Switch from DirectTV to DISH

[pete_c]

After many years of being a Direct TV customer looking to maybe switch to DISH. Personally I do not watch TV but we do have Comcast, OTA and Direct TV in the house. My wife though records her stuff today on a Direct Tivo at SD. She really doesn't care about the quality of what she sees but rather just the content. That said I am looking to keep the monthly below $100 a month (which Direct TV is today). I am seeing some deal right now with getting the Dish with the 200 channel package, one hopper and one joey for about $66 a month. I'm done with Direct TV and their Direct Tivo debacle. Monthly Direct TV is currently $85 with one DirectTivo and 3 additional receivers (only watch two TV's with Direct TV on them anyways). This (direct tv) started at around $60 a month 10 years ago (basic channels / package).

All of these "deals" get somewhat confusing.

So I am looking for comments on this Dish network Hopper/Joey devices from DISH network satellite TV.

 

[video321]

Since you're concerned about content for 1 person, have you considered something like Hulu with their 10' interface? I use it to feed 3 TVs that I care to view it on - main viewing area via HTPC and the other 2 rooms are fed by laptops all of which are stored in a remote A/V closet. The laptops are used for Hulu only and are put into standby when not viewed. It's free and the quality can be pretty good - definitely better than SD cable. Some shows have been switching to the paid version so it all depends on what she likes.

 

[pete_c]

Thanks video321.

Wife is a channel hopper; and records mostly cooking shows, stuff on ABC, CBS and NBC. I've been trying the al la carte IP network views and its not working yet because of her addiction to the Tivo.

I already have 5 NMTs/1TB drives chrooted and modded such that they work fine with Tversity / PlayOn TV. Just also purchased a "few" Aopen Digital engines with HDMI out running XBMC versus MCE which I really like.

That said I am doing a new box with a multiple stream tuner on it running MCE for a Comcast DVR and a Linux DVR with one HD tuner in it.

Here in the Midwest Comcast has switched over to HD and there is no SD anymore. Verizon and AT&T have their offerings in town yet not in our subdivision which gives Comcast a monopoly of sorts. Its the local town that's preventing them from updating our subdivision for some odd reason.

I cancelled DTV in FL after 10 years and went to Verizon FIOS which I am happy with for now although have watched an increase in their rates at about 35% in three years. In the midwest I've had DTV now since the 1990's and I have watched their CS decrease to nil and prices increase for less features.

So will be comparing (just for her use; not mine) 3 DVRs to legacy Tivo (SA's and DTivos).

1 - Dish networks offering (I am done with DTV)
2 - MCE box on Comcast with a Ceton tuner
3 - Linux HD DVR - with one HD tuner for OTA.
.

 

[video321]

Sounds like you have things covered, but may I ask why haven't you considered either Hulu or Netflix since all she wants are shows on the basic networks? Even if you had to go with the paid versions that give you the ability to stream directly to any recent IP TV - sure beats paying that large monthly bill to dish. I've tried PlayOn before and was quickly turned off by it as it was way too buggy to even consider for my wife and kids. Years ago I had ran VGA+audio between the A/V closet and some rooms so I decided an old laptop would work best for my needs and its all tied into the universal remote. Even my 5 yr. old can pick up my touch screen and control the HTPC finding his shows on Hulu's HTPC interface. I'd check it out before considering building a DVR.

Here is a screenshot on the first list of shows under "food & beverage" and my son was last watching Sonic X

 

[pete_c]

Yup; she is going to her computer lately to check out shows she has missed. I have been trying to get her to use the remote connected to the MM box on the TV in the family room as it'll do the same; no luck yet.

I've been watching her TV watching habits when she is watching live television today.

Lets take about 120 minutes of her watching TV (wherever its at). She will surf maybe 80% of the time and watch something for up to 30 minutes or so; IE: cooking, judge judy, dr phil, etc. all the time switching between live channels and recorded events. Its hard for me to follow as it happens so quickly.

 

[video321]

I thought that was our job

 

[tmbrown97]

Here is a screenshot on the first list of shows under "food & beverage" and my son was last watching Sonic X

I'd hardly call those "cooking" shows - more over-dramatic "reality-tv" shows... yuk! ^_^