Dish Network- my experience with them

[trancejeremy]

While sat. TV is often advertised as being a competitor to cable, I think really it's probably best for people who can't get cable where they live. The prices have gone up, and once you get into multiple rooms (usually $5 more for each one), it's probalby not any cheaper than cable.

 

[ssampier]

While sat. TV is often advertised as being a competitor to cable, I think really it's probably best for people who can't get cable where they live. The prices have gone up, and once you get into multiple rooms (usually $5 more for each one), it's probalby not any cheaper than cable.

When it first started, I believe that was the intended purpose. Over time they replaced larger, more expensive satellites. Now they are direct competitors to cable.

In my experience competition from sat. providers forced local cable operators to diversify their program listings. I had DirecTV for one year. I actually like cable better. I only wish my cable provider had a DVR on their digital cable package.

 

[Harmon]

August 10th, 2006 @ 1900
Just got a call from Dish Network it went as follows-
“Hello my name is <bla-bla> I am calling from Dish Network about a call received requesting Dish Network.”

“Actually I was calling to be taken off your mailing list,” I replied.

“Well in that cast, I am actually telling you to (something) yourself,” and he hangs up.

I kid you not, this call occured. You guys have got to call them and ask them to remove you from their mailing list and see what happens. I have never talked to a company with such a lacking in customer service as Dish Network.

 

[Roadkill101]

My parents have DISH, my dad absolutely loves it, says he doesn't have any of the problems he used to have with reception when he had cable due to inclement weather. I also have an Uncle who uses DISH, he says he doesn't have reception problems either.
Just this year I upgraded from Classic Cable (no set-top box, so long as the tv is cable ready) to the Digital Cable (requires the set-top box). Every time it rains, my picture starts freezing up while the audio keeps on a running just fine. Some channels have a slightly pixelated look to them and on others the color red is a bit off, regardless of the weather (my tv isn't HD, but I'm not subscribing to anything HD either). I never had this problem with the Classic Cable during inclement weather.

 

[werk]

Some channels have a slightly pixelated look to them and on others the color red is a bit off, regardless of the weather (my tv isn't HD, but I'm not subscribing to anything HD either). I never had this problem with the Classic Cable during inclement weather.

From the description of your symptoms, I'd say you have a bad cable, or you are running the cable next to power cords and are getting EMI. I had one channel that didn't work when I went to digital, cinemax west (552), but after cleaning up the tangle of cables, it is back to dvd quality.

If it is freezing when it rains, then tell your provider, they should be able to find the problem.

 

[trancejeremy]

When it first started, I believe that was the intended purpose. Over time they replaced larger, more expensive satellites. Now they are direct competitors to cable.

In my experience competition from sat. providers forced local cable operators to diversify their program listings. I had DirecTV for one year. I actually like cable better. I only wish my cable provider had a DVR on their digital cable package.

Well, I think that's it - they are forcing cable to be cheaper and better, while at the same time they are getting more expensive themselves. And their quality is getting somewhat worse, because in order to have the bandwidth for HD broadcasts, they are reducing the quality of the normal channels.

So my real point is, cable is actually probably the better buy in most cases, if you have the option.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Well, I think that's it - they are forcing cable to be cheaper and better, while at the same time they are getting more expensive themselves. And their quality is getting somewhat worse, because in order to have the bandwidth for HD broadcasts, they are reducing the quality of the normal channels.

So my real point is, cable is actually probably the better buy in most cases, if you have the option.

Small Town.

8,000 People.

Exclusive Franchise Contract with city.

I'd literally have to pay 3 times as much and get less than 50% of the channels I could get with Dish/Direct TV. When I lived in a Big City (pop over 130,000) the local cable was pretty good. It could compete with the Sats.

Of course, it seems like our local cable (Cebridge) just dinished a bunch of mergers and is now Suddenlink. We'll see if anything changes

 

[Mycanid]

Well, I live way away from the city. Nearest town has a population of 60 people. So I have DirecWay as an internet connection. Yes - the tech support is awful - I have had nightmarish experiences with them. But, when it works it works well. Their most recent upgrade in internet service is REALLY nice, although the tech support is still bad. They are trying to polish up their image though, and such things take time. If their offerings are an indication they are moving in the right direction.

Most everyone out here has DirecTV and/or the internet option of DirecWay, although the local school uses StarBand. Very few use DishNetwork for TV access.

But I have NEVER had a phone rep speak like that to me. If I was his boss I'd fire him on the spot. That's just uncalled for, no matter what business it is. I don't know that I would chalk it up to Dish Network itself, though. Probably just a bad local group of folks who install for them....

 

[Harmon]

Now its getting personal.

For the last few days we have been getting calls, no body on the other end so I think its stupid people calling the local Safeway (our prefix is one digit off). Yesterday my wife (who never answers the house phone- she screens calls) answers the phone so it won't wake the baby.

"Hello, I am Peter from Satalite <something>."

"Not interested."

"<female dog>"

She heard that as she was hanging up.

So yesterday I unplugged the phone. We only ever get calls for Safeway, and a few tellamarketers so its not like we will miss it. Monday I intend to call them again with a tape recorder running, no emotional outbursts, no anger, just a good old fashion- "hi, how are you, would you please leave us alone," and see what happens. If it turns as it did last week where they simply attack and belittle then I will post the conversation on the internet somewhere and send to 20/20 or some other show- if its a slow news week they might pick it up.

It just seems that there is a very serious lack of customer or rather non customer respect going on.

 

[Greylock]

Amazing what people go through.

Last I checked around here, the teevee is still free. That FOX Network has some real genius shows, but CBS is making waves. Thank goodness for PBS, though, or I would have nothing to watch on Monday and Tuesday evenings.