DISH Network vs DIRECT TV Receivers

DISH Network Receivers vs DirecTv Receivers... looking at both DISH Network and DirecTv recently since I'm finding that I may be able to save some money during these trying economic times by going to satellite television rather than staying with my local cable company.

DISH Dual Tuner Receivers

DISH has dual-tuner receivers that can actually support 2 tv's simultaneously without losing any features on either tv. The way it works is that the receiver is installed and connected to the tv in room #1, say, the living room, and then a cable is run from this receiver to the tv in room #2, say, a den. Each tv has its own remote, in fact, each tv is designated either tv #1 or tv #2. Through this one receiver, you can watch whatever channel you wish to see on either tv at the same time. If you tried to do this with DirecTv's Receiver, which are 'not' dual-tuners, you would have to watch the same show on both tv's. Whatever is showing on tv #1, you'd have to watch on tv #2. It's a process called 'mirroring'. In addition, with DISH Network Receiver, you'll be saving another $5./mo. because DirecTv Receiver requires that each tv has its own receiver, and they charge $5./mo. for each receiver. That amounts to a savings of $60. per year for each area in which one receiver is able to support two televisions. If you happen to have multiple televisions and can accommodate this arrangement in your home, you would be able to save this same $60./year in each instance.Why would you want to pay more than you have to for satellite television? The recording capabilities of each company's dvrs are also very comparable, but DISH Receiver seems to get the nod here.

DIRECTV's DVR

While DirecTv's standard dvr Receiver, model R16, is able to record up to 100 hrs. of standard definition programming, and is able to record 2 shows at once, or even record one show while watching another live show or a recorded program, DISH's DuoDvr-625 Receiver provides up to 150 hrs. of standard definition programming , but it also allows people to either simultaneously watch, or record, separate shows on separate tv's in separate rooms, using just this one receiver. And the sound will be in Dolby Digital. This DISH Receiver model also provides picture-in-picture (PIP), as well. Both companies charge a nominal fee of about $6./mo. as a DVR service charge, so they are very close in that respect.As far as the HD/DVR Receiver's are concerned, on the surface it looks like DirecTv might have the edge, but when we look closer, this may not be so. While DirecTv Receiver's top of the line, model# HR22, is capabale of recording up to either 100 hrs. in high definition, or up to 400 hrs. in standard definition.

DISH Network HD-DVR Receiver

The DISH HD/DVR Receiver, model# DuoDvr-VIP722 Receiver, designed to connect two tv's, one HD and the other SD, is capable of recording up to 55 hrs. in high definition programming, and up to 350 in standard programming, which, to be sure, is less. But remember that DISH Receiver's single receiver is supporting 2 separate tv's, and, again, it actually allows a viewer in one room to watch one program while a second viewer is actually watching and recording different shows on the second tv in another room.As I see it, I'd rather select the 2nd option with DISH Network and save some money at the same time!