Dish Network & DirecTV Servicing

[Caiyuo]

Servicing. So at my house we currently have DirecTV SDTV service with 4 receivers/separate rooms, 2 of which have HDTVs. Naturally we're interested in upgrading the 2 rooms to HD Receivers and service. The other 2 are bedrooms with SDTVs, so those would need standard receivers. I wanted to ask BG about the situation and experiences you've all had with each company and what seems like the best or most probable scenario here.

As a customer of about 4 years, DirecTV automatically awards a free HD DVR, but won't let up on needing to pay for the 2nd, which is $90 for an HD Receiver or $200 for another DVR. I priced out each option on myrateplan.com and found that with our television package, HD access, local channels and 4 rooms of service, DirecTV comes out to $85.96 and Dish is $82.99. With new customer promotions, DirecTV is $34.99 compared to Dish's $47.99 for the first year, but DTV would need a 2-year agreement even if they agreed to give us the introductory offer and Dish only needs a 1-year agreement.

For now the upgrade is really hinging on whether or not DTV will both offer the introductory offer and strip the cost from the 2nd HD Receiver over threat of cancellation, but so far they haven't offered anything but the free DVR which comes stock from their website for good customer blahblah. As I understand it, with Dish Network their HD Receivers and HD DVRs are all dual-tuner models so even just one would suffice for both HDTVs and provide DVR functionality to both, which we definitely won't get for free from DTV since getting the HD Receiver seems to be a hassle in itself. What would you all do here?

Also, do I have any information wrong here? Have any of you had experience with either company that seems relevant? From previous testimonies it seems it's going to take multiple calls to DirecTV over a week's time and I guess luck to get a good CSR to even begin talking them down to a comparable price with Dish Network. Is this accurate?

Thanks ahead of time for any halppp.

[fattrav]

I have Directv HD with DVR. Not sure if you mentioned this, but Directv charges $10 for HD and $5 for DVR. As far as promotions go I have been with them for 9 years and could not get them to offer me the intro pricing for resigning a contract. They pretty much had me cancelled with no offer to keep me. They have the my shot don't stink attitude. In the end I stayed there.

You get get the HD DVR receivers from Craigslist, I got one for $120, you just need to wait for someone desperate.

If you get the intro offer please let me know how you did that.

[Baelorn]

I have Dish and never had any problems. They have a lot of good promotions too(even if I don't qualify for some of them )

Recently showed this to a friend and he signed up: http://www.dishnetwork.com/turbohd/default.aspx

Not sure if you saw that one already.

[Furtwangler]

I'm not sure if I'm just misreading but I know that the direct-tv dvr's have dual tuners in them (provided you can run two lines from your dish) so if that changes any opinion of yours...

[_chuchu]

I'm not sure if I'm just misreading but I know that the direct-tv dvr's have dual tuners in them (provided you can run two lines from your dish) so if that changes any opinion of yours...

the dual tuners are for recording more than one program at once, but you still need another receiver to watch a different show on another television w/ directv. for dish, on the other hand, you can use two tv's on one receiver, but sucks when a tuner fails. hate how long it takes to change and tune into another channel w/ dish network. no matter which service you go to though, ask about any 'protection plan' that they offer.

edit: hope you understand that if it is very stormy/overcast outside, your programming might go out. also, if you live in a any storm-prone area, it would be sillier not to have protection plan to cover the service call and a power surge fucking up your equipment

[Caiyuo]

I have Directv HD with DVR. Not sure if you mentioned this, but Directv charges $10 for HD and $5 for DVR. As far as promotions go I have been with them for 9 years and could not get them to offer me the intro pricing for resigning a contract. They pretty much had me cancelled with no offer to keep me. They have the my shot don't stink attitude. In the end I stayed there.

You get get the HD DVR receivers from Craigslist, I got one for $120, you just need to wait for someone desperate.

If you get the intro offer please let me know how you did that.

Will do, and thanks for the testimony. Most of the testimonies I've heard have been similar to yours, or people made out with things they would've normally gotten free anyway, like 3 months of movie channels or a waived HD fee for a few months.

I have Dish and never had any problems. They have a lot of good promotions too(even if I don't qualify for some of them )

Recently showed this to a friend and he signed up: http://www.dishnetwork.com/turbohd/default.aspx


Not sure if you saw that one already.

Their HD channel listing? This was actually a really great site for doing the comparison work on the two: http://www.myrateplan.com/sat/ - Lines up both carriers and their packages in columns to view where and how each package changes. Glad to hear, though, Dish was always sort of aimed as the "cheap" service, but as of recent seems entirely competitive, if not better.

I'm not sure if I'm just misreading but I know that the direct-tv dvr's have dual tuners in them (provided you can run two lines from your dish) so if that changes any opinion of yours...

hrm, nothing I've found so far has said that, but maybe it's a regional thing not available in my area. I even mentioned that we wanted 2 rooms for HD and the Sales person said they could only do one for free, implying we needed 2 separate receivers. If I can find something like that it'd definitely change matters as I'd only have to haggle them down to an introductory offer to keep from switching service.

