Ordering a 722 with SD service

[Fubar411]

I'm new to Dish, about to sign up for the first time. I have two SD TVs and really am only considering HD after Christmas. I was going to order through go dish dot com, and it looks like only an extra $5 a month to get a 722 vs 625 receiver/dish combination. I figure I'd be better off ready to go HD than to lease SD equipment for two years.

Question: How much each month will I be paying after the promotions are over to have a 722 vs 625 and will Dish let me do this?

[harsh]

You can use an SDTV with an HD receiver, but be aware that you will be required to subscribe to HD programming services as a part of the equipment lease agreement.

The cost difference between two 625 receivers and what you're proposing is $12/month ($10 for HD and $2 additional monthly lease cost).

How many of what kind of TVs do you currently have?

[coldsteel]

Not anymore. HD programming is NOT required anymore, so there'd be no difference in cost between a 625 of a 722 to two TVs. There's not even the HD Enabling Fee since February.

[lee635]

Second that. Talked to a "specialist" at E* last week about downgrading and was told there is no monthly "HD fee" anymore.

[dbrakob]

I have Classic 100 DVR advantage with a 722 and pay $45 per month. $35 for programming and $10 for DVR advantage. No HD package, no HD enabling fee. I even get my HD locals included with the SD locals.

[scooper]

Hmm - wonder if I could swing a 722K for my 625 ?

[CABill]

I figure I'd be better off ready to go HD than to lease SD equipment for two years.

Question: How much each month will I be paying after the promotions are over to have a 722 vs 625 and will Dish let me do this?

You would be much better off to get HD now. As a new sub, you'd even be able to sign up for the HD Programming at no net cost for 6 months. After 6 months, you can drop the HD Programming w/o any fee. Similar for the 3 months of HBO / Showtime for a new sub.

Find a co-worker, friend, family member that is a DISH sub to "refer" you with ClubDISH. You get an extra $30 and they get 10 $5 monthly credits (and some PPV coupons on their 1st referral).

We can't tell you how much $ after promotions end unless you tell us what you are going to sign up for. :D You wouldn't be doing any Turbo package where the discount is different, but the basic programming metal packages reduce the monthly bill by $25 so they would go up that much at the end of 6 months. Not ALL packages would have the $25/month discount though.

As long as the 722 is your ONLY ViP receiver, there is no difference in price between a 722 and 625. After the 1st ViP, they cost $7/month instead of $5/month for an SD receiver as additional receivers on the account.

[Michael P]

Second that. Talked to a "specialist" at E* last week about downgrading and was told there is no monthly "HD fee" anymore.

News to me! I'm grandfathered, there is a note on my account about "no HD Enabling fee". This is because I originally owned a 921 which never had the fee.

Guess what? You still get some HD programming on an "SD account"! I get my locals, RSN's and premiums in HD. It's only the "basic" top-x00 channels that are not in HD. For $10 they will turn on the HD on those channels. If yoyu don't have an HDTV you save $10/mo and still have some great HD content. This is especially good for games from the RSN's (unfortunately neither of them are carried on E* 24/7 in HD but I usually only watch them when a game is on anyway and when a game is on 90% of the time the game has an HD feed enabled).

[Fubar411]

Thanks for all your replies. I had a ViP 722K installed this Sunday (two days after I ordered!) and it is working flawlessly. I'm sure it will take me awhile to get the lay of the land, but this I'm very impressed how much the technologies have advanced since the days of my 2001 single tuner TiVo.

Another question, is it worth it to get the DTV add on module? Do I save any money by not subscribing to local (St Louis) HD channels? I haven't gotten a real bill yet, so I'm confused what all I'm paying for.

Also, I hooked the 722 up to my network, does it do anything cool? I am even thinking about running a phone line for the caller id, I've always wanted to have that show up onscreen!

Thanks again,
Rob

[coldsteel]

With the broadband connected, dropping locals would save you $4-$5 a month, and gives you backup in rain fade issues. I'd get the module and scan in anyway, personally.

Also, the broadband allows you to manage that HDDVR on your Dish account online.

[Michael P]

Thanks for all your replies. I had a ViP 722K installed this Sunday (two days after I ordered!) and it is working flawlessly. I'm sure it will take me awhile to get the lay of the land, but this I'm very impressed how much the technologies have advanced since the days of my 2001 single tuner TiVo.

Another question, is it worth it to get the DTV add on module? Do I save any money by not subscribing to local (St Louis) HD channels? I haven't gotten a real bill yet, so I'm confused what all I'm paying for.

Also, I hooked the 722 up to my network, does it do anything cool? I am even thinking about running a phone line for the caller id, I've always wanted to have that show up onscreen!

Thanks again,
Rob In order to answer your question about the OTA module we need to know how far are you from the transmitters? Do you have a good antenna? You will still want to sub to your locals in order to get the guide data. BTW: there is no separate "HD locals", if you sub to the locals you get all the locals. The "Big-4" networks come in both SD & HD, the rest come SD only off the satellite. So if you are a PBS fan the only way to get PBS in HD is via the OTA module (there may be a few markets where an additional HD station is available, but for the most part it's just NBC, ABC, CBS & FOX).

Additionally getting the OTA feeds means getting all the subchannels that are not carried on the satellite (PBS stations usually have 2-4, ION has 4 etc.). The guide data for OTA is available on most but not all subchannels.

On the 722k having the OTA module (presuming you get both OTA modules) means having the ability to record up to 4 separate programs simultaneously (2 off satellite 2 OTA). The older versions with the built-in OTA module can only do 3 at a time.

If you have broadband you can download additional programming for "on demand" viewing. You can also program you DVR over the internet.

Caller ID works if you connect a land line and subscribe to caller ID service from the phone company.

[Fubar411]

No kidding! I'll have to look into all that. I used to do programming on the net w/ my TiVo, how do I do it with Dish?

Just amazed by this box. I don't suppose it can access my mp3 collection or anything like that?

[Kevin Brown]

Second that. Talked to a "specialist" at E* last week about downgrading and was told there is no monthly "HD fee" anymore.

Hmmm... I have a 722, and my wife has a 622. So I could upgrade her DVR for just the upgrade price? ($100?) We are already paying the additional DVR fee every month. She has a 37" ED (480p) plasma. But HD on that display is still better than Dish's SD.

[catnapped]

Just realize that you have to have the additional dishes/equipment installed even if you plan on keeping the SD package. Tried to see if I could get a 722 shipped (upgrade for a 625) with just a Dish 500 (and keeping the SD Silver package) but no-go. I had to pass on it right now.

[harsh]

Hmmm... I have a 722, and my wife has a 622. So I could upgrade her DVR for just the upgrade price?There's little point to upgrading a ViP622 to a ViP722. That money would better be spent on getting an external hard drive setup.