Re: more on Directv

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My main beef with Dish was twofold:  First, I heard their customer service 
was not so hot, from people who've got the service.  Then, when I tried to 
order from Dish--which did indeed have a better offer at the time, I quote 
from my description of the experience to Jim Metz--I'm quoting MYSELF, so I 
don't think he'll object:

"One of those bad news-good news things....I talked to the Dish people 
about getting their offer, and had everything arranged, until they ran a 
credit check and found we did not qualify for the offer.  However, if we 
wanted to fork over $450 up front, they'd refund half of it back over the 
course of 12 months.

I asked them if they didn't think we could handle paying $56 a month, how 
they figured we were good for nearly $500 up front, they couldn't really 
answer that.

So, off I went to DirecTV, which offered an even better deal.  I activated 
two new boxes for free, and once I have an account #, I can buy two extra 
cards for the old boxes.  Thus for $40, I'll be getting four receivers.  In 
addition, they have a deal whereby if you take the Football Pass, you get 
their highest level package for free.  This means that I'll be getting free 
equipment, and more channels (including NBAtv) while cutting the monthly 
bill by 50%. (cable COSTS down here, with no over-the-air 
alternative).  Plus, their financial department likes me better, I 
guess.  :>)))

They're supposed to be doing the installation next week. Apparently, 
business is booming here, with people so ticked off at the local Cox cable 
company."

It was my good fortune at that time that DirecTV offered the Football 
pass.  I got everything they offered plus the Football pass for just the 
cost of the Football pass over the first 4 months.  Because of that deal, I 
took the rest of what we had budgeted for the changeover, and got the NBA 
pass at the same time, which brought up costs to what I would have normally 
paid for a month of their biggest package--but I got two receivers 
installed, the Football Pass--which I look at if I'm really bored--and the 
NBA pass.  And even then, I'm paying a lot less than I was to those lying, 
cheating sons of malformed Muppets at Cox Cable.

About the ONLY thing DirecTV doesn't get that I'd like is NASA TV and I can 
get that online.

I can't speak to relative reception to the Dish people, but DirecTv has 
been pretty good so far, and way better than Cox--for some reason their UPN 
affiliate kept blipping out, and ALWAYS during "Enterprise".  Much better now.


At 04:57 PM 11/6/03 -0500, Bob Strauss wrote:

>There was no installation involved. I clicked on the "select" button, on
>the screen, and that was it.
>
>As to Dish or Directv, the general consensus, at b-boards, and people
>I've spoken with, who have seen or had both, is that Dish's reception is
>poorer than Directs. Perhaps due to their attempt to get more stations?
>More high def? I have not seen pixelization on Directv in 3-4 years.
>Other oddities, but no pixelization. And most problems seem related to
>having out-of-date receivers.
>
>Bob

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website