Who runs this ship? HD Locals, 18518 and the Eastern Arc

[Coldwater]

You know, I thought I had this all planned out and I felt quite confident when I started talking to my first CSR, and explained exactly what I wanted:

-Dropping Classic Silver 200, replacing it with Turbo HD Gold
-Replacing my 322 with a 722k ($550, I should have ebay'd. )
-Slapping a new dish on the roof (I'm getting my roof done so my old Super Dish currently resides on my garage floor. )

I felt good. Too good. Then the problems started.

Rep tells me I can't get Gold with my pack, takes a good hour of explaining to get them to realize I'm dropping the SD channels. I was then told I couldn't do it because I don't have an HD receiver although I mentioned this myself and the exact model I wanted (perhaps you can't overload them with info?), took another good half-hour to get that out. I also mention I only want one dish (more on this in a bit).

So I finally get to schedule my appointment, and when the tech arrives he tells me I will need two dishes. This is where I get really confused. I live in Old Forge, not very far out from Scranton (under 6 miles), which I was nearly 100% sure would place me FIRMLY in the Eastern Arc, so I asked the tech for a 1000.4 and he said sure, set up another appointment.

So I call back to Dish and I was transfered to Dave (you know there's an issue if you get someone based in the States), who tells me I am NOT in the Eastern Arc, I'm in the Western arc and will need two dishes. I press him and he tells me that if the tech can get LoS with one dish, then fine, but he wouldn't (or couldn't) tell me the name of the dish.



So I registered here and I ask for your wisdom, ye mighty satellite gods! What arc am I in really? The HD locals page on EKB tells me that Scranton's HD locals are on 61.5 and the Eastern Arc (it also says three deleted but no boxes are grey'd out ). I've heard of some spotbeam issues but shouldn't I be close enough to Wilkes-Barre to not have an issue?

I really would like to avoid more holes in my roof or another dish in the yard.

 

[mike123abc]

Some Dish CSRs are hard to work with. Perhaps you could get a dishing it up upgrade for a low fee to get an HD DVR.

If your HD locals are Scranton they are on 61.5 and a single dish solution should be available. Scranton standard definition are on 119. Perhaps they think you are still SD. Be sure to tell them you want your 322 deactivated/returned/etc. That could be what is telling their computer you need both arcs, one for HD and one for the SD.

 

[Coldwater]

Thanks for the reply, I will definitely try that out. I hope it's that simple.

 

[IIP]

The issue is that, officially, the 1000.4 dish/Eastern Arc is only for NEW customers. They don't normally update existing customers from WA to EA. There are a few people who have escalated their case far/long enough to get Dish to agree to it, but that is generally outside the norm.

As a general rule, just because something exists doesn't mean it's available to everyone. Companies often lay out a set of business rules regarding new equipment or equipment that's in short supply. Because of the dependencies that come with EA, Dish has elected to only give it to new customers for now. That restriction will probably loosen over time.

DirecTV has similar restrictions on their SWM equipment.

The issue really is that neither company ever promised these specific technologies to anyone, or even announced them publicly. The only reason folks know they exist is because they come here and find out. Nothing wrong with that, except that everyone assumes that as soon as something is announced that they "should" be able to have it. It doesn't always work out that way.

 

[Coldwater]

The issue is that, officially, the 1000.4 dish/Eastern Arc is only for NEW customers. They don't normally update existing customers from WA to EA. There are a few people who have escalated their case far/long enough to get Dish to agree to it, but that is generally outside the norm.

As a general rule, just because something exists doesn't mean it's available to everyone. Companies often lay out a set of business rules regarding new equipment or equipment that's in short supply. Because of the dependencies that come with EA, Dish has elected to only give it to new customers for now. That restriction will probably loosen over time.

DirecTV has similar restrictions on their SWM equipment.

The issue really is that neither company ever promised these specific technologies to anyone, or even announced them publicly. The only reason folks know they exist is because they come here and find out. Nothing wrong with that, except that everyone assumes that as soon as something is announced that they "should" be able to have it. It doesn't always work out that way.

Oh, I understand 100%, however I didn't know at the time that the 1000.4 was only for new customers, however I did realize this for Turbo HD (and been a victim of other such systems), and thusly I waited until March.

I would have been fine if they just told me this from point A, but they claimed otherwise. I called one last time today, and basically got the same message you told me, however I was given a bit of (perhaps false) hope, the service department rep told me if he can get LoS with the one dish, they can switch me to that arc. From what I've seen here I'm not sure how likely that is, but I really must avoid two dishes on my nice new roof, so if I must get a 2nd on a stand for the time being, I'll do that. He also mention it will cost extra in the future (obviously), but money is secondary to happiness. I live in a neighborhood where kids like to kick things over, you get the idea.

My kingdom for a Dish 1000.4!

 

[mistercoke]

The issue is that, officially, the 1000.4 dish/Eastern Arc is only for NEW customers.

I just got one Friday.

 

[Coldwater]

I just got one Friday.

I'm going to assume you are an existing customer, correct? Did you do anything special to get it or are you in an area with LoS problems? Did you have a poor signal before?

 

[mistercoke]

I'm going to assume you are an existing customer, correct? Did you do anything special to get it or are you in an area with LoS problems? Did you have a poor signal before?

New customer did not have 220 dollars for Dirctv Hd.

 

[Coldwater]

Ah, ok. Is it too much to hope that any existing customers on here were able to get into the Eastern Arc??