Inspired by this thread I decided to FINALLY expand beyond the eight channel world I have always known (actually, when I was little there were five channels- and we LIKED it!).
I signed up for Dish Network. The same dealy as Elza B signed up for too- the 180 channels, DVR’s, hooked up on four tvs, etcetc. BUT, I am new to this whole thing. I have NEVER lived in a home with cable, satellite, nothing like that.
Tell me about YOUR experiences with Dish Network? Is it an easy system to use? How is the company to deal with? What nifty little bits can be found using this system?
I have Dish, and I like it fine. I have the smallest plan (I forget how many channels, maybe 70?), the Dish DVR, and Hidef programming. I have two minor complaints: the Dish DVR is buggy as hell. I understand that they are soon to come out with a new version, but after a while, various buttons on my remote simply won’t work until the DVR is unplugged and rebooted. I have to do this about once or twice a month, but it is annoying.
Dish has the same drawback as other satellite systems: during wind or thunderstorms, chances are that your signal will either go in or out, or be out until the storm passes.
With those two minor problems, overall I’m a satisfied customer.
I’ve had DISH for a while now and used to have Direct TV. I can’t notice too much different between the two so I guess I’m happy with DISH at a lower monthly price.
I did upgrade to the DVR unit recently and while nice to have is very basic and is does not have the features that a TIVO unit would have. It doesn’t have any features like “season pass” that will record a certain show whenever it’s on, or anything type of search feature for programming by title, actor, genre, etc.
One thing I am excited about by DISH is that it’s parent company (Echostar) just bought out VOOM which was the schiznit when it came to HiDef satellite quality.
I am eager to upgrade to their HiDef programming once they incorporate the VOOM equipment with DISH.
We used to have Dish and switched over to DirecTV because DirecTV has an NFL package you can buy, and Dish does not. I was also a little annoyed with Dish when they got rid of their little local weather channel too - I really liked having that. With satellite all you can get from the Weather Channel is the national weather feed, so that channel was nice. I guess not everyone agreed.
DirecTV also has satellite boxes with TiVo units built in, so you get the fancy features Hampshire mentioned - my husband got me one for Christmas and I like it very much.
Also, and I don’t know why this is, but we’ve not had the satellite cut out since we changed over. Technically it shouldn’t make any difference which satellite system you have (all the DirecTV technicians did when they came to do the install was take the Dish, um, dish off the mounting and replace it with the DirecTV dish), but either we haven’t had bad enough weather or it just works better for some reason.
We don’t have a choice where we live - cable is not available - but the one thing that would make me think about changing to cable instead is the broadband issue, not anything with the satellite service itself. We’ve been happy with that for the most part. DSL is also not available where we live, and satellite internet is too expensive. If we had cable, it might be worth it to change over if they offered a discount along with broadband access.
They just made it harder to get to.
Dish and Direct have satellites in different locations, maybe you’ve got leaves that get between you and Dish sometimes. I do.
I had Dishnetwork for two years and liked it just fine.
I only switched to cable because the future Mr. Stillwell moved in and just HAD to have high speed internet. It was just easier to pay one bill so we got rid of the dish & got the whole DVR,cable & internet package. (for the record, Roadrunner high speed sucks ass)
Before he lived here with me he also pitched a fit about it going out during thunderstorms. This happened maybe 3 times in two years, and all three times he happened to be here, so he thought it was a frequent occurance. :rolleyes:
One more question… we lost the ability to display Picture In Picture when we switched from cable to Dish. Has that capability been restored or is DirecTV able to provide it? I do miss it.
It depends on the actual dish you have. You need more than one signal input from the dish to the receiver. FTR, I have the HD PVR and I think it has 3 signals going to it - 2 regular def and 1 HD. I can record 2 shows and watch a 3rd - the miracles of modern technology.
Heh, and I’m more confused than ever. I get that service MAY zonk out in bad weather and that DVR is nifty, but not as nifty as TiVO?
I don’t have any HiDef TV’s, so that’s not a big deal.
Do I have any say in where the dish goes? IOW, I don’t want it facing the main street, would rather have it on the back of the house.
How does four room with two receivers work? All four TV’s can be on different channels, right? Because while I enjoy Disney or DiscoveryKids, I would go batty.
What is VOOM?
In the installation is there much wire running/hole drilling? My house has plaster walls and that could make a mess.
I looked at DirectTV, but it seemed a bit pricey. Yeah you get a few months almost free, but the regular price is more than Dish Network. Also looked at Comcast. No way would I go with them even though thhey are very prolific in my area.
As long as you can point the dish in the right direction, you can mount it anywhere (mine’s on the back corner of the roof).
You get dual LNF feeds so, everybody can watch what they want.
A standalone company that offered all HDTV channels. They recently tanked because, I’m guessing, they didn’t have enough subscribers.
They’ll have to drill holes for the coax to come through. Mine comes through the ceiling in closets (I have two receivers) and runs along the floorboards.
I’ve had Dish for over 8 years and would not go back to cable. My DVR just recently went mental (after nearly 5 years of continous non-problematic service). I got a replacement in 2 days at no charge.
Yep, not as nifty as TiVO.
I can go through the on-screen guide an select future shows to record, pause live tv, and fastforward/rewind through recorded material and that’s about it.
Since your in Minnesota and the sattelite is somewhere above the equator your dish needs to be pointed mainly south slightly west and at a very low angle (around 23 degrees?).
Each receiver will run 1 tv, unless they are dual tuner receivers which cost more.
And don’t forget, for each additional receiver you have they charge you an extra $10 a month.
VOOM was another sattelite company that was strictly HiDef. DISH bought them out.
For every receiver box you have you need a cable running to it. And you definately need a cable running from the dish to the receiver.
