[restart88]

I have ordered a new Samsung 30" HDTV tube direct view (has 2 HDMI) so I thought I'd just check out what receiver deals Dish was offering.

Select an HD-DVR for two rooms of service
$199.99 $199.99 (includes FREE installation)

Ok, now that looks like a pretty good deal on the HD-DVR lease I'm a bit confused about monthly fees mentioned. Reading it one way I could wind up paying like $15or so in service fees alone.

Without clouding things too much, let's just say I purchase Dish package programming off & on. So really, the only HD pak that really interests me (since you gotta sub to at least 1 HD pak as I read the terms) is the HD Pak. But I'm fine with just HD locals and HD that may come with a movie pack.

My case is a little unique. I have Dominion SkyAngel, which counts as qualified programming. I also have locals & the Encore pak & the free info channels pak. I have 2 receivers, a 508 PVR & a 301 which is connected to a 540 SA Tivo.

I hope I've not been too confusing. Can I get some advice about what to do? What will I really be paying a month for service fees?

 

[Jim5506]

To get the ViP622 for $199 you MUST sign up for an 18 month committment with one of the Dish Metallic programming packages.

Yes there are about $12 in monthly fees associalte with the HD programming - $6 leased receiver fee, $5.98 DVR service fee, and there is a $5 fee for program access which is waived if you have a phone line connected to the receiver.

If you have more than one receiver there is a $5 additional receiver fee for the second, $5 for the third and so forth.

 

[CABill]

I'm not sure where you found the reference to HD Pak, but that USED to be a choice for MPEG2 HD Receivers. If you are already subscribed to HD Pak, you can continue to get it but there are no NEW subscriptions allowed. To get anything in HD other than locals and the HD version of a premium channel, you would have to subscribe to DishHD. HD Bronze is the lowest of those at $50/month. If you only want locals (OTA or any sat supplied), you would have to pay

$5.98 DVR fee (would be waived with subscription to "everything"
$6.00 HD Enable fee (would be waived with a DishHD subscription)
$6.00 622 Lease fee
$5.00 Phone line fee (waived 622 is connected to a phone line)

You can't do anything "off and on". The leased receivers require a constant subscription to a basic package. DishFAMILY is the cheapest at $20. They have a $6.00 Access fee for OWNED receivers when you don't subscribe to a "basic package". You probably qualify to not be charged that with the SA subscription. But that doesn't continue into the terms of leased receivers. If you stop subscribing to the minimum DishFAMILY, you return the receiver (and they keep the $199). If you PURCHASE a 622, you can add ATxxx for a bit and then pay $5 to cancel/downgrade. The purchased 622 would have the above $22.98 fees w/o a DishHD package ($6 lease changes to $6 Additional Rec).

If your primary goal is to record OTA HD and satellite SD channels, you might look into a 942. It would save the HD Enable fee (it doesn't require a subscription to DishHD).

The $199 offer doesn't require a subscription to DishHD, but you do pay the $6 HD Enable fee if you don't subscribe.

 

[restart88]

Everything Pak? Me??

I have a phone line in the living room. Where I got the link, that I was unable to provide, was after I logged into my account and clicked on upgrades.

If I understand ther offer, the receiver has 3 tuners, so as I understand the receiver you could use one in a 2nd room but could only record from 3 tuners at one time. And also the receiver would record either Dish or OTA. Is that the receiver?

I have Dish 500 and an 18" pointed at 61.5 connected by an SW-21. So would I have to change my antenna to get the 2nd room access (thus meaning I could cancel the current 2 SD boxes)?

The leased receivers require a constant subscription to a basic package. DishFAMILY is the cheapest at $20.

No, Sky Angel is actually the cheapest qualified programming, unless this is somehow different for HD pricing. As I said, I have SA.

What I meant is I do also add Top packages off & on. For example, I was happy for a while with Top 60 until I got called & tricked into Top 120 being hyped as a special priced offer. I then cancelled all top programming and haven't regretted it.

