Scared to switch from DTV to Dish..Help!

Oh, I have been a DirecTV customer for....11 years.

I am purchasing a 42" plasma today and was considering making a switch to Dish because I want to go HD and I understad that their HD receiver is better that Direc's.

Also, I want another receiver and to upgrade my current account with Direc would be costly.

Are there any good deals out there right now for new sign ups for Dish and do you suggest switching companies? Will I have just as good channel selection with Dish?

I switched for nothing up front and a huge discout for 6 months. DirectTV customer service is a laughable joke. Dish has been far better so far.

I switched from DTV after 13 years and have no problems with Dish. Dish's programming is just as good if not better and their 722 DVR works great!

So for those of you thinking about switching from Directv to Dish, here's my 2 cents worth after my first week of service.

Installers showed up on time. Had the right equipment. No complaining and had me hooked up in no time. They didn't explain to me that I would not be getting my locals in HD due to LOS issue. After I called Dish back they sent them back the next day to put up a single (smaller) dish just for my locals in HD.

The Dish web site is great and the chat feature for sales and tech support is worth switching for by itself. It is really cool not to have to sit on the phone talking to them. Everyone I talked to at Dish from setting up my service to tech support after have been really friendly and helpful. A nice change from my Directv experience.

The VIP 722k HD DVR I got is one bad ass machine. No kidding. It absolutely blows away the HR series from Direct.
Will take some time learning the Dish system and their way of doing things but I assure you that once you start figuring this thing out, you'll love it. I'm not even close to learning mine yet but I love what I can do with it so far.
Plus, the picture in picture feature is AWESOME.

Picture Quality is GREAT. I mean really GREAT. I have an old school HD Sony tv and the picture quality is awesome.
My programming (classic Gold 250 with locals and HD Platinum) is sweet. I'm not a big sports fan so getting the Saints on Sunday is good enough for me. I love having my VS back and the Outdoor Channel inluded with my package. I watch a lot of fishing shows.

So don't be scared, make the switch, you won't regret it.

My grass is definitley greener at DISH NETWORK. so far.................

I signed on with Directv ( actually its predecessor which was 2 companies before they combined ) about 15 years ago. I switched to Dish 18 months ago. Everything the above posted said is true. The DVR is so much better, the customer service is excellent and the programming is great ( especially the HD - and Dish DOES have more HD programming than Direct ). Don't be afraid - SWITCH ! :2cents

It's great to see positive post's when it come to the providers. Thank you gentlemen for sharing your experience. All to often we look at whats bad (me be guilty) with the service and forget that they all do a pretty good job in the jungle. Thank's guys.:bowdown::bowdown:

Thanks! Well, I signed up with Dish this afternoon after I got home from getting my Plasma. The guy on the phone was really nice and the people will be here this Friday morning to install my new system. I think I did pretty good, free warranty, 3 mos HBO and SHO, Free install in 4 rooms, 722 receiver.....I am happy I guess.

All to often we look at whats bad (me be guilty) with the service and forget that they all do a pretty good job in the jungle. Thank's guys.:bowdown::bowdown:My lower lip was hanging out when we lost VOOM & later SMITHSONIAN.
Then my 622 conked out and I lost a couple VOOM recordings.
I still rate my DISH as excellent. I was with DIRECTV before, but switched when I went HD.

Overall, I've been very happy with Dish after a good decade of subscribing. There have been problems with every provider, and Dish is no exception.

DN has always had a technical edge in several areas, like their DVRs. Service is everything to me, and it is one area where they could ALL improve.

Putting it in perspective, this is a big country, and I don't think keeping everybody happy is easy for any provider. But it is very important they don't stop trying.

I like my DISH.

Thanks! Well, I signed up with Dish this afternoon after I got home from getting my Plasma. The guy on the phone was really nice and the people will be here this Friday morning to install my new system. I think I did pretty good, free warranty, 3 mos HBO and SHO, Free install in 4 rooms, 722 receiver.....I am happy I guess.

Let us know how your installation went, and what you think of the service (so far)!!

Welcome!! :hithere:

My mother is going through the same choices. She has had Direct for ever, her equipment was the cheapest you could buy at the store (back in the days when you bought it and installed it yourself). She's ready for HD and talked to DTV about upgrading. Clearly she needs all new equipment. Nobody at DTV will give her a break. Afte over a decade of service they told her to quit, wait 6 months, then sign up again.

I have Dish and i's been good, I like the equipment and CS has been good as well. I told her to just switch, she's almost there. I think she'll giveDTV one more chance to keep her and then she'll jump ship.

My mom loves dish, she got a great offer recently, 12 months at a low payment for her package, but she did have to sign a 2 year contract. Setup and everything was free though.

My mom loves dish, she got a great offer recently, 12 months at a low payment for her package, but she did have to sign a 2 year contract. Setup and everything was free though.

I got the same deal. One 722 receiver to control my 2 TV's. I had HD/DVR through my local cable service and their Motorola receiver sucked. I hated that thing. It wouldn't receive my button presses on the remote countless times. The service was expensive for what channels I got. I looked at both DTV and DN and liked what DN offered and their pricing. DN is coming to my house early next week for the install.

The beef I have with Dish is there lack of HD programming for local sports.
Suns games are on My45 HD dish does not carry the channel in HD, Direct does. Diamond back games are on FSAZ dish only carries 1/3 of the games in HD. Direct carry's them all.
What I'm saying is Direct is much better in HD sports programming in Arizona.
If sports HD is a priority keep Direct. My 18 month contract ends in February and I'm switching to Direct for the above reasons.
The Big markets may not have the same problem.

The beef I have with Dish is there lack of HD programming for local sports.
Suns games are on My45 HD dish does not carry the channel in HD, Direct does. Diamond back games are on FSAZ dish only carries 1/3 of the games in HD. Direct carry's them all.
What I'm saying is Direct is much better in HD sports programming in Arizona.
If sports HD is a priority keep Direct. My 18 month contract ends in February and I'm switching to Direct for the above reasons.
The Big markets may not have the same problem.

I believe your last statement is correct...

I live in the San Fernando Valley just north of Los Angeles, and we get ALL KINDS of local sports in HD on DISH. I get TWO Fox Sports Regional channels (cuz I pay an extra $5 for the extra FSR) & they carry The Lakers, The Clippers, The LA Kings, The Ducks, The Angels, The Dodgers, UCLA and USC games in HD. Also, our local CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and KCAL9 all carry sports in HD. Then of course there is ESPN, ESPN2, NFL channel, NFL Redzone, NHL channel, VS channel, TBS & TNT that all carry a lot of HD sports...

I may be forgetting a few, but really, there is a TON of sports available in my area on DISH... :yippee: