Dish Network without home phone?

[Doppelbok67]

Hello!  I wonder if someone can help me here.

I'm currently a subscriber to Wide Open West cable television in the southwest Detroit area, and I've been thinking of moving to Dish Network, since it seems to have more of the programming I want such as Fox Sports World -- plus I would be saving some money.  I have one problem, though... my wife and I decided to cancel our home phone service and just use our cell phones as our main phones.  It's my understanding that you must have a home line installed in order to use Dish Network, since it is needed for the interactive and PPV services.

I've been hesitating on signing up because first I'd have to call the phone company to sign up for new service and a monthly plan -- all in all it would cost me another $60 or so for something I'd use only for Dish Network.  All of a sudden, the savings from switching seem to be nonexistant. 

Is there anyway around this?  Thanks in advance.

 

 

[Pete K.]

You do not need a phone line for anything other than PPV and interactive
services (view your bill etc.) Mine is not hooked up to a land line. It works
just fine.

[ccarmichael]

I have had Dish since 1999, never had a phone hooked up to it -- except for the one time E* sent a free pay per view. The only item I can't do is 'review' my bill from the receiver. Besides that, it's fine. you can still order PPV but have to pay an extra fee.

[Kevin]

When TV Enhancements start working on Dish Network, will you need your reciever to be connected to a phone line in order for them to function properly?

[Doppelbok67]

Originally posted by Pete K.
You do not need a phone line for anything other than PPV and interactive
services (view your bill etc.) Mine is not hooked up to a land line. It works
just fine.

Thanks for the replies so far, but would I be missing much by not using interactive services?  Or is it just for viewing your bill?  It looks like it keeps one up to speed on news, sports, weather, and other things... but of course I can go online for that stuff.  I guess I have a problem with having to pay a price for a service that includes interactive content.  I would feel I'm paying for something I can't even use.

With more and more homes getting rid of land line service, you would think there would be some other alternatives to allow you to retain true interactivity -- for example, 2-way wireless transmission of services.  Maybe that's for the future...

 

[tampa8]

I recently dropped my home phone service and use only Cellular. When I called Dish to change my number I told them it was a cell phone and the CSR said they actually get quite a few people with cell phones only. I guess we would be out of luck if you need a landline to get the interactive features.

[Doppelbok67]

Originally posted by ccarmichael
I have had Dish since 1999, never had a phone hooked up to it -- except for the one time E* sent a free pay per view. The only item I can't do is 'review' my bill from the receiver. Besides that, it's fine. you can still order PPV but have to pay an extra fee.

Thanks.  How much extra are we talking about for PPV?  And you mention the only thing you can't do is review your bill -- does that mean you still get news, sports, and the other things Dish mentions on their site regarding interactive tv?

 

[Mike123abc]

You can review your bill on the web site. I have never had my recievers connected to the phone line. Everything works great.

[Pete K.]

Doppelbok67;
You can use all of the interactive features except reviewing your bill or
adding programming. You can still check movie listings, read the tv and
movie reviews, check the weather etc. You can if you wish, subscribe to
"Playin TV" and play video games. That requires a phone call to Dish but not
a phone line that is constantly hooked to the receiver. If you are ready to
make the switch go for it. You won't regret it.

[Nick]

IMO, interactive TV is a novelty that will soon become tiresome, just like PiP. Don't be too impressed with iTV. People that don't have think they want it, but people that have it couldn't care less after a while.

[Tomsoundman]

people that have it couldn't care less after a while.

Agreed!

[guest]

Can't you hook up a cell phone to a dish receiver?

[MikeW]

Originally posted by guest
Can't you hook up a cell phone to a dish receiver?

Ummm....No.

The first thing any modem does is check for a dial tone. I know of no cell phone that has one. Hollywood, OTOH, tends to believe a dial tone exists. I've seen a few instances on TV shows where you hear a dialogue showing somebody using a cell phone. The call gets disconnected and you hear....a dial tone.

[guest]

My old analog celll phone has a dialtone

[Geronimo]

Actually when someone hangs up on a land line call you dont hear a dial tone either. Only when you pick up. But , we buy it.

[joe]

Actually with the new digital phone switches..dialtone isn't even required for the service to work..The phone company only keeps it on to keep the old people who are used to dial tone happy(imagine what would happen if you could just dial without dialtone)

[Nick]

...and just what would happen, joe?

[joe]

mass panic...

[Big Bob]

Originally posted by Nick
...and just what would happen, joe?

cats and dogs, living together

 

[Jacob S]

I have activated several customers using cell phones or beeper numbers as the number to use on the account. I used to not have to have a phone number but it has now been a requirement for a while now.

[BobaBird]

Big Bob, please, think of the children before you post things like that!