More upgrade questions

[floyd320]

I have few upgrade questions I'd like to ask before talking to a CSR that I haven't found answers to here.

My current equipment is a single tuner receiver (301?) and a Dish 500 DP Twin LNB. I own this equipment.

1. Is there an 18 month commitment? If so, what is the commitment for, eg. HD package subscription?

2. Will I get a 722 or 622 (they still advertise the 622 on the website)?

3. Which dish will I receive and will it be used in addition to or instead of my current dish? I live in the Chicagoland area.

4. I would deactivate my old equipment and only have the new one on my account. Will there be a $6 lease fee?

5. Is there anything I should push for or watch out for in regards to the installation?

I'm a bit on the fence about this upgrade as I don't watch a lot of TV and my TV is relatively small (34") and does well with SD. Adding $20 to the bill is making me hesitant given the amount of HD content available. My other idea is to wait it out a year and in the mean time upgrade to SD dual room DVR. My only question there is, will they let me do the install myself? All I need to do is run another cable from the dish inside. I've got it already wired inside for this setup.

Thanks in advance for all you answers and thanks for all the good info posted in response to other's questions.

[MikeHou]

You don't mention if your TV is HD-capable or not, but if not, I don't know why you would consider upgrading to a 622/722. The HD-only content isn't so compelling you'd pay to view it on an SD TV, IMO.

As for upgrading yourself you can certainly do that. Just call them to activate after you've got everything hooked up and working properly. You can deactivate your old receiver at the same time.

[floyd320]

You don't mention if your TV is HD-capable or not, but if not, I don't know why you would consider upgrading to a 622/722. The HD-only content isn't so compelling you'd pay to view it on an SD TV, IMO.

As for upgrading yourself you can certainly do that. Just call them to activate after you've got everything hooked up and working properly. You can deactivate your old receiver at the same time.

My TV is HD compatible.

[DBS Commando]

I have few upgrade questions I'd like to ask before talking to a CSR that I haven't found answers to here.

My current equipment is a single tuner receiver (301?) and a Dish 500 DP Twin LNB. I own this equipment.

1. Is there an 18 month commitment? If so, what is the commitment for, eg. HD package subscription?

Dish won't force you to re-up the commitment but it will take off costs from your upgrade. For example, they may give you the receiver for free if you commit for 18 months. Commiting for another 18 months may also give you 6 months of HD free which is a $120 value. They may not give you anything if you don't commit. CSR will have more info.

2. Will I get a 722 or 622 (they still advertise the 622 on the website)?

Most likely a 722

3. Which dish will I receive and will it be used in addition to or instead of my current dish? I live in the Chicagoland area.

Your Dish 500 will have to be replaced by a Dish 1000. Its a bigger dish that has the ability to see 129 which has all your local HD's, national HD's, and RSN's. Nice thing for you is that you can get Chicago locals in HD. (Fox, NBC, CBS, etc) This is considering that you don't have any international packages.

4. I would deactivate my old equipment and only have the new one on my account. Will there be a $6 lease fee?

If you hook up the phone line, Dish will take $5 off every month. If you buy the receiver, you won't have to worry about leasing.

5. Is there anything I should push for or watch out for in regards to the installation?

Good signals, make sure the tech changes the HD setting on the 722 to 1080i/720p. Otherwise you won't be seeing HD channels in HD.

I'm a bit on the fence about this upgrade as I don't watch a lot of TV and my TV is relatively small (34") and does well with SD. Adding $20 to the bill is making me hesitant given the amount of HD content available. My other idea is to wait it out a year and in the mean time upgrade to SD dual room DVR. My only question there is, will they let me do the install myself? All I need to do is run another cable from the dish inside. I've got it already wired inside for this setup.

Thanks in advance for all you answers and thanks for all the good info posted in response to other's questions.

I'd wait. Considering that you OWN the dish and ALL of the equipment, this upgrade is going to make them rip it out of your house.

If you get a dual tuner SD, the CSR may let you install it yourself. You do, after all, own all of the equipment. The fact that you're not an avid TV watcher doesn't really help your case.

My question to you is - why would you want to own the dish, the switches, and the receiver? What happens if an LNB goes bad or the receiver? Do you have to buy new stuff? Seems to make more sense to let Dish worry about it.


Answers above in bold

[floyd320]

Answers above in bold

Thanks for your reply. In regards to why I own my equipment, I own what I have now because at the time (6 years ago?) the best offer was to buy the equipment for $200 and get $20 off per month for a year. I don't even think leasing was an option.

Given how I have my house wired, there would be minimal impact from changing to a dual receiver. I currently have the coax out connected to my "TV2".

You also mentioned you would wait. You meant wait for HD upgrade? Why is that?

[DBS Commando]

Thanks for your reply. In regards to why I own my equipment, I own what I have now because at the time (6 years ago?) the best offer was to buy the equipment for $200 and get $20 off per month for a year. I don't even think leasing was an option.

Given how I have my house wired, there would be minimal impact from changing to a dual receiver. I currently have the coax out connected to my "TV2".

You also mentioned you would wait. You meant wait for HD upgrade? Why is that?

Well, you stated that you're on the fence about this upgrade and that you're not an avid TV watcher. I'm not sure if the cost of $20 a month would be justified for you until Dish adds more HD to their lineup. Its your descision but if I were you, I'd go look to see what Dish has on HD and see if you watch any of those channels frequently. Also keep in mind that there is much more to come considering that Dish has to stay competitive with D*. It's more of a judgement call on your part.

[DBS Commando]

Also, if you're a big fan of the weekly series on local networks such as House, Bones, Prison Break, K-Ville, Heroes, Ugly Betty, etc, etc; this upgrade may be worth every penny. All of those series are stunning in HD. The addition of the DVR will also enable you to not sit in front of the TV every time these shows come on.