What kind of dish would be needed?

[RobbinMerritt]

A friend asked for recommendation on a two room (DVR/normal unit) combination. Checking some online vendors, I see they offer packages with an 18" dish and an 18x20" dish. The larger dish is $50 more. How do I tell what dish my friend would need? This is Houston, TX. He would want locals but no interest in speciality programming or HD.

Any Internet vendor recommendations?

[boba]

In Houston he won't need the oval dish but for future programming he may want it. If he wants HDTV next year he will need the oval dish and it will cost more your equipment is the cheapest when you are a new customer. You might want to shop a local dealer Directv has 3 X FREE promotion going on now so any dealer supporting the promotion should be close to the internet dealers price with local service and face to face presence.

[Karl Foster]

I agree with boba that you are best using a local vendor, but since you asked for internet dealers, here are three reputable ones:

www.orbitsat.com
www.americansatellite.com
www.expertsatellite.com

I have personally purchased from orbitsat and got a good deal. Check them all out and make sure to look at shipping costs as well.

I bought my original Directv system from a local store, and installed it myself with no problems.

[Mark Holtz]

I would tell your friend that while he doesn't need a triple LNB dish now, it's cheaper to get the triple LNB dish now and have it installed once. It may cost a little more since it's a market served by 101, but he would be ready for HDTV. In addition, some good PI channels like NASA is on 119.

The triple LNB, if purchased as a existing customer, would cost $150.

I had ordered my system through Expert Satellite using a referral code from someone here at DBSTalk, and all I had to do is wait two weeks for the install. But, since my (mothers) home is already pre-wired from the Dish install, all they had to do was remove the old Dishes, add the new Dish, and run a second line to my room.

[RobbinMerritt]

Thanks for the feedback.

My friend is a Dish customer now, but the cost to add a switch and 510 compared to the new customer, two room price of DirecTV is probably going to be reason enough for him to switch.

[Mike Richardson]

Robbin, isin't a 501 only $99 and that includes install and switches?

[RobbinMerritt]

Robbin, isin't a 501 only $99 and that includes install and switches?

Where?

[Mike Richardson]

Where?

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=18314&highlight=510