Airtel, Tatasky, D2H - Dilemma. Require suggestions/advise

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ShaQ.Blogs

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I did quite some reading on which to choose. I eliminated most others and left with Airtel, D2H & Tatasky. I currently have DishTV, and I am going to dump it for sure.
Here is what I know so far... I surely might have missed something.

Tatasky:
- Excellent customer service, very few complaints
- BIG Problem - Transponder space (How on earth are they gonna add new HD channels?)
- Has True HD & Has 5.1
- Higher cost of the 3

Airtel:
- Customer service issues
- Transponder space (Do they have such issues??)
- Has True HD & Has 5.1
- No Sports HD!

D2H:
- Excellent customer service, very few complaints
- Transponder space (Do they have such issues??)
- Has True HD (Has 5.1??)
- More HD channels than the rest
- Least cost of the 3


What are your views and advise for me, with a new connection?
Considering Tata has transponder issues and limited by adding new channels

- I have heard D2H has 5.1 (which some say that it does not have). If it does have 5.1 would you guys recommend it as much as Airtel & Tata?
- Is Airtel customer service really that pathetic? Have read so many airtel customer service issues.

- How is the comparative quality of SD channels among the 3?
- How is the comparative quality of HD channels among the 3?
 
Hi there Shaq...

As you might be knowing, I have experience of both TATA Sky and Airtel.... I owned both SD STB as well as HD STB of both of them.

In service department, Airtel has been a sore experience, which prompted me to move back to TaTA Sky (I had switched to TATA Sky for the cost aspect, but after my experience, I can guess where the Airtel guys cut costs!!!!)

To say that Airtel service is poor would be a gross under statement. I've had numerous issues with them. Be it for changing packages and delays and mistakes / misinformation and miss charging involved in changing the package, or ordering pay per view movies, or relocation, or down right basics of setting up your favourite channels, the interactive services / info etc. I was particularly wrathful about their package management. I tend to chop and change the packages frequently, and got tired of their mistakes, so finally chose the easiest option, their Mega Pack which they claimed would provide all channels existing as well as new ones introduced. That turned out to be a hoax. I had Ultra pack before with addons of HD, CBS, sports etc. After activating MP, I still was not getting all the channels. Had to call them up again and in reply, came to know indifferent things from different reps. They suggested to provide them the missing channel numbers. After a lengthy conversation and still some channels missing like Airtel Superhits, to my horror, i came to know that i was still being charged for for my addon packages. I called them up again and the rep told me that I need to unaubscribe those addons. Changing over to Mega Pack (one package to see them all) does not automatically mean unaubscription to add ons, which btw, i was told while subscribing were a part of the Mega Pack and I will not be charged extra. This was totally basic and lack luster blunder on their oart. So when the time came to going back to my renovated flat, I discarded Airtel and switched over back to TATA... the relocation was swift and completely hassel free. I also wanted to get an add on HD secondary, which turned out to be cheaper than Airtel!

Now, the core issue, the PQ of HD ans SD channels. Honestly, I found HD PQ of Airtel better than TATA but I can settle for that. SD PQ of TATA I found better than Airtel for most of the channels.

Can't tell much about the SQ as I only use TV speakers with STB.

Channel packages for TATA are better than Airtel but I miss Movies NOW HD. Also, I believe, what ever the issue of band width be with TATA, they are first to introduce newer channels. And they can always chose to move to newer jig up in the shy like Airtel did while starting their HD broadcast.

Hope this helps...

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
 
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Thanks for the post.
Is there any specific reason why you did not try D2H? Any feedback on D2H guys?

Can't tell much about the SQ as I only use TV speakers with STB.
Click to expand...
You should consider getting a decent speaker system. The difference is huge. I just compared a couple of days back. Sound on my Panasonic plasma & the sound on my HiFi speakers. Especially with surround effect stuff. (This too was without a subwoofer & surround speakers. Just center & mains!)
 
When comes to HD channels all providers are same except tatasky can decode DD audio through hdmi cable. It is the SD channels which perform a little bad when upscaled. airtel is pretty decent when it comes to SD channels. Again most of the SD content is recorded in a low pixel format so when you expand or watch in stretch mode in a 50 inch tv , it looks little degraded.

To your question of asking "Why dint you try d2h out or other one out" ? those things dont come for free and u can not get a demo before you place an order. Hope you understand this. ;)

I have airtel , hathway and tatasky @ my place . I vote for airtel.
 
Kittu said:
I have airtel , hathway and tatasky @ my place . I vote for airtel.
Click to expand...
What about their customer service? Have you faced any issues? I understand you got this free with the TV, hence relatively new. :)


To your question of asking "Why dint you try d2h out or other one out" ? those things dont come for free and u can not get a demo before you place an order. Hope you understand this. ;)
Click to expand...
Well....I asked him this with respect to
he switched from TS to Airtel. And was unhappy with Airtel. Here instead going back to TS he could have tried Videocon. It is cheaper, They seem to have decent reviews, no major customer service issues & have max HD channels
 
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I have always received a 24 hr solution from airtel customer service , be it DTH or broadband. :)
 
I had Airtel and Hathway in the past and have seen Tata sky in many friend's houses.

Airtel PQ is better than Tatasky by 2 notches. It will be very evident in 50" screens and lesser and lesser when the screen size decreases. HD in Airtel is sublime.

I cling on to same plan all the time (the maximum one) and had very little interaction with CC. If you change plans frequently or talk with them all the time, you will have issues.

Had good things about the non PVR version of the Big TV and that the PVR is screwing the PQ.

Know nothing of D2H. But they have the maximum HD channels. If I were to take a connection today, I will demo them surely.
 
