best (cheapest) way to upgrade 510 to 625

[plarkinjr]

I've been a customer so long, I watched the launch of E*2 on Ch100.
I'm pretty happy with my VIP722 in the living room.... but the 510 in my bedroom is on its last legs. I like the 625 dual-tuner DVR in SD format to replace that 510. I know about 'Dish N It Up' promo, but the 24 month thing bugs me. I could stomach 12... but that gets me to thinking:

are there other lower-cost (net) ways of getting a 625? I'm pretty sure my bill will go up by adding a dual-tuner reciever, but isnt there something about if I buy a 625 somewhere else, I don't have to pay a lease fee?

Here's what my bill currently looks like:
Classic Silver 200 With DVR 57.99
Classic Gold 250 10.00
GoldHD 10.00
PlatinumHD 10.00
Solo DVR Receiver 10.00

Any other cost-saving ideas based on that bill?

[harsh]

The short answer is no.

The long answer is that you can probably buy your way out of a commitment by spending upwards of $130 versus getting it free.

Your bill will NOT go up unless they press for a phone line connection and you can't provide it. The monthly lease and DVR fees are the same for a 625 as they are for a 510.

Note that if your 510 fails, they will likely replace it with another 510 for shipping cost.

[coldsteel]

Try up to $399 for no commitment on a 625. I recommend trying Ebay.

[Kent Taylor]

Is there a DVR fee associated with the 5xx series?

[ch3]

Is there a DVR fee associated with the 5xx series?

No for 501 and 508. Yes for 510.

[CABill]

I agree with harsh in post #2, but his long answer isn't anywhere near long enough. ;)

The two year commit is $12.50 / month and you said you were OK with 12 months. So it would cost you $150 to buy your way out in the middle of the 24 months. Cost nothing if you chose to stick with DISH for 24.
Any other cost-saving ideas based on that bill?
How about just dropping $10 / month for Platinum HD? Phone and say you want to cancel Platinum HD, Cancel Gold HD, then add HD back. Let us know if you don't get everything you have now for $10/mo instead of $20/mo.

Have you received occasional postcards for "loyal customers"? I've got one (Promo code RET370) that says it expires 8/31 and offers a free HD DVR, $10/mo off for a year, HBO & Showtime for 3 months, and free HD channels for 3 months. Phone 888.683.6074 and ask what applies for your account. That would get you two tuners, but not necessarily two outputs. Not sure which you were looking for in the bedroom. The HD receiver is going to add $2 / mo ($7 instead of $5 for a ViP) but even with an SD TV in the bedroom (for now), the difference between a sporting event on an HD channel and its SD version is significant.

If you are tied to the 625 idea, you can do the DIU offer to get it, pick the other column of the "loyal customer" postcard and get 3 $5 credits instead of the "free HD DVR" (but get the other parts). The 24 months of the DIU and Loyal promo would still let you bail at 12 months for the $12.50 for the remaining 12 months. But you'd also have received $10/mo for the 1st 12.

[plarkinjr]

CABill,
are you suggesting that instead of a 625, I could get a 722 and run it on my SD set for just $2/mo more? And it would view just fine on the SD TV (perhaps even better)? Can I view HD channels in SD on the SDTV?

And no, I don't need multiple outputs.... I want the dual record, record/watch, and PIP functions. Oh, and I'll put a wifi bridge in to link it to broadband to save on the phoneline fee, and do the dish remote access thing.

[garys]

Yes, that will work by keeping the 722 in single user mode.

[CABill]

CABill,
are you suggesting that instead of a 625, I could get a 722 and run it on my SD set for just $2/mo more? And it would view just fine on the SD TV (perhaps even better)? Can I view HD channels in SD on the SDTV?

And no, I don't need multiple outputs.... I want the dual record, record/watch, and PIP functions. Oh, and I'll put a wifi bridge in to link it to broadband to save on the phoneline fee, and do the dish remote access thing.

Pretty much what I was saying. But then you went and said PIP.

You'd have to phone that number to see what you would get that would still qualify for "cheapest". What they MIGHT be offering for free is a 612 which would do what you say you need, EXCEPT for PIP!

My postcard says Free HD DVR Upgrade (up to a $150 value). If your DIU price for an enhanced two TV HD DVR (their way to say 722) is $150, then it ought to qualify. You might only get a 622?? But the idea would be that you'd get a ViP HD DVR for free instead of paying anything for a 625. Reduce your bill by $10/mon for a year, another $10/mo for 3 months and Platinum would be another $10 off forever. Well, things can change next Feb!! I think you'd be happier with a 622 than a 625. Both now, and down the road.

But they own you for 24 months. ;) What they reduced the price by for the 1st 12 months would cover buying out the 2nd 12 months though. Not a bad offer for existing customers. Unless a shoe drops and breaks all DVRs!

I'd still suggest you call that number and ask exactly what you could get.

[plarkinjr]

Well, update... I called the main number to inquire about the two HD line items at $10 each. The rep said that as of Aug 1, "platinum" is included free with any HD package... So, basically he removed both of them, and added Gold HD for $10 and Platinum HD for $0. I'm told the channel list will not change. Why they didnt apply this automatically is unknown, so you might want to call. I'll call about RET370 and a ViP722 later today.

