E* -> D* Questions

[Mark Holtz]

Pardon the stupid questions, but if I want to deal with a retention department, I want to be armed with answers. My mother has some say in the situation (after all I pay the rent), but the ultimate decision is up to me. (yea me).

The current setup:
* I have a 501 in my room, plus two 301 receivers.
* Been mostly satisfied with the service from E*. Primary reason for getting E* was Superstations, second reason was the fee-free PVR.
* Current package: AT-150 + locals + supers
* The equipment is all leased, so if I cancel, Dish gets the equipment back.

What I'm looking at:
* A HDVR2 receiver for my own use (with two tuners).
* One-two additional DirecTV receivers.
* Dish to look at 101 and 119.

From all appearances, the Total Choice Plus package + locals is (for me) the same as the AT-150 except that I lose the Encore/TMC movie packages. I would like to get the Total Choice Plus package plus the Spanish language channels. I would be considered a "new" custoemr by DirecTV standards.

So, what equipment costs should I look at? How many HDVR2s can I get at the promotional pricing? :)

Oh, and there is no rush.

[pez2002]

Get a Tivo with your Directv :)

[Steve Mehs]

I don't know about any current promos, but if you are looking at a standard non PVR I really like the Samsung S75. The S75 has interlaced component out and DD out. I've never used one, but Best Buy has them for $129. For the price and if your tv has component video, you really can't go wrong. Instead of a 18"X24" eliptical dish I would opt for the 18"X20" that has all three LNBs in one housing with built in multiswitchs. This way if/when you go HD you won't have to worry about a sat c kit for 110. Plus I'm not sure is the 24" elipticals are even made anymore, every place around here sells the 20inchers

[cnsf]

I JUST did this. Went to BestBuy and got a two-room setup with free installation with a $100 rebate (cost $100)=$0. Got 2 HDVR2s at $249.99 each, with two $50 rebates. Also got a free SuperBowl DVD rebate (not a big deal for me).

Bought a 2X6 Spaun splitter on eBay from TalCo Electronics (Ill post if it doesn't work).

So, $600 out of pocket + tax, and I'll sell my 2 501s, my 4900, my SW64 and two dishes, hopefully recouping the entire layout. In addition, I get $200 in rebates. You may need to spend an extra $100 for the 20" oval satellite, but you could sell the other round dish to subsidize it.

In the end, it may be profitable to switch......

Hope this helps.

[Kenster]

cnsf, what do you want for one of your 501's. Are they in very good condition? My father-in-law has a regular Dish receiver but obviously can't record one channel and watch a different one at the same time. Can you do that on a 501? You can at least record a program while, at the same time, watch a different program that has already been recorded, right? And the 501 just basically hooks up the same as the regular receiver so there is no special install? I want to make it as easy for him to operate as possible. He is quite elderly and has a devil of time now trying to switch from SAT to VCR and back, but he needs SAT because he lives far away from Houston and doesn't get good antennae reception.
On the 501, he can just pick a program off the Program guide and select record, right?
Thanks.
Ken

[LarryS]

Good Guys (SF Bay area) has a deal for HDVR2 @ $199 and a 1/2/3 room new customer rebate of $100/150/$175. I got Circuit City to price match so I got two. I also liked the supers for timeshifting but you won't miss it with two tuners. Also Direct is giving 3 months of HBO+Cinemax for new signups. I think Sacramento locals are not on 101 so you'll probably need the oval dish which would add $150 although on ebay you can get one for less than $100. The oval dish has a builtin multiswitch with 4 receiver feeds so keep this in mind as going over 4 requires another somewhat expensive multiswitch.

Tivo rocks!

[Steve Mehs]

Kenster, the 501 is a one tuner PVR, you cannot record one channel while watching another or record 2 channels at once. You'll need the model 721 (or two 501s) to do that. But yes, you can watch a previously recorded program while it's recording another show.

[Mark Holtz]

At this stage, I'm still at the iffy part.

