[pastorgadget]

I lost my "moved" of local houston channels out of houston and got the new Beaumont locals, the problem is there is a problem between dish and the local ABC affiliate. I called Dish and talked to a rep they will install an antenna so I can get the Local ABC. I thought I saw that as an option on the special charlie chat but I thought it was free, what i found out was the install is free the antenna cost $49.99. Did I get goofed or did I just hear charlie wrong? I had them install the antenna and it will be hear in two days installed.

 

[Mike D-CO5]

Why did you "move" back to Beaumont? IF you have the hd receiver and a regular pair of rabbit ears you could have kept the hd locals from Houston and kept your Beaumont ota stations complete with guide information . I have a simple terk 44 clip on antenna with my Dish and I "moved" to Houston years ago and I have the best of both with my 622 .

 

[pastorgadget]

I did not "move" back to Beaumont, Dish moved me. When the free preview of the Beaumont locals after I had "moved" to houston I got worried and on Dec 1, poof they were gone. So figured Dish caught me in my "move"

 

[Mike D-CO5]

YOu better find out what your service address is listed as so you know for the future. I never saw the free preview of Beaumont locals as I have been "moved" for a year or more.

 

[swangdb]

I lost my "moved" of local houston channels out of houston and got the new Beaumont locals, the problem is there is a problem between dish and the local ABC affiliate. I called Dish and talked to a rep they will install an antenna so I can get the Local ABC. I thought I saw that as an option on the special charlie chat but I thought it was free, what i found out was the install is free the antenna cost $49.99. Did I get goofed or did I just hear charlie wrong? I had them install the antenna and it will be hear in two days installed.

A few weeks ago I called DISH about the distant locals issue. They offered me a free OTA antenna and installation. I asked what sort of antenna would they give me and I was told it would be a "quality" antenna.

A few days later a local DISH crew arrived with my free antenna and I was underwhelmed to say the least. They installed a bottom of the line Winegard, the Sensar. This is maybe a $30 antenna and according to the Winegard web site is good for up to 25 miles. I live 45 to 50 miles from nearby broadcasters and my house is surrounded by trees. I was expecting a higher-gain free antenna!

The installers put the antenna on my deck next to my DISH 500.

I received two channels, one was okay, one was blurry.

I have an old antenna amplifier, I connected it and received twelve channels. Three of them (NBC, FOX, CW) weren't bad and the rest were pretty blurry. I shortened the cable by about 25 feet and the picture improved slightly on some of the blurry channels. Overall, it's better than some rabbit ears I have.

Yesterday I received a postcard from DISH offering me a free OTA antenna. Just for the heck of it called them back. I told them I already had a free antenna and appreciated the gesture and didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but my suggestion was that they provide (okay, give away) better OTA antennas. The rep swore she was writing down my suggestion and was going to send it "upstairs."

I guess my next step is to get an STB ATSC Tuner and see if I can receive any digital channels with this antenna/amplifier setup. Then maybe I'll get a better antenna (though I wish Charlie would send me a better one!).

I once had a rooftop antenna with amplifier and rotator. The picture wasn't bad (better than what I have now) but storms kept tearing it up and finally Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina (a year apart) finished it off.

 

[psnarula]

YOu better find out what your service address is listed as so you know for the future. I never saw the free preview of Beaumont locals as I have been "moved" for a year or more.

you can check your service address without talking to a CSR. it can be done from your receiver (the "view my bill" interactive thing) or from dishnetwork.com (log in to pay your bill online).

 

[HuggieBear]

I got the free antenna from dish and all I can say is my rabbit ears were better than this "antenna" they installed. At least with my rabbit ears I was able tp get PBS HD at night and NBC HD too, now I can barely get NBC HD about 20% of the time during the wee early hours of the morning. No PBS at all not even the analog signal :nono2: The "grade A" fox signal is so stacicy I thought it was snowing during the cowboys game, when I was able to see it. Thank goodness for the NFL network and their replay Granted the fox signal was never all that, but atleast it was watchable with my rabbit ears think I am going to put it back on my TV and say bye bye to the free antenna.

 

[swangdb]

I got the free antenna from dish and all I can say is my rabbit ears were better than this "antenna" they installed.
...
I am going to put it back on my TV and say bye bye to the free antenna.

