Another Dish Network Question

September 21, 2006 8:32 PM

I'm thinking of biting the bullet and upgrading my Dishnetwork equipment to this Should I? Current Dish customers (and anyone else with insight) please read on!

I currently have 2 receivers (one HD and one SD) and pay $50.00/month. I'm thinking of upgrading to the aforementioned receiver and to the Dish HD Silver Package for $59.99/month plus locals (5.99/month) and the DVR fee (5.99/month). This brings my total to $72/month. Now for my questions.

Are there any other costs that I'm missing?

How do you guys like this receiver? I'm especially interested in the DVR interface. The only DVR I've seen is a friends DirecTV with Tivo and it sure is sweet. Does the Dish Network version work as well?

Does anyone know if I have to extend my contract when I upgrade to this receiver?

I really don't want to call Dish network and deal with their terrible customer support people so any info you guys could give me would be great

posted by smithmac_99 to Technology (7 answers total)

I actually have two of these. They're glorious.

The interface is a lot more sleek and refined--and USB interactivity! I've never had a TiVo or anything like it, but this shit is no fuss, no muss. The previous one I had was sweet, but this one is just bitchin'.

Sorry for such a...trite reply, but I have nothing bad to say, really.

The one I have downstairs is even bigger than I had before, too (in terms of space). It's glorious. It's worth it. How can you watch TV without rewinding? How can anyone watch TV without recording it directly? I don't understand. I can't! I'm incapable. This technology must be disseminated to the TV-viewing populace of the world.
posted by Lockeownzj00 at 9:01 PM on September 21, 2006

Speaking as a TiVo fanboy, is there a reason you are unable or unwilling to switch to DirecTV?
posted by trevyn at 12:00 AM on September 22, 2006

I've always found the folks at dbstalk.com to be very knowledgeable about such things along with current and upcoming promotions.
posted by busboy789 at 3:08 AM on September 22, 2006

Since when does Dish charge for DVR feature?
posted by Gungho at 6:41 AM on September 22, 2006

Oh, and the Dish DVR isn't smart like Tivo (or Fredo for that matter)
posted by Gungho at 6:49 AM on September 22, 2006

Have the HD DVR and an SD model, too. Love the HD set-up and have recorded more TV than I can possibly watch -- there's always something on! While we had some issues with the recording feature(s) early on, Dish sent some software upgrades through space and we've been in great shape ever since.

Extra charge? We get dinked $4.95 a month because the HD receiver isn't hooked up to a landline (and unfortunately, can't be because of the room it's in). It's a constant, but minor, annoyance. We've got America's 180 with the HD package and our bill comes out to about $86 and change a month.
posted by CMichaelCook at 8:33 AM on September 22, 2006

Tivo is really hard to beat. Can you use Tivo with Dish? I'm with DirecTV, and bought the Tivo knockoff that they are selling. It suuuuuucks.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 8:41 AM on September 22, 2006