DIRECTV vs DISH Network The Leading Satellite Providers. How do we keep this site running This post may contain affiliate links the cost is the same to you, but we get a referral fee. Compensation does not affect rankings. Thanks Thinking about making the switch to satellite TV Youre not alone. A growing number of homes are changing the channel to one of the two biggest players in the satellite TV market DIRECTV and DISH Network. But whats the difference between cable and satellite exactly And how do DIRECTV and DISH stack up against one another Were here to help Read on to learn more about how they compare in quality, channel selection, service offering, pricing and more. If after reading, you still have specific questions we didnt answer you can comment below the article or ask a DIRECTV or DISH representative for immediate feedback using their contact information. Satellite vs Cable Which is Better Trying to decide between satellite and cable Read about some of the key differences between the two options. Plus, learn why satellite is superior in all cases. Enhanced Sound and Picture Quality. Cable connections go through multiple network reconfigurations which only serve to degrade the quality of sound and picture. We compare DISH against DirecTV and tell which satellite provider is right for you. In our DIRECTV vs DISH review for 2017, we show how DISH and DIRECTV each have. With satellite, the programming bypasses that complicated network web, so the quality of your signal is direct and therefore, unblemished. This direct system allows for ultra high definition TV UHDTV. Winner Satellite TVMore Channels. Both DIRECTV and DISH have the capability to offer more programming than cable, i. While DIRECTV offers more than 3.
Get the latest science news and technology news, read tech reviews and more at ABC News. DISH offers more than 2. DIRECTV has fewer than DISH currently. Winner Satellite TVOther Advantages. Do more for lessBelow are reasons why satellite television is superior and its less expensive than analog TV. Increased capacity for recording and storage of saved programs. Multiple simultaneous viewing options including the ability to record one show while watching another show. Pause and replay live TVFast forward through commercials. HD quality local channels. Winner Satellite TVDIRECTV vs DISH How Do They CompareWeighing the value of DIRECTV vs DISH is difficult because both products and the services they offer are very comparable. To determine which is the best fit for you, it is important first to know your viewing habits and personal preferences. Then, when you look at the two lists side by side, it will be easier to recognize which provider better meets your needs and desires. Below is a comparison of some of the basic features of DISH and DIRECTV. DIRECTVDISHFree DVR and HDTV equipment. Up to 4 rooms. Up to 4 rooms. Professional Installation. Free. Free. Number of Channels. Custom Design Your Package. No. No. HD Recording. Genie. HopperContract Lengths. Months. 24 Months. Price Lock. 12 2. Months. 24 months. HD Recording DIRECTTV Genie vs DISH HopperHD recording gives you the power to pause, rewind and record live TV. Below is a comparison of DIRECTTV Genie and DISH Hopper. Learn more about the DIRECTV Genie in this video. Number and Variety of Channels Comparison. The number of channels offered and the particular programming of those channels differ between DIRECTV and DISH. As mentioned above, DISH offers more than 2. DIRECTV offers 3. But a closer look at those 3. What your household likes to watch may not be the same as what your neighbors family wants to watch. So, take a look and see which satellite provider offers the channels you are interested in. DIRECTVDISHSports Channels ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, NBA TV, NBC Sports Network, FOX Sports 2, NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network, Tennis Channel and Golf Channel. Sports Channels Big Ten Network, MLB Network Strike Zone, NFL Red. Zone, Pac 1. 2 Networks and Universal Sports. Premium Channels Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, and StarzPremium Channels Bloomberg and RFDTVMiscellaneous Channels Discovery Family Channel, Discovery Life Channel and IONMiscellaneous Channels A E, AMC, BET, Bravo, Comedy Central, Discovery, E, Food Network, HGTV, History, MTV, MTV2, Spike, TBS, TLC, TNT, USA and VH1. Kid Channels Nickelodeon, ABC Family, Disney, Disney JR, Disney XD, Nick JR, Nicktoons Network and Cartoon Network X Rated Channels Playboy TV, Vivid TV, Hustler TV, Bra. ZZers TV, Reality Kings. X Rated Channels Penthouse TV and UBang X Rated Channels Cheap Thrills, Hustler HD, TEN, Reality Kings, Girlfriends Films and XTSYPackage Comparison. Weve taken the basic packages from DIRECTV and DISH as well as the premium packages and compared them side by side so you can see an in depth review of them. Read further to see who we think offers the best packages. DIRECTVDISHDIRECTVDISHPackage Style. Basic Package. Basic Package. Premier Package. Premium Package. Package Name. SELECTAmericas Top 1. Plus. PREMIERAmericas Top 2. Price5. 