Any tips before I sign up?

[nathan118]

I'm currently an OTA only user. I have a custom built HTPC that I use to record 3 OTA channels at once, but for the second time in the last year my hard drive has died on me. I'm tired of tearing the computer apart to replace the drive, and then setting Vista up all over again. Yuck!

To be honest, the only thing on cable/sat that I really want is regional sports to watch the Dodgers, and now I want a DVR to replace my HTPC. From what I've read the TurboHD packages are what I should be looking at.

I'm looking at TurboHD Silver because it comes with the regional sports, so I figure I might as well upgrade over bronze for a few dollars more a month. In addition I will sign-up for the Locals so I get guide data, and then I can record up to three OTA at a time using my existing antenna. I also want the 722 receiver. On the Dish website I see this priced as follows:

Monthly Fees
TurboHD Silver $30.39
Los Angeles, CA local channels $5.00
DISH Network DVR Service Fee $4.60

Monthly Total Price $39.99

One-Time Credits and Fees
$50.00 credit on 1st bill -$50.00
UPGRADE CHARGE $50.00
Activation Fee $99.00
Activation Fee waived. -$99.00

Amount Due Today $50.00

Right now I'm planning on calling Dish Store to sign-up because they have the $50 rebate for TurboHD packages, something unavailable on the Dish website. I figure that will cover the upgrade to the 722.

Am I getting about as cheap as I can for HD and a dvr with the regional sports? My other question is about hidden fees or price changes. Is the $30.39 a promotional price that will change? I know I'm getting the DishHome free for 9-months, and unless I cancel it I'll have to pay that too. Anything else or other tips? Thanks everybody!

 

[theoak]

You are getting the DDA TurboHD Silver package for $39.99. That includes the TurboHD Silver channels, your locals and RSNs, and your DVR fee. The $30.39 is how they break down the price I guess ...

Prepare for the price to go up $10 per month in the next month or two when the new prices kick in ...

 

[melanie2009]

It looks in line nwith prices I've been seeing.

 

[8bitbytes]

Look for the Seagate SV35.3 series of drives. Designed for 24/7 video surveillance equipment under hot, miserable conditions. Cheap desktop drives crumble under the same conditions.

 

[pfan1981]

double check price of initial set up and monthly bill. My inlaws just got a complete runaround with things.

pfan

 

[theoak]

double check price of initial set up and monthly bill. My inlaws just got a complete runaround with things.

pfan

That is some good advice too ...

What you might also want to do is call the CSRs a couple of times and maybe even use the Chat feature a time or two just to make sure that the price they are quoting along with the expected commitments all jive.

 

[nathan118]

Will I run into any problems if I use the Dish store? Is that the main referall for Satellite Guys?

 

[KAB]

Will I run into any problems if I use the Dish store?

You're likely to have problems if you DON'T use Dishstore. They are solid.

 

[Quantum]

I'm currently an OTA only user. I have a custom built HTPC that I use to record 3 OTA channels at once, but for the second time in the last year my hard drive has died on me. I'm tired of tearing the computer apart to replace the drive, and then setting Vista up all over again. Yuck!

You must have Seagates. Used to be a great brand, but now the 7200.11 class drives are failing at over 40%! There is no fix, and Seagate is not acknowledging the problem because it would be a massive recall. Seagate's CEO was just fired and the COO/president just resigned.

 

[EricBskiVT]

You're likely to have problems if you DON'T use Dishstore. They are solid.

Who does installations for the Dishstore? How are they different from just going direct to a local installer?

 

[jdmacor]

You must have Seagates. Used to be a great brand, but now the 7200.11 class drives are failing at over 40%! There is no fix, and Seagate is not acknowledging the problem because it would be a massive recall. Seagate's CEO was just fired and the COO/president just resigned.

Yikes. And I was considering their new DVR HDD... Are they really that shoddy? I thought their 'pipeline' drives were the best internal drives, so i figured their new external ones would be a no-brainer purchase...

 

[nathan118]

I still haven't made up my mind yet. I've read terrible things about the seagate drives on Newegg, so I won't be doing that.

The drives that I've had die are Western Digitals. Couldn't tell you what number. After the first one died I got a replacement drive from WD, so it was probably a crappy refurb that only lasted 6 months.

Now, if anything, I'm looking at one of the Green drives by Western Digital (new this time!). It's one people have put into their s3 Tivos with a lot of success. Called the "wd10evcs."

I'm still figuring out if I want to fork over $50 a month. It seems like so much money when I've been getting TV for free all my life! haha.

