Author Topic: Dish Network Any Good? (Read 252 times)

SOB · « **on:** August 29, 2001, 12:55:00 PM »

Hey all...

I used to have a Sony DSS that I used in my apartment to subscribe to DirecTV, and I loved it. The menus were fast, as were the programming and favorites guides. Also, the info button would pop up an info screen for just about anything you were watching and give you an incredible amount of information about it.

I'm now in a duplex with some big ugly stupid fargin' <grumble, grumble> trees completely blocking my SE exposure, which is where my dish needs to be pointed for DirecTV. So, I got digital cable. To call it a slow clunky piece of toejame would be a compliment.

So, how's the Dish Network. I have a neighbor in the house next to me who has a Dish Network dish up, so it looks like we have some sort of access. I looked on their web site and was a bit confused. It looked like they had 4 different sattelites, each with their own different types of programming???

Any info anyone could give, especially a comparison of DirecTV vs Dish would be great. Thanks!

SOB

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2001, 01:09:00 PM »

I have DiSH at home. I love it. Yep, they have 4 different sats with different programming on each, for the most part.
A side effect of this; during severe thunderstorms, I might lose some channels while others merrily just chug along. I have never experienced a total brown/black out.

The "Info" button you spoke of is there. I would opt for the 4800 (?),....it is the model I have. Lots of nice features, like being able to watch your current program while reviewing what is on the other channels. It also has the SVHS output, which I absolutely have to have.

I looked at both DirectTV and DiSH and ended up with DiSH. The one time I called for support was a pleasant experience. The tech was helpful and got me an answer quick.
I also wanted to get my local channels, which DirectTV could not provide in my area so it made DiSH a no brainer.

Hope that helps.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2001, 01:34:00 PM »

Just went from DirectTV to Digital Cable. I know exactly what you mean SOB. I think I just was spoiled with DirectTV's menu system. Whomever came up with the idea to only display 1/2 information at a time was a complete tard.

AKDejaVu

NUTTZ · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2001, 04:20:00 PM »

Skuzzy, Direct TV is offering DSL threw their satalite, Is DSL threw a dish any good?

NUTTZ

SOB · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2001, 01:21:00 AM »

Thanks for the info Skuzzy. I checked out their web site a little more to look at recievers and called a guy today about coming out to set it up (if it'll work at my location).

Probably going to go for the DishPVR 501. I can get the Americas 150 plan, plus the dish, installation, and two recievers for $60/mo. And one of the recievers has a built in 35 hour digital recorder!

I hope it's gonna work...I can't wait to call AT&T to have them disconnect this toejame they call "Digital" Cable. Blah.

SOB

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: SOB ]

SOB · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2001, 04:21:00 AM »

Deja,

Is the menu system and info screen slow as snot up there too? Or is that just a Salem area thing? What a turd.

SOB

BTW...A friend of mine down here has had digital cable since it came out in Salem. At first, the program guide displayed 1-1/2 hours of programming at a time, but they cut that down to 1/2 hour so they could put up the ads on the left half of the screen.

Sancho · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2001, 05:47:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by NUTTZ:
Skuzzy, Direct TV is offering DSL threw their satalite, Is DSL threw a dish any good?

NUTTZ

DirectTV DSL is actually just regular ADSL through your phone lines. DirectTV bought Telocity and is remarketing their DSL as DirectTV DSL.

You can also get internet through the dish with some services, but latency would be very bad and internet gaming would suck. That round trip to the satellite in geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles up ain't exactly instantaneous.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2001, 09:25:00 AM »

Quote

Is the menu system and info screen slow as snot up there too? Or is that just a Salem area thing? What a turd.

Its so slow that I had to hook my cable box up to a non-switched power supply or it would take about 1 hour (sometimes longer) for the scheduling to fill in. Its about 70% accurate and has this nasty habbit of not allowing you to switch to a channel at 7:55 or 7:25 (5 mins before the 1/2 hour) from the menu because its already showing the next half hour's scheduling.

I also wish it had the ability to actually delete out the listings you don't want... and toggle through your favorites in both directions as opposed to just one.

Really... its menu system sucks the big one.

AKDejaVu