convenience. Now with this new Turbo HD service it seems they are running a killer deal for more HD programming than I can get with my stupid expensive Comcrap.

Well, it was after the "free" period my bill was going up $20 a month for the HD service. With that I got in on a TWC deal for switching to them which is probably whats saving me the money. I really labored over the decision to switch because I'm not a TW fan at all. Like I said, the Dish menu system and the DVR system is way better then TW.

I've actually looked at switching back to dish and just keeping phone and roadrunner, but its not really worth the hassle for me. That and I had some bad equipment issues with the DVRs with Dish...but I really think that has to do with the local provider.

AndrewCCM · 08-13-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadrnr

I had Dish HD (before this turbo HD)

I liked the HD DVR and it was cool to have one to control 2 TVs, but the cost of Dish was way to expensive in the end.

I actually switched to TWC and I save about 30 a month overall on all my stuff. I had my phone and internet with Embarq, switched it all and saved a bunch. Most of my savings were on the cable service.

That being said, I HATE the TWC interface on the DVR and the menu system...Dish was waayy better. If they ever went the rout of "Free HD" I would switch back in a heartbeat...

The reception wasn't bad with Dish...storms still affected the signal, but overall pretty good.

How long ago did you switch? Just be prepared for the fun bill once the intro rate wears off...

I did the same thing as you. My bill is now nearly double what it started out as. I have HBO, HD package, 2 HD PVRs, Phone and Internet and my bill is like $193 now with TWC. It was around $110 when I signed up a year ago.

AndrewCCM · 08-13-2008, 02:04 PM

Oh and as far as Dish Network... I had to file a BBB report and speak with their corporate attorney in CO. about filing a lawsuit against them for a huge fiasco I had with them. Never again. Although their offering (current) seems good.

That is the one company that will never ever ever (did I say never) see another cent from me. I wasted too many days of my life fighting them. (I won in the end btw).

Roadrnr · 08-13-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

How long ago did you switch? Just be prepared for the fun bill once the intro rate wears off...

I did the same thing as you. My bill is now nearly double what it started out as. I have HBO, HD package, 2 HD PVRs, Phone and Internet and my bill is like $193 now with TWC. It was around $110 when I signed up a year ago.

I think i locked mine in for like 2 or 3 years at like $130 or something like that. I know I'm not on a contract, but I still locked the price.

The one thing that made me mad about Dish is they won't come remove their satellite without charging me for it. I tried to explain to them, they came and installed it and didn't charge me, why would i pay them to remove it?

sandy_ruotolo · 08-13-2008, 02:35 PM

I used to have Comcast, until their bills kept getting larger, and their service smaller. We live in Philadellphia which is a fairly large city. Comcast is the only gun in town with cable, others have either closed or been bought out. Enter Direct TV. Love it and will never look back. Reception is good, and if the signal goes out, they work hard to get the signal up and running. Since they are still a compeitior of Comacast and Verizon FILO, customer service is excellent, make a complaint and they go out of their way to fix the problem. In my area, we have plans, which does not mean unlimited satellite, however, the selction I have keeps me happy, the HD is simply superb. Hope you enjoy it.

thejakestir · 08-13-2008, 02:41 PM

We've had two big CS issues with Dish*N.
We cancelled our service with them almost 2 years ago after they wouldn't replace a broken HD-DVR(that we payed like $200 extra to get, even though we still didn't "own" it).

Then last week we ordered it for my in-laws because of this new promotion that D* network is running. The installer came out and said that one of the boxes wouldn't control the 2nd bedroom's TV. He didn't even try it, he just said it was too far away(it's only 50ft - but he said it was over 100ft

)
We said whatever, install it anyway.
He said he couldn't because he needs to get a new box for that other room.
We said we don't care about the 2nd bedroom's TV, we just want it installed as is. There was no TV service at all at my in-laws new place.
Again, he said he couldn't because D* network won't let him do a partial install.
We said hold on while we call up D*.
He then got in his truck and left!!

I know they use 3rd party installers, so we told D* to just get someone out the next day to hook it up. They said fine, we will call you back.
They never called back

We could even give them our money! D* networks CS is one of the worst we dealt with. Ever.

But their new promotion does look good!

BTW, U-Verse blows big ones. Good CS though.

Spec A! · 08-13-2008, 03:16 PM

Awesome, thanks for all the good and bad feedback guys! My wife's cousin used to be an installer for Dish (in CO tho), he's coming by Friday to see about our line of sight and what our wiring situation is and answer any more questions. If we end up getting it I'll let you know.

Cope · **Anthony -** 08-14-2008, 07:06 AM

I had Time Warner twice, and Dish twice (I don't know what possessed me to go back to TW, but I did for one year). Even with the inconvenience of losing satellite reception during some storms, I am much happier with Dish. With TW, I had to have them out three times to repalce my old cable with new digital cable, which they were supposed to have done on the initial installation. I had Dish for 7 years the first tme, and am coming up on 2 years this time, and they have never had to come out for service. Comcast took over in Houston soon after I went back to Dish, and they are camped out in my neighborhood on a regular basis doing repairs.

Spec A! · 08-14-2008, 07:26 AM

Alan- during all that time with Dish, how frequent and what percentage would say they raised their rates on you?

Cope · 08-14-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spec A!

Alan- during all that time with Dish, how frequent and what percentage would say they raised their rates on you?

The 1st 7 years, I think the total increase was around $3. In the past 18 months, I think it has been $2. I can't give you a better estimate than that, because I got a couple of rebates that they spread out over the 1st year. BTW, I am not on HD.

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Anyone with Dish Network HD?