OT: Advice on buying a dish

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 11:58 am

Boys:
 
 The time has come for me to get a satellite dish, as TimeWarner is raising its rates once again in Syracuse.
 
 After a LOT of research online, I´ve decided that Dish Network is best for me. It´s cheaper, has a stronger, larger receiver/dish and has Gol TV (Dish exclusive) and Fox Sports World. I also have relatives in the area who have owned DirecTV and Dish and prefer Dish.
 
 Yeah, DirecTV has NFL Sunday Ticket, but I only have time and really desire to watch the Bills and the Sunday night game. Getting two worldwide soccer channels as part of the package means much more to me than paying $129 for every NFL game. Call me a Commie. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Anyways, for those who have either DirecTV or Dish Network, what´s the best route to buy the unit? Local satellite company? Big-box retailer like Best Buy or Radio Shack? Anyone have the balls to order it through one of those companies you see advertised on the Web?
 
 Any and all advice is appreciated!
 
 Thanks,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 05-12-2003 07:59 ]

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 12:06 pm

I got direct TV through the web, Satelite Experts or something like that, They gave me 3 recievers oval dish w/3 nibs and instalation free. All I had to pay was a 1 year subscription and they had a special that gave me Sunday Ticket for free.
 
 Look around on the web, there is definately better deals than what you can get at local stores.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 12:32 pm

There´s no right answer for where to buy, just wherever gives you the best deal on the number of recievers/install etc. for your needs...
 
 I have DirecTV and I couldn´t live without it. I have the DirecTV/Tivo integrated unit (only 99$ now!!!) and it´s the best audio/visual purchase I ever made. Tivo is the best thing to happen to TV since color.
 
 Whichever way you go, I HIGHLY recommend and integrated DVR (like Tivo), since it provides perfect quality on playback since the digital stream is stored direct to disk.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 12:43 pm

Pk check this site out. <a href="http://www.dishoneup.com/" target="_blank" target="_new">http://www.dishoneup.com/</a>
 
 
 I bought mt DirecTv through these guys.
 
 Good move brother. I have had both. Dish is a better value,but I want my NFL ticket.....you commie bastard <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

bkrich83 · Post by **bkrich83** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 12:46 pm

PK,
 I bought DirecTV directly from DirecTV. Dish, 3 receivers and installation were free. I did buy the integrated TiVo/Receiver unit, and like someone said earlier this is by far the greatest audio/visual purchase I have ever made. Toss in Sunday Ticket and all the channels and I am still paying 20 dollars a month less than I paid for digital cable,and getting a ton more channels.
 
 Anyway, I just got my stuff directly from direcTV, they shipped the equipment to me, and they scheduled the install. It was easy, just made 1 phone call and didnt even have to leave my house.
 
 BTW, my mother has the dish network. It´s a good service too.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 1:57 pm

I agree with Brian...I bought my DirecTV directly from them w/ the Tivo. 99 bucks out the door, for a three room system w/ Tivo. You can´t beat that. Free installation on it as well.
 
 BTW, the NFL Ticket is not 129 bucks...it´s around 200...I forget the exact cost.
 
 Another BTW, my parents have Dish. I seriously think it´s a better setup. I like the interface of the guide better, as well as their Tivo unit. The only reason i went with DirecTV is the NFL Ticket...that´s a system seller for me, as most of the Dolphins games are not televised out here on the West Coast.
 
 You´ll get a kick out of this PK...since I got that new job down in the San Fernando valley...so now I REALLY get to deal with the whole LA Trendy crowd. I´m not looking forward to that. I move next weekend to Toluca Lake, which is basically N. Hollywood...should be good times. LOL. Figured you might enjoy that.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:08 pm

DB:
 
 No doubt. Good luck with the Paris-Nicole crowd, and stay away from the hair plugs, collagen implants and heroin needles. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 I´m definitely going with Dish. I just learned that the referral program will waive my $49.99 initial fee, yet I still get the $49.99 refund of the initial fee in my bill. Fifty clams in my wallet, courtesy of Dish. Plus my sister-in-law, a current Dish customer, will get $5 off her bill each month for the next year.
 
