DirecTV Vs. U-verse

Updated on September 27, 2010
N.M. asks from Euless, TX
15 answers

We've had DirecTV for several years (and Dish for a few years before that), and we're thinking aboud switching to AT&T U-Verse. Our biggest problem with DirecTV is that our recorded shows occasionally (probably 10-20% of the time) go black or freeze up while we're watching them. Sometimes we can hear what's going on, but there's no picture. Other times there's no picture or sound. We've contacted their customer service about this a few times through the years and they've never agreed to replace the receivers; their only solution is to restart the system.

I've heard great things about U-Verse and it looks like it would be a bit cheaper for us, but my husband is concerned that, since the TV is web-based, the quality will be lacking. Occasionally we watch shows online (usually because our DVR messed up something we really wanted to see) and they aren't nearly as high-quality as the ones on TV ...I'm assuming that's not a problem with U-Verse because no one would be singing its praises, but I just wanted to get some feedback.

A second concern: My husband and I both work from home, and occasionally our kids will watch TV downstairs while we're both on separate computers upstairs. We also have various wireless devices (iPhone, Wii, Roku box, printer, 3 computers) that would be competing for bandwidth along with the TVs. We can't afford to be without internet access during work hours, and of course we don't want to be without TV either. I would love to hear from people who use a computer (or two) and TV simultaneously - does this affect your picture quality or the internet speed?

Finally, do you have any recommendations on what speed we should get? We currently just have 3 mbps, but we're thinking we'll need to go up to something faster to accomodate all of our wireless devices PLUS the cable. (I don't know anything about mbps, but I told my husband I would ask!)

Thanks for any advice!

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B.F.

answers from Dallas on

We had direct tv for years before uverse a few years ago. Internet is the best we have ever had and hubby works from home on occasion and have several tvs going. As for the dvr.... Let's just say I prefer direct tv. If you are watching a recorded show and go back to the regular channel it has not been recording the whole time you were watching the recording. I don't know how to explain it but it drives me crazy. Compared to direct tv, I'd give it a 60 out of 100. But it doesn't mess up in the rain and I don't miss that! I tolerate it because of the Internet service. My techie husband says spring for the 6 Mbps which is an extra $5 a month and you won't regret it. Hope this helps!
B.

More Answers

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G.A.

answers from Dallas on

I have all att stuff for land phone and cell, tv and internet. The only problems I have are a lot of week ends when I can sit down and parental control they are working on the lines. Can not get a pass word to stay. But the internet is fast so far and the tv even though I have am old tv works great. Optic lines are great and I do not think I have as many outages but I feel it is expensive. I pay something like $119 for tv and internet and $123 for the phones. Good luck I was thinking about switching to direct tv so now I guess I will stay where I am. G. W

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K.N.

answers from Dallas on

We have U-Verse and the 18mbps internet. We also have the wifi hooked up through U-verse.

We LOVE it. I highly recommend U-Verse!

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A.P.

answers from Dallas on

im not tech savvy but i thought uverse was fiber optics?? either way, we have uverse and its the best cable i have had so far...after dish and time warner. it does not freeze and we also have 2 computers running and it does great :) i highly reccommend uverse!

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C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

LOVE my DirecTV since 1995. Have minor issues but then again I've got patience and almost EVERYTHING repeats so missing a show doesn't push me over the edge. The 101 channel is a MUST in this house along with BabyFirst TV (only on Directv.)

I'd never go to Dish or cable ever. My friend has U-Verse and HATES it with a passion. They need to figure some stuff out in our area which is sad because I'd like to bundle all my stuff with At&T.

C.M.

answers from Dallas on

Just another plug for LOVING Uverse!

I sounded like your husband, but my husband wanted to try the newest thing years ago when Uverse first came out. Just like a previous poster, we had quite a few issues in the first few months, but it was all new and they worked those kinks out... for the last 4 years we have been in love.

We use TVs and computers at the same time, no issues.

Good luck with your decision!

C.C.

answers from Fresno on

We have had UVerse for about a year now and it has been great. We had DirecTV before that, and switched because we had issues with the picture freezing up ALL the time.

We have 4 computers, my husband has an iPhone, plus the TV and 2 phone lines and have never had any problems. One time our internet went down for about 10 minutes but I re-booted the (router? modem? I am not an IT person!) and it came right back up again, no problem. Their tech support was helpful in getting me back up and running right away. Our internet is pretty much blazing fast all the time, TV picture quality is great.

All in all, I would recommend UVerse.