 

[CABill]

Yep, the 622 has two satellite tuners and one OTA ATSC tuner to record digital channels (doesn't record/display NTSC analog channels). You can operate TV1 at the Samsung HDTV and also carry the TV2 via coax to distant rooms to watch two things independently on each. That would let you remove the two current receivers from the account. As it turns out, that would only be helpful if you were to purchase the 622 on your own. If you lease the 622 as a DISH'n It Up upgrade, you pay the $6 lease fee even if it is your only receiver. That means it would be the same each month to keep one of your current receivers active and add a 622 as a lease. A purchased 622 eliminates the $6 Addl Rec fee when it is the only receiver on the account. The $199 lease offer comes with all installation equipment and labor. Purchased doesn't, but all you would need is a 2nd SW21 and coax from the new SW21 to where the 622 will be (and coax to carry TV2 to a remote room (or two).

I have no experience as a SA sub, but thought you just avoided the charge for "failure to subscribe to a minimum package" like AT60. The terms of the existing subscriber upgrade to a leased receiver are pretty specific, but SA might get you around them. The DISH'n It Up agreement (http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5521&d=1143587313 isn't current since it still says $25 for turning in a receiver instead of $10) says:

1)
you must purchase DishFAMILY (currently $19.99/mo. or $24.99/mo. with local network channels where available), America's Top 60 (currently
$29.99/mo. or $34.99/mo. with local network channels where available),

... blah, blah and ...

Programming. If a Receiver is being provided to you under this Agreement (i.e., under the DISH'n It Up promotion), a minimum programming package of DishFAMILY, America's Top 60, DishLATINO, or Great Wall TV Package is required at all times.​

There are several other "minimum" references in the .pdf and I have no idea if SA would get you around them. They are LEASED receiver minimums, not really related to any HD package exactly.

I can't help any with the HD Pak reference you see when you login and pick equipment - I subscribe to that HD Pak. Generally, nobody can sign up for that any longer. I don't want to drop it just to test if I can add it back. If you are able to see it in Equipment Info after logging in, I'd phone a CSR to ask about it. My GUESS is that they never got around to changing the website for SA customers - everybody may see something different after login. When I click Equipment, I get another page and have to click on a DISH'n It Up link to see actual offers.

With purchased receivers, you can add and drop programming. There are several "grandfathered" packages you might not be able to add back after a drop, but ATxx isn't one of them.

 

[red1210]

To get the ViP622 for $199 you MUST sign up for an 18 month committment with one of the Dish Metallic programming packages.

Are you sure this is true? I am about to order it and they never said I had to sign a commitment. The online DishBuilder doesn't make you sign a commitment either.

 

[restart88]

Excellent reply CAbill. Thanks!

And I agree Dish might not consider SA as qualified programming for HDTV purposes. All I know is for everything else it seems to be. And when I tried 2 regular movie paks I did get the $20 special price which requires a min programming level. I kept them for about a week until I decided I was just as happy with only my $5 Encore pak. But of course that's another story.

Yea, it's starting to sound like I might be better off buying vs leasing. One reason I got the 508 was to avoid monthly fees for a DVR.

 

[CABill]

When you get to the end of Dish Builder at https://www.dishtv.com/order.jsp, you should find a link at the bottom of the page to Terms and Conditions (http://www.dishtv.com/terms_dha04.jsp) that explicitly list DishFAMILY as the minimum programming package, and the charge of $6 for the HD Enable fee if decide not to subscribe to a DishHD package.

A new subscriber can choose to pay the $49 activation fee and not check the 18 month commit box. You don't get the $49 credit on the bill, the 18 months of DHPP, 30 day money back guarantee, ... but you aren't committed to 18 months either. That choice wouldn't be available to the original poster - he is an existing customer. DISH'n It Up is for existing customers and they MUST commit to 18 months. Apples and oranges (unless you are an current customer mistakenly using Dish Builder).

 

[restart88]

Actually my only gripe about the Family level is that I already get most of those channels with SA, or at least those I desire. Now if it included CNBC and one or two channels I like that I don't already have I'd be more inclined to make a way to afford it.

Don't get me wrong. I like the fact that Dish listened to people wanting this type of tier. It just doesn't work out quite as good for me personally.