Any way to add a 2nd HD receiver for less than $100

[Brodieb]

I have a total of 3 TV's (2 HD and one SD) currently I have one 722 that feeds both HDTVs and no Dish hooked up to the SD TV. I would like to add a second HD receiver to the mix (a solo one) and twice now Dish has told me it will cost $100 for the HD Solo receiver and $7 per month to "lease it".

Is there a cheaper way to add a second unit?

I could probably find a used one - my brother in law may have his still from when he was with Dish a few years ago. If I buy a used receiver will Dish hook it up for me - or do I have to get it through them?

 

[ehren]

I bought a 211 on Ebay for $100 and bought a 750gb external hard drive for $50. Sucks I have to pay $7 a month for the additional reciever fee tho.

 

[Sundown]

Is there a cheaper way to add a second unit?

I am leasing a second 722 for only $7 a month more and did not have to pay any additional costs by extending my subscription to a 24 month commitment. You should be able to get the same deal. Call dish back and ask to speak with one of the “account specialists” they are much more accommodating than the usual people we deal with.

 

[Brodieb]

Call dish back and ask to speak with one of the “account specialists” they are much more accommodating than the usual people we deal with.

I will give this a try at work tomorrow - I figure it cannot hurt and free is much better than $100. Thanks for the tip on who to ask for. Do you pay a 2nd DVR fee for the 722? I really don't need another DVR but if they offer one I would sure take it.

 

[dangue]

I will give this a try at work tomorrow - I figure it cannot hurt and free is much better than $100. Thanks for the tip on who to ask for. Do you pay a 2nd DVR fee for the 722? I really don't need another DVR but if they offer one I would sure take it.

Unfortunately, the DVR fee is per receiver, not per account. So you would be looking at a fee for the additional receiver.

Based on your initial post I'm not sure if you're being quoted for a Solo HD DVR receiver (the 612) or just a Solo HD receiver the 211K. But you could shoot for a 211K, pay the one time $40 fee to be allowed to use an external hard drive to turn it into a DVR. This could cover your second HD tv, and the 722 you currently have would have to feed your first HD tv and the SD tv. The dish it up price on the receiver should also be less than if you were adding an HD DVR box.

If they were quoting you $100 for a 211K to begin with, I'd definitely play CSR roulette to try and get a better deal. I called in to upgrade an old box and picked up a 222K with OTA module for $29. The box and the install were free, they just charged me for the cost of the OTA module. The deals that they offer depend on your account status, but it never hurts to try several times.

 

[Symbol]

look around ebay for 211,211k receivers, with an external hard drive it can be turned into a DVR
much better than a 2 year anchor with dish incase anything happens and your contract screws you over
but going with dish to get free equipment is just as good as buying on ebay

personally my dealer wanted to charge me $150 for a 222k with a contract on top of my existing one, I simply just kept for a 625 since I didnt wanna pay 150$ for a second receiver and a 2 year contract(making it 4 years!) so I went to ebay and found a local dealer selling them sealed for $160

so now I am waiting in the mail since he does not give local pick-ups,once it arrives, I plan on swaping my 625 since I really dont use much the DVR features other than just watch live TV 99% most of the time

so its up to you if you dont like extending contracts buy it and be sure to ask for the R00 and S numbers to check if the receiver has a balance

if you are not in a contract like others said talk to a dish account specialist
you are bound to get a sweetdeal and yes the DVR fees applies to every DVR on your account
if you dont need DVR, get a 222k HD dual like I did
(as far as I know the 222k and 722k does not need the new G3 card so do not worry if its not included if its another model be sure to call dish and find out, also HD dual tuners are great for MPEG-4 on SDTVs using tuner 2 as later on Standard def receivers may need to be upgraded)
Good Luck when you call

 

[Brodieb]

Based on your initial post I'm not sure if you're being quoted for a Solo HD DVR receiver (the 612) or just a Solo HD receiver the 211K.

I believe it was the 211K not the DVR - I really do not need a 2nd DVR just an HD receiver. I have not yet called - I plan to try on my lunch break and see what I can get done then.