[plarkinjr]

Another Update.....
I called and mentioned RET370... they wanted to send me a 622 so I inquired further: she offered me "half off" the normal $125 so I paid $62.50, and an installer will be here tomorrow AM to hook up a 722. I apparently own the 510, so it goes into a closet as a backup. I also got:
Free HBO/Showtime for 3 months, $10 off for 12 months, and 3 months free HD credit.

The 'escape' fee is now $15/month should I terminate prior to 24 months. She pointed out I've been a customer for 13 years (has it really been that long? - wow).

Anyway, thanks all for your pointers!!!!!

[CABill]

I know why lowering your bill by $10/month wasn't done automatically - it reduces their revenue! A lot of customers may never know and will continue to pay the extra $10 for years. When they came up with the DVR Advantage bundle to save $X, it wasn't applied to everybody that would save month either. I've seen a lot of posts saying the combo isn't available for existing customers, but don't believe it for a minute.

You've lost your membership card in the Tightwad's Club though by paying $62.50 for the 722. If you were going to be happy with a 625, the free 622 should have been enough. Or is it a color thing? Even with it saying 622, you had a good chance of getting a 722 anyhow. No certainty, but installers usually don't have 622s. It might even be a 722k - do you have an OTA antenna?

So, you added $2 for a ViP, dropped $10 for Platinum, dropped $10/mo for a year, $10/mon for 3 months, and get 3 months of HBO & Showtime. You know you can get Cinemax for a year for a penny - right?

My postcard says $300 and $12.50/mo to cancel, but also says offer can change at any time. I guess I'll have to learn $15 break even points.

[scoobyxj]

You've lost your membership card in the Tightwad's Club though by paying $62.50 for the 722. If you were going to be happy with a 625, the free 622 should have been enough. Or is it a color thing? Even with it saying 622, you had a good chance of getting a 722 anyhow. No certainty, but installers usually don't have 622s. It might even be a 722k.

Pretty much what I was going to say. I haven't installed a 622 in probably over a year.

[plarkinjr]

Ah well, that's the way it goes.... I sometimes am not in a mood to spend time haggling over an amount. And when you think of your hourly wage, it sometimes makes sense to spend some $$ to save some time (and no, I'm not saying I'm paid anywhere near $63/hr). Too bad I didnt know the trick about installers not having 622s on hand. They are not even listed as available on the dish website AFAICT.... so "current" is often preferable for other reasons (years ago I got a swapout/refurb for like a "2000 deluxe" or something like that.... it was obsolete within months and I missed an upgrade chance)

I do not have an OTA antenna in the BR.... is that what the "k" model does? not include the OTA tuner? No big deal. Functionally, how else does the k model differ?

No, I didnt know about cinimax for $0.01/yr. Where is that? How?

Thanks again folks!

[plarkinjr]

Hrm.... well, installer just left.... he installed a 722k - which apparently doesnt have an RJ45 jack to connect to the ethernet port on my wifi bridge.

I guess I'll have to figure out something about home plug to connect to that bridge. I was really looking forward to dish-remote/sling-thingy.

[plarkinjr]

nevermind.... I found the enet jack once I looked for it. I guess he gave up too quick. :)

[Michael P]

CABill,
are you suggesting that instead of a 625, I could get a 722 and run it on my SD set for just $2/mo more? And it would view just fine on the SD TV (perhaps even better)? Can I view HD channels in SD on the SDTV?

And no, I don't need multiple outputs.... I want the dual record, record/watch, and PIP functions. Oh, and I'll put a wifi bridge in to link it to broadband to save on the phoneline fee, and do the dish remote access thing.
Yes and it's excellent! I have a 622 hooked to a 27" Trinitron via the S-Video jack. It's not true HD but you see the best picture your SD TV can achieve. I see a big difference (and it's not just the aspect ratio) between the HD and SD satellite channels.

[CABill]

I do not have an OTA antenna in the BR.... is that what the "k" model does? not include the OTA tuner? No big deal. Functionally, how else does the k model differ?

No, I didnt know about cinimax for $0.01/yr. Where is that? How?


722k comes with "smarter" remotes and the ability to transfer remote settings to the receiver (so when you replace a broken remote, you can teach the new one about the old setup), but more important for most people would be the opposite. Transfer the 722k timer schedule, preferences, ... to the remote. If the 722k needs to be replaced, you wouldn't have to re-enter everything to get the new one close to how the 1st was setup. Obviously, you'd lose the actual recordings unless you were also able to transfer them to an external drive. The OTA module for the 722k is $40 but includes two OTA ATSC tuners. Added functionality, but less mature firmware. Probably more differences - check http://dishuser.org/722k.php or search 722k there.

Search here for "Cinemax penny" and you'll probably find stuff from October about renew of the 2nd year for a penny and original terms when it came out. Just search the same thing on DISH and you should find http://www.dishnetwork.com/premiums/cinemax/default.aspx
CINEMAX FOR A YEAR FOR A PENNY
A Digital Home Advantage customer who subscribes to Cinemax and activates AutoPay with Paperless Billing will receive Cinemax for a year for $.01. If AutoPay with Paperless Billing is removed, Cinemax will be removed from the account.
I think paperless billing is no longer a requirement, and they may now require you have supplied an email address instead. AFAIK, AutoPay is still required. Phone or chat with a CSR for requirements.