I don't think that Dish prepaid is available in Canada, but I could be wrong.
Try contacting a local installer, or local Radio Shack, if they are there in Canada.
Dish Network Prepaid Question
- Thread starter aarona1983
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 568
- Views 155K
- Status
I don't think that Dish prepaid is available in Canada, but I could be wrong.
Try contacting a local installer, or local Radio Shack, if they are there in Canada.
You could, but why would you want too.
You will be paying multiple times for the same programming, and that would defeat the purpose of saving money.
Yes, you can most definitely, but:
1. 10 receivers X AT200 for 26 days($40)= $400 for