I have finally decided to get sat. tv service. I know which one is cheaper, but which one is the better service. More which one offers the most HDTV stations, Dolby Digital. Which one has the better equipment, I'm mainly interested in multi-room type systems. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance

dish network is the better of the two. for starters directv has only a 3 month labor warranty and a 1 year parts warranty. dish network offers a full 1 year warranty parts and labor. second say you go to wal-mart and by a directv system, take it home and it doesn't work your stuck with it. if you get dish installed from a dealer and it goes bad within a month they will come out and replace it. dish network programming is also about 2 dollars a month cheaper than directv. dish also has more HDTV and dolby digital
channels than directv. in general the only thing directv is good for is a boat ancor. any other question e-mail me and i will answer them for you. as long as they are about dishnetwork.

I will put it like this my brother who instals Dishnetwork systems has Direct TV, he says the picture is way better on the DirectTV and I would have to agre.

sean when you are comparing the pictures from dishnetwork and directv are they on the same tv hooked up the same way with coax or audio video cables. if not your are comparing apples to oranges.

Jason, I have been installing both DIRECTV and DISH Network systems for about 4 years since before the inception of Dish. I usually sell people in this way. They both are changing constantly and keeping up with technology when cable cannot. Dish has HD Showtime, HDPPV, and HD HBO as well as their demo channel. What they dont have, "YET," is an HD off air antenna tuner. It is soon to come. DIRECTV has HBO, and their demo channel and why they don't have Showtime yet I am not sure. I beleive you will be happy with either system but if you are looking for specific channels you should check channel lineups on both to see if those channels are available. If you want full NFL, NHL, NBA, or MLB packages go with DIRECTV they have a lock on them for now. There are some problems with raster adjustment using the DIRECTV RCA DTC100 in conjunction with direct view TV's
Mark

Sean,

I feel you are misinformed. I sell and install both and have owned both and DISH has a far superior picture. Blow it up on a quality front projector and the differences are night and day (and neither of them approaches DVD on non HDTV channels because their receivers are CHEAP and use inferior components (like using a PC for home theater!!)).

This has been beat to death in other posts, but DISH uses MPEG2 100% of the time. DirecTV uses what has been nicknamed MPEG1.5 because they constantly alter their proprietary compression based on bandwidth needs for channel they have contracts with (corporate, PPV, sports, etc.).

They both have their merits. Assuming they have the option for either service (no obstructions), then I agree with Mark's tactic. "They both offer what cable does not and here are their channel lineups...what do you watch?" For years DISH had the local channels, WB, independents, foreign and other misc. choices while DirecTV has always had the edge on PPV and sports. If the channels they watch are on both services, I usually steer them to DISH since it will give them a better picture. I also prefer the faster guide surfing, browsing and other menu type featuers, that, until lately all brands of DirecTV receivers lacked.

But, times change and the differences narrow OTHER than the picture quality issues that I have always had with DirecTV. To stay compatible with older units, they won't change.

Rick,

Go to [Link: remotecentral.com] to see other opinions and a more detailed explanation of the technical differences.

randy

to Mark...It seems to me that what Dish also does NOT have is DD other that on PPV.

I have been a very happy dish subscriber for almost 2 years. The main reason I got it was because the system was FREE !!. This is still the case, dish offers a $200 rebate, which you can easily find a great receiver and 1 (bedroom) receiver with dish 500 on the internet for under that much. Direct TV offers free programming then tries to suck you into keeping it. If you have cable, both will probably be cheaper a month then cable, but Dish will get you there for free..Can't really beat that..

I also have Dish Network and love it! The picture quality is great, prices very reasonable, and equipment is of good quality. I got the free dish 500 and receiver, with free install as well. No complaints at all, as of yet... A friend of mine has DirectTv, and he has fewer channels and pays more than I do. For what I was paying for cable, I get twice as much - and Dolby Digital!!

Sean I agree with you 100% keep the faith brother!!

I have had Dish for three years and am very happy with their equipment and service. Some notes are (1) Dish has a 3 year extended warranty that covers all of your equipment for less than $100, (2) DD is on STARZ and main Showtime now, (3) have had more advanced receivers such as the Dishplayer for sometime, Direct is just starting to get this type of equipment for three times the price (4) have had outstanding customer support from them, (5) picture quality can vary for both, esp when they are moving their sat's around, but I think Dish has more bandwidth now than Direct, my direct compairsons suggest no really major differences in PQ, both can be quite good when they are not compressing things too much, (6) HD only on 65.5 sat for now till they get 148 up and running with duplicate HD feeds for west coast and (7) compaired cost of programming, my cost for 125 channels with all premiums is $71 with Dish, closest Direct package cost $88 for 75 channels and all premiums.