Help Buying New Dish Installation

[TallboyDC]

Hi,

I also posted over on usenet, but maybe I will get more information here.  I need to get Dish network, with International Programming (South Asian channels, but I only need the international channels for a few months, not an entire year), and I need two receivers.  Neither TV locations in my house have a cable wire or phone line nearby.  I want to get the "American's Top 100" programming package, and I am fine subscribing to that for a year.  I also want to get my local channels (Washington DC) off of the Dish.  What sorts of new subscriber deals should I make use of to get this system installed?  I guess I will need two satellite dishes, but I can get away with the 300-level receiver? 

Apparently Comcast Digital Cable is not an option--their basic service is over $50 and they apparently don't carry International channels.  DirectTV doesn't do much International stuff either.

Thank you!

TallboyDC

 

[Jacob S]

Get the Free Dish deal, buy a 2 receiver satellite system for $199 with free basic installation, get $17 off of your programming each month for 12 consecutive months, so that makes the system free after programming rebates. You can also use your credit card and not pay anything up front for one receiver but you will have to pay $50 for the second receiver if you want it but it includes installation if you go the credit card route.

[BobaBird]

You're in luck. Some of the Washington DC locals come from 61.5°, see http://ekb.dbstalk.com/19. Dish is required to make all of the locals it carries available at the same cost, so you will get the second dish and switch installed at no charge. I don't know if this can be done at the same time as the initial install or if it has to be a follow-up visit (apparently their work order tracking has some indiosyncrasies). The lucky part is that you won't have to pay extra for the equipment needed for the international channels which also come from 61.5°. The same is true for the western US and the 148° slot.

[bunkers]

A couple of deals for you to consider.

I would reccomend you order your system, get them installed and activated and then call Dish for your complementary addition of the second dish. Then activate your international programming after that.

http://www.thesatelliteguy.com/TSG_Dish301-301.html
Where you would get 2 301(s) for free

or consider the 508/301 deal for only $149 installed. You would love (and want) the PVR if you could understand how cool it is!

dishdepot.com is also a good place to buy from and is very reputable.

You could also consider buying the used 301(s) and the dish you need from Ebay -- where the systems very often are sold inexpensively.

Good luck,
Scott

[TallboyDC]

Thanks for the help! This weekend I located the two satellites. My neighbors and I have a lot of trees on the south side of the house. It looks like I can plop the main Dish in the middle of the back yard. Should I try to install a wooden post back there to attach the Dish before the installer comes, or can a post be added later? The International Dish is going to be really easy, it is right off the east side of my house.

Thank you!

Tallboy

[FlyingDiver]

If you want the installer to put the dish on a post, you better put it in first. Otherwise they'll try and mount it on the house somewhere, which is not what you want.

A 4x4 and a bag of cement at Home Depot won't cost much.

joe

[boba]

I would recommend a steel pipe instead of wood, it won't twist or change with the moisture content. The satellite you are looking at is about the size of a van 22,800 miles from the equator a slight change in that wood might move your dish.

[TallboyDC]

WIll the installer be able to attach the mount easily to a metal pole?

Thanks,

Tallboy

[switzma]

I used a link fence post from home depot and it fit perfect.

[AllieVi]

Originally posted by TallboyDC
WIll the installer be able to attach the mount easily to a metal pole?Make sure the outside diameter of the pipe is 1 5/8" - some (but not all) chain link pipe elements are this diameter. Another option is standard iron pipe that is commonly known as 1 1/4". The interior diameter is 1 1/4, but the wall thickness results in an outside diameter of 1 5/8".

You should install the pipe a day or more before the installer arrives to allow time for the concrete to set.

Also, smooth round can eventually spin inside the concrete causing the dish to lose alignment with the satellite. Avoid this situation by hammering chain link pipe flat at the bottom or drilling a hole in the portion of pole that will be buried and put a bolt through it that extends into the concrete.

[TallboyDC]

Thanks for all the help! I understand that the "standard install" probably won't run cable into the back yard (25 feet from the house and maybe 35 feet from the current cable run thru the basement wall).

Merry Christmas,

Tallboy

[FlyingDiver]

That's not too far of a cable run. The installers I've dealt with don't seem too concerned about the length of cable, but about the extra walls, etc, they need to go through.

You should be able to talk the installer into running the cable to the post, but not burying it. Just make sure he leaves enough slack cable so you can bury it later.

joe