Dish to start upgrading HD customers to MPEG4

[blfuller]

Called and scheduled my upgrade for a VIP211. I own an 811 and they told me that there would be no fee involved. The only catch is that it will be a lease with no monthly fee, if I discontinue service I would need to return the 211. I can keep my 811, but I can give it to them and get a $10 credit, which isn't worth it. They are scheduled to come on Saturday. We'll see what happens.

Well, I just got a bill from dish for my $7 a month. They said because I pay by the year that the monthly lease fee is not waived. Anyone else get duped by these jokers into signing for MPEG2 to MPEG4 and got a bill for a monthly fee when they said there would not be one?

 

[Fear 2 Stop]

My question is since that I only have 1 HD t.v. and use the 722 for that, will my 811 still work for my SD t.v.?(no plans for HD in bedroom). Or will Dish somehow deactivate my 811 all together?

It's not getting a new smart card, so that receiver will be rendered worthless shortly.

 

[kb7oeb]

It's not getting a new smart card, so that receiver will be rendered worthless shortly.

That will sure disappoint all the people who have a 381, the rebaged 811s Dish uses in QAM apartments. There is no reason to drop support for the 811 until dish stops all mpeg2 (not just HD)

 

[aegrotatio]

Or you don't need to spend a hour explaining to some bozo about your remote equipment rack where the receiver is and how it's wired into a complete house networking system. If you are going to tell the guy to just hand me the equipment why the hell should DISH make a truck roll? Plus I don't need some unknown person in my house.

I have an equipment rack, distribution system, networking everywhere, and outside I have a couple of FTA dishes with homemade LNBF holders hanging off my deck.
I never touch the DISH Network equipment for any reason and I pay DPP because it's on my roof and I refuse to use a 32-foot ladder (we have spotty LOS due to trees).

The installers that visit have seen it all and they know hackers from hobbiests.
I have never gotten anything but very interesting conversations and complements.

.

 

[David_R]

I finally got my letter on Sept 5th, and scheduled an appointment for yesterday. Apparently the tech original scheduled for my install had an accident earlier in the day, so it wasn't until 8pm that other techs came, and they didn't have the actual workorder with them. Other than that, they installed the 61.5 wing dish and gave me a 722, so I was happy with the install, especially since they were installing the dish at night and in the rain.

Now here comes the tricky part. Currently I have an annual subscription to the original grandfathered $9.99 HD Pak that runs out in November. When I originally called the upgrade line they wanted me to switch to the $10 HD Essentials, and I agreed, since the letter seemed to indicate that the $9.99 HD Pak is going away (I assume on the same day that the MPEG2 HD's switch to MPEG4). I asked what would happen given that I had already paid for a non-refundable subscription, and I got the strong impression that either the CSR had no idea what I was talking about or simply didn't know the answer, even after "asking a supervisor". I asked whether the subscription would be pro-rated, and the remainder refunded to my bill, and I got some general agreement, but nothing that made me feel confident in the answer.

Since the techs didn't have the actual workorder with them, they had no indication to switch my programming, and it's apparent that I've still got the old HD Pak still. Now, I'd be OK with waiting until that ran out to switch to HD Essentials if that'll save me some trouble dealing with CSRs, but I've got some concerns:

1) Does the HD Pak qualify as "HD programming", or will I get hit with the "HD Enabling Fee"?
2) Does anyone know if the HD Pak will actually continue to exist past Sept 17th?

BTW, on dishnetwork.com, my account shows this right now:

International or A La Carte or Add-ons:
DISH Network DVR Service Fee,
HD Enabling Fee,
No HD Enabling Fee,
HD Pak,
LEASED RECEIVER FEE

I've bolded the items that showed up yesterday. None of those new items look good for me. The leased receiver fee is especially strange, since A) I was explicitly told there'd be no extra fees, B) this is the only receiver on the account, and first receivers aren't supposed to get lease fees anyways.

Has anyone been in a similar situation with an annual HD Pak switching to HD Essentials as part of the upgrade? Any info would be helpful at the moment. I'm really dreading having to call the CSRs...

Thanks,
-- Dave

 

[David_R]

I just wanted to update on the fee situation. After wasting a good hour of my life trying to convince two CSRs that I wasn't supposed to be a charged a lease fee, I was finally transferred to an "account specialist" who actually knew more than what the computer was showing. She helpfully reversed the lease fee, and I'm hoping it won't come back next month. She also mentioned that I've got a waiver for the "HD enabling fee" on my account, so I shouldn't get hit with that (that must be the "No HD Enabling Fee" in my previous post).

How long the HD Pak will last is still a mystery. I'm still debating whether I want to trade in HDNet Movies for the other HD channels in TurboHD Bronze.

-- Dave