Yes, then the GREEN DOT MONEY PACK is the way to go.
It is pretty simple:
1. Buy a Green Dot money(Make sure it is a green dot money pack) pack at Walmart/RiteAid/CVS/etc... and load it up with the amount that you want(from $20 minimum to $500 Max). There is a $4.95 service fee when the pack is originally bought, so add that in.
Also bear in mind that after 90 days if the full amount is not used(they expect you to put the amount towards a prepaid credit card or bills before that, so I would recommend not putting more than $20 on the Money pack since you only want it for weekends on the boat) they will DEDUCT $4.95/month on the 91st day after its purchased.
An example would be if you bought it 1/1/08, then on 4/2/08(the 91st day) they would take away $4.95/month until the value is completely gone. So I would recommend the minimum amount($20) to be put on it until you see if you want more because you used it more, or not.
2. Get the receipt(this is IMPORTANT), and keep it with you. There will be an ACTIVATION NUMBER printed on it. You need this in order to activate the service(along with the Receiver number which can be found in the menu by going to option 6, then 1, then 3.)
I find the EASIEST/BEST way to do this is to is to put the Dish NOW/YA! Phone number(1-888-347-4132) at the top of a piece of paper, then the Receiver number(It is an R followed by 12 digits), and then the ACTIVATION NUMBER that was printed on the receipt where you purchased the Green Dot Money pack. This allows you easy access to all the info you need, and then you can just erase the old activation numbers/or scribble them out, and add the new one right below it. I also add the day I bought the card next to the activation # just so I know when the 91st day will hit, and therefore get that Money pack used up.
3. Then call 1-888-347-4132. This is the Dish Now service, and it is automated. You will use a combination of voice commands and typing in the activation/receiver numbers on the keypad.
For the first time activation, it will ask for a ZIP Code. Just give it one(your home one will be fine). It just wants to know where the receiver is being bought at/used. There are NO LOCAL CHANNELS or LOCAL SPORTS NETWORK available with this system(yet) so it doesn't matter which ZIP code you give.
It will ask for the Zip again for later purchases if you tell it you moved it to another location. Just don't. It doesn't affect anything anyway
I find TYPING the activation number and receiver number on the PHONE KEYPAD easier than saying it so there is no screw up. The prompt will repeat the above mentioned numbers back to you to make sure it has the right info.
4. Now you get to ordering the programming. The prompt will ask you what type of programming you want: Basic(AT Family, AT100, AT200, AT250), Movies(HBO, Stars, Cinemax, or Showtime), or Adult Channels(2 different types).
Choose which one you want. Let' say "BASIC" for now.
Say "BASIC", then you will be prompted to which one you want. Let's say AT200.
You will then be told that, you can get up to 20 days(this is just an example by the way. It will vary based on the amount on the money pack) of this programming.
You will then be asked, "Would you like to use the full amount of your money pack towards this purchase?"
Say, "NO".
You will then be asked by the automated machine how many days you would like.
Say 1, or however many days you wish(up to the max amount allowed of course).
The prompt will then repeat the number of days you said back to you and ask, "Is this correct?"
Say, "Yes" if it is. If not, say "NO." Then just repeat that step again.
It will then say fine, and tell you it is sending the signal to your receiver
It seems Dish times these purchases on a 24 HR clock at least(maybe longer). I have purchased Dish programming for 1 day and had it on until late the next day.
Example: I get the AT200 for 1 day ordered at 4:00pm on 1/1/08, and the service doesn't EXPIRE until 9:00pm/10:00pm the next day1/2/08. Go figure.
For just the Weekend, I would recommend asking for 2 days. This should get through the entire weekend if ordered on Friday(definitely if ordered on Saturday).
After your purchase the voice prompt will ask you, "Will there be anything else?".
If you say NO, it will say thank you and disconnect.
If you say YES, then you will go through the above ritual again, but then you can add more programming(movie channels or Adult) each time.
You can only do one thing at a time(like get HBO, then go throught the whole process again just to get Cinemax or whatever).
The process can seem tedious, but it is worth it IMHO.
YOU CONTROL EVERYTHING.
****One thing I should note. Try ordering the programming before 8:00pm EST(maybe 9:00pm at the latest). I tried ordering programming LATE(After 10:30pm EST) one night(I think it was a Saturday night) and the prompt told me it could not process my order, and sent me to TECH SUPPORT. I think it has to do with the time, but am not sure. I was told by a Rep that maybe my Money Pack had been used up, so I went out and got another $20 one the next day. Turned out not to be the case, since I had over $11 left on the one I had. I tried that Money Pack on Monday around 5:30pm EST, and it worked just fine. The System to order programming may only be availble for normal business hours. Just something to keep in mind.****
This is the best way to save money on just using the service on weekends or just to cut costs.
No sense in paying money on something you are not using, or watching.
The $40 Dish Now cards found at Radio Shack MUST be used in the full amount at the time of activating them.
Those would be good if you wanted to prepay for months at a time on Basic levels of programming(or just movies or adult. Whatever floats your boat) at home if this is your main source of TV(For locals you would need an antenna of course). For the Local Sports network, you would be currently SOL with this system, but that may change in the future. Who knows.
With the Green Dot Money Pack, you get to choose the amount you want to use, and for how long.
No other satellite or cable service can even come close to this. Ordering the amount of tv for 1 day. The next best thing will be full A La Carte programming(ordering just individual channels from the AT packs).
You can just order any movie channel or adult programming with no AT packs for 1 day if you want now with this system.
No other satellite system offers that. No one.
This type of satellite system is perfect(unless you want multiple rooms which may be down the pike with a revamped 322 down the line. This is the MOST LIKELY next step/phase in this service) for people with a boat, cabin, summer home, RV, whatever.
Any more questions, feel free to ask.
I know the above is ALOT to digest, but is actually pretty simple when executed.
It is just typing out what to do(then reading it. I would print this) is a LONGGG PROCESS
