A pleasant surprise (believe it or not)

[pfan1981]

So I already posted my customer service run around, but this is a positive outcome from it.

Upon arriving home today....I expected a vip612 in my bedroom. To my delight, I not only found this, but another dish. A smaller dish to pick up local hd, but I already have an OTA antenna that picks up my local HD.

So I called DISH to tell them there was a mix up. The guy on the phone (by dialing technical support to get an American) said I pay $5 a month for my locals whether they are SD or HD. He said there was no charge for the additional dish to pick up local HD. I didn't need it in most of my rooms due to the OTA HD antenna, but now I have it in other rooms as well!

I was pleasantly surprised. My bill is now $50 top 200 with HD DVR, $20 HD, $5 locals now in HD, $7 hd dvr lease, $5 insurance, .01 cinemax. It may seem like a lot, but we like our TV variety and the quality of DISH HD. Well worth it.

pfan

 

[dlsnyder]

They have been giving away free dishes for years, as many markets have had some or all of their local SD channels on other than 119/110. If all you had was an SD receiver prior to this they probably put up the second dish so you could receive HD programming. I think that is standard now when installing an HD receiver, regardless of whether you subscribe to the HD programming or not. That second dish is probably pointed at 61.5 unless I missed my guess. If your locals were on 129 they probably would have installed a Dish 1000.2 single dish solution. You are much better off this way. Congratulations and enjoy the HD!

 

[Spatch]

Pfan you can drop the insurance and only add it back when you need to use it. That will save you $5.

 

[dlsnyder]

Too bad that $5 insurance doesn't cover EHDs.

 

[pfan1981]

EHD??? Remember....newb here.

I think I will drop my locals which will save $5. I have my antenna running to all rooms and it looks awesome. Is it really wise to drop the insurance?

pfan

 

[rcdallas]

External Hard Drive ?... though I don't see how it goes along with this thread.

 

[pfan1981]

rcdallas, would you go w/o insurance? With the replacement value of these things vs. things like a cell phone........I think the insurance would give me piece of mind. Do you have it?

 

[dlsnyder]

I have been with Dish since 2000 and have never had insurance. I had a model 508 go dead on me within the warranty period, and they only charged me shipping to get a replacement. If I had another receiver go out on me within warranty I would do the same today, since that insurance would cost more than the shipping charge. If it were out of warranty, I would sign up for the insurance as soon as I had a problem, then make use of the insurance. I think they cover ALL Dish Network equipment for that price, including remote controls, so if you have a remote that is bad you can get that replaced too.

Here's the way I did the math. At $5 per month, that's $60 a year. The warranty is good for one year. They currently require a 2 year commitment, so that's $120 over two years. You can just about buy another receiver for that money. I think the smart money is on taking your chances with no insurance. Then again, I don't have Auto Club for the same reason. If I need a tow truck once every 3 or 4 years I just pay for it.

 

[AdamGott]

rcdallas, would you go w/o insurance? With the replacement value of these things vs. things like a cell phone........I think the insurance would give me piece of mind. Do you have it?

I don't see why you would need insurance for LEASED receivers. I am pretty sure that they will replace them when they break no matter what 'insurance' you have - meaning DHPP.

I am pretty sure that I have had my receivers replaced long after I was off the insurance. If they ever give me crap about it I will just cancel. If their receiver breaks they should fix it, not you.

 

[bhelms]

Dish does not replace leased receivers for "free". It will cost you at least the shipping charge $25?), possibly more. A truck roll to solve any other installation related issue will cost you $99. DHPP ($5.99/mo.) reduces the service call to ~$30 and reduces the other costs substantially even to -0- in many cases, like replacing a tanked remote. The DHPP can indeed be added "as/when needed" and many have done that. But this is a "loophole" I expect Dish will close soon. I have the DHPP ($72/yr.) for several years and have had a 622 and 301 and 2 remotes replaced at no additional charge (other than my effort to have the 2 defective receivers repacked for shipment back, dish covers the pick-up and fees). Is it worth it? I think so. YMMV...