S.R.

answers from Dallas on

We've had U-Verse for almost a month now. It's OK. Sounds like a lot of people here really like it, but I'm not overly excited about it. Why?? Well, we had Verizon FIOS before we moved and I've never had anything compare to it...ever. The functionality of their DVR is WAY, WAY better. Their internet speeds were awesome (I work from home quite often, too). I know FIOS isn't available in all areas, but after having DirecTV, DISH, FIOS and now U-Verse, I will always recommend the FIOS first. I've always had bad luck with AT&T in general, so I wasn't too excited when it was our only option where we are now. Their customer service and billing departments lack so very much to be desired, it's pathetic. The services they provide aren't THAT great to have to deal with such a headache. So, I say, if FIOS is available in your area...get it. If not, the only thing I like about U-Verse compared to satellite is the fact that it won't go out when it's cloudy or raining outside...that's it.

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G.C.

answers from Dallas on

Hello,

We have had no problems with u-verse. We had it installed in Jan. 2010. DVR works great and the only thing we have had problems with is on-line billing and AT&T's website - we went back to paper billing because of it. We are actually cancleling the service due to our budget. We consider the TV part a luxury and just need to find ways to cutback. My only advice is if they offer you incentives to sign up - ask for the customer service reps name and details of the incentive. They tend to change the incentive on you and you need to have good notes to hold them accountable to what they promised. Hope that helps!

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B.D.

answers from Dallas on

Without repeating what you already received, we got U-Verse a couple of months ago and the first thing I noticed is that the resolution and picture quality is really high def now!! It is because of the fiber optics and I love it!! We had a few start up glitches with service but it is all good now, and although I did not have too many complaints about DirecTV, Uverse is superior in my opinion.

Good Luck!

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T.R.

answers from Dallas on

Hello,

We first got UVerse about 5 years ago right when they starting providing service in our neighborhood.. at first we had issues, but I think it was just kinks for them providing service in a new area. One great thing is that their CS is open 24/ 7, and if one level can't help you, they send you up a level... and/or send someone out to your house 7 days a week. We just sold our house, I had to set up new service at our new home. At first they were stating they coouldn't come out until we had lived at our house for 4 days, but I hung up.. called back, and was able to schedule someone to come out the 1st day we moved in with another rep.

Overall, the service is great, and you are able to tape 4 things at once. I have had Dish and that was always an issue.. not being able to tape everything I want.. also, you can pause or stop a show.. and continue it at another time from another room at the same stopping point. Also, since it is fiber optics and not a dish, etc. there isn't any outages during storms, etc. My best friend has DirecTV, and although she doesn't mind it... it freezes up a lot, doesn't always tape her shows.. and the biggest thing... costs over $25 more a month for the exact same channels I have.

Right now UVerse is giving a $200 Visa giftcard with new or transfer offers.

I am not positive on the internet speed... but you probably will want to go up a level. We have the 3 mbps currently.. and although it is fine.. I have noticed several times where it is annoying at how long it takes to get to a site. We have 3 PC's, Wii, iPhones, etc. as well.

Good luck!!

B.B.

answers from Dallas on

We had Directv for about 9 years before switching to Uverse. I loved Dtv, but I love Uverse even more!! We also have internet with ATT (which we've had for several years), but switched to uverse 1 year ago. They did have to come replace our box 1 time, but with DTV I had to replace a couple tivo boxes over the years we had them, so that's not a big con in my mind, and we've had no problems since. We don't have HD channels, but it's still great quality!! I have no clue what speed internet we have (I think 2nd from the bottom? it's not slow!!), but I'm not sure you choose what speed for the uverse? I have no clue about that. I use my wireless internet all the time while the tv's on, and there's no disturbance at all.

ets: Also, sometimes my DH is on his work computer at home, and I have my iPod touch, and there's never any problems.

The huge bonus uverse has over DTV is that we no longer lose service during bad storms, or super cloudy days. It's nice to be able to watch the weather if it's severe outside! And we can record up to 4 shows at one time. We only have tv in our living room, but if you have multiple tv's, you can record in one room and watch recorded shows in another room.

I'm VERY happy we switched! I was nervouse b/c we had DTV for so long, and I loved it. But it was a great choice for us!!

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E.W.

answers from Dallas on

We have 4 computers, 2 iPhones and U-Verse and have never had issues! We run them simultaneously all of the time and have not ever had a problem. We have been an U-Verse household since they came to our area, probably for about 3 years now and would not change for the world. The picture quality is amazing and my hubby is a bit of a snob when it comes to picture quality :) We have the 12 mbps internet through U-verse AT&T and have never experienced an issue with our internet. I would highly recommend the service and know that my husband would as well.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.O.

answers from Dallas on

We have had u-verse and their hi speed internet for over a year and we like it. We have 3 computers and our Wii connected to the internet and have had little to no issues. Cable we have had more issues with it, but it comes with awesome things like having your pictures on TV or games to play on it. I don't think that running all those simultaneously affects the quality of the TV. They sent a tech out just to help us with the remote, so if you do have issues they help right away!

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

We have Uverse for 2 years now and we looooooove it! We can have all three tvs on at the same time, plus both laptops going and no issues at all! We have never once even needed to call them for any reason. Only very occasionally will we need to restart the reciever, but it does not affect anything recorded at all.

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