Cheapest way........

lgb0250

SatelliteGuys Pro
Original poster
Oct 15, 2006
368
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Thinking of coming back for the umpteenth time. Have found that cord cutting just isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, at least in my case. When you have a problem with DISH you pick up the phone and speak with a live person who can usually either fix your problem or roll a truck. When I have a problem now it may be with Roku, PSVue, Tablo, etc. there is really just no easy way to pinpoint responsibility and get the help you need.

Have four rooms that I want wired but only need a Hopper 3 and a WJ. I know they will tell me I don’t need a Hopper 3 but after having one before I left last time there is no way I would come back without one.

Our must have channels include the Hallmark channels and the Golf Channel. Is there a way to cut out the locals and save money? I have a 4 tuner Tablo that I can use for all my local channel needs. Must admit it’s been nice paying a much lower monthly fee but at this point in life we need simplicity, even if it does cost us more.

Anything else I should know before jumping in again? I say jumping because I had been jumping back and forth between DISH and DTV for probably 20 years. I would consider DTV again except the HR54 sucked when I was with them last time and I know the Hopper 3 is awesome. Thanks
 
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Thinking of coming back for the umpteenth time. Have found that cord cutting just isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, at least in my case. When you have a problem with DISH you pick up the phone and speak with a live person who can usually either fix your problem or roll a truck. When I have a problem now it may be with Roku, PSVue, Tablo, etc. there is really just no easy way to pinpoint responsibility and get the help you need.

Have four rooms that I want wired but only need a Hopper 3 and a WJ. I know they will tell me I don’t need a Hopper 3 but after having one before I left last time there is no way I would come back without one.

Our must have channels include the Hallmark channels and the Golf Channel. Is there a way to cut out the locals and save money? I have a 4 tuner Tablo that I can use for all my local channel needs. Must admit it’s been nice paying a much lower monthly fee but at this point in life we need simplicity, even if it does cost us more.

Anything else I should know before jumping in again? I say jumping because I had been jumping back and forth between DISH and DTV for probably 20 years. I would consider DV again except the HR54 sucked when I was with them last time and I know the Hopper 3 is awesome. Thanks
Welcome back
 
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Thinking of coming back for the umpteenth time. Have found that cord cutting just isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, at least in my case. When you have a problem with DISH you pick up the phone and speak with a live person who can usually either fix your problem or roll a truck. When I have a problem now it may be with Roku, PSVue, Tablo, etc. there is really just no easy way to pinpoint responsibility and get the help you need.

Have four rooms that I want wired but only need a Hopper 3 and a WJ. I know they will tell me I don’t need a Hopper 3 but after having one before I left last time there is no way I would come back without one.

Our must have channels include the Hallmark channels and the Golf Channel. Is there a way to cut out the locals and save money? I have a 4 tuner Tablo that I can use for all my local channel needs. Must admit it’s been nice paying a much lower monthly fee but at this point in life we need simplicity, even if it does cost us more.

Anything else I should know before jumping in again? I say jumping because I had been jumping back and forth between DISH and DTV for probably 20 years. I would consider DTV again except the HR54 sucked when I was with them last time and I know the Hopper 3 is awesome. Thanks

If you have been jumping back and forth, Dish may not be willing to offer you their best deal. They have started tracking that activity, and Dish, at least, has decided to penalize people who represent a high probability of churn, at least in some cases. Your best bet is to go with a local retailer, if you have a good one. If not, be prepared to talk to someone on the phone to get the best deal.
 
I think and hope I have the answer to the cheapest solution: Chinese Basic w/o Locals + Heartland Package + Mandarin: Great Wall TV (since it is required unless you can find a way around it or add another international package you may like that would be allowed in the combo) for $35.99/month plus equipment fees + taxes if applicable

Chinese Basic w/o Locals 15.00 (Locals may be added for an additional $12/month) -- This would get you channel 401, Golf Channel [as well as BBC America, GRIT, INSP, Justice Network]
Chinese Basic | International Channels | MyDISH | MyDISH | DISH Customer Support

Heartland Package 6.00 -- This would get you channel 185 Hallmark, 186 Hallmark Drama, and 187 Hallmark Movie Channel [as well as other channels like Pixl (which shows Hallmark movies), UP, OWN, and Discovery Family]
Heartland | Specialty Channels | MyDISH | DISH Customer Support
*You may be able to get Heartland Package for $3/month for 6 months if you ask or wait to add it on...Not guaranteeing it will happen....

