Should I? Can I?

[JimBanville]

I have had a 4 receiver (301) SD setup for a few months. I got it under the DHA plan: Free equipment, free installation and no commitment. I REALLY like Dish's service! I've had a HD-capable TV for years. I just got a Samsung HDTV receiver for $180 for local HD. My local HD support SUCKS! Most everything is 4x3 and you only get "real" HD on a few shows at night. I was wondering if it it would better to try and get a Dish HD receiver and sell the Samsung receiver. I could still watch local HD, right? Plus I could watch Dish's HD content. My (wife's) only hang-up is the money. Do you think Dish would trade me up to an 811 for one of the 301's if I also agreed to a commitment? I just thought I'd ask here before I called and sounded like a potential fool to the Dish CR

 

[Cyclone]

They have a Dish'n it up promo where they might lease you a 811 for an extra $5/mo. Call and ask.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Note that the E* OTA tuners have a lot of different troubles, and you may or may not be happy with how yours works at your location with your antenna.

 

[JimBanville]

Are these "troubles" little quirks or major shortcomings? My main concern is good HD picture quality. I can use my TV's NTSC tuner for those local signals.

 

[OdiOdin]

Most of the complaints with the 811 is "little quirks", most of which affect some people and don't others. If you can qualify for the dish'n it up promo then you can get a 811 for 5 dollars a month. If you don't like it, you can send it back. (it's a lease program).

No way of telling if you are gonna get good OTA quality without hooking it up or finding someone else in your area with it. (where do you live?)

 

[JimBanville]

The CR said we haven't been with them long enough (we've had it for 3 months).
Does anyone have a link to this promo's details?

thanks!
Jim

 

[charper1]

Most everything is 4x3 and you only get "real" HD on a few shows at night.

This is because most of the network content is still just 4x3, even if it is sent digitally. You should only get the 16x9 on shows that say they are being broadcast in HD, and that is only IF your particular local is also sending it out to you in HD.

I was wondering if it it would better to try and get a Dish HD receiver and sell the Samsung receiver. I could still watch local HD, right?

YES & NO! No satellite service broadcasts local digital or HD signals. They have distant CBS network digital feed IF you qualify. You would still get your local digital and HD via a roof-top antenna just like the Samsung STB.

Plus I could watch Dish's HD content. My (wife's) only hang-up is the money.

Yes. You would be adding the E* HD programming for $10/mo to the other package costs: HBO-HD*, SHO-HD*, ESPN-HD, TNT-HD, DISC-HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, PPV-HD* with a 1year commitment unless there is a promotion going on. Extra $$*

Hope this helps.

 

[JimBanville]

Yes. You would be adding the E* HD programming for $11/mo to the other package costs: HBO-HD, SHO-HD, ESPN-HD, TNT-HD, DISC-HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, PPV-HD with a 1year commitment unless there is a promotion going on.

Perhaps I misread your post, but I think you only get ESPN, TNT, and the 2 HDNet channels for $10/month. Am I mistaken?

 

[NightRyder]

Perhaps I misread your post, but I think you only get ESPN, TNT, and the 2 HDNet channels for $10/month. Am I mistaken?

Just add Discovery-HD to that and youv'e got it.

NightRyder

 

[charper1]

I should have typed it better but $10/mo for the non-premium HD. I added in that "plus OTHER package costs". I was just listing the E* HD lineup. I added * for extra cost premiums.

 

[GaryPen]

HBO-HD and SHO-HD are free to those with HD receivers who subscribe to the HBO and SHO packages.