Explain "Moving" to me

[87path]

I'm thinking of getting back into the small dish game. We used to be one of the first subscribers in the mid-90's until our receiver blew up (overheated, I think). One of the coolest things about dbs to us back then was the distant networks. Of course I see things have changed now for qualifying for those, but was intrigued about the prospect of "moving" to be eligible for distant nets, after reading posts on this forum.

Could someone explain how to "move" when signing up for service. Also, can a person just subscribe to distant nets and superstations and not to the top 50,100 packages?

Thanks in advance.

[angiodan]

Welcome 87path!
You have to subscribe to at least the AT50. The WB/UPN superstations are available to anyone.

As to 'moving', this is where you use a service address that would qualify for distant nets. Essentially, you have 'moved' your service to that address, but you can keep your billing address at your home.

Think of your service address as your imaginary vacation home!

[spanishannouncetable]

Dish network does NOT require a subscription to AT50. If all you want are locals and/or distants and/or supers, you take whatever you want and pay an extra $5 monthly fee for not taking a basic (AT50, AT100, etc) package.

[87path]

Thanks for your helpful responses! Looks like I'll be shopping for an updated dish. I'm sure they are better than the first year models.

[BobaBird]

New subscribers who don't take the minimum programming required by the current sign-up plan won't get the free equipment or programming discounts that make the equipment essentially free. So you can either pay up front for the equipment and not get the package, or accept the terms of the offer and have the programming to watch for the duration of your initial commitment. At that time you can pay the $5 downgrade fee and drop the package.

[87path]

Thanks again. I may look into getting the other channels. We live at a different location, so may qualify for the specials.

Regarding "moving" again, do I list my "vacation" address as my service address after I get my account signed up, or do I do it right off the bat?

[Mike D-CO5]

Some satellite installers will sign you up for the service address you pick , if you go to them first and tell them what you want to do. I have done this both with Dish and Directv and just listed my real address as my biling address. But you have to go to the independent sat dealer first ;don't do this through Dishnetwork itself.

[Jacob S]

What if someone has a second home away from their main home and wants the locals from there? Can you change your current physical address to that address to do this and still have the mailing to your current one or will this not work?

[mexwave]

If you dont want the 12 month contract and the free Dish 500 / Model 301 receiver try Costco. A complete 301 /Dish 500 system is around $130.00 .Do the math and see what fits you. Keep in mind now you'll have no free install but maybe you can do it your self. Its not hard

[Steve Mehs]

Just remember, if in the future you want to subscribe to AT100 or above you'll get the regional sports network that covers the area of your service address not your home RSN, if that makes any difference. Otherwise, good luck with the move and welcome aboard DBSTalk :wave:

[Geronimo]

You can only have one service address at a time but you can indeed have separate mailing and service addresses.

[87path]

Thanks again for the replys. Actually, Costco is where I'm considering buying a system. They are only $89 for a single receiver.

Although it was painful, I did install my first sytem in the mid 90's, and became an expert at it, I should have no problem this go around.

As far as regional sports, if I go up the top 100 pkg I should have no problem, since my "move" would be to a zip that is only 40 or miles from where I'm at and should have the same sports networks.

The funny thing is that technically I am out in the boonies. We only have two local networks (fox and Nbc), the rest are from transponders that send channels from Portland, which is 150 miles away. I may be able to get waivers, so I may try that first before "moving", although it's fairly certain that fox and nbc will deny it.

[shilton]

How does "moving" work for like PPV abd stuff though since your phone number would be the number for your billing address and not your service addy??? Also, how do you explain to Dish that your address is changing but your phone number is not???

[MikeW]

Originally posted by shilton
Also, how do you explain to Dish that your address is changing but your phone number is not???

Just like the military...don't ask, don't tell.

[gjrhine]

Does the service address have to be valid and listed on some address lookup database?

[Mike D-CO5]

I looked in the Houston are for a movie theater on the web and found one and just added a apartment number and plugged it in and it worked for me and Dish has my service address listed as that also, so yes it will work best if you choose a real address and add some apartment numbers to it. Or you can add a 1/2 to a real house street address and do it that way also.

[Jacob S]

If you plug your phone line in to a different phone number then I would say you would get into trouble for having the receiver elsewhere even if you was moving with it or camping or taking it to a second home or something. I figure you would have a lot of explaining to do.

[Bob Haller]

Be alert if you need a receiver replaced or something shipped from dish. It could go to you physical non existent address. I have no proof but I think they s=are now trained to send it wherever you want. Such problems cost everyone time and money:(

BE VERY CLEAR AS TO WHERE TO SHIP IT! Like were baCK AT OUR BILLING ADDRESS FOR A COUPLE WEEKS...

[Mike D-CO5]

I just replaced my Dish 508 pvr last week and I told Dish to send it to my HOME or Billing address since at the "apartment" or Service address I could not be sure that it would get to me. I work 12 hour shifts and there would be someone at my home address to get it.
It came in 5 days and it was on my front porch at my Billing address, so have no fear it will go to your other address. Just make sure you tell them you want it sent to your Billing or Home address and get them to repeat it back to you line for line.

