Update 2: Actually, I was as pleasant as I could be to the first CSR. I had him on the phone for an hour trying different things. Eventually, the replacement ViP211 came up with my programming. I thanked "Jeff" and hung up. Time to program in the Local channels.
BOOM! No more satellite! Crap! Call Dish and get a Technical CSR who follows the book. Sorry, he can't authorize another replacement ViP211 because someone needs to check the installation. I try telling "Sam" that I can plug my old receiver in and it works fine. It's the damn replacement that doesn't seem to work. "Sorry, sir, I can't reactivate the old receiver so you can continue to watch Dish. You need to return it to us because it is defective." (Not as defective as the replacement.) "We can have a technician there between 8 and 12 on Sunday." "So," I say, "I will be without DISH programming or Local Digital stations (since the 211 is my digital OTA tuner) until Sunday?" "Since you are such a good customer, I will wave the $30 service fee."
(Honestly, this is where I started to lose my composure. First, why should I have to pay Dish for replacement of a receiver under warranty. Second, why am I paying $6/mo for the Dish Home Protection racket, er., Plan? Third, I keep on trying to tell "Sam" that I can plug the old 211 in and it works, so it isn't weather, or a tree, or a building, or some other obstruction, so I have been able to eliminate everything except for the replacement 211.)
So I hung up, unplugged the replacement 211, plugged in my old 211 and verified that yes indeed, the cable connects to the DP34. I'm surprised my old 211 hasn't taken the deauthorization hit yet, but hey, I can watch TV. After a half-hour, I unplug the "good" 211 and reconnect the replacement. It's been sitting, powered off for 30-40 minutes, and when it comes up, I go to the Check Switch screen and it finds the DP34 right away. Hmmm...
So, I let it find the satellites, download the EPG, and start checking around. Looks like I have local OTA stations now, so I start watching Discovery Channel. I'm starting to think this looks like a thermal issue. Sure enough, eleven minutes after I plugged in the replacement receiver, I get a loss of satellite signal and the good 'ol "Acquiring Satellite" screen. Now, however, I can tune in local OTA channels and watch my local HD shows, so it isn't as bad as it was before.
The ViP211 doesn't feel hot; no hotter than the old one, anyway. With that info, I guess it's time to spin the CSRoulette wheel again...