Hi Addision.
Welcome to the hobby!, Welcome to the site!
You haven't mentioned if you already have any dishes besides the Direct-dish. Do you
plan on going "dish hunting"? Are you a "Do-It-Yourselfer"?
A good dish and motor can be had for the asking, if you find the right people to ask. Be
prepared to "modernize" with new LNBs, cables, receivers, etc. The cost is a small fraction
of what subscriptions have cost you!
Bigger is better. I'm getting nice results with a (free) 10 footer, which I use for both
C and Ku band reception. The "C/Ku LNBF" cost me around $60 CDN. I also have an
assortment of spare actuators (dish-movers) given to me by ex-users.
You'd be surprised at the FTA channels that are up there! Lots of major network
reception to choose from, and many interesting channels from around the globe!
With enough patience, luck, and determination, you could be "feet on the coffee
table" in a few weeks!
Keep in mind though, the hobby can be high maintenance, it's not "plug & play" like
subscription TV. There will plenty of "tinkering" to get those elusive channels to materialize.
Heh, heh, My "tinkering" happens only when the Missus is not using the TV!
Here are a few web-site links that I found to be indispensable; (@Mods, I hope I'm doing it right

)
www.geo-orbit.org/sizepgs/tuningp2.html } Very informative, the "ABCs" of dish planting and growing.
www.lyngsat.com/america } Tons of necessary Sat info needed to set up the
www.sathint.com/america } receivers, and to find the right satellites to aim at.
www.dishpointer.com/ } Gives a birds-eye view of where to aim a dish.
Don't be shy to browse around and ask questions, things only get better when learning.
Gotta run, I hope I've been of help.
Cheers, --Kev--