Mandarin: Great Wall TV 14.99 (because I believe you have to sub to a Chinese package for Chinese basic :(...not sure if you can choose a different one like Cricket...although lowest priced ones I saw first)
Live Chinese TV Channels - Watch Mandarin TV Shows | DISH

https://www.mydish.com/filestream.ashx?id=21106&inline=true

currently 35.99/month at regular price

Otherwise, Top 200 has Golf, Hallmark, Hallmark Drama, and Hallmark Movie Channel for $77.99 a month without locals (Locals may be added for an additional $12/month)
America's Top 200 | English Programming | MyDISH | DISH Customer Support

I wish I could give you a referral code, but I do not think that is allowed here.
 
Thinking of coming back for the umpteenth time. Have found that cord cutting just isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, at least in my case. When you have a problem with DISH you pick up the phone and speak with a live person who can usually either fix your problem or roll a truck. When I have a problem now it may be with Roku, PSVue, Tablo, etc. there is really just no easy way to pinpoint responsibility and get the help you need.

Have four rooms that I want wired but only need a Hopper 3 and a WJ. I know they will tell me I don’t need a Hopper 3 but after having one before I left last time there is no way I would come back without one.

Our must have channels include the Hallmark channels and the Golf Channel. Is there a way to cut out the locals and save money? I have a 4 tuner Tablo that I can use for all my local channel needs. Must admit it’s been nice paying a much lower monthly fee but at this point in life we need simplicity, even if it does cost us more.

I still have Dish, but I have two Roku's, two Fire Stick/TV, and a Chrome cast stick. For me it is the best of both worlds. Still having Dish and streaming. I do not want to cut the cord completely at this time. There are too many channels I would miss. Add to that to get many of the channel app's for free, the person needs satellite or cable. It is nice to have access to so much though. Welcome back.

Anything else I should know before jumping in again? I say jumping because I had been jumping back and forth between DISH and DTV for probably 20 years. I would consider DTV again except the HR54 sucked when I was with them last time and I know the Hopper 3 is awesome. Thanks
 
I have an OTA digital dongle I bought a couple of years ago before I left DISH. Will it still work? Haven’t kept up with any changes that might have been made in the last year. Will the OTA dongle work if I don’t sign up for locals? I remember it used to give me all the sub channels I didn’t get with DISH. Back then I had locals but this time since I have a Tablo I’m considering not having them through DISH. Do I need the MBrm wired if I’m going to get a 4K Joey or does the Bluetooth take the place of wiring. Thanks again.
 
I have an OTA digital dongle I bought a couple of years ago before I left DISH. Will it still work? Haven’t kept up with any changes that might have been made in the last year. Will the OTA dongle work if I don’t sign up for locals? I remember it used to give me all the sub channels I didn’t get with DISH. Back then I had locals but this time since I have a Tablo I’m considering not having them through DISH. Do I need the MBrm wired if I’m going to get a 4K Joey or does the Bluetooth take the place of wiring. Thanks again.
If you use an activated Dish receiver that supports that dongle, yes it will work whether you sub to locals or not.
 
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I have an OTA digital dongle I bought a couple of years ago before I left DISH. Will it still work?

That depends on whether or not yours is a single or dual tuner dongle. The dual may work just fine, but the single tuner will cause digital breakups that make viewing from a Joey nearly impossible. It will be OK on the Hopper connected TV. It is a update problem stemming from 14 months ago and still has not been resolved.
 
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I have an OTA digital dongle I bought a couple of years ago before I left DISH. Will it still work? Haven’t kept up with any changes that might have been made in the last year. Will the OTA dongle work if I don’t sign up for locals? I remember it used to give me all the sub channels I didn’t get with DISH. Back then I had locals but this time since I have a Tablo I’m considering not having them through DISH. Do I need the MBrm wired if I’m going to get a 4K Joey or does the Bluetooth take the place of wiring. Thanks again.
Bluetooth would not take the place of wiring. The WiFi adapter may work, though. (Bluetooth and WiFi are two completely different things.)
 
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