What do you think about DISH network?

[Microcell]

We are thinking of switching from cable to satellite and I would like to hear all thoughts! Do you have a problem when it rains?

 

[AllyandJack]

Rain, snow, wind....nothing disrupts my service. Lightening - that can mess with it a little bit.

My big problem with Dish seems to be their little "contract disputes". First, I lost Nickelodeon, NBC and MTV for a few weeks. Then, I lost Lifetime and LMN for a few weeks. Then, they raised my rate $2./month. They had some nerve raising my rate a few days after they finally resolved their little dispute with Lifetime.

But, I got over it. I've had them for 4 years and that's my only complaint.

 

[kristen821]

We are thinking about getting satelite also.

 

[bananiem]

We had it when we lived out in the "boonies". Hated it. Any time it rained or snowed we'd lose service. On hot days we'd get wavy lines so that we couldn't watch without getting nauseous. We didn't live very close to the local networks so our feed was through an antenna and it was fuzzy. But since we lived within the "area" we couldn't get them on the satelite. Maybe if we'd lived in a metropolitan area it would've been different.

 

[gatorellis]

love it!Have it for about 4 years now, been through blizzards, severe t-storms and pouring rain and have only lost signal a few times and usually the power went out also so it didn't really matter. But we love it, I only wish they wouldn't have so many sports channels. (I don't do sports) Hope this helps...

 

[lucas]

I'm also interested in hearing comments as we are thinking about getting the DISH network.

Hubby says it will be cheaper than basic cable - is that true? (We have basic cable no HBO, etc.) Are there a lot of options you can sign up for/add-ons - or is it just one basic system? A lot of options to choose from makes it seem complicated to me.

 

[AllyandJack]

I live in the middle of nowhere and I haven't had a problem. We just became eligible to get DSL. So, I'm pretty out there.

I have heard if you have lots of trees near the spot where the dish is, it can cause problems. My neighbor can't get it because there are trees on the side where the dish would have to be mounted. He installed a pole and put the dish on it.

 

[bianca]

Connie,

Sorry I didn't get to this sooner, but have been busy. Caramel Dumplings are a family favorite that my grandma always made. Pavlova is actually a really healthy dessert (if there is such a thing), but the family loves it. Here are the recipes.

Caramel Dumplings: Mix 1 1/2 c. boiling water, 1/2 t. salt, 2 T. butter, 3/4 c. white sugar and 3/4 c. brown sugar in a large pot that has a tight fitting lid. Bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes. While that is boiling, Mix 1 1/2 c. flour, 2 T. butter, 1/8 t. salt, 1/3 c. sugar, 1 1/2 t. baking powder together (Cut in the butter). After butter is cut in, add 1 t. vanilla and 1/3 c. milk to the dry mixture. At this point, your liquid should have been boiling for 5 minutes. Drop the dumplings in a tablespoon at a time into the boiling liquid. Simmer on LOW for 20 minutes COVERED tightly. At the end of the cooking time, just spoon into serving bowls. They are really good warm. If I make a double batch (which is usually), then I cook them for about 5-10 minutes longer.

Pavlova: Beat 4 egg whites (at room temperature), a pinch of cream of tartar and a pinch of salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 c. granulated sugar, 1 T. at a time while continuing to beat. When sugar is beaten in, add 1 t. vanilla, 1 t. white vinegar, 1 T. cold water and 1 T. cornstarch. Continue to beat until very stiff. Then add 1/2 c. superfine sugar all at once (you can make any granulated sugar "superfine" by running it through a blender or food processor for a minute or so) and beat just until it is mixed through. Stop beating. Shape mixture into a cake form (roughly a 9-10" circle) on kitchen parchment paper or foil on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 300 degrees. Do not open oven door. Turn down temperature to 200 degrees and continue baking for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Turn off oven and leave Pavlova in oven 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let cool at room temperature. Pavlova can be kept for several days at this point in an airtight container. Before serving, whip 1 c. whipping cream with 1 t. vanilla. Place Pavlova on serving plate, cover with whipped cream and then with any assortment of fresh fruit that you wish. I usually use raspberries, strawberries and kiwi. This is a beautiful, light and different dessert ...... certainly one of our favorites.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Lee Ann

 

[lucas]

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.

 

[bianca]

We just had DISH installed last week. So far we have been very happy with it. The kids in particular like the ability to use it like a TIVO. Of course, we have not had any severe weather yet, so I haven't had the displeasure of losing reception. So far, so good!

 

[AllyandJack]

I get the Top180. I don't have movie channels because I found I only watched movies I already owned. If I like a movie, I just buy it on DVD. So, I get pretty much everything - SOAPNet, Discovery Health, Oxygen, WE, LMN - and it's $64.99/month. The Top180 is the highest package they offer without movie channels. I believe there are 3 levels of programming you can get and the $64.99/month is the most expensive, so the rest are all lower.

I didn't pay for equipment or installation. I once had a problem with a receiver. I called them, they sent me a new one, and sent me a box to send the old one back - all for free.

I should say the $64.99/month is for 2 rooms/receivers.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We have DirecTV, I would assume similar to DISH as far as weather concerns. Unless a SUPER summer thunderstorm, never a probelm. And even then, hardly noticeable.

 

[lucas]

Our basic cable bill is $61.06. We get Disney, Oxygen, Bravo, Travel, those kind of stations, but no movie stations. So, would it be worth it to go with the DISH? Would we get more basic stations and and lots of sports stations (sports stations is what DH would be intersted in)? How much is it to upgrade to having all the movie stations?

 

[AllyandJack]

Hmmm....I just looked up my package online and it's saying it's only $54.99/month.

 

[Tina]

We've never had DISH, but we've had Directv for more than 10 years now and love it. We'd never go back to cable.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

When I moved into my condo 2 years ago, I told the sales guy that I needed a unit that faced the right direction so I could get a satellite dish. At that time I was paying $85.00 a month for cable and that didn't include any movie channels. I am now paying $66.00 for directtv and that includes all the sports channels and about 30 other channels I didn't get before.

As far as storms and such, it really has to be a major storm for it to knock out the signal, but usually when it does it's only for a little while before it comes back on.

 

[Floydian]

As far as service and reception are concerned, I've had no problems with DISH Netowrk in the 2 years I've had it. ALso, I know I get more channels for less money, which doesn't hurt.

There's only 2 problems I have with it...

1) I'm a huge NFL fan, but I can only get the NFL Package through DirecTV (as of last season), so I'm missing out on that.

2) They charge me something like $5 per month extra for NOT having a phone line connected to it (for program guides or something).

 

[Microcell]

Thank you for all your responses. I think I would only need the 120 channel for 39.99 package. I might look at Direct tv, my Dh's parents got the Dish and have Seriouis sat radio, which my DH wants. It wouldn't really save me money, I pay 41.00 with Time Warner now, but only get 72 channels, 20 of which are total junk.

Ally, I think I would be calling the company to see about a rate reduction, of course local taxes might be a problem.

 

[Planogirl]

We have Dish and the service has been quite good. We have only lost reception a few times and only once did it last longer than a few minutes.

One thing: Keep in mind that you pay extra for each black box that you have. We have three and pay a small fee for each one.

 

[azgal81]

My parents had satellite when I was growing up in Indiana. Everytime we had thunderstorms we lost the service or it becomes rather choppy. It rains there alot!