I'm a part-time resident of Northern Colorado (in the mountains, where OTA is an impossibility) and a Dish customer. Our existing Dish receiver is ancient and came with the house when we bought it just over 10 years ago.
I'd like to upgrade to HD and am looking for an affordable, low hassle way to do it.
Because we're part time residents and get to the house only three to five times a year for periods of five to 20 days at a time, our programming is on pause most of the time. We're not on contract, so except for getting warned that we can't pause more than once (?) a year and that our programming will automatically resume in six months, we don't get hassled. We do pay change fees whenever we start or stop the programming and pay a $5 account maintenance fee while the programming is on pause. I'm fine with all of that -- it's way cheaper than keeping the programming running all the time via Dish or cable.
Our current programming is America's Top 120 plus locals. We don't plan any changes. Part of the point of the upgrade is to get DVR capability. I'm thinking a 722 or 922 would suit our needs.
I think that to avoid going on contract I'll have to purchase equipment. Is that correct? And to get free HD for life, I'll have to pay the one-time fee, right?
Will I be eligible for free or low-cost installation? If not, can I self install? (I've moved the dish on the existing system and don't have any qualms about trying it with a new system. Worst that can happen is that I have to have a pro come in and do it if I find that I can't.)
Any other gotchas?
Thanks in advance.
I'd like to upgrade to HD and am looking for an affordable, low hassle way to do it.
Because we're part time residents and get to the house only three to five times a year for periods of five to 20 days at a time, our programming is on pause most of the time. We're not on contract, so except for getting warned that we can't pause more than once (?) a year and that our programming will automatically resume in six months, we don't get hassled. We do pay change fees whenever we start or stop the programming and pay a $5 account maintenance fee while the programming is on pause. I'm fine with all of that -- it's way cheaper than keeping the programming running all the time via Dish or cable.
Our current programming is America's Top 120 plus locals. We don't plan any changes. Part of the point of the upgrade is to get DVR capability. I'm thinking a 722 or 922 would suit our needs.
I think that to avoid going on contract I'll have to purchase equipment. Is that correct? And to get free HD for life, I'll have to pay the one-time fee, right?
Will I be eligible for free or low-cost installation? If not, can I self install? (I've moved the dish on the existing system and don't have any qualms about trying it with a new system. Worst that can happen is that I have to have a pro come in and do it if I find that I can't.)
Any other gotchas?
Thanks in advance.