I have been using Airtel DTH connection (Non-HD and without recording facilities) since Dec 2010 now. Well I would say I have a mixed bag of experience with them.
The initial offer was 3 months free and 250 INR cash back and yes they gave it to me, this 3 months free offer was invalid for the top-up channels though. I booked it on one Saturday morning paid them over M-check and the connection was done on Sunday evening. So far pretty impressive.
Now about the functionality... the picture quality is really impressive far better than my normal local cable with set top box. Yes, I did face some problems with the dish… as in signal loss during a not so heavy rain, though it came back after some time, it’s irritating. Also had faced a queer problem a couple of time… well suddenly one day my top up channels stopped. Called customer service and they suggested sending an SMS to 54325 with the text HR and it worked immediately. HR actually means "Hard Refresh"...Faced the same problem again twice (now with other channels)... but I simply sent the SMS and it worked.
Now for the Cons: The obvious: Customer Service.
Customer Service is horrible same as in Airtel ADSL. Its really hard to contact dth customer care personnel and talk to some one human (you can be get fed up and pretty irritated with the automated voice and its options)... after you have gone through the automated voice type your existing customer id there is high chance for the call to get dropped... faced this a number of times.
But I have found a way out for this... now when needed I call the customer service, I choose the option for new connection, immediately a personal attends the call and then I say that I am a existing customer, my id is this and this is my issue. I really miss viewing their faces when I do this. :)
Airtel DTH customers please try the above while contacting customer care... this is tested and verified… has passed UAT. Some of my friends use this technique too.
This is all about my experience with Airtel DTH. Though I have chosen "Yes" in the mouthshut option for product recommendation to a friend... I am not sure, as I have never used other DTH services... But their reviews in mouthshut are also very very negative.