Well friends, its true that the best way to avail a good customer service is to avoid it... there will be dummies anywhere you go... but to a large extent the customer service is a function of a corporate's consciousness towards quality, and it is all the more important in service sector. Going by that, I believe Airtel scores a zipp in that department. When you compare their services to TATA the experience with Tata is way better. Be it the installation or the way they communicate with you over phone. Their on call tech team is also well equipped. I remember that when I had an issue with my old SD STB of Tata sky, I called them up and they had my wife solve the issue from their tech settings. It was a breeze. On the other hand, the Airtel telly callers will know nothing about the issues and rather would have your call transfered to their tech team, to whom you will need to explain your problem once again, and in reply, you will get the answer that will drive you to pull your hair off. They would give you a timeline of three to four days, which would never be fulfilled and again when you call them, they will give you a new complaint code and you'll have spent a week with the issue pertaining. This sucs big time.

Yes, the Airtel PQ is superior to TATA when it comes to true HD channels, but the SD channels give a much better view with TATA. It could be the signal strength as well as the feeder / carrier signals that they receive from channel providers which are better for SD on TATA. This includes all channels of Star pack, Discovery channels and NGC or the FX or AXN or sports channels the pictures are much more crisper on TATA for these SD channels aa compared to Airtel. That's what I've observes. Kittu (hey... got your name right this time) may be a better judge though, as he may be having both the STB s connected simultaneously to his TV.

One other noticeable point is the black out tines during rains. For Airtel, its atleast twenty minutes and very very frequent, while I hardly had that issue with old TATA STB (yet to rain test the new installation though). This tilts me to believe that TATA signals are much more powerfully driven than those of Airtel, which should have a significant effect on PQ.

Any views in these?

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
 
One other noticeable point is the black out tines during rains. For Airtel, its atleast twenty minutes and very very frequent, while I hardly had that issue with old TATA STB (yet to rain test the new installation though). This tilts me to believe that TATA signals are much more powerfully driven than those of Airtel, which should have a significant effect on PQ.
Click to expand...
There are many dependent factors. It could also be an issue with installation. When these guys come to fix they will check Signal Strength & signal quality. They will fix for a minimum like 80% signal strength, while a 90% would be highly recommended which needs more tinkering & work.
 
I also have same confusion. Based on my previous experience with Airtel CC and my friends experience, I will never ever go for Airtel. Be it broadband or DTH.
I am confused between D2H and Tata Sky. I already have TATA sky normal STB. And they are ready to give INR 300 credit for that if I upgrade to HD. But still compare to D2H pricing, TATA Sky is bit high. I believe we are paying that much extra for their best in class CC quality. I am very much pleased with them.

Only points which are holding me back to switch to either TATA Sky HD and D2H are as below.

1. TATA Sky does not include new channels as when they are available.
2. If it rains, my existing TATA Sky connection black out for 15-20 minutes.
3. D2H is not giving Dolby Sound or 5.1/7.1 sound output.
D2H does not have 9XM and Zoom. 9Xm is a must for me. :-). Can't miss Chote & Bade ki bakwaas.
 
But if you guys are looking for sports in HD then the operator to be with is d2h/Tata Sky/Big TV
 
TapasDas1980 said:
3. D2H is not giving Dolby Sound or 5.1/7.1 sound output.
Click to expand...
From what I understand from reading multiple posts, it does give. You need to decode it right.
Does someone here have Videocon DTH? I tried havin a demo, but the demo is always a Video demo with no audio facilities :mad:
 
I have heard D2H gives much bigger Dish than any other DTH service provider. Is it true? In that case I believe disruption due to rain would be minimum for D2H customers. Comments please.
 
I am using Airtel HD and dish SD at present. In the past I have used TATA Sky and Sun Direct. In my view the picture clarity is best for Airtel . Channel packages are cheaper than tata sky. As I am in Kerala Airtel provides more south channels than Tata Sky. Sundirect picture clarity is pathetic.


I have taken a new connection with a package (recently) which includes all HD channels free for the next 5/6 months. Now they have started 3 new HD channels and not giving it as an addition of the free pack, asking 15 Rs/channel/month. This is harsh. Also the customer care service is not useful/friendly.

Picture quality is deinitely better than others.

Also the HDMI cable/output they have provide cannot give a 5.1 channel output, I am using an optical cable for this. (This is what I experienced)
 
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I got Airtel DTH because i wanted to manage all my 2 mobile connections and 1 broad band connection + DTH at once. All of them are from airtel and its really easy to link all accounts online and pay/manage bills.

Regarding Airtel DTH vs Dish TV (which i had), i had a platinum pack + addons which used to come to around 420 month or 5040 per year.

I took the Airtel HD DVR offer for 6240 which comes with 12 months paid package and an additional 250 of cash back. Installation was free. The package i took was of course lower than the Dish TV (i took South Sports Economy), which does not have HBO and Neo Cricket, but i get an additional 8 HD Channels which was not there in my previous pack.

Also I have lately noticed that we dont really watch movies in the TV because its a long affair with advertisements. My wife's into Soaps and Big Boss :-) and if i get time i'll open up a sports channel or marvel at one of the HD channels (Discovery Nat Geo, Movies Now, Star Movies etc..). The only channel i don't get is Neo Cricket (which can be added for additional 35) or you have DD National showing all India matches anyways.

So in terms of channels, its a hit and a miss, the packages are going to be similar. However in terms of managing my bills shifting to Airtel DTH made a lot of sense to me + plus i got a HD Recorder and We have absolutely no problem during rainy or cloudy days. I mean real rainy and dark cloudy days. SD picture quality is again comparable or equal to Dish TV if not better.
 
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