Looking for a promotion to own DVR/Receiver

[kthan]

I am looking for a promotion to own a DVR and/or receiver. I had found several sites who do this promotion with 1yr contract. But, no more. Only the lease deal ("digital home advantage" )is available.

My questions:

First, is there any site I can get the deal above?

Second, I was told that there are some DVRs with no fee (like 721). What are the models for no fee? Can I get one of these models through a lease deal (now they lease 522, don't know the other model).

Third, if it is not possible to get no-fee DVR, which DVR would you recommend for purchase and where (like, ebay?)

I am thinking to install 2room systems and I need either dual tuner DVR or DVR & Receiver. I was also told that there is additional fee for receiver. Is this true? Any model I don't have to pay this (in case 1 single tuner DVR and 1Reciver setup)?

Thank you very much for your help in advance.

[larrystotler]

DVRs w/ VoD(Video ON Demand) Fee of $4.98/month:
522 2 tuner/2 output Lease/DHA only 100 hour
510 1 tuner/ 1 output $299 100 hour
921 2 tuner/ 1 output $549 HD 180 hour(25 hour HD)

DVRs w/out VoD fee:
501 1 tuner/ 1 output 35 hour $129 discontinued/refurb only
508 1 tuner/ 1 output 60 hour $179 discontinued/refurb only
721 2 tuner/ 1 output 90 hour $349 discontinued/refurb only

There are also the Dishplayer 7100/7200(WebTV) models, but there are not available from E*. All prices are retail. Retailers may charge more for the 501/508s. Last time I checked, the 501s were gone, as were the 721s.

The current upgrade program, DishNItUp, is a lease only program, and only the 510 is available. Some customers have managed to get purchased 522s activated, but I would recommend getting 1 from a retailer since E* owns the lease box once it is activated under a lease program. If purchased from a retailer, they will usually activate. Chack eBay for current prices on used models. Always get the receiver and smart card #s and check w/ E8 to see if any balance is owed before buying a used receiver. Good luck.

[chewey]

If you get it directly from Dish, you can get a 510 and 301 that you own with the free-for-all package (new customers only). With this deal you must commit for a year.

If you go with the digital home advantage through Dish, you can hook up 4 rooms with different combinations of the 811, 522, 510, 301, or 322. With this deal there is no commitment, but you will not own the equipment.

Another route you could go with would be to buy your own receivers and Dish 500. If you went with this route I would recommend buying a 508 or 721 to avoid the extra $5 dvr fee. Dishstore.net sells the 508 for $225, which is a pretty good deal considering the used ones on ebay go for at least $200 (based on the auctions I have checked out). Plus you could avoid any potential problems you could face by buying a used 508 such as PPV fees or a non working receiver. You could also get a Dish 500 from dishstore.net, but you may be able to save some money by buying one on ebay as there is not as much risk invovled in just buying a dish and lnb.

I guess it all depends on how many tvs you need to hook up and how long you plan on staying on with Dish.

[ClaudeR]

The dish home advantage makes a lot of sense, since there is no more "lease" fee. If you spend $200 on a non-VOD box, it would take over three years to pay it off. Given the fact that the hard drive has the most failure rate, it may not make sense to own a box with a 1 year warranty. Also, consider the 522, you get two outputs for 2 TVs, only pay one VOD fee, no second reciever fee - it's a wash, and no outlay of cash on a box.

Now that I went through that logic, I will probably buy the 921 HD unit for $200 first time sub. It only has one output, but the fact that it is HiDef intrigues me, along with the OTA tuner, and 6 months of free HiDef.

Still haven't decided, since I like my money more than I watch TV... Good luck.

[boba]

Until the end of the year a DISH dealer can set you up with the FREE DISH promotion $49.99 activation, $49.99 credited back on your first bill making it free. 1 YR. contract at the end of the year you own it.

[ClaudeR]

Until the end of the year a DISH dealer can set you up with the FREE DISH promotion $49.99 activation, $49.99 credited back on your first bill making it free. 1 YR. contract at the end of the year you own it.


Does this include the 510? I would guess not, but they don't seem to want to talk about the free dish promo - they push the DHA.

[larrystotler]

Actually, the Free Dish promo will be available until January 31, 2005. However, you have to be a new customer to get it. And with the free for all, it's a $200 upgarde to get the 510, so it would be $350 upfront, and you would get 15 $10 credits as long as you kept your bill paid.

