The Next Generation: DISH Network vs. DIRECTV Satellite TV?
The marketing game can be a funny thing. Show someone a commercial with a CGI image of a Russian with a mini giraffe and suddenly everyone believes that with DIRECTV® satellite dishes, television is somehow revolutionary and DIRECTV is the best deal out there. But the truth is that DIRECTV satellite TV is as far from being the best service or value in subscription TV service. Nor is there anything particularly special about DIRECTV satellite signals, DIRECTV satellite dish installation or DIRECTV satellite receivers.
Rather than fill your head with a bunch of silly commercials, then, we here at InternetLion.com are going to use the time you’re giving us in reading this article to lay down the facts on everything from DIRECTV satellite dishes to DIRECTV satellite receivers, to DIRECTV satellite signals and DIRECTV satellite dish installation. After all, we can’t remember the last time we bought a product for its cute ads instead of whether its prices and services were competitive.
DIRECTV Satellite Installation vs. DISH Network
Today DIRECTV satellite dishes might be small, strong and easy to install. But what would the relative ease of a DIRECTV satellite dish installation matter to you? DISH Network satellite dishes are no less wieldy and no harder to install, and anyhow, the ease of DISH Network and DIRECTV satellite installations are no one’s concern, apart from the technicians who come to subscribers’ homes and set up these companies’ equipment.
What should matter to you is whether DISH Network or DIRECTV satellite installations cost more. And, on this front, the truth is that neither provider charges a dime for installation to those well-qualified subscribers who select a qualifying package and sign a 24-month Agreement.
So don’t be wowed by the big, bold lettering proclaiming DIRECTV satellite installation is free. DIRECTV satellite setup is free just like DISH Network’s setup is free. Keep in mind thought that DIRECTV satellite setup is advertised as ‘FREE standard professional installation’ and we’re hard-pressed to find any details beyond that. Whereas the DISH Network website advertises clearly ‘FREE installation in up to 6 rooms’.
DIRECTV Satellite Signals – The Scientific Facts
After the insinuation that DIRECTV satellite setup is easier than other providers’ setups, probably the most annoyingly false claim we’ve seen lately is the one implying that DIRECTV’s satellites have stronger signals or that there is some method by which to correct “rain fade.”
Now, as official DISH Network retailers the folks here at InternetLion.com won’t claim there’s really a good way to avoid “rain fade,” which is when a customer loses signal during heavy precipitation. Honestly, rain fade is just something that happens with Ku-band satellite signals. And for either DISH Network or DIRECTV satellite dishes, television isn’t any easier to bounce into space, then back to Earth again.
A few things we can tell you, however, is that Ku band suffers from less interference than Ka-band satellite signals. And the only satellite with a Ka-band payload in the fleet of DISH Network mother company EchoStar is the EchoStar IX, whose Ka-band payload remains inactive. While DIRECTV, in contrast, uses the Ka-band payloads to transmit its HD programming—which might be the reason some customers (like Dave Phan on SageTV.com) have reported experiencing less rain fade with DISH Network than DIRECTV.
DIRECTV Satellite Receivers vs. DISH Network Receivers
So far we here at InternetLion.com have concentrated on explaining how to compare DISH Network and DIRECTV satellite dishes, television services and quality. And now we’re going to put DIRECTV to shame by exposing one of its nastiest little secrets: It’s receivers and DVR/receivers don’t hold a candle to DISH Network’s.
Take, for example, DISH Network’s ViP™ 922 SlingLoaded™* satellite HD DVR / receiver… This device has won editors-choice awards from both PC Magazine and CNet.com because it offers capabilities found on no other DVR/receiver or receiver device: It lets you program, watch, rewind, play and fast forward through live TV on—get this—your iPhone™, Android or Blackberry™ smart phone and/or your laptop from anywhere you are.
DIRECTV satellite programming can only offer a similar service for the limited number of programs in one of its NFL Sunday Ticket premium sports packages. But, suppose you want to watch AMC’s new season of “Mad Men” while driving to Vegas to elope. You absolutely won’t be able to do this with DIRECTV. Nor will you be able to with cable. The only subscription TV provider to give you such capabilities is DISH Network.
So, as we said above, if a goofy, pint-sized giraffe is all DIRECTV’s got maybe it should consider spending more money on its tech R&D and less on flashy ads. As detailed in our other articles here at InternetLion.com, the DISH Network deals we’re offering are not only the lowest-cost packages in the subscription-TV industry, but they also offer the greatest bang for your buck. And only DISH Network and its retailers like the InternetLion.com team will give it to you straight.
Click here to learn more about switching to DISH Network today!
*Copyright © 2010 Sling Media, Inc. Sling is a registered trademark of Sling Media, Inc. No additional monthly charges required; customers must upgrade to the ViP® 922 SlingLoaded™ DVR or purchase the Sling® Adapter. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. BlackBerry is a registered trademark of Research In Motion Limited. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
Disclaimer: Please note that this article was written when the satellite TV provider DISH was branded as DISH Network. As of 2/1/2012 DISH Network has changed their branding name to DISH. Article post date: 08/26/2009.
