Any satellite TV subscribers out there?

[cantdrv55]

Comcast Cable is raising their rates again so I think it's time to go satellite. I'm a little apprehensive though because of the disturbing commercials about unreliable satellite signal. Can inclement weather really cause poor reception? Can strong, gusty winds cause it as well? DirecTV is offering free installs in the area for up to 4 TVs PLUS a digital recorder so it seems to be a really good deal. However, my cable TV service has been flawless. Have you had any problems with your satellite TV service?

[fintstone]

I have had dish network for six years and have had none of the problems the cable companies cite. If your dish is attached securely, wind will not affect it. If it rained incredibly hard, it could possibly attenuate your signal to the point that you would lose reception temporarily until the rain slacked off a bit. Unlike regular broadcast channels, since satellite is digital...either you get great reception of all channels purchased or nothing.

[84porsche]

We have had Dish Network since 1996 and back then it was $600 to have it installed and since then it has improved quite a bit. The past year or so since we had the boxes upgraded have been nearly perfect and almost no problems except customer service. It took 2 days for them to come out and upgrade us to the Dish 500 and when they did they took the good box and replaced it with a broken box. But after a few phone calls, they remedied the situation. Now my only objection is the price, $72.00 per month with HBO and Cinemax.

[id10t]

DirectTV here. We loose signal when a *Very* large storm blows up, but only for a few minutes before the storm hits and a few minutes after it leaves. Heck, we had good reception durring the 3 hurricanes until we lost power. Just be sure you can mount the dish someplace secure, and where a tree won't grow into the LOS. Happened to us, but a simple relocation of hte dish fixed it up.

[Seahawk]

I have had Direct TV for a number of years and my experience is similar to the other posters: only very large, imbedded storms interupt the signal and then for just a short time. TReliablility and service are excellent, as is the programming.
Since I live in the boonies, I also have the two-in-one dish that includes Direcway Internet. I would rate the servce as good, not great based on the fact that the internet signal is less reliable that the TV signal. However, compared to a 56k modem, the satellite internet is an absolute must for us and we'll never go back.

[osidak]

Started out with DirecTV and switched to DISH.

With less than optimal dish mounting I had very few troubles with DirecTV (dish was mounted to a pieced of wood weighted down with bricks sitting on the apartment patio)

Switched to DISH when we bought our house. Slightlu larger dish (20 inches instead of 18) and it take one hell of a storm to knock our signal out.

It is all in the the dish aiming. Get a near perfect aim and you will not loose signal very often at all.

I currently have Top120 with HBO and Showtime. pay $55 a month.

[Joeaksa]

Also had DirectTV with the internet option for many years. Loved it and the price was better. Only time the signal went down was same as above when there was extremely heavy rain, hail or snow.

Would still be using it but the company I work with now is paying for my cable & high speed internet at home so I get it free. The bigger dish that is used with the DirectPC did help with the television signal.

JoeA

[Moses]

I live in the Bay Area and have DirecTV. During the heaviest storms, the image will get pixelated for a few seconds. That's it. No problem at all.

If you get satellite, you MUST get a DirecTivo unit. It's a combined DirecTV receiver and Tivo unit. Beautifully integrated menus and functions. I love it!

[KFC911]

I've had DirectTV since the mid-90's when I swore that I would NEVER pay another cent to Time Warner (and if my employer stops paying for RoadRunner, it's history too )! As others have mentioned, I too occasionally lose a signal during the worst rainstorms, and of course, if the dish gets covered in snow or ice, it's history. Some years, I've also had a problem during July/Aug afternoons (it was particularly irritating last year...worse than usual), where I will lose the signal, and must reset (power off/on) my receiver to reconnect. Last year was chronic, and most days I would need to reset prior to evening viewing. This is due to sunspot activity from what I understand...does anyone else experience this? All-in-all, I'm very happy (as compared to cable - it really sucked) though...

[juanbenae]

told the cable company to F-off about three years ago and have not looked back. i too have experienced a bit, a very small bit during MAJOR storm events. like two or three times in the 3+ years i have had a dish. even then as moses explains it just freezes for a second. nothing compared to the BS I had to endure with cable.

do it chris, you wont be dissapointed.

[Seahawk]

You know it's funny, but I use the loss of DirecTV during major storms as my weather, "canary in a coal mine"...if the signal drops, stand the f by!!!
One last thing, I spray PAM on the dish every few months and it keeps ice and snow from accumulating to a degree.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I have Dishnetwork with DVR.

Love it.

[Brillo]

Have had Dish Network (America's Everything Pak) for several years now. Switched from DIRECTV, mainly because they did not have SPEEDVISION (at that time). Also had occasional drop outs with heavy rain and when large airplanes went overhead. Have had no drop outs with Dish Network. Two years ago I got the DVR receiver, it is really great.

[amity914]

There are really good deals on sattelite TV out there now,
We have direct TV.
You need a clear view of the southern sky, we have a bunch of trees around us and that didn't seem to affect the signal. In the last year our sattelite was interrupted by heavy rainfal about 3 times (rains all the time here in oregon). It has never been interrupted by wind. Unlike cable, you need a box for every tv in the house in order to view different channels on each TV, which can cost like $6 each, There are deals right now where you can get the dish, two boxes and tivo for a really low price.

HIEDI

[arcsine]

I had DirectTV previously and very much like the service etc. Signal would get pixillated on big rainstorms but never lost. I have Comcast right now in my new house and have no affection for it. Spendy and the least usable user interface I could imagine. My new two room DirectTV with Tivo goes in tomorrow and I cannot wait. I just hope the buttmunches at Comcast can get it right and leave my internet access on when they turn off my the TV cable. Somehow I feel they will screw it up.

[dhoward]

Sometimes they don't "turn off cable" when they're your ISP.

[KFC911]

Originally posted by dhoward
Sometimes they don't "turn off cable" when they're your ISP.

Tis true...in my case however (since my employer foots the bill) there is a 'filter' in place which allows for RoadRunner, but not cable TV...I mean, if it were 'free', then I wouldn't have any problems with cable TV ...although imo, the service still would suck.

[LeeH]

We have Dish Network with the DVR and could never watch TV again without it.

When the system was installed I was worried as my siganal strength was pretty low. You'd have to see the installation to appreciate that fact that there's any signal. The dish points toward the side of my house! Still, through Arizona dust storms and monsoons it hasn't lost the signal.

The digital recorder can't be beat. Being able to hit the pause button while watching live TV, or rewind and replay anything in slow motion is just too cool.

[jbryant]

Seahawk- Thanks for the heads up on the PAM idea!!

[Seahawk]

jbryant,

What year is your F250...I am trying to devine whether or not I should buy an F150 V8 or opt for the 250 diesel. I tow quite a bit, below 9000lbs, and would be interested in your opinion.
I have an old F350, Windsor V8, but the beast is weary and needs to be replaced.
Thanks in advance.