 Sold.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 05-12-2003 10:09 ]

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:11 pm

PK:
 
 I´m about to drop Digital Cable(Adelphia) too. I decided to get Dish Network, but I will wait till they get the Local channel feeds on their lineup. Currently, DTV is the only sattelite provider in PR wich has local channels.
 Dish assures me they will have them Q2 2004. I´m sure you wont bump into that problem in NY.
 
 BTW, Dish offers right now. up to 3 recievers, antenna,100+ channels, HBO and Cinemax package, $50 for instalation BUT they refund the $50 on your 1st bill, plus you get your 1st 3 months free. The monthly fee ends up beeing like $55 for this package. Not bad considering that I pay $78 for only 2 recievers and only 1 premium package(Starz).

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:19 pm

The best part about any satalite system is this:
 
 My parents have two places in So. Cal...one is their primary residence and one is a cabin up in the mountains. They were paying 60 bucks at each location for digital cable. I convinced them to get a satalite (Dish Network) so that they could have one account and cover both places. They bought 5 receivers (one with Tivo), and two dishes for all of 100 bucks. Got their main residence installed for free with three receivers and then go the other two up at the cabin for an additional 100 dollar installation fee from a private company.
 
 They pay 55 dollars a month for service w/ Locals and HBO and then 20 dollars more for the mirroring charge (5 per additional receiver). Bingo, service at both locations for a total of 75 bucks a month.
 
 So in all, they paid 200 bucks up front and 75 a month so in a little over 4 months they will have all of the up front costs covered and they´ll be saving an extra 45 every month thereafter.
 
 He´s since referred about 5 other people with multiple residences to do the same. It´s 10x better than paying some shitty cable company twice.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:45 pm

Javi:
 
 Funny enough, neither Dish nor Direct offer local channels in Syracuse. The city has 135,000 people, and our county has nearly 500,000, I think. Yet no locals.
 
 Meanwhile, Dish just added locals to Albany, which is smaller than Syracuse. I´m scratching my head.
 
 I´m keeping bare-bones cable to keep the locals at $9 per month, as I don´t want to f*ck with an antenna one bit. I live pretty far from the signal tower here in the boonies, and good reception of locals isn´t guaranteed even with a high-power external aerial antenna.
 
 Take care,
 PK

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:58 pm

Go with DirecTv...better porn selection.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:58 pm

Yes cable rates have historically been far more out of control than satellite. Even as a satisfied DirectTV customer, I would warn anyone considering switching from cable that there are a couple of disadvantages, like needing a box for each TV to get satellite programming and the fact that cable for now has greater bandwidth capacity, meaning they´re in a better position for things like HDTV.
 
 As for what to get and where to get it, I got my two Direct Tivos a couple of years ago from a web site in Alabama. The price was good but they kept trying to hook me up with installers from the boondocks. I live in a metropolitan area but they kept assigning people from small towns a couple of hundred miles away (they would leave messages on my machine with numbers whose area codes I didn´t even recognize).
 
 I did get an upgrade a couple of months ago and I got that directly from Direct TV and the installer they sent out was much better. So I would go with their network.
 
 My guess also is that the installers used by the major stores are also pretty good and used to serving your area. As for the deals, I don´t think the deals are going to be that different between the satellite companies themselves and the major chain stores. These deals which often include free receivers, dishes and installs are all paid for by the satellite companies themselves. Or rather, you pay for them since you have to commit to a year subscription at least. But if you want to check online, go to www.getconnected.com.
 
 You should definitely go by the programming you want and I believe the Dish Network also has a package that includes one of their PVRs. Going by what people say on the echostar newsgroup however, it sounds like their PVRs are way less reliable than the Tivos, with a lot of accounts of them rebooting by themselves.
 
 You can get good feedback there and tivocommunity.com as well as avsforum.com on the merits of these services and specifically the equipment.
 
 But there is relatively little risk. You can sign up for the Dish deal and you´ll at least have one year of service with programming you want. If the PVR is no good, you can use a VCR (not as convenient but it´ll work) or you can switch to Direct Tv in a year. One thing is the deals are always the best for new customers who´ve never had satellite service.
 
