Thoughts on DirecTV?

Line of sight is more important than weather IMO. If you have a clear line of sight and getting 90+ on your signal meter, it takes some pretty bad weather for you to lose signal. If a lazy installer points it at a tree and you're getting 65 on your signal meter, you will lose your signal easier when the weather gets bad. Whenever I hear about people complain about losing their signal during a storms I wonder how good there signal was to begin with.

 

I've probably lost less that 10 hours of signal since 1994. I've had several generations of their equipment. If you have decent southern exposure I wouldn't worry about signal loss at all.

Hmm...we do have one big tree in our backyard, which is to the south.  But other than that I think it is fairly open.  Do they have to install on roof, or can they do it lower so I can clear snow away if needed?

They can install it anywhere basically...just has to have LOS.

 

I've been a DTV customer since 1998...never had significant issues. Service has always been great...couple times a year for a day or two you get random pixellations due to solar interference but other than that, as long as there are no trees blocking it, it's fine.

 

Doesn't snow where I am, so I can't answer, but rain and wind don't really effect it for me.

I have cable for internet and phone, mainly because there isn't a ton of fiber service where I am, and the only one that is available ATT UVerse, has a horrendous service record locally.

Cool...then the only challenge will be trying to get the Ticket free/cheap every year...I am not very persistent...

FTFY

http://www.dishpointer.com/ is a good place to check line of site.

 

The dish can be pole mounted on the ground but you need to specify that in advance because they will want to put it on the roof. I have mine mounted on the back of my house. I have a raised ranch so I can just walk out on my deck and sweep the snow off. If it is only an issue if it is heavy wet snow. I have had DirecTV since 1995.

Long time customer, I love it.

 

If you can get a Ethernet cable from your router to the main TV area, get the genie.  I ran a cord through the attic and down the wall just for this. 

 

It's worth it for the on demand, mobile app and NFL ticket.

 

http://technabob.com/blog/2013...ole-home-dvr-review/

Make the calls every year and get the free **** as disclosed on another topic.   That is my only beef with them....but I also turn it into an annual free **** carnival at their expense.  

 

Like the famous leg humper Satanori once said....Gold Standard - you have the Gold so you set the standard.

 

We have had it for 6 or 7 years now....and like FreeSafetya said maybe lost 5-10 hours of TV in that time.   Their service has always been decent.  

Had it in FL, through Hurricane's no problem.  Had it in MN, and during the snowstorms, it was a problem, ours was mounted on the roof, and when we had heavy snow it would stick to the dish, we had to get on the roof to brush off.  Pain in the Ass in the winter time.  

Cool, thanks for the tips on placement.  Our house is tiny but I am not exactly the most limber person so ladders are always exciting.  Might see about getting it lower near the ground.

 

It's wireless now too. Mine is wireless although my router is right next to the TV just in case it's needed.

 

Wet smow on the dish is an issue occasionally. Need to keep it clean

Just get an telescoping pole (for lights or painting) and attach a snow brush to the end.

I assumed it was local to me...have friends in San Jose and Long Beach who love it. But other than that, IDK.

I've had DTV since 2000 in Indianapolis, Chicago, and now LA.  Beyond the obvious need for the Sunday Ticket, the programing packages are pretty solid.  The comments on placement are right on.  If you can shield the dish in some way (in Indy and Chicago, the angle of my roof gave a good shield from wind blowing west to east) to avoid the most common direction that storms come through, you will minimize your weather-related trouble - won't eliminate it, but it won't be as bad.  Enjoy!

I have been with Directv for ever.  Service has been exceptional.  The only time I have a problem  is when it rains extremely heavy - gotta be damn near a cloud burst.  But, that is not an issue now 'cause it just does not rain in California anymore.

 

BTW, got water?

I lost signal for app. 10-15 minutes last night, and only on some of the channels (the dish is receiving signals from 5 different satellites). It was a really, really heavy storm. Your average rain shower will have no effect on signal quality.

 

Wet, heavy snow is a problem when it sticks to the dish. I went eight years without it being a problem, but there were more heavy snows the past two winters. I think I had to brush off the dish maybe a grand total of 4-5 times in those two years. Have them install the dish as close to the gutter as possible, so it's easy to get to in those situations.

Some people even get a super soaker squirt gun and use hot water to clean the dish in the winter.

Concur with most comments above.....good installation vital. Only time I start to lose reception is when the occasional golf ball hits the dish.....customer service used to suck----much better.