As for the DHA not having a lease fee, the DHP, which preceded the DHA, had a $5 lease fee, but it also included a lifetime warrenty. The DHA only has a 1 year warrenty. After the warrenty runs out, you have to pay to replace the equipment or get the DHPP for $5.99 a month to get a warrenty.

[Chris Freeland]

Actually, the Free Dish promo will be available until January 31, 2005. However, you have to be a new customer to get it. And with the free for all, it's a $200 upgarde to get the 510, so it would be $350 upfront, and you would get 15 $10 credits as long as you kept your bill paid.

As for the DHA not having a lease fee, the DHP, which preceded the DHA, had a $5 lease fee, but it also included a lifetime warrenty. The DHA only has a 1 year warrenty. After the warrenty runs out, you have to pay to replace the equipment or get the DHPP for $5.99 a month to get a warrenty.

You are only partly correct. The Free Dish promotion is a different promotion then the Free For All. Free Dish their is no extra up-front fee for the DVR510 upgrade, but their is a 1 year commitmentand the monthly $4.98 DVOD fee unless you sub to AEP or LEP. You are correct on the Free For All, their is no commitment, however the only real advantage to the Free for All is if you have questionable credit you will qualify because their is no credit check, the Free Dish promotion has the same credit requirements as DHA.

You are also only partly correct on DHA. If a receiver or LNB fails even after 1 year, it will be covered without the extra cost DPP insurance policy, the only difference is that if you need a technician come to your home after 1 year, you only pay $29 if you have DPP and $99 if you do not, unless you are totally technically inept the DPP plan is a rip of as far as I am concerned.

[larrystotler]

Right. That's what I said. Free Dish will be eliminated(if E* doesn't waffle again) after Jan 31, 2005. It allows you to get the euipment free or at a reduced rate and you own it after your commintment. FrreForAll is a buy it now, get the $10 credits back. However, I was correcting the part about the 510 upgrade. It is a $200 upgrade for FFA, and you only get back the base receiver credits, not the entire $350.

As for the DHA, there is a lot of questions regarding it. I have been told that the equipment has only the base 1 year warrenty. E* will be sure to waffle on this depending upon the CSR and manager. As for having a tech come out, if it's on the roof, I would say it will probably need a tech in most cases. It's another one of the unclear policies..... :(

[kthan]

Thanks for all good info.
By the way, where can I get a free promo (not free for all, a own equipment at the end of contract)? It seems to me that it is still available until January 2005. But, I could not find a retailer who had this promo, nor at dish directly.

[larrystotler]

Any retailer can do the Free Dish, however, some are no longer offering it. You will have to check the various dealers to find one that will do it, or call E* and complain that no one will offer it to you.

[kthan]

That is the primary reason I started this thread. I've checked over 20 online dealers as well as many local retailers. None of them had "free own promo." Then, how would I assure that there is "free promo" still available until January 2005. Even when I complain this with E*, I need to have some sort of information about the promotion and its validity.

[chewey]

That is the primary reason I started this thread. I've checked over 20 online dealers as well as many local retailers. None of them had "free own promo." Then, how would I assure that there is "free promo" still available until January 2005. Even when I complain this with E*, I need to have some sort of information about the promotion and its validity.


Why don't you do the "Free for all" Through Dish?

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/getdish/overview/index.shtml

If you are going to do the "Digital Home Advantage" program, your best bet would be to became an affiliate for one of the online dealers and then collect the comission for signing yourself up for Dish.

http://www.vmcsatellite.com/channels/affiliates.cfm?aid=70812

or

http://www.allsat.com/?kbid=3905

[dnsc_installer]

E* themselves should be able to set you up on the FFA (Free for All), The biggest reason mosst retailers are saying they don't do it anymore, is the other two ways they get to collect a credit card number and if the account is terminated (free dish) they can collect their fees for early termination, and with (DHA) if the equipment is not returned if termitaed in a certain amount of time after install. The reason they do this with Free Dish and DHA, is because E* is strict with them that if a customer cancels before their contract is up or fails to return the equipment, the retailer has a way to get their money back for the charge backs E* issues for early terminations under Free Dish and non_returned equipment under DHA.