 Generally, the satellite services have way better reputations for customer service than cable and better customer satisfaction so you probably can´t go too wrong. The cable companies will be on your nut to resubscribe however, constantly offering you cheap intro. deals. Comcast even offers you $400 to come back from satellite but I´m not sure if that´s cash or credit towards their service, which pays for maybe 6 months at their rates. BTW, one nice thing is you don´t pay taxes on your satellite TV service, at least not out here on CA. That also means the cable TV company won´t tax you on your cable modem service. However, some cable companies will raise the cable modem service rates for people who don´t subscribe to the cable TV service. Yeah nobody deserves to lose business more than those cable companies.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:59 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-12-05 10:58, sportdan30 wrote:
 Go with DirecTv...better porn selection.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Dan:
 
 Thanks. The Frau handles that just fine. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Out,
 PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:05 pm

WCO:
 
 Yeah, we´re probably going with just one receiver, no DVR.
 
 I don´t watch enough TV to justify a DVR. A VCR works just fine for me -- takes about 30 seconds to set. I NEVER have more than six hours of stuff on tape at a time because frankly I don´t have time to watch any more than that in a week. Most sports I´ll watch live anyways, such as the Newcastle-Liverpool match this Saturday morning.
 
 I watch hardly any weekly series or shows, so the automatic programming capability means s*** to me. I´m a hardcore channel surfer, and I must have Speed and Fox Sports World.
 
 And no one watches enough TV in this house to justify having two tubes with satellite. We´re trying to discourage our kids from watching the idiot box too much, so having only one set with satellite will help. If Mom or Pop is watching something while you´re up, which is rare, oh, well, kiddos, go play with toys or outside or read instead of watching Nick Jr. or the Cartoon Network.
 
 Or better yet, curl up with the old man and watch Boca Juniors-Olimpo or cozy with Mom watching "Seinfeld" or "Trading Spaces."
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 05-12-2003 11:09 ]

krustylew · Post by **krustylew** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:10 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-12-05 10:45, pk500 wrote:
 
 Funny enough, neither Dish nor Direct offer local channels in Syracuse. The city has 135,000 people, and our county has nearly 500,000, I think. Yet no locals.
 
 Meanwhile, Dish just added locals to Albany, which is smaller than Syracuse. I´m scratching my head.
 
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 "Capital Region" over 800,000 strong, baby! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif">
 
 Honestly, I´m jealous. My house is surrounded by huge trees, and I have no clear view of the southwest sky.
 
 Plus, our cable company, Mid Hudson Cable [same as Time Warner, only shittier] will not allow you to have their cable modem internet service without their tv service. [ This message was edited by: krustylew on 05-12-2003 11:14 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:16 pm

Lew:
 
 How many counties does that include? Onondaga County alone is 460,000. Albany County is about 296,000.
 
 But after some research, you´re right: the Capital Region is slightly bigger than Central New York due to additional cities like Schenectady and Troy. Capital Region has 885,000 people, while Syracuse market has 735,000.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 05-12-2003 11:19 ]

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:17 pm

I remember this friend of mine had the "DirecTv" installer set up his dish at his home. Without going into specifics to protect the innocent, they worked out a deal where he swapped access cards and had all the channels for 7 months. Since then, Directv got smart and started hitting those receivers who weren´t subscribable members, thus making those access cards inoperable.
 
 However, just from what I´ve heard they are now selling these "programmers" you can purchase over the internet. Problem is that you must have the access card with "football players" on it. If the card goes out because of the hits by Directv, then you just program the card again with a hack file. Crazy sh*t.

krustylew · Post by **krustylew** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:32 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-12-05 11:16, pk500 wrote:
 Lew:
 
 How many counties does that include? Onondaga County alone is 470,000. Albany County is about 296,000.
 
 If you counted "Central New York" like Albany does "the Capital Region," I bet Syracuse would tickle 800,000.
 
 Take care,
 PK
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 PK,
 
 I´m sure the population is similar. But listing Albany county by itself is deceiving.
 
 Most of the population in this area has been moving out of Albany, and into Saratoga and Schenectady County [which are about 350,000 combined now].
 
 We have several medium-to-large cities and towns within at least 25 miles of each other, but they are in four different counties.
 
 Whereas all of Syracuse´s large towns are located in Onondaga County.
 
