What and how many dishes do I need ?

[gurevise]

Guys,
I would like to get Dish Network system.
I'm not clear on what type and how many dishes do I need to buy.
I need to feed two independant TV, so I need 2 receivers, that is clear to me.
Question is do I need just one 500 Dish or I need to get two of them or some different type of dish ?
I woudl like to get 100 package plus some international pakages.
I don't care about HD tv.
Pls let me know what type and how muny dishes do I need to buy.

Thanks
Sergey

[Five Hole]

You will need 2 dishes if you want to get America's Top 100CD programming and some International programming. The AT100 is on the core satellite at 119/110 degree slot and the Dish 500 (20 inch) dish will cover that. For international programming, you will need a second (18 inch) dish that is pointed toward the Atlantic or Pacific ocean depending on where in the country you live. Since it is likely you will have a twin lnb, you will need a sw21 switch to integrate both dishes.

[bunkers]

What city do you live in? I ask because there may be local channels in your area which are on the 61.5 satellite location -- and if so, DISH would have to pay for your second dish for you. But you would need to order your system without the 2nd dish in the beginning and then have them add it later.

I would order either a 508/301 combo ($100 @ dishusa.com) a 508/508 combo ($300 @ dishusa.com) or a 721/301 combo ($450 at dishusa.com).

I would get the system installed and subscribe to the AT100 and locals pkg. You also would pay a 2nd receiver charge as well.

Then, assuming you have locals only found on 61.5 in your location, I would call Dish after about a week and have them install the free 2nd dish to get those additional locals. Then I would add the international programming lastly. Maybe my order isn't perfect, but its one way.

I would advice getting at least one PVR unit (508 or 721). If you want to watch live TV at the location while a recording is happening, then you may want to seriously consider the 721 combo. The double 508 would also be pretty nice, but if a show is being recorded, you would only be able to watch that show, or something already recorded onto the PVR hard drive -- which my wife and I do all the time -- its not that bad, because you typically have so much stuff recorded that there is plenty to watch.

That is my advise.

Make sure you have both a south facing and an east facing (or west) location to mount the dishes on -- and that there are no trees in the way, etc. Depending upon you location, you mount the dishes a certain elevation and azimuth -- which the installer would do anyways.

Other good places to order from are thesatelliteguy.com , dishdepot.com and see 18inch.com for wiring configurations to consider or for additional parts (great prices, I might add).