[Caiyuo]

the dual tuners are for recording more than one program at once, but you still need another receiver to watch a different show on another television w/ directv. for dish, on the other hand, you can use two tv's on one receiver, but sucks when a tuner fails. hate how long it takes to change and tune into another channel w/ dish network. no matter which service you go to though, ask about any 'protection plan' that they offer.

edit: hope you understand that if it is very stormy/overcast outside, your programming might go out. also, if you live in a any storm-prone area, it would be sillier not to have protection plan to cover the service call and a power surge fucking up your equipment

We have DirecTV now so actual Satellite service isn't anything new and I'm familiar with how it can go out at times, but is one of the two tuners on a Dish Network Receiver prone to going out or at all common? Do they force you to replace it at cost without a protection plan? We've had 4 Standard DTV receivers since like, 2004 and haven't had any die or fuck up living where we do in Florida, so I'm curious as to the deal with one of the tuners shitting out with Dish.

[fattrav]

One thing that really bugs me with DISH is you are limited to 4 receivers and with Directv I have yet to hit a limit and I have 6 receivers. I have been told there is no limit. There are currently 3 houses on my account, making my acutal bill smaller.

[_chuchu]

We have DirecTV now so actual Satellite service isn't anything new and I'm familiar with how it can go out at times, but is one of the two tuners on a Dish Network Receiver prone to going out or at all common? Do they force you to replace it at cost without a protection plan? We've had 4 Standard DTV receivers since like, 2004 and haven't had any die or fuck up living where we do in Florida, so I'm curious as to the deal with one of the tuners shitting out with Dish.

I'll ask around because one receiver here has had a tuner fail but they don't need it. I spoke w/ a sales rep and they said that leased receivers that poop/die out are replaced by Dish if it's not your fault, same from a customer service rep @ DirecTV. Techs from either service can usually tell right away if any receiver is a refurb though. You can look for stickers that say ECO 1.0/2.0/3.0 on say H20-600s from DirecTV and those are normally refurbs. No stickers usually means it's new for that model receiver.

[_chuchu]

One thing that really bugs me with DISH is you are limited to 4 receivers and with Directv I have yet to hit a limit and I have 6 receivers. I have been told there is no limit. There are currently 3 houses on my account, making my acutal bill smaller.

Depending on the account type and how it was set up, I seen people w/ 60 receivers, though rarely allowed, but that many receivers are for hotel/multi-dwelling/casinos/stadia. Better to keep that customer rather than piss them off with having to pay for separate accounts. It is a bitch and a half to deal with services on that many, but if a customer doesn't mind paying extra to have cables run or buying separate dishes to keep receivers on the same account, no one is stopping them.

[_chuchu]

I have Directv HD with DVR. Not sure if you mentioned this, but Directv charges $10 for HD and $5 for DVR. As far as promotions go I have been with them for 9 years and could not get them to offer me the intro pricing for resigning a contract. They pretty much had me cancelled with no offer to keep me. They have the my shot don't stink attitude. In the end I stayed there.

You get get the HD DVR receivers from Craigslist, I got one for $120, you just need to wait for someone desperate.

If you get the intro offer please let me know how you did that.

When was the most recent time you tried to cancel?

[geno]

Not to hijack your thread here, but I have a quick question for anyone with Dish Network if they can answer it. Do you know if I can split the line coming OUT of the receiver box to multiple TVs? I know that this would mean the TVs would always be on the same channel, I just want to know how hard it would be to do and if it would negatively affect the quality of the picture. Equipment costs for getting more receivers after like 1-2 Duo DVRs are insane and it seems a bit ridiculous to buy receivers for a bunch of different TVs when they are pretty much never used simultaneously (6TVs, 3 people). Plus this would actually be awesome if we could access a DVR from multiple TVs doing this (so say I record something in the living room, then want to watch it from bed I could do so assuming no one is in the living room watching TV).

Anyone have a setup like this? Only like 1-2 receivers hooked up to a lot of TVs. If anyone does, I'd love to know how easily and cheaply it can be done (we have had cable in the past so the whole house is run with Coax). Also, I might imagine issues with remotes, the cost of getting a lot of UHF ones for the same box and just how well they would work given the distance between rooms.

(note: I'm only really interested in Dish Network right now, not DirecTV as they don't have a particular channel that I'd really like)

[fattrav]

When was the most recent time you tried to cancel?

6 months ago, give or take a couple months

[seppuku-gb]

You can split any output from a dish network reciever. Like any device, the more you split the signal, the less continous the line is, and the length of the line determine picture quality. You can buy any low end amp to fix that though. The best recievers to do this with is the 625/722. Both models are dual tuners and have the special function to switch remote 1 to UHF. There is no RF out for tuner 1 on the 722 (hd reciever) but with the 722 u can purchase an outboard hd to expand on its already hefty internal hd (small 1 time fee of $50 i think). The 625 is SD so you can split both tuners to any combination of rooms. You can even put it in single mode and have both tuners stacked on one line, modulated to different channels. The ultimate problem in doing this is that its not within the installer's obligation, 1 tv/tuner, so get ready to grease his pocket. Not to mention most installers don't even know most of the 625 features I listed. If you get an in house (Echosphere co) installer, you can try calling the shop and talking to the trainer for step by step instructions on how to setup a 625 on your own. Just be prepared for a headache if you try to do this, but it is possible.

