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Bear with me for a moment, I have been waiting weeks to finally say I am dumping Dish.

I never thought I would be going back to cable, I though I would be switching to Direct TV. The deal my cable company had was to good to pass up. I get all channels and a HD DVR for around 53.00 dollars after tax for the first year. When Direct TV comes out with the new MPEG4 receivers later this year, I will most likely switch to them.

Some reasons I have left Dish Network are:

1. Lack of support for HD. Included in the cable price are all local HD channels except NBC. Also in the package from cable is TNTHD and Discovery HD. If I choose to add the HDPak from cable for 6.00 that would include ESPN HD, HDnet, HDmovies, and INdemand 1 and 2 (whatever they are called) . ESPN2 HD is supposed to be added shortly. Direct TV has announced that Tampa will be one of the markets scheduled for first release of local HD markets later this year. Dish Network has said they have no plans for HD until the end of 05. To me Direct TV has a good plan for HD.

2. I will finally get a DVR. Never had one before and really looking forward to it. I never trusted Dish PVRs with their unstable software and lack of advertised features. I know Charlie just announced that NBR would be coming for some of the older receivers, but I am just having a hard time believing it and if it does come will it work? When I move to Direct later this year, I plan on having two DVR and maybe a third. I do not want to pay Dish Network the DVR fee for each receiver, I like the idea of Direct TVs one fee per account. I also have more confidence in Direct TV to provide a working as advertised receiver more than I do with Dish.

3. I feel Dish is headed in a direction more like the cable companies with them wanting to lease receivers instead of people owning them. Not a big deal to most, but I would perfer to own instead of lease. Cable offers me a short term solution with a lease. The sad thing about Dish acting more and more like a cable company is that most cable companies have passed Dish on features and programming.

4. At one time I was proud to say I was a Dish Network customer. I recommended them to friends and family. I can no longer recommend them anymore. At one time their customer service was outstanding and it really showed that they where looking out for the customer. It does not seem like that anymore.

Well Charlie, it was fun for the first three years. We started having problems the last year when I got my 811. It came to the point that anytime something important came on TV, I would do a reboot hoping to make it through the night without any acting up. Software releases helped with the problem, but the 811 should have been working when it was released.

Nice knowing your Charlie.
Dish Network will now rest in peace in my household. Feb 2001 to Jan 2005.