Preinstall questions/concerns??

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AlanRB

Well-Known SatelliteGuys Member
Original poster
Mar 24, 2009
25
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Colorado
Currently with Comcast and want to switch to Dish.

Is there anything I should ask for upfront while placing the order in terms of the type of equipment that will be used (Dish type/ switches, etc)? I am completely new to satellite, please forgive me. I do not want old equipment pawned off on me when there is newer and better equipment available.

My configuration will consist of a VIP722k with a HDTV and a SDTV.
I will then have 2 other HDTV’s in other locations with VIP211k’s on each (one location currently still has a SDTV but will be an HDTV shortly, that is why I want a HD receiver in that location)

If I record something on the VIP722k then copy it over to the external hard drive can it then be moved to one of the VIP211k’s for viewing?

Thanks
 
The external hard drive on the 722K is not compatible with the EHD on the 211.

Each requires a seperate $40 enabling fee, but the 211 has NO DVR fee.
 
AlanRB said:
Currently with Comcast and want to switch to Dish.

Is there anything I should ask for upfront while placing the order in terms of the type of equipment that will be used (Dish type/ switches, etc)? I am completely new to satellite, please forgive me. I do not want old equipment pawned off on me when there is newer and better equipment available.

My configuration will consist of a VIP722k with a HDTV and a SDTV.
I will then have 2 other HDTV’s in other locations with VIP211k’s on each (one location currently still has a SDTV but will be an HDTV shortly, that is why I want a HD receiver in that location)

If I record something on the VIP722k then copy it over to the external hard drive can it then be moved to one of the VIP211k’s for viewing?

Thanks
Click to expand...
No. You get new or remanufactured equipment. Since all new connects are leases please be advised you may receive remanufactured equipment for your use.
 
If that used equipment applies to any of the DVR's, HD receivers, etc. then I will show them the front door and look elsewhere. I am not going to pay a monthly maintenance fee for beat up equipment. Thanks for informing me of this.

Alan
 
AlanRB said:
If that used equipment applies to any of the DVR's, HD receivers, etc. then I will show them the front door and look elsewhere. I am not going to pay a monthly maintenance fee for beat up equipment. Thanks for informing me of this.

Alan
Click to expand...

The re-manufactured equipment is not all beat up or abused. The manufacturer goes through the equipment and replace anything not up to snuff and replaces the covers if need. the dish and LNB are new. Most cable companies use re-mans too.
 
AlanRB said:
If that used equipment applies to any of the DVR's, HD receivers, etc. then I will show them the front door and look elsewhere. I am not going to pay a monthly maintenance fee for beat up equipment. Thanks for informing me of this.

Alan
Click to expand...
relax. Reman equipment is that which has been restored to new condition and tested before it leaves the building. Even though the components are all new, by federal law it MUST be called remanufactured or reconditioned.
Because the equoiment is leased, there is no expectation of new equipment.
You won't know the difference anyway.
Don't worry about it. If it breaks, they replace it free of charge for a new one. No big deal.
Look, if you want a guarantee of new equipment, purchase instead of lease.

.
 
But then why should I have to pay a $6.00/month maintenance fee on old equipment. Hard drives fail! The older they are the more likely they will fail. If it is used equipment it will fail even sooner.

If I rent an apartment or a house I am not expected to replace the furnace when it goes out, or the central A/C unit. My 'rent' also covers things like this and it is the responsibility of the owner to make the repairs.

What if I decline to pay the optional maintenance fee? When the equipment breaks (and it will) I eat it?

Thanks,
 
Insist, in writing, that you get a 722k; They're not old enough to be refurb. If the installer shows with a non k, let him finish the job, and then raise hell on the phone later. Order the $40 ota module to enhance clarity. I've not yet heard of somebody being charged the $40 external storage fee twice, nor have I heard about 722 recordings not transferring to another unit. I want that clarified more than I worry about the SERVER GRADE disk inside failing.
 
My understanding is that the HD DVR's employ a different format the the SOLO or DUO HD receievers, so that is why the incompatibility. I agree that it is absurd to charge a double $40 fee. Pure profit no actual cost to DISH.

If I do go ahead I will insist that the units be 'k' versions or they will not begin the install, period.

Whether the hard drive is a sever grade or not it will fail in time.

BTW, how hot do the VIP722k's units get? My Comcast DVR is quite cool. I installed a couple of very high quality nearly silent (can't be heard more than 2 feet away) pancake fans on the rear of my entertainment center and the temp right now is 74 degrees F (room temp is 71 F). However, Comcast DVR runs so cool that was probably a waste of time.
 
