Thinking About Switching

mluntz

I am currently a D* customer since about forever. I love Sunday Ticket, and it is probably the only reason I stay.

I'm getting tired of having to upgrade equipment, dishes and antenna's everywhere, and a new 2 year committment when I upgrade.

I already have Fios phone and internet, and am seriously considering the switch.

I know D* is planning on rolling out all these new HD channels sometime later this year, and this makes me want to wait around to see what happens.

My question is this:

If D* can add all these new HD channels, will Verizon follow suit and have the same offerings? They already have more HD than D*, and I'm assuming they still will once all is said and done.

Opinion please?

__________________
DirecTv Customer since 1995
LG 55LH90 LED TV
Onkyo TX-SR606 Reciever
Mains- Athena AS-F2's
Surrounds- Athena AS-F1's
Center- Athena AS-C1.2
Sub- HSU STF-2
Directv/ HD-DVR HR20-700
Directv/ HD-DVR HR22-100
Slimline Dish
Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-Ray
Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD
Channel Master cm4221 OTA
Pioneer 300+1 Megachanger
Monster Powercenter HTS-3600

SOBAY310

From what I know, FiOS has the potential to add more HD channels than any other provider. The product is great now, but the future is bright.

The only downside so far is the lack of HD PPV. So if you are a big UFC Fan, or PPV buyer, don't expect it in HD.

cajunclicker

I'm in the same situation... I'm a D* subscriber w/a 10-250 and my contract is up sometime in September. Do I upgrade and get more HD channels w/D* only to be dissapointed that I signed another 2 year contract when FiOS adds HD content? Has anyone seen any press releases or official statments from Verizon about what they plan to add insofar as adding HD content and if so when?

Au revoir!

fastep

It only makes sense that all providers with available bandwidth will add channels as they become available. I doubt any broadcaster of new hd channels would be foolish enough to sign an exclusive agreement with any one provider.

Fios is nice because of their abundant capacity and their ability to add hd content without the need to compress the signal. The hd quality of fios today is really amazing. I only hope it stays that way.

mshulman

Do you have to sign a 2 year contract? That alone would keep me from using anyone - I do not want to be tied to anyone.

bill94

I diden't sign a 2 year contract with Fios. If you are looking for HD, Directv is the last place to look IMHO. Go with Fios.

mluntz

My 2 year contract is way over. If it wasn't for Sunday Ticket, it would be a no brainer for me.

I was considering getting the Fios installed, and downgrading my D* to the cheapest package just to get the football, but then I still have to deal with the equipment issue.

__________________
DirecTv Customer since 1995
LG 55LH90 LED TV
Onkyo TX-SR606 Reciever
Mains- Athena AS-F2's
Surrounds- Athena AS-F1's
Center- Athena AS-C1.2
Sub- HSU STF-2
Directv/ HD-DVR HR20-700
Directv/ HD-DVR HR22-100
Slimline Dish
Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-Ray
Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD
Channel Master cm4221 OTA
Pioneer 300+1 Megachanger
Monster Powercenter HTS-3600

fastep

You can suspend your D* account and reactivate during football season.

If you sign up for the fios "triple play" (which is an excellent deal), there is an early termination fee (2 year agreement) of $150. If you get tv only then I believe there is no contract with fios but you better call and check.

If fios is available in your area - GET IT. Do an a-b comparison with D* and you'll stay a fios customer. The PQ difference is unbelievable.

If for some reason you do not like fios - you have 30 days to cancel at no charge.

Fios is the future.

percy

Simply amazing! I've been a Cox customer for years. FIOS became available, I tried it (at a price that beat Cox by a lot) and was dazzled by the quality of Verizon's transmission -- regular digital channels as well as HD. I still am. My hope is that more HD channels will be added as they go along as well as such goodies as YES. But I wouldn't swap better content, if COx can be said to offer that, for inferior picture quality. What FIOS offers now is pretty good anyway.

Percy

JPL

Yeah, cajun would need to sign a 2 year contract. The reason is the model DVR he currently has. He has the DirecTV Tivo HD DVR. The problem is that tivo doesn't decode mpeg4. And DirecTV is moving ALL their HD (old and new) to mpeg4 compression. Which means that he would need their new HR20 DVR. Which comes with a lovely 2-year commitment.

This is one thing that I think ticks me off about what DirecTV is doing. They're not advertising the fact that you need to ditch your tivo if you want to get all those cool new (and existing) HD channels. Heck, most HD locals are already broadcast in mpeg4, and those with a tivo dvr can't get them. You HAVE to get their DVR, which is an upfront lease fee of $300. You most likely need a new dish (they're coming standard with the 5-lnb slimline now) but that's included in the price of the DVR. And you're tied in for 2 years.