When I first tried my free antenna, I didn't like it either. But when I added the antenna preamp, I didn't hate it as much.

Of course, I already had the preamp and the extra cable going into the house.

Now that you've got the antenna mount and diplexers, you might consider trying a better antenna out there someday.

 

[DougRuss]

One good thing....they did all the hard work ! If it doesn't work that well,all you have to is buy a better one for your area and exchange it for the one Dish put up.

By the way, what type of Mounting ,etc is Dish using for these Freebie Install's?

 

[HuggieBear]

By the way, what type of Mounting ,etc is Dish using for these Freebie Install's?

At first it was mounted on the dish but they could not get any type of a signal there so they put it on the eave of the roof still not much of a signal. What they needed to install is a really big antenna as none of the stations are really close 50 miles being the closest. And there be a forest of trees almost every mile between me and them stations

 

[DougRuss]

At first it was mounted on the dish but they could not get any type of a signal there so they put it on the eave of the roof still not much of a signal. What they needed to install is a really big antenna as none of the stations are really close 50 miles being the closest. And there be a forest of trees almost every mile between me and them stations

Thaks for the Info !!

I was wondering at what "Great Expense" Dish (E*) was going to go thru with these OTA Antenna Installs ?

It matched my expectations !!

 

[pastorgadget]

My antenna has been installed, I have to say that I was not impressed with what they installed, not sure what model or make it is, basicly they attached a "wing" shape antenna to the mast of my dish. The antenna is bi directional at best. But, they did play with it a few times and the I am now getting a decent picture of the local ABC station so my goal was met. They did not charge me the $49.99 I was told on the phone, good thing, there was no way I was going to pay $49.99 for what they installed.

The techs also said that the local ABC affiliate would be added in the next couple of weeks, but I don't put alot of stock in the rumors techs tell me. I was told that we would get locals with in a year when I got my dish, that was three years ago, we got locals 2 months ago. :lol:

 

[catmom50]

Yesterday the Dish guys came to put up our "FREE" antenna. My hubby said they took a look at the one we already have and said it was better than the one they would install, so no thanks...we said goodbye to that, and goodby to Dish, Direct will be here tomorrow to hook us up.

 

[pastorgadget]

After all the hassle the local ABC KBMT is finally on Dish .

 

[whatchel1]

At first it was mounted on the dish but they could not get any type of a signal there so they put it on the eave of the roof still not much of a signal. What they needed to install is a really big antenna as none of the stations are really close 50 miles being the closest. And there be a forest of trees almost every mile between me and them stations

I took a look at your location on antenna web & it doesn't even show that you have any local stations close enuff to pick up OTA. You must be out in the boonies. The free antenna's just aren't gonna do you much good.

 

[boba]

My antenna has been installed, I have to say that I was not impressed with what they installed, not sure what model or make it is, basicly they attached a "wing" shape antenna to the mast of my dish. The antenna is bi directional at best. But, they did play with it a few times and the I am now getting a decent picture of the local ABC station so my goal was met. They did not charge me the $49.99 I was told on the phone, good thing, there was no way I was going to pay $49.99 for what they installed.

The techs also said that the local ABC affiliate would be added in the next couple of weeks, but I don't put alot of stock in the rumors techs tell me. I was told that we would get locals with in a year when I got my dish, that was three years ago, we got locals 2 months ago. :lol:

That description fits the Winegard Sensar which is a pretty good antenna. The biggest problem is the installers are far better at installing satellite dishes than they are at TV antennas.

 

[Mike D-CO5]

After all the hassle the local ABC KBMT is finally on Dish .

How do all the local channels look Pastor? I have Houston locals since I "moved" years ago and I am curious how they look on your tv and whether it is a hd tv or an sd tv.

 

[pastorgadget]

How do all the local channels look Pastor? I have Houston locals since I "moved" years ago and I am curious how they look on your tv and whether it is a hd tv or an sd tv.

I don't have HD , the local signals are preatty compatible to what I had with Time Warner, no shadows. The local broadcast are what they are, KFDM does very well (I wonder if Dish is picking up the DTV of KFDM), what the local produce and what we see has more to do with how they process their media, KFDM is SDI through out, KBTV is hybrid analog/digital and KBMT is some digital and alot of analog.