 

[Quantum]

Yikes. And I was considering their new DVR HDD... Are they really that shoddy? I thought their 'pipeline' drives were the best internal drives, so i figured their new external ones would be a no-brainer purchase...

Several years ago WD had lots of problems, but they've really cleaned up their act with the Green and Black.

Meanwhile Seagate went to a high-volume low-quality model, and starting November the dike broke. Some think this is a firmware problem, but I doubt it because Seagate would have released a fix by now. This means a massive recall which would bring the company down, so they are resisting.

And now we find that their new gen 7200.12 is failing the same way! Party time!!

 

[nathan118]

Could probably start a new thread, but I'll put it here.

I've been reading about transferring recordings to a PC for editing and saving them. I love capturing the late night shows and saving the musical performances I like.

I've read about how it's a Linux file system and people have figured out ways to read it on a PC. It seems the problem is that the .tsp files are encrypted (though some stuff I've read says they're not encrypted on the internal drive, only on the external). It's hard to find new information, but it sounds like sometime in the last year the programs that COULD convert the tsp files no longer work. Dish changed something.

Anyways, have people confirmed this to be true for both satellite recordings AND OTA recordings? Like if I record something OTA using my antenna and the OTA tuner in the 722, will that mpeg2 recording be encrypted? I understand if the satellite provided feeds are encrypted, but the OTA stuff isn't. Unless the tuner is messing with it, shouldn't it be unencrypted and editable/archivable?

 

[Jerryinvirginia]

I'm currently an OTA only user. I have a custom built HTPC that I use to record 3 OTA channels at once, but for the second time in the last year my hard drive has died on me. I'm tired of tearing the computer apart to replace the drive, and then setting Vista up all over again. Yuck!

To be honest, the only thing on cable/sat that I really want is regional sports to watch the Dodgers, and now I want a DVR to replace my HTPC. From what I've read the TurboHD packages are what I should be looking at.

I'm looking at TurboHD Silver because it comes with the regional sports, so I figure I might as well upgrade over bronze for a few dollars more a month. In addition I will sign-up for the Locals so I get guide data, and then I can record up to three OTA at a time using my existing antenna. I also want the 722 receiver. On the Dish website I see this priced as follows:

Monthly Fees
TurboHD Silver $30.39
Los Angeles, CA local channels $5.00
DISH Network DVR Service Fee $4.60

Monthly Total Price $39.99

One-Time Credits and Fees
$50.00 credit on 1st bill -$50.00
UPGRADE CHARGE $50.00
Activation Fee $99.00
Activation Fee waived. -$99.00

Amount Due Today $50.00

Right now I'm planning on calling Dish Store to sign-up because they have the $50 rebate for TurboHD packages, something unavailable on the Dish website. I figure that will cover the upgrade to the 722.

Am I getting about as cheap as I can for HD and a dvr with the regional sports? My other question is about hidden fees or price changes. Is the $30.39 a promotional price that will change? I know I'm getting the DishHome free for 9-months, and unless I cancel it I'll have to pay that too. Anything else or other tips? Thanks everybody!

From my understanding, the Q-1 Dish promotions for a new account are MUCH better than the current offering. Check with your local retailer, if you have a local retailer. No use to call Dish Direct, they won't explain the Feb 1 promotions until all aspects are finalized. Believe me, it will be better to go on Feb 1. Example...NO UP FRONT COST FOR VIP722......Free HD add on for 6 months.....etc. Check first.

 

[nathan118]

Have the new promotions been posted anywhere?

 

[Jerryinvirginia]

Have the new promotions been posted anywhere?

Dish announced, on the Retailer chat, what the promotions will be starting Feb 1. This info is available to all Retailers, now. Should you have access to a local Retailer, they will have the promos that apply to your system and programming needs. Does free HD for 6 months interest you? Does $25 off the basic programmig package or $20 off the Turbo packages for 6 months catch your attention? If not, don't wait till Feb 1.

 

[Quantum]

Good to know.

Any word on HD only for new subs?

 

[Acerbean]

Not with a 622/722 or the 722K???

In addition I will sign-up for the Locals so I get guide data, and then I can record up to three OTA at a time using my existing antenna.

Maybe I missed something but I can't record more than a single OTA program at a time. Unless you were going to rebuild your computer setup and record 3 OTA at a time, the 622/722 will not allow this. Like I said, if I missed or am missing something, I apologize.


Acer

 

[drdroo]

Seagate acquired Maxtor and then just recently dropped their warranty from 5 years to 3 years. I suspect Seagate decided to use Maxtor's garbage drives and assembly platform.

I use Western Digital drives in everything, haven't really had problems, especially in recent years. There is something to be said for buying the RE (Raid Edition) models though.