 

I don't ask for discounts, because as with my tax-rate, I feel good about subsidizing the looter-class that demands free things.

God bless Blair Kiel

 

THANKS OBAMA!!

Thank you. 

 

Thursday at 7 p.m., brick through the window?  Still on?

The pink feather tied around the brick is always a nice touch.

I go the extra mile.

We have DISH Network and my experience is different from everyone else.  We often lose signal in a heavy rain/thunderstorm.  Many times the signal goes out before it even starts to rain, we know heavy rain is coming then.  Usually not out for long, never more than 20 minutes or so.  Never had a problem with snow, it always works.  Also no sun problems either. We've had it since 2003. 

DTV has been flawless for me except when a major thunderstorm rolls through... I'm talking a big f'ing storm.  

 

My only issue to date is the cocksuckers don't offer the Pac-12 Network.  

DISH user, seldom does weather knock out my signal, save for some pretty, pretty, pretty good storms. 

 

Thinking about asking for a discount...but not sure what to say.  What if they say no???

Cry.

 

Works when chicks do it.

Tell them you're going to DirecTV or cable and want to cancel...they will offer deals.

DTV in Iowa since 2008 and I haven't had to brush the snow off the dish once.

 

Big thunderstorm clouds seem to be the only thing that can knock out the signal. And even then it's maybe 10-20 minutes unless it's some kind of epic storm.

Ammo, your dish isn't tuned properly. It's slightly off dead center. Tell them to fix it for you.

Well BK, you can always move into the ghettos...

DirecTV and Dish Network customers may notice something a little different this election season: Your television ads know who you are.

 

The satellite television providers have partnered with Democratic and Republican data shops to harness information about their 20 million customers and deliver television ads tailored to the viewer.

 

How do the ads work? The television providers will take over a customer's digital video recorder, or DVR, when it's not in use — likely in the middle of the night. The targeted ads are downloaded. When a cue is sent by an advertiser of the perfect moment to run, one of those ads are picked off the box and run on the television screen, appearing just like any ol' television commercial. "The box will reach directly into its cache and play it off the hard drive and then go directly back into programming," said Warren Schlichting, senior vice president of Dish media sales.

 

"It doesn't matter what you're watching," explains Michael Palmer, president of i360, the conservative-learning firm that is part of the program. The ad waits until the television is being watched and inserts itself into an open ad slot. -washingtonpost 8-22-14

 

 

Bastards.

 

When 'The Purge' goes into effect, they are on my list.

And of course politicians exclude themselves from the anti-telemarketing laws.

I too have been a longtime DTV guy.  14 yrs.  Service has always been excellent.  Losing signal can happen when there is a big heavy thundercloud overhead.  Maybe 2-3 times a year that has happened.  Anywhere from 3 - 10 minutes usually. But I recall my cable going out 5-6 times a years before DTV...usually for hours. Snow too can cover the dish.  So get your dish installed so it is easy to access.

 

Just got the Genie two weeks ago and it works real well.  Can watch recorded programs on any TV in the house.  I watched a reply of last night's game in our bedroom and our daughter watch it in her bedroom simultaneously but at different points in the game.  Offers PIP now too.

 

I think DTV's Guide Program is so much better than cable.

Get the referral bonus and save even more money.

 

That's what the Fast Forward button is for..... and if they take away the ability to fast forward, Directv will receive a nice "cancel" phone call.

 

There has to be a way to "opt-out" of these B$ ads or they will lose customers.

 

either that or I'll be hacking my box to stop them from downloading. It's called root access boys & girls

quote:

There has to be a way to "opt-out" of these B$ ads or they will lose customers.

I think (but don't hold me to it) that these ads would be part of the "local" ad slots, which cable providers sell to various local businesses.  On DirecTV, it tends to be lawyers wanting you to sue if you've had side effects from a prescription drug or, when they can't sell all the ad time, promos for the Genie or the movies you can watch on the pay-per-view channels.  It's those DirecTV promos that I'd bet are being replaced by these political ads, and perhaps some of the lawyer ads if the politicians are paying more, although I think they've jiggered the law to get themselves lower ad rates.

Not that I like being bombarded by political ads, of course.

Thanks for all of the great feedback so far...not sure if I go with it that I'll get it in time for the season, but attached is a picture of my backyard tree situation.  Do you all think I will have issues with line of sight to the satellites?  This is facing south in my backyard.

TV in the year 2025

 

 

I see a hole.thru the trees. Aim the dish there.