Oh, and Dish's HD dual tuners are HD on tuner 1, SD on 2. I quit my job a year ago though, so be sure to ask the rep if its still that way because it was a common misconception.

[Caiyuo]

Yikes, that's good to know as I was counting on the one HD DVR Receiver to provide HD to both TVs so we didn't have to worry about additional hardware as is the case with DirecTV. I'll have to look into it.

As an extension of that, does anyone know if you have to request specific models if you want them from Dish? Is there something more recommended than the other?

[seppuku-gb]

Dish often has interchangeable models like the 522/625, 501/508, and 622/722. There are subtle differences between all interchangeable couples though (i.e. 622 has less internal hd). In the standard lease agreement, they'll give you whichever one is available unless you have a specific need for one. The installer will give you the most reliable model unless he is a shitbag. Its in his interest as he gets more money to not have a trouble call from you for 2 months post install. You should ask your installer @ the time of the install to match the equipment to your specifications. They'll be the most knowledgeable and can modify the workorder on site for any changes. Unless you live in BFE, it should be easy for them to get new recievers for the off chance he doesn't have extra.

[Caiyuo]

Awesome, thank you.

[Furtwangler]

You can get the direct-tv new customer promos by registering with a new name and new credit card than whatever your service was last time, or it's 2 or 3 years of non service to be considered a new customer.

[_chuchu]

6 months ago, give or take a couple months

give it another shot.

Supposedly, with great credit, you do not need a deposit for dtv as a new customer.

[geno]

You can split any output from a dish network reciever. Like any device, the more you split the signal, the less continous the line is, and the length of the line determine picture quality. You can buy any low end amp to fix that though. The best recievers to do this with is the 625/722. Both models are dual tuners and have the special function to switch remote 1 to UHF. There is no RF out for tuner 1 on the 722 (hd reciever) but with the 722 u can purchase an outboard hd to expand on its already hefty internal hd (small 1 time fee of $50 i think). The 625 is SD so you can split both tuners to any combination of rooms. You can even put it in single mode and have both tuners stacked on one line, modulated to different channels. The ultimate problem in doing this is that its not within the installer's obligation, 1 tv/tuner, so get ready to grease his pocket. Not to mention most installers don't even know most of the 625 features I listed. If you get an in house (Echosphere co) installer, you can try calling the shop and talking to the trainer for step by step instructions on how to setup a 625 on your own. Just be prepared for a headache if you try to do this, but it is possible.

Oh, and Dish's HD dual tuners are HD on tuner 1, SD on 2. I quit my job a year ago though, so be sure to ask the rep if its still that way because it was a common misconception.

Wow, thanks for the detailed response. I read into it with some more detail and I think I found a possible solution that would bring the upfront equipment costs down to $200 w/ all equip leased (and at least a $75 rebate going through a particular retailer) according to dish networks online ordering site.

I know you didn't mention the ViP612, but do you think this looks doable?:
http://i50.tinypic.com/28lvvcp.jpg

From what I've read, I could additionally cut down on having to run new wire by making use of separators & diplexers and using my current cable wiring to get the Sat signal to each of the boxes (which might theoretically result in only 3 new wires being run, all to the same central hub of wiring in my house). I intend to redraw a new flow chart reflecting that to make sure it will be possible, but I want to make sure the basic layout will work as above.

Only concerns / things I'm not 99% sure of:
I don't know if anyone here is familar with this particular model, but will the ViP612 work with a SDTV? (it says its an HD DVR & and online rep told me they don't have any SD DVRs for lease right now, but from what I've seen online the ViP612 does have S-video/composite/coax output)

How will the dual-tuner but single TV boxes (ViP612) handle being hooked up to two TVs? Will they essentially act like the ViP722 in single mode (I hope I understand their modes correctly)? I've read that Echostar has all of their boxes outputs active at once, so this seems like the way it should work (which is what I'm hoping for).

When an HDTV + SDTV are both hooked up to the same box, what will happen when the channel is changed to an HD channel and both TVs are on? Assuming the ViP722 is set to single mode (and because the ViP612 doesn't have a duo mode), would the picture only show up on the HDTVs and the others would just have black screens?

Finally, with three different boxes, will setting up UHF remotes be possible? The first ViP612 + TV#2 could operate in IR mode, would it be possible to have two different UHF frequencies (one for 3 remotes & ViP722, and one for 2 remotes & the second ViP612).

For reference sake, here is the general setup I'm trying to accomplish for as cheap as possible (as close to current cable functionality as possible without breaking the bank):
http://i49.tinypic.com/qp5h0o.jpg

I know I'm pushing my luck with questions this detailed here and I'll probably cross-post my situation to a satellite forum or just jump straight to a rep tomorrow, but I figured I'd take a shot since I got exactly the answer I was looking for the first time.