Pre-Paid Dish

[Inside]

I was just reading the information on the Dish Website - As I understand it you can use several 40 dollar cards at once using say one for the Top 250 package, one for HBO, one for Cinemax etc. and the packages will just expire after the set number of days for each package. Would be grateful if someone would confirm that I have understood correctly. Also do you get a nag message a few days before a card expires?

Thanks

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

What you have read is correct, No you dont get a nag, therefore it is recommened you have an extra card at all times, this way you never run out.

 

[SmityWhity]

I was looking through Dish web pages yesterday, including the Pre-Paid. It mentioned buying equipment, but I did not see a list of receivers. Sometime back, I thought the 311 was one of the receivers that could be used for Pre-Paid, but did not know if it had to be certain 311's or not.

Two Questions:

- Anyone have a list of equipment that can be used?
- Can a receiver (or maybe certain receivers) that have regular paid programming, also use Pre-Paid for temporary upgrades?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Yes it has to be a Dish Prepaid system, not any receiver that they sell. The Pree Paid system is a 311 and comes with the Dish as well.

And no the receiver can only be used for Pre Pay, you cant even activate it for regular service if you would like to come off pre pay.

 

[SmityWhity]

So when you buy a 311, "Does the first time you activate it determine if it will be a Pre-Paid or a non-Pre-Paid system?"

Or when I go to Radio Shack and buy a 311, I need to be sure to tell them which version of the 311 I would like?

EDIT: I guess a box with a receiver and dish combined would be a clue.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Nope you can not get a 311 and activate it as pre paid (confusing isnt it?)

You must get the entire pre paid kit.

 

[SmityWhity]

TUVM

EDIT:
Now if they had cards for less than $30, so that you could buy a day or two of programming, that would be great, I would go out and buy one of these to have laying around, while I'm laying around.

 

[kb7oeb]

Is there a time limit on how long you can leave it "empty"? I'm thinking in terms of prepay cellular where if you leave it deactivated too long you have to start a new account and pay fees.

 

[STEELERSRULE]

TUVM

EDIT:
Now if they had cards for less than $30, so that you could buy a day or two of programming, that would be great, I would go out and buy one of these to have laying around, while I'm laying around.

You can.

It is called the GREENDOT MONEY PAK sold at Walmart.

You can load $20-$500 on the moneypak(plus a $4.95 handling charge).

So you load it for $20, and call the Dish Now/Ya prepaid phone number.

Tell the automated service that you have a greendot moneypak.

Give the activation number on the receipt that was printed up at WalMart(Keeping the receipt is KEY), and the receiver Number.

Then select whatever programming you want.

The prerecorded voice will tell you that with the money available on the moneypak you can get up to a certain amount of days of service with the money available(results vary based on funds available and programming desired obviously).

It will ask you if you want to use the MAX amount available too you.

Tell the prompt NO.

Then it will ask you how many days you want to use it for. Then choose the amount of time(1 day to whatever your max days available is) you want a channel, AT pack, select programming, whatever.

You can watch a fight on HBO by sigining up for 1 day(I think it works on a 24 hr clock. Maybe longer depending on time of day ordered) of HBO(probably costs a $1 or less), and then be done with it.

Can't do that with any other service, that is for sure.

Not even regular Dish customers can do that.

 

[Van]

The prepaid systems most likely have a diferent receiver number just as the refurb units have a diferent one from the new production models.

( IE R00 for new while refurbs have W00 )

 

[Stargazer]

I didn't know that the prepaid systems allowed you to set the number of days you wanted to view the programming. So if you only wanted to watch HBO you could just order that and if you only wanted to watch it on the weekends you could do that as well? That would save some people a lot of money that might only want to watch television on the weekends.

 

[STEELERSRULE]

I didn't know that the prepaid systems allowed you to set the number of days you wanted to view the programming. So if you only wanted to watch HBO you could just order that and if you only wanted to watch it on the weekends you could do that as well? That would save some people a lot of money that might only want to watch television on the weekends.

That is correct.

But ONLY on the GREEN DOT MONEYPAK'S sold at WalMart, and other locations(such as Rite Aid, CVS, etc...).

You want HBO for 1 day to watch something exclusive to it, go ahead.

You want to watch the upcoming NFL game on Thursday available only on the NFL Network, go ahead and get the AT100(lowest tier available with NFL network) for 1 day, and enjoy the game.

Want to get a frisky with your girl, or by yourself, order 1 days worth of Porn. Go Ahead.

NOW I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION!!!

The $40 Dish NOW/YA! cards sold at Radio Shack(these are prepaid cards sold by Dish Network) MUST be used IN FULL at the time of activation for the desired programming you want. No exceptions.

 

[Zero327]

The prepaid systems most likely have a diferent receiver number just as the refurb units have a diferent one from the new production models.

( IE R00 for new while refurbs have W00 )

Nope.

 

[Stargazer]

I heard earlier this year that they were supposed to release other model receivers for Pre-Paid Dish such as DVR's. Any further news on this?

 

[STEELERSRULE]

I heard earlier this year that they were supposed to release other model receivers for Pre-Paid Dish such as DVR's. Any further news on this?

No news on any other different receivers available other than a DP301 or 3900 model.

They may release the 322(2 tuner for 2 tv's_ in the future, but I would think a DVR would be out of the question on this system for Dish IMHO.

Also there is talk of possible making the Local Regional Sports Channel available to Dish NOW customers(all you have to give is a Zip code to get started, and your regional Sports Channel would be based on that Zip).

They may eventually sell these packages with a HD STB as it becomes more and more in demand, which would make sense.

Local channels are most likely out of the question due to strict FCC rules on the subject.

I mean it would make sense to a consumer to own a DVR that is independent(no fees) of Dish, but this won't happen.

Dish makes too much money off of fees of DVR's to begin with to give that up to customers who most people view as dregs/low income/bad credit that own a Dish NOW system, which is actually BullSh*T.

I don't fall into any of the above. It is about finally giving the customer complete control over what they can watch, when they watch it. With no bills, intereference, or commitments by me to them.

It is an elitist POV.

The Dish NOW service IMHO is a A LA CARTE system. Order what you want to watch, when you want to watch it, for less than a $1 at a time.

True A LA Carte obviously means more of a channel by channel approach, but this comes pretty close.