0month for 1. Number of Channels. Contract Length. 24 Months. Months. 24 Months. Months. Popular Channels Included. A E, ABC Family, Animal Planet, BBC, CNBC, CNN, C Span, Disney, Fox News, Food Network, FX, Hallmark, HGTV, Fox, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Nickelodeon, TBS, TLC, USACBS Sports, C Span, Food Network, Fox News, Hallmark, Nickelodeon. In addition to Select Package Cartoon Network, Cinemax, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports 1 2, HBO, MLB, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL, Showtime, Starz. In addition to Smart Pack A E, ABC Family, Animal Planet, BBC, Cartoon Network, CNBC, CNN, Disney, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports 1 2, FX, MSNBC, NBA TV, NFL Network, TLC, TBS, USAThese channels were chosen based on what we thought were some of the most popular channels that households wanted in their cable packages. To summarize the table above, the Select package from DIRECTV is the winner for the basic packages. The Select package offers more channels, and in our opinion, the channels offered are better than those from the Smart Pack offered by DISH. For the premium packages, the winner is DISH. Americas Top 2. 50 offers all the same popular channels as the Premier package from DIRECTV for less money. However, if youre wanting Starz, HBO and Showtime we suggest you go with DIRECTV. Below is a broad comparison of all of DIRECTV and DISH packages. DIRECTV Packages. Price. Number of Channels. DISH Packages. Price. Number of Channels. Select5. 0. 0. 0month. Smart Pack3. 9. 9. Entertainment5. 5. Americas Top 1. 205. Choice6. 0. 0. 0month. Americas Top 2. 006. Xtra7. 0. 0. 0month. Americas Top 2. 507. Ultimate7. 5. 0. Premier1. 25. 0. Promotions. Below are some promotions that were able to extend to our readers for a limited time. DIRECTVDISH Network. DISH is now offering 2 Year Price Guarantee so you can lock in your monthly payment. Use this link or call 8. How Does Satellite Television WorkEver wondered how something so high up in the sky can beam a signal into your living room that lets you watch your favorite TV shows Heres a quick video under two minutes that explains how satellite TV works. Share Your Satellite TV Experience. Are you a proud DISH or DIRECTV owner Which one do you prefer and why Related Topics Reviews. DIRECTVDISH NETWORK. Repurposed Satellite Dish Antenna Captures Wi Fi and Cell Phone Signals 4 Steps. When I moved from San Antonio back to rural North Carolina, I found myself completely unable to get a wi fi or cell phone signal where I lived. The only way for me to get a cell signal at all was to drive over a mile in either direction from where I liveed. I first thought my problem was my cell carrier. I decided to change carriers so I had several friends check out their signal strength while they were visiting me so I could better decide which carrier to go with. Of the three other major carriers we checked, not one could get a signal at my house. It was apparent that my problem was my location. I was at the bottom of a shallow valley. It was uphill in nearly any direction from there. I had to find a solution. I checked into an external antenna for my cell phone but found they cost nearly 5. I knew there had to be a better way. While working in my yard one afternoon I noticed an old satellite TV dish on top of a pole in my backyard. It had been left there by the previous residents. Suddenly a light bulb came on. I grabbed some wrenches, took down the dish and held my cell phone next to the antennas horn and pointed the dish in various directions. I was amazed to find that I got full signal in one direction. I could not believe my eyes. I went from no signal to full signal and had not spent a dime or changed anything on my cell phone. Just to make sure I made a call using speaker phone and found that this thing truly did work. The next test came when I took the assembly inside the house to try it. With aluminum siding on the house I have problems even getting a television signal using a rabbit ear antenna. To my surprise, I got two to three bars inside so long as I pointed the dish at a double window in my living room. I no longer missed calls and I didnt have to leave home to talk on my cell phone. Using a blue tooth headset really worked well. It isnt an ideal setup but it worked and it didnt cost me anything. It was also a great way to recycle that old satellite antenna that would have ended up in the trash otherwise. I had a friend give me another old dish that I used for wi fi. I mounted it on the pole the other dish came off of. After some tweaking I found several really strong wi fi signals that I could not get without the dish thanks to some really great neighbors with unsecured networks.