----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
I had DirecTV for one reason - the availability of the YES network,
which my primary provider, Dish, doesn't offer. When FIOS TV became
available in my area (I already had FIOS internet and love it) I
jumped at the chance to switch for a number of reasons. For one
thing, as part of a package deal I actually saved money with FIOS-TV
over DirecTV since all I required was YES. For another, for some
reason DirecTV was not able to provide me with an HD feed (only SD)
even though my extensive Dish network installation gives me excellent
HD reception. The DirecTV and Dish satellites in my area are not
that far apart in the sky and this was rather surprising. With
FIOS-TV I am able to receive the YES HD channel in full high definition.
I can't comment directly on the quality of FIOS-TV vs. DirecTV in the
HD realm since I never could receive DirecTV HD. However I can say
from personal experience that the SD channels on FIOS-TV are much
cleaner than what I was receiving on DirecTV. Also, FIOS-TV people
(customer support, installers, etc.) seem to know what they are doing
whereas I had several problems over the years with DirecTV
customer/service reps. One other thing to note is that I CAN compare
FIOS-TV HD with Dish HD side by side (feeding into the same set) and
I feel that they are comparable in picture and sound quality. And
that's a good thing for FIOS-TV since I think that the Dish Network
HD offerings are the best available (comparing them to friends'
DirecTV HD or Cablevision HD broadcasts - all other issues
aside.) What I don't think that FIOS-TV at the moment can compete
with Dish Network on (and I suspect that this is also true for a
comparison with DirecTV HD) is the number of channels. Without a
doubt both satellite services offer far more variety in HD
programming than FIOS at the moment - even though FIOS claims to be
beefing things up. It's something like 20-30 FIOS TV HD channels
versus over 100 HD channels on any satellite service. That might
weigh in your decision process. Also, I have both the FIOS HD PVR
and quite a few Dish Network HD PVRs (four to be exact). I can say
with complete certainty that the FIOS-TV PVR is much less capable
than the Dish HD PVRs. No contest. I never had a DirecTV PVR (no
reason to) but I have to venture a guess that it has to be better
than the FIOS-TV PVR which some have called similar to some cable
company PVRs (A Motorola unit.) The interface could use some work
and the storage is puny at best. I guess I'm spoiled by my Dish
ViP722 PVR with external storage options. Once again, FIOS TV is the
new kid on the block so things will probably improve. You might even
be able to use an after-market Tivo unit on FIOS-TV although I've
never personally investigated this aspect.
It a personal decision on your part whether to switch from DirecTV to
FIOS-TV. If you are an NFL subscriber then DirecTV is your only
option, but if the quality of the picture and sound is your prime
objective (tempered by fewer HD stations and perhaps some less mature
hardware) then FIOS-TV should definitely be investigated. Everyone I
talk to who has installed FIOS-TV loves it from a performance point
of view for what they offer.
Finally, if you already have FIOS Internet and you also happen to
have Verizon as your phone provider there is the potential for some
real savings with one of their package deals where they bundle three
items together: Phone, Internet and TV. There's something about
having your phone service in the hands of a phone company that's more
reassuring to me than letting your cable company (who have enough
problems trying to get cable right) try to provide you with phone
service too. But those are horror stories from the field for another time.
At 01:41 PM 4/23/2008 -0700, you wrote:
>----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>
>I've been bombarded recently by Verizon reps trying to
>get me to sign up for FIOS TV. I already hav FIOS for
>internet, but I have DirecTV for my TV service and am
>pleased. Does anybody have FIOS TV and are you happy
>with what you have? Did anybody switch from DirecTV
>and can compare the quality and HD channel
>availability?
>
>Thanks.
-- RAF
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