Coming back to Dish...

[Ray_Clum]

Finally have decided to get Dish again. I'm signing up through SBC and getting a 522 to control both my TV's.

I currently have TCw/locals, a DirecTiVo and a 2nd reciever
$41.99 TC
+$4.99 TiVo
+$4.99 2nd Receiver
=========
$51.97

Will be getting AT120 (locals incl) and a 522.
$42.99 AT120
+$4.98 DVR
-$6.00 All Distance & DSL customer
=========
$41.91

A $10/month savings... If I decide that AT120's not enough I still have room to go to AT180 or add a premium and be at same cost I currently am. Will keep the DirecTV equipment for a few months just in case we're not happy with Dish picture or problems with 522 and then probably put the DTV equip on eBay.

I know that setting up the 522 to control two TV's makes each TV a single tuner DVR, I'll just set up most of the timers in the bedroom where the wife and I rarely watch TV - primarily for music channels while getting ready or when her sister & niece visit. If I'm happy with the 522, but want to go to dual tuner, I can always have SBC come out and install a 111 or 311 in the bedroom...

[bavaria72]

Welcome back to the fold. I had seriously looked into the SBC package deal but the idea of not having any service for 6 months was a deal breaker. Plus I used SBC's "Package" calculator and I would only have saved 2 dollars a month. I'll revisit the SBC package again when they start dropping fiber in my neighborhood (seems that SBC is going with the FTTN deployment). Besides you get to watch Charlie Chats again! Did SBC give you any indication on the new Wire2 MediaPortal box?

[boba]

`The AT-180 is closer to TC+ you may find some channels missing.

[Ray_Clum]

Yep, but I'm looking at TC not TC+ vs. AT-120.

[garypen]

Yiu're smart by going with SBC Dish. In a few months, SBC will have their Home Media Portal available. It will receive Dish channels, in addition to OTA digital. But, it will get it's program guide info from the DSL line, along with email and other cool content. And, it will connect to your home network, enabling playback of media files through your home theater. It is also a dual-tuner HD DVR, doing all of the standard DVR stuff.

Dish's main problem is there HW design and support. This new unit from SBC does away with all that crap. Of course, there are still some programming issues. But, for me, the OTA tuners help much of that.

But, who knows? I may be happy with the Comcast 6412 that I'll be using until SBC releases the HMP.

[lazaruspup]

I wish we could see a firm date on the release of the 2wire box...

[finniganps]

Gary - when do you switch back to cable?

[garypen]

In a coupla weeks. I'll be happy to give you a report of my findings. I won't pull any punches, either. I have no personal agenda, pro or con, with any of these utilities. I simply call em as I see em.