What do you like or dislike about Dish Network?

[MSHappyCampers]

We left Direct TV and switched to Dish back in September and want to compare our experience with others using Dish. There are some features I really like and others that I really dislike. Tell us what you like and dislike.

1. Fast forward- I can press the fast forward button momentarily and fast forward 30 seconds at a time. Holding it down a couple of seconds forwards it at 15x normal speed, pressing it again changes it to 30x, again to 60x, and again to 300x! Even at 15x it's too fast to stop where I want to! Direct TV had a 4x normal speed.

2. Guide search- There doesn't appear to be any way to search for an upcoming program in the guide other than being on the correct channel and using the right arrow to move ahead. That's VERY time consuming! With Direct TV there was a search function to find any program without knowing the channel by keying in the name.

3. DVR- With Direct TV we could view/record up to 7 channels at a time. With the Hopper 3 we have 15 channels available. Don't remember ever needing more than 7 but I guess it's a nice feature to have, just in case!

4. Setting record mode- We have a really hard time setting a program to record one time if the guide is showing that program to be a re-run. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't!

5. Voice remote- We really like the voice-controlled remote!

6. Price- We really like the fact that we have more channels than with Direct TV and are saving $43 per month, at least for the next 24 months!

These are a few of the things we've noticed. What's your experience?

[A32Deuce]

You will get use to it. I dumped Comcast for Dish and so,glad I did. Had Dish in the RV first then switched the house over.

[rk911]

you should have a ‘Search’ button on your remote. ours does. not very elegant but it works.

i like the ease of changing service locations for OTA channels and networks. and customer service has generally been good. haven’t changed out our rcvr/DVR but we can record two pgms and watch a third recording. works for us.

[chawkins99]

Our remote doesn't have a specific search button but there is a search option in the menu. There are 2 programmable buttons (a single diamond and a double diamond). I programmed one of those for search. I find the search feature better than Directv. After you enter a couple of characters, a list of results pop up on the right. You can just hit the corresponding number on the remote to select.
When you select an item to record, press select again within a couple of seconds to bring up more record options.

I like the "Prime time Any time" feature. It records all 4 of the main network channels automatically every evening and keeps them for a week. Some of the recordings give the option to skip (hop) through the commercials (where the name hopper originated).

I like that I can access Netflix and Prime right from the Hopper.

I've never tried the voice remote.

+1 on switching location easily. Last time I moved, I did that through the App chat on my phone.

[reubenray]

Another plus for Dish is if you are unable to see the Western arc sats you can try for the Eastern arc sats or reverse. I did this several times on my last trip.

[MSHappyCampers]

Thanks guys! This thread is paying off already! I found the search function in the main menu and programmed the double diamond button at the bottom right as a Search button!

[astrocamper]

I like the Hopper 3 at my house and the Dish Anywhere app works better than the app I used when I had DirectTV.

I like that I can easily get HD channels with my Pathway X2 in my trailer. We switched from DirecTV for this reason. We stayed with DirectV and ATT phones unit the Game of Thrones series was over. We are now using Dish and Verizon. Verizon covers more of the rural areas that we frequent for astronomy events.

I like having Dish in my trailer for the cost of one additional receiver on my home account.

We aren't full time and just live without locals if on a trip away from our home zone. I only watch the locals when they are covering a college basketball or football game. Seldom watch the main networks otherwise. A lot of the Big10 games are on the Big10 network, ESPN or FS1/2.

[az99]

Their guide service is worse than horrible. List all kinds of reruns as NEW.
They have a known bug in the Hopper 3 software for many years now that causes OTA recordings to pixelate during replay.

But they are still the lesser of the 2 evils.

[Waiter21]

I was with Dish almost 20 years. I justr switched to Orby. Its about 1/2 the price..

[A32Deuce]

I have yet to have any problems with the Hopper 3. Only time a picture is funny is weather related. But I will keep an eye on it. Only thing I don't like is none of the boxes are compatible for recording from one and playing on another, which I have voiced my discontent with that!

[ftharrisiii]

Been with Dish for 3 1/2 years. Really like their phone app that lets me change my location and get the local stations without the need to call or speak to anyone.

[jabassmaster]

If you have dish at home you can add dish in your RV for just $7/ month and that is only for the months you use it

[az99]

Originally Posted by Waiter21

I was with Dish almost 20 years. I justr switched to Orby. Its about 1/2 the price..

Does Orby come with a DVR and the ability to view on additional tv's ? Does that include an unlimited data plan to watch it?

[Waiter21]

Does Orby come with a DVR and the ability to view on additional tv's ? Does that include an unlimited data plan to watch it?

They do have a DVR plan (I don't have it)

One receiver, I guess you could hook it to multiple TVs, but it would be the same channel on both TVs. We purchased an additional receiver so we can watch separate channels, no additional charge for up to 4 receivers on the same plan.

we bring the receivers with us when we snowbird. One is in the front of the RV and the other is in the rear bedroom.

Here is a short article with photos of my installation in the Southwind.

http://www.1999southwind.com/orby-satellite-tv/


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