 Just representing my peeps <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif">
 
 Lew

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:53 pm

DTV Tivo is the facking bomb. I don´t watch much TV--Sports (mostly soccer) and the occasional movie but I still get major use out of it. In some ways I wish I´d gone with DISH. GolTV is a nice addition since I believe you can get Serie A and La Liga on it. For soccer on DTV it´s FSW, PPV and three days of rain. They have an NHL center ice package as well for a pretty good deal. Enjoy your upgrade to this century <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 5:25 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-12-05 11:10, krustylew wrote:

On 2003-12-05 10:45, pk500 wrote:
 
 Funny enough, neither Dish nor Direct offer local channels in Syracuse. The city has 135,000 people, and our county has nearly 500,000, I think. Yet no locals.
 
 Meanwhile, Dish just added locals to Albany, which is smaller than Syracuse. I´m scratching my head.
 
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 "Capital Region" over 800,000 strong, baby! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif">
 
 Honestly, I´m jealous. My house is surrounded by huge trees, and I have no clear view of the southwest sky.
 
 Plus, our cable company, Mid Hudson Cable [same as Time Warner, only shittier] will not allow you to have their cable modem internet service without their tv service.
 
 [ This message was edited by: krustylew on 05-12-2003 11:14 ]

Okay first off, they can´t do that. They can´t require you to buy TV and Cable. They have to give you the choice. If not, well you migth have a class action lawsuit on your hands. I know the telecommunications bill of a few years back really set the cunsumer back a few years but still I have cable broadband and no cable TV. Don´t need it don´t want it.
 
 PK,
 I went through the same thing a few months back.
 
 Dish - cheaper but you have to pay more to get the premium stuff. Meaning if you want Fox Sports World you have to buy one of the premium packages. DirectTv lets you have a little more on some of the more basic packages.
 
 No TiVO. ya granted I don´t watch much TV. But TiVO allows a little bit more than just you plain old VCR. HOWEVER, TiVo doens´t with the Dish Network, so you have to buy a complete TiVO package and box which will run 250 or more. Just not a good deal with dish. Not dish do offer their own DVR but I don´t know too much about them. No Tivo service however.
 
 If you don´t care about Sunday ticket and don´t need TiVo, there´s really no reason to get DirectTV. Dish is cheaper offers pretty much the same thing for about a tenner less a month.
 
 Regarding local channels. Even though DirectTV and Dish advertise that you can get local channels. Some local channels don´t let you do that. i don´t know why. Maybe they have to pay on sattalite. I don´t know. It doens´t make any sense becuase it´s the same feed just local.
 
 The dish let´s you add locals for about 5 a month, direct TV includes this but again if you don´t want they take off about 5.
 
 For me DirectTV with TiVO becuase the TiVO box is only $100 with the system is a better choice. But if you don´t want Sunday Ticket or TiVO the Dish network is cheaper.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 6:04 pm

Lew:
 
 I may have a tree issue myself, as the neighbors have large pine trees lining their property. But I think I can get a view of the sky from atop my house, as it´s situated on a bluff.
 
 JRod:
 
 Dish is cheaper if you want Fox Sports World. The America´s Top 150 includes FSW and Gol TV among its 150 channels for $42.99 per month without locals.
 
 DirecTV´s Total Choice is $33.99 per month without locals for 115 channels. But you need to pay an extra $12 per month for an extra Sports Pack to get FSW, with no Gol TV.
 
 I MUST have FSW. So I can get FSW, Gol TV and 150 channels for $42.99 through Dish or FSW only and 115 channels for $45.99 per month through Direct.
 
 Easy choice for this footie junkie.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 05-12-2003 14:06 ]

cocoman · Post by **cocoman** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 10:30 pm

Best buy has a $75 gift card for DTV

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Sat Dec 06, 2003 2:04 pm

sportdan:
 
 Welcome to Canada, leading DTV pirater of the world.

JOZ · Post by **JOZ** » Sat Dec 06, 2003 2:23 pm

If any of you guys have the Dish Network DVR box, I would like to hear about it. I´ve been thinking of getting this myself. I would like to hear some experiences with it, plus any deals I could get on it.
 
 BTW PK I think the ONLY disadvantage of dish is losing the signal in bad weather. Which I´m sure you will experience in those ridiculous snow storms up there. Of course this only lasts an hour or so at the most so it´s no big deal. And that´s what ye ol´ Xbox is for.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Sat Dec 06, 2003 3:00 pm

PK you don´t lose the signal for an hour or so. I have only lost my signal for a few minutes during heavy rain storms.....never during a snowfall.