California State Fair (DBS-related)

[Mark Holtz]

Anything that is not related to DBS can be found here.

Yesterday was the opening of the California State Fair, and the first one that I've attended in ages.

One thing that I've noticed is that DirecTV and Dish Network are making their presence known at the fair... even more than Comcast. Apparently, Dish Network along with a local satellite dealer is sponsoring the fireworks, while DirecTV is providing TV service to serveral venues and has plenty of signage up. Dish also had their HDTV demo truck out there, but I haven't gotten in yet. Since I work practically next door, I will be going out there several more times.

I went with two other friends who were ready to switch from their blankity blank cable company up in Olivehurst (near Marysville) to DirecTV, and they ended up being the first customer to sign up for DirecTV service. I was their "technical advisor", so they are getting the NFL Sunday Ticket promo, DirecTiVo, Phase III Dish, and additional receiver. In addition, all three of us got TiVo dolls. A call for install will occur today, and the system will be installed next week.

Don't have much more to report now.... yesterday was "unlimited rides day", and I concentrated on riding as many rides before I passed out. Maybe I'll have photos next week.

[Mark Holtz]

Oh yeah, one of the Dish dealers had a sign saying something about "DVR RECORDER { TEVO". Riiiggghhhttttt.....

[Nick]

Mark, did you delete my post?

[Mark Holtz]

Negative, just moved it to another thread.

[Mark Holtz]

Okay, went to the fair again yesterday, but forgot my digital camera.

The Dish Network trailer was okay, but it was more of a combo between SD and HD. The two HD monitors were showing soccer and olympics. There were also several SD setups. Pictures would serve better.

Besides the DirecTV sports tent showing off the DirecTV setup, there was also a sales booth located near a major mexican food court to sell DirecTV spanish programming. Hello, Dish, guess which is one of the major hispanic markets in California?

Comcast was pathetic. I played the "Why would I want to dump my Dish?" with them. I guess the guy was caught off guard with the "I'm paying only $55 for all of the baisc channels, no premiums." Then, the killer question: "Do you offer DVR service?" Their answer: "We were planning to, but we've postponed that and are working to launch a service that indexes all of the past weeks programs and then allows you to view them on demand." No need to bother further. We all know about vaporware.

[pinkertonfloyd]

Heh, plus Dish/DTV won't total your sewer system when "installing upgrades in your neighborhood", and then try to cover it up. Comcast did $1800 worth of damage by destroying my sewer system while installing fiber on my street, took them 3 months and a few threats from an attorney before they paid it back.

Best line from it was when we dug up my line, and found comcast's line had gone through my sewer line (a fairly common thing according to my plumber, who also said they knew damn well they hit my line, the machine "jumps and slams forward about 1 foot suddenly") I call customer service who had a "sucks to be you" attitude, even after to talk to a supervisor, and the best they could do was get a truck out to look at it on "Thursday" (it was a saturday, and I had no working sewer!). I told them I was going to cut it (figuring they'd come out earlier), and they said "go ahead, it'll probably just cut off a few homes". (In the end my plumber wouldn't do it, said Comcast would throw "Ultility Rights" at them, and force them to pay to replace the line that killed my sewer (and was not in the way of it).

End result... plumber had to dig my line back about 15 feet, lower the main down about 18" more... took 10 hours of labor... and a ton of parts to get it working correctly and smoothly). Then Comcast played the "contractor" game, and kept sending out different people tring to see who would confess, then finally after a bunch of missed promises to "drop a check off", we gave them a pay, or we will file a suit on monday, they said they'd drop a check off at 3PM... I take off early from work to meet the guy... and wait, and wait... next day I'm cleaning the porch, and under my mat was the check. Seems they didn't want to see me face to face and dropped it off.

Nice customer service... I swear even if they gave me FREE service, I wouldn't use them.

[pinkertonfloyd]

DirectTV Deal at the Fair...

HDTV (non-tivo) box for $99, Trio LNB (HD) Dish, $99, up to 3 more receivers... FREE!

Was $221.80 out the door with tax... they install on Monday (Labor Day). Getting the NFL Ticket... woot!

[Adam Richey]

That's a nice deal. I wish I could find one like that.

[Mark Holtz]

That's good to hear.

I do have pictures to put up, but, alas, no working system at home.