re: DirecTV or Dish?

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How long ago? DTVs slimline dishes and LNBs use both bands

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Yes, they use both bands, but the HD signals beam down in what they call the Ka band. It's really a K band.

All satellite technology works the same as it did back in the day. How they beam the signal is based on what the FCC allows them to use and what is the best price to set up a system in order to gain some type of profit which isn't much in the first 2.5 years.

C-band dishes don't have problems with rain fade. They're still in use today all over the place. They receive signals in the 4 GHz area.

SiriusXM sends signals down in the lower 3 GHz range.

Dish sends its signals down between 10.7 and 12.7 GHz.

Direct sends its signals down between 10.7 and 12.7 GHz for standard definition and 18.3 to 20.2 for HD.

A lot of other satellites up there for TV will beam down signal at about 10.6 GHz, but some overseas go down as far as 9750. That's all Ku band. If you want to try to pick up those sats, you need a universal lnbf with horizontal and vertical polarization. Dish and Direct use circular polarization, so it's left and right.

The LNB or LNBF receives the signal that is reflected off of the dish and converts it down for distribution through coaxial cable.

Direct sends its signals down between 250 MHz and 750 MHz for its HD channels. The standard definition channels are between 950 and 2150 MHz.

Dish only uses 950 to 2150 after conversion, but it backfeeds its Joeys or legacy boxes between 650 and 875 MHz.

C-band converts down between 950 a 1450 MHz.

The higher the frequency, the more susceptible it is to degradation when obstacles get factored into the equation. If you're familiar with how WiFi technology works, it's the same type of thing. It isn't as drastic because it isn't as far apart...meaning 5 GHz is almost twice as much as 2.4 GHz. 18.3 to 20.2 GHz isn't nearly twice as much as 10.7 to 12.7. Of course, there is still a difference.

I've had DirecTV, and I have Dish. My brother has DirecTV right now. His dish is peaked extremely well. His cuts out in downpours where mine will just barely be hanging on. I'm pointed toward the Eastern Arc satellites at 61.5 and 72.7. Those signals are about on par with Dish's 129 satellite where I'm located, but they're just a touch better. 119 and 110 on the Western Arc are a bit stronger. 118.7 for the international stuff is pretty weak.

At the end of the day, I'm not going to tell someone to get one over the other. If anyone in their right mind has a brain and is able to think, the most important thing is the programming package. I don't watch a lot of NFL football, so I don't need DirecTV. I like the Hopper 3 because they have a voice remote. I used to work for Comcast as well, and I REALLY liked X1 (Cox leases it and calls it Contour). X1 is nice, and the Hopper 3 has similar features.

I also enjoy the FTA satellite hobby, and I'm a Satellite, OTA and Cable TV nerd. Basically, I know my shite.