AlanRB said:
But then why should I have to pay a $6.00/month maintenance fee on old equipment. Hard drives fail! The older they are the more likely they will fail. If it is used equipment it will fail even sooner.

If I rent an apartment or a house I am not expected to replace the furnace when it goes out, or the central A/C unit. My 'rent' also covers things like this and it is the responsibility of the owner to make the repairs.

What if I decline to pay the optional maintenance fee? When the equipment breaks (and it will) I eat it?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
It's not "old"...As I stated, reman means the piece has been totally refurbished with all new parts and tested. Again, the lease covers all hardware. You do not "eat" the cost of broken or failed equipment.
Look, it is apparent that you have some trust issues. You ask questions yet you do not like the answers. My advice is if you are so worried, get the system and decline the 24 month agreement. Try it out. If you like it, then call Dish and add the Home Protection Plan (go to dishnetwork.com for explanation of terms)....Either way ,you won't get over this concern unless you give it a shot.
 
Well, that may be true of some cable companies. With Comcast I received a DVR that was brand new, not used or remanufactured. However, that is irrelevant. I will just insist on the 'k' versions of the equipment as I understand they are newer such as the ViP722k. I will have to probably purchase the two ViP222k's that I want as this is not a configuration supported by DISH (want the dual tuners they have with the ota module).
 
AlanRB said:
I installed a couple of very high quality nearly silent (can't be heard more than 2 feet away) pancake fans on the rear of my entertainment center and the temp right now is 74 degrees F (room temp is 71 F). However, Comcast DVR runs so cool that was probably a waste of time.
Click to expand...
That was not a waste of time for the 722. They get TOASTY. I keep telling myself that the next time I get thirty bucks together, I need to buy a wall mount for my TV and put the 722 on top of the TV stand.
 
Very happy DISH customer (see sig and you'll see why), but with my inlaws install i called 3 times to confirm 2 722s and the guy showed up with a 722, 612, 211k. The dude called HQ and they confirmed 2 722s. He convinced my mother-in-law to go with his equipment :mad:

Doesn't hurt to call multiple times to confirm.
 
I have read frequently that despite what you (the paying customer) want/ordered the installer just shows up with what HE wants to install? Is that as common as I seem to be reading in various posts?
 
AlanRB said:
I have read frequently that despite what you (the paying customer) want/ordered the installer just shows up with what HE wants to install? Is that as common as I seem to be reading in various posts?
Click to expand...

They tend to show up with the closest thing they have in inventory to what you want. Just refuse the install if they don't have exactly what you requested and agreed to when you contacted E*. They have always had exactly what I've ordered but I know a couple others who went through the frustration of several installations attempts before they got what they ordered. The problem is that the E* CSRs have no idea what inventory the installers have available at their warehouses. The installers will keep their assigned appointment and show up with substitutes if need be. To be fair, in many cases the substitutes have been better receivers than those initially ordered by the subscriber.
 
There are occasions when certain receivers are in short supply all across the country. There are only 3 warehouses to supply the country, and a number of times, one or two receivers were unavailable from any of them for a period of time.

Dish has a standard list of receivers that are substitutable when these situations occur.

522 = 625
622 = 722 = 722k
301 = 311 = 381
211 = 211k
222 = 222k

Beyond these, if a receiver is unavailable, and no "normal" substitutes are available, Dish will often issue a temporary allowance to use a different type of receiver. For example, last fall, when 625s and 522s were non-existant, Dish was building work orders for 622/722s for customers who ordered 625s/522s, with the HD shut off and HD enabling fee waived.

Most of the time, these substitutions are substituting newer/more capable receivers in place of older/less capable ones, but occasionally it goes the other way (522 instead of a 625).
 
Interesting... When they substitute a different receiver/DVR will they then give you the one you want when it becomes available? Without a fight?
 
No, unless you reschedule, you keep what you got once those receivers are activated.

Keep in mind that installers have very little control over what they get. When Dish is out of a receiver type, they could be out of it for a month or more, or only get in a few that go out fast. As a sub, if receivers are running low, I either take an "equivalent replacement" or I don't get any work. It's the same with new vs. refurbs; you get whatever they give you.

With HD, you have a good chance of getting a new, recent-model receiver. With SD, chances are it's a refurb, as Dish has nearly elmininated the manufacture of SD receivers, and is using the remans pulled from HD upgrades and Eastern Arc areas to install new SD jobs. It's been many months since I've seen a new 625, 322, or 311.
 

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