CableVision vs DirecTV vs Dish Network
OfflineI have now had all three of these services and will attempt to put together a comparison of the three to help others in the future not make the same mistakes I have made dealing with these 3 entities. I purchased the lower end packages with each company, but there can't be much difference by buying the more expensive packages. A bad cake is still bad weather it has cheap icing or expensive icing on top.
First, CableVision with TimeWarner Cable, TWC from this point forward. I was with TWC, but all the cable companies are pretty much the same. The channel lineup was decent for the price(s) I paid. Price(s) ... what do you mean by that? Well, the cable bill is a different amount every month! Not once did I have a bill that was the same amount as the previous month. What is worse, the difference from month to month was always higher! DirecTV and Dish Network were a little better, especially after the first bill.
Let's take a look at all the equipment required to get the technologies up and running in the home. Cable required a box per television for digital cable and they charge you for leasing their equipment. Same for DirecTV and they require a remote and box for each and every TV. Dish Network has some sort of technology that allows 1 box to control 2 TVs which was pretty cool. The remote for the 2nd TV (in the kid's room) can work from ANYWHERE! You can change the kid's stations from anywhere in the house and it is great! With the Dish Network package, I got 2 DVRs that actually seem to work! The DVR that came with the digital cable died after 3 days. Then the replacement died about a week after that. The major drawback for Dish Network and DirecTV is that eye soar of a satellite dish that has to go on top of your house or in your back yard.
Next is the reception of the packages. All the technologies have a slow transition from station to station. I have missed so many critical pieces of info because I have accidentally changed the channel while trying to increase the volume! Even if you flip right back to the correct station there is a 2-6 second lag before the station is tuned again. All of the services provide crystal clear reception ... EXCEPT when it rains! Heavy winds, rain, or a thunderstorm will guarantee disruption of the Dish Network service. For DirecTV, it took heavy winds or a thunderstorm to interrupt the signal. Digital cable appeared to hold up better in inclement weather.
Channels for the cost (also bang for the buck) goes to DirecTV. They provided more channels per buck paid on the monthly bill. Next was Dish Network with cable running a distant third. Cable wasn't even close in this area. Although Dish Network was 2nd, they did not offer many channels included in the comparable DirecTV and digital cable packages. You have to get the top of the line Dish Network package to get stations already included in the digital cable and DirecTV package. For example, cable and DirecTV offered the Lifetime Movie Network, The Golf Channel, and National Geographic in their lower end packages while Dish Network did not. Also, Dish Network charges $5 for local channels.
Lastly, examine the service ordering process. Both DirecTV and Dish Network require credit checks AND lengthy contracts. DirecTV required a 12 month contract while Dish Network offered a slightly cheaper package if you sign up for 24 months. Cable required no credit check and the contract is month to month. Both DirecTV and Dish Network require customers have a major credit card on file. This is probably to charge any unpaid bills and equipment not returned in good condition.
| Credit Check | Deposit | Credit Card | Contract | Equipment | Consistent Billing | Picture Quality | Reception Quality |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Cable | None | None | None | None | 1 remote & 1 box per TV |
No | Excellent | Good overall |
| DirecTV | Required | Yes if bad credit | Yes | Yes (1 yr) | 1 box & 1 remote per TV & 1 satellite dish | Yes | Excellent | Bad in windy, and/or stormy conditions |
| Dish Network | Required | Yes if bad credit | Yes | Yes (up to 2 years) | 1 box, 2 remotes for 2 TVs & 1 satellite dish | Yes | Excellent | Bad in windy, rainy, or stormy conditions |
So who is the winner? After sitting through all the sales pitches, installations, de-installations, etc ... I personally think DirecTV provides more bang for the buck, especially if you do not mind a contract and credit check. If you don't mind a super lengthy contract, Dish Network could be a better deal for you. If you are strapped for cash upfront and you hate contracts, your local cable provider is your best choice.
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I have been with Dish Network for a while as they provided more channels for the price than Cox. Dish Network beat DirecTV with the exit fees and Dish gives you 30 days to try them out and cancel without penalty. As soon as you sign up for DirecTV you are on the hook for paying the exit fees. Cox was no match for either of the satellite services. I imagine cable companies are still in business due to old customers who are afraid of change and people with bad creditMoney loaned or the ability of an individual or company to borrow money. who can't afford to pay the deposit for the satellite companies. I wish I had the money to lend them so they could come over to the better services of the satellite companies!
Dish Network actually took $5 off my monthly bill for allowing them to connect my phone line to their system. I'm not sure what the hell happens when they hook it up to the phone line but it takes off $5! My reception during storms is terrible, but we are in a drought in the southeast so I haven't had to deal with outages much this year.
I have had all three and DirecTV is more bang for the buck. All of them have weaknesses and annoyances and you are basically forced to "pick your poison" when selecting television service. The gripe with cable was the different billing amount every month. Dish Network goes out more than I could believe! Strong wind or heavy rain and your signal is gone. Plus Dish doesn't give as many channels on its lower tiers as DirecTV. DirecTV fails with the contract they force you into. And there is no money back guarantee with DirecTV. Once you sign up, you are locked in for over a year and it cost a lot to end the contract!
Wow, great report! I appreciate the information about these services. I'd had all three but it's been a long time since I've had satellite. I do not like Time Warner because (as Fergie says) they have a different bill every month. They also charge an arm and a leg for basic where I live. Much more than other towns basic for some odd reason.
We are with Charter Communications for cable and the inconsistent billing has to be the most annoying thing in the world. We have the money automatically drafted from our checking account and the inconsistencies are getting on my nerves. I might switch to satellite just to get billed the same amount every month! If they have Lifetime I'm sure my wife will be ok with moving to satellite.
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Fitty
We have had Cablevision, then Verizon, then back to Cablevision. They are all troublesome, at times, in my opinion. The prices never seem to be what they say they will be. I know people who go back and forth just to get the deal that is being offered at the time. I think that is just as bad a scamA confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, especially for making a quick profit; as anything, in my opinion.
Which part do you feel is just as bad a scamA confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, especially for making a quick profit; ? The Cablevision, or customers switching back and forth? I know people who do that with phone service since the companies will offer rebates when you switch back.
There is some great information here for comparison purposes. I work for DISH Network, and let me mention a few things that DISH has that the others do not. First, HD Free for Life, with a 24 month commitment and creditMoney loaned or the ability of an individual or company to borrow money./debit card auto pay, customers will receive HD programming absolutely free the entire time they have DISH service. ($120 per year savings) Second, award winning DVR receiver, the 722 was voted Editor's Choice Award by CNET and PC Magazine. Also DISH offers more international programming and has the lowest everyday price on the most popular channels.
Dish Network has great equipment but is slowly but surely abandoning all regional sports networks. As of today they do not offer any of the local NY sports networks (YES, MSG and now SNY). They can't survive in the bigtown without local sports. They are once again shotting themselves in the foot just so they can calim they are a low cost service.
Dish is killing me. They keep taking channels away to be cheaper. My friends with DirecTV are getting more channels! Even my friends who are stupid enough to get cable get new channels (at a cost of course). I would love to ditch some of the shopping channels to keep the local stations!
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