[87path]

I will be installing my dish system myself as a new customer. Is it better to list my separate "vacation home" service address right away when I turn on the service, or wait a month or two and change it to that? Thanks in advance.

[Mike D-CO5]

You can list your "vacation home" address as your service address right away and list your real home address as your billing address. Unless you think you can't install your own system yourself and you will need a service tech to do it.
When I signed up with Directv last year I did just that and I can get my locals from Houston. I also have Dish and have had it for over 7 years and I "move" when ever I need to to get locals from say Houston( since I live in Beaumont 90 miles out of Houston) or NewYork on the distant nets. they can't check it so it really doesn't matter.

[87path]

Good advice. Thanks!!

[FTA Michael]

they can't check it so it really doesn't matter.It's more accurate to say that they don't check it. If they really want to, they can send someone to ring the doorbell of your service address, but for now, they have every reason to take your word for it.

[abospaum]

I'm still confused.

Why do you want the distant nets over locals?

If you just take your locals and use your real address you can get a lot more than one receiver for $89. There are a bunch of great deals out there for new subs which I guess you would qualify for.

508 PVR's for $49 including dish and installation.

I have also seen the 6000u HDTV receivers which sell for $500 for the same $49 for new subs with installation.

Why install yourself if you can't get as much stuff and installation is free.

[87path]

In my area we can't get locals. I'm guessing because we have two major networks locally, and the locals offered from dish are from a city 175 miles away from us, and don't include those, so it would conflict with our "real" local channels. I would rather watch distant stations anyway.

As far as the new sub packages, those are a good deal if you want one of the top 50,100 or 150 packages. I really have no need for those pkgs. Plus, with their spotty customer service support, I don't want a contract or surrender my credit card#/ss# to dish. Free for all is not a bad alternative, but I would still end up paying more.

It's cool that dish lets you subscribe to smaller pkgs without having to get one of the major ones (unlike direct tv). More flexible.

I may look into the cost benefits of the pvr deal though. Thanks for the advice!

[abospaum]

I'm still confused. You don't need even the AT150. What do you want locals and superstations only? Movie package? What are you looking for? Why use a dish if you don't want anything other than locals?

I would think if you got a good OTA antenna you would be ahead of the game or if there is cable in your area just a lifeline account which would probably be only about $12.

Also Dish is adding new local markets all of the time. If you found a zip that qualifies for Distant Nets it may not last for more than a year.

Also as angiodan pointed out, I don't know if you can get less than AT50.

[Mike D-CO5]

You can get just locals or superstations but Dish will charge you a $5.00 fee for not subscribing to a base package of at least top 50.

[abospaum]

I still don't understand why anyone would do this.

If all you watch are locals then you are just paying for free TV. Can't you get these OTA. Go HD and you will get better reception with an antenna than you can get Dish. Also, its free.

[Mike D-CO5]

For example some people who have Dish can only get locals or superstaions with Dish , but they want to switch to Directv, who does not have their locals, so they take both services but only pay for one base package. They want to be able to pvr the network shows but they also want to get the best of what Directv has to offer ,say for example NFL package. At least thats what I think thats why some people do this. Anybody else know why they would do this?

[dbronstein]

I still don't understand why anyone would do this.

If all you watch are locals then you are just paying for free TV. Can't you get these OTA. Go HD and you will get better reception with an antenna than you can get Dish. Also, its free.

Really? Where can I get an HDTV for free?

Seriously:

1. Some people can't get good OTA reception

2. HD signals are not available in every market yet, even if you are able and willing to shell out the money for an HDTV.

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to also get some other channels if you are going to go through the trouble to get dish, though. As Mike said, maybe they prefer the packages on DirecTV but DirecTV doesn't have their locals. Or maybe they just like the networks.

Dennis

[abospaum]

There are 919 DTV stations broadcasting throughout the US. A decent antenna and pre-amp can get you a decent signal from a fair distance away.

Here's a list of the stations:
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/issues/digitaltv/dtvstations.asp

Granted if you live in the middle of nowhere you might be out of luck but then you would qualify for Distant Nets anyway and I guess Dish would work.

[abospaum]

Actually a better site is this one:

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.asp

Put in your address and it will tell you what stations are available and what type of antenna you need to receive the broadcast.

[dbronstein]

There are 919 DTV stations broadcasting throughout the US. A decent antenna and pre-amp can get you a decent signal from a fair distance away.

Here's a list of the stations:
http://www.nab.org/newsroom/issues/digitaltv/dtvstations.asp

Granted if you live in the middle of nowhere you might be out of luck but then you would qualify for Distant Nets anyway and I guess Dish would work.

You can live in the city and not be able to get the signals. In Denver, they are still fighting about where the antennas will be located, so right now the stations are just broadcasting from antennas they stuck on their roofs that have ranges of only a couple of miles. Obviously Denver is probably an exception on this, but the point is that not everyone who doesn't live in the boonies can get it.

And you still have to buy an HDTV, which definitely isn't free. Dish is much cheaper.

Dennis