What do you think about DISH network?

[Charade]

I have DISH. Since 2001. It's been pretty reliable. I do get storm fade outs from time to time but since I have a cable modem for my internet, I get basic cable for the same price as just internet.

I would HIGHLY recommend getting the DISH PVR receiver unit. It's like a TIVO (just less sophisticated). Once you use one of these devices, you'll never want to watch TV without one. I've had one for about 2 years and it's great. The only drawback is you can't save recorded shows to tape or DVD unless you transfer them to a DVD recorder or VCR via dubbing cables. Since the unit records up to 100 hours, I just leave it on there until I get around to watching or delete it when I need more room. I have a show on there now from last April that I haven't watched yet (it's a 9-11 special).

I'm about add a second receiver and I'll get another DVR unit even though I have a spare receiver (non-DVR).

 

[mamacatnv]

We have DISH and I love it. Very little weather related problems except when the snow is stuck to the dish outside. We have the DVR and would never go back, just a note, get the maintenance program, it is like $5 a mo as we seem to kill a DVR box about once a year and they just send us a new one, we have also killed 2 remotes over the past few years.

For those of you on the West Coast, we get the Chicago feed for a couple of extra bucks a month. Chicago is a couple of hours ahead of us and their PrimeTime starts at 8 their time. We have the DVR set to record the shows we watch on the networks and since it starts recording here around 5 the entire PrimeTime lineup can be done and finished recording by 8, kids go to bed, zip thru commercials and we are in bed by 9:30-10.

 

[AllyandJack]

To the people who have the DVR - what model do you have? I've tried to navigate through the website, but I can't make heads or tails of what it means and what I want. If I have 2 receivers, can I watch different things on each TV? What if I just got one DVR and kept the other one the way we have it?

 

[Aimeedyan]

We have DISH - we can't wait for cable to be run to our neighborhood! We are set to get it in 2007 - YEAH!

Our biggest complaint is that we can't get high definition on it! We have a wonderful new HDTV in our living room and no HD service. Dish has been worthless in helping us fix it. We've talked to them constantly about it, gone to 4 different stores who sell Dish, no one can help. We have the HD receiver but local channels can't come in HD. We bought a regular antenna to pick up the HD service and it still doesn't come in.

When we had cable, we paid less, got more channels, AND got our HD.

 

[mom2boys]

We are considering switching to DIS also. One thing I don't care for is the local channels it gives us. We can pick up major networks out of Washington & Baltimore. I alternate betweeen Baltimore & Washington news stations. DC can get too thick on the politics at times. Looks like we'd be locked into DC stations.
How does the Sirius work? Is it only good at the house? Can we use it for a portable Sirius system?

 

[Charade]

To the people who have the DVR - what model do you have? I've tried to navigate through the website, but I can't make heads or tails of what it means and what I want. If I have 2 receivers, can I watch different things on each TV? What if I just got one DVR and kept the other one the way we have it?

I have the model 510. It's a single tuner model which means you can watch one channel but can't record a different one. You need another receiver or a two tuner receiver (a single unit with two tuners built in).

If you haven't set up access to your account, do so and then you can see offeres for current customer.

They're offering a deal to existing customers that will for as little as $49 upgrade to a PVR model. But you must commit to 18 months of programming.

You can get receivers off of ebay but you must be sure that the "smart card" is clear of all charges.

 

[Charade]

We have DISH - we can't wait for cable to be run to our neighborhood! We are set to get it in 2007 - YEAH!

Our biggest complaint is that we can't get high definition on it! We have a wonderful new HDTV in our living room and no HD service. Dish has been worthless in helping us fix it. We've talked to them constantly about it, gone to 4 different stores who sell Dish, no one can help. We have the HD receiver but local channels can't come in HD. We bought a regular antenna to pick up the HD service and it still doesn't come in.

When we had cable, we paid less, got more channels, AND got our HD.

That doesn't make any sense. You shouldn't have any trouble getting HD content from DISH or "over the air" from their HD tuner model as long as you're close enough to the locals HD towers.

What model receiver to you have? What's your zip code (if you don't mind giving it out)?

How is it connected to your TV?

 

[LarryM]

Another issue for us is where it the DISH can be installed as our homowners association says that it has to be hidden by shrubs around the house.

Iam a president of a Homeowners Association here in NJ. What led me to get involved was the board first told me that I could not have a dish. I did my homework and found out that a board cannot deny a satellite dish. If you go on the FCC website and look up the rules. They can tell you where to put it but it has to be able to get a clear line of site of the satellite in in the southern sky, basically pointing above Texas. As far as the service I have had them for 6 years and love the service.

 

[Blondie]

We've been with Dish Network since 1998. During a t-storm in periods of extremely heavy rain, we might lose signal for a few seconds (30 seconds tops). This is how we can tell it's about to rain really hard! By the time the rain starts, we have our signal back!

Other than that, we're very happy with Dish Network. We just got High Definition back in December. We had to buy a new receiver to be able to get the HD broadcasts, that was a few hundred bucks.

 

[Blondie]

I'll also recommend getting a DVR! We have three receivers, 2 of them have a DVR! Love it!

 

[Papa Deuce]

We liked it but switched to cable for the internet access. We had DISH for like 7 years. Never a major problem.

 

[Aimeedyan]

That doesn't make any sense. You shouldn't have any trouble getting HD content from DISH or "over the air" from their HD tuner model as long as you're close enough to the locals HD towers.

What model receiver to you have? What's your zip code (if you don't mind giving it out)?

How is it connected to your TV?

I'm PM you =)

 

[bexareaglecheryl]

we've had Dish Network for about 6 years and would never change. After we got the DVR (Tivo-like) it changed our life radically. No more channel surfing to see what was good on to watch. Every time we sit down to watch TV we have something good waiting for us. As far as weather goes, the weather has to be pretty severe for the cable to go out. I feel the value to benefit ratio is great!

 

[DVC-Don]

My Dad has DISH in Vermont due to there being no cable where he lives. He says he loses the signal a few times a year due to heavy rain or snow.

We almost got DISH for our office waiting area also due to no cable availible there. But, when they found out it was a business, the monthly rate doubled so we did not have it installed. DirecTv did not have a business package at all for us.

 

[vetrik]

I've had DirecTv for 1 1/2 years, and I'm really happy with it. We can't get cable at our current house, so satellite was our only option. I have 2 Tivo receivers, and one regular - LOVE the Tivo! We've never had a problem with losing signal, it's been very infrequent, usually only in very strong rain. Our package is around $42/month, and it's 1 step up from the lowest programming package. We like it so much that we're moving to a house where we can get cable, and we've signed up for the cable internet (finally back to high speed internet!) and phone, but we're keeping the satellite tv.