We have had DirectTV for 7-8 years now, with TiVO for the last 3 or so. It has been ok, other than my mistake of siteing the dish up high, so high I can't clear snow and ice.
Anyway, I grabbed a Westinghouse 42" 1080i HDTV a couple of weeks ago ($949), and was finally ready for the new dish(es). I tried DirectTVHD first and they wanted hundreds for equipment and had very complicated rebates. imo, they could not decide on a single sales gadget, so they do the shotgun approach...whatevery you are looking for, rebates, upgrades, free channels...they offered it. Bottom line was it was expensive, even a bit insulting, like a $20S&H each for the TWO expensive pieces of equipment they were nice enough to ~lease~ or sell you. Reading the sales text, it's not a FREE HD DVR, but a FREE DVR Upgrade(from their older [censored] unit). Activation fees. Etc.
I called DishNetwork and it was zero equipment costs for 2 rooms, 500hr HDTV DVR for the exact same monthly money as DirectTVHD, but no equipment and they throw you a few smaller freebates. Next day install. Bottom line is were were paying $62 for plain DirectTV and now pay $69 for DishHDTV, $10 of that is HD access. There is a $20 HD access available pack too, but the install guy said don't bother because everything is going to be HD in a year or two.
If guys are waiting or thinking about it or whatever, don't. Picture is great, price is right, almost like something for nothing. Before ya start hatein', I kept the 35" Phillips CRT for 7 years and it was lazy to start-up. Had to turn it on more times every day for it to boot up. I'm pretty pleased and I'm not an impulse buyer. Usuall I tke my time with big equipment upgrades, do it right WHEN the price is right.
Anyway, I grabbed a Westinghouse 42" 1080i HDTV a couple of weeks ago ($949), and was finally ready for the new dish(es). I tried DirectTVHD first and they wanted hundreds for equipment and had very complicated rebates. imo, they could not decide on a single sales gadget, so they do the shotgun approach...whatevery you are looking for, rebates, upgrades, free channels...they offered it. Bottom line was it was expensive, even a bit insulting, like a $20S&H each for the TWO expensive pieces of equipment they were nice enough to ~lease~ or sell you. Reading the sales text, it's not a FREE HD DVR, but a FREE DVR Upgrade(from their older [censored] unit). Activation fees. Etc.
I called DishNetwork and it was zero equipment costs for 2 rooms, 500hr HDTV DVR for the exact same monthly money as DirectTVHD, but no equipment and they throw you a few smaller freebates. Next day install. Bottom line is were were paying $62 for plain DirectTV and now pay $69 for DishHDTV, $10 of that is HD access. There is a $20 HD access available pack too, but the install guy said don't bother because everything is going to be HD in a year or two.
If guys are waiting or thinking about it or whatever, don't. Picture is great, price is right, almost like something for nothing. Before ya start hatein', I kept the 35" Phillips CRT for 7 years and it was lazy to start-up. Had to turn it on more times every day for it to boot up. I'm pretty pleased and I'm not an impulse buyer. Usuall I tke my time with big equipment upgrades, do it right WHEN the price is right.
