Have been using Sun Direct HD for over 1 year now. When I got Sun Direct this has the highest number of HD South India Channels hence opted for Sun. Service is cheap, especially if you get the mega pack. No DTH provider comes closer to cost / range of channels provided.
However, you have to make following compromises:
- HD vs. Normal TV
Sun Direct has a unique technical problem. The Sun Direct HD is hosted on one Satellite and Sun Direct TV(non-HD) channels is hosted on another Satellite. Since both HD & Normal are on different Satellites, you have to make compromise about quality of reception on either one or both. If Signal level goes below 80% HD will start stuttering and is not worth watching at all.
However, for sake of HD if you compromise on other channels, the amount of grains in the regular channels is just too high, however barring handful of HD channels bulk of programing is in non-HD space. So severe compromise to be made. Wonder how Sun Direct has still not solved this basic Technical Issue and host bot on same sattelite?
- Basic Feature List
I had used Tata SKY and Airtel DTH long time ago. In terms of features Tata cannot be compared, I had it 5 years ago. Airtel had good ease of use. Sun Direct doesn’t come closer. The STB is a really dumb machine from Sun with very poor user interface.
- Service
Service of Sun Direct is so so. They don’t have toll free numbers, until recently you need to dial some South Tamil Nadu based numbers. Also, every visit by technician even for their issues is charged to the customer. Again, in terms of Service Tata is the best. Sun, I felt was slightly better than Airtel at least in Tamil Nadu.
If you are NOT into HD and you are based in Tamil Nadu, Sun is not too bad for the price.
However, there are much better options if you are a willing to spend just a few hundred rupees, which you wouldn’t repent.
Thank you.