I live at home with my mother. I pay the rent (which, in turn, pays the mortgage) AND the TV bill. I have my own phone line AND cell phone which I pay for also.

So, right now, my bill is ~$71 per month, which includes AT-150+locals+supers+$9 501 lease+2 receivers (one in the living room, one in my mother's bedroom). When my rates get "unfrozen" in May, they will jump $3. Hopefully, Dish will come up with a good offer to keep me as a customer, either by eliminating the lease fee or giving me a deal on a 721.

I've taken a look at American Satellite. For $409, I will get a HDVR2 plus two GAEBO receivers (not sure if they include the program guide), and a dish that looks at 101, 110, and 119. The subscription fee would be $40+$5 PVR+$10 additional receivers for a total of $55.

I plan on adding some Spanish language channels to improve my Spanish. This is dependent on my completion of Spanish 1A/11A.

So far, the DirecTV representative has told me an answer I didn't want, which was either get Total Choice Plus or Spanish Language Plus. I have to compare lineups on the English side.

Looks like the rumor of eliminating mirroring fees didn't quite pan out though.

Ideas?

[DCSholtis]

You might wanna try expertsatellite.com as well..they seem to have good deals over there.....I may buy my D* HD setup from them....

[Steve Mehs]

You should be able to get Opcion en Español for an additional $15/month

[stugil]

Went to Circuit City

Hughes Tivo 180.00 withe the tax included.

Two room free install Hughes Exec Uhf Remote Reciever/Low end RCA .They don't carry any other hughes boxes. 100.00minus rebate, Zero Cost. Terk Au2 Dish(PhaseIII) included.:lol:

[Mark Holtz]

Well, I probably won't make any decisions until May. Still, I hear that there are different GAEBO receivers, some with the advanced guide, presumably because it allows you to hold three days of schedule while having PIP. Anyone can shead any details?

I'm looking at the American Satellite Pages (support the people who support DVD Talk), and I see a GCEBO-Rec and a lower-priced but similarly featured GAEBO receiver.

Sigh, I'd like to stick with Dish, but their only two-tuner solution at this time is $500. The American Satellite replacement will run me only $409 for the entire system including triple LNB dish.

[Mark Holtz]

Ok, another stupid question....

If I do go for a DirecTV setup, will I still need a powered switch. I will be getting a dish that points to 101, 110, and 119, and I expect four outputs (2 for Tivo, 1 for the other two rooms). Will this type of switch be powered, and how? I know that Dish's SW-64 switch needs to be powered.

[TWood]

Sigh, I'd like to stick with Dish, but their only two-tuner solution at this time is $500.


Hey Z'Loth

I just switched from E* to D* myself. I switched for this very reason. I wanted a good dual tuner PVR solution, but the PVR721 that Dish offers would have cost me $550 (if purchased locally) and doesn't do Tivo type name based recording (a big issue for the wife). I purchased two Hughes HDVR2s at HiFi Buys for $200 each (their standard price), and a triple LNB dish at CC for $100. So I got two units and triple LNB dish with a built in multiswitch for the cost of just one PVR721!



If I do go for a DirecTV setup, will I still need a powered switch. I will be getting a dish that points to 101, 110, and 119, and I expect four outputs (2 for Tivo, 1 for the other two rooms). Will this type of switch be powered, and how? I know that Dish's SW-64 switch needs to be powered.


The triple LNB dish with built-in multiswitch was all I needed (other than about 200' of RG6 cable and connectors) to get the two HDVR2s up and running. The multiswitch does support up to four receivers, but does not have a power supply connected to it. However, it may receive power through the RG6 cable from the receivers attached to it. I don't think you need a powered multiswitch unless you are running a very long cable (> 100 ft ?) to one of your receivers.

[papillo-j]

I just cancelled my E* account am in the process of opening up a D* account. I found that orbitsat.com had some great deals for new customers. They have a package for $269 that includes the HDVR2, the bigger multisat dish, installation, and an additional GAEBO receiver. If you need more than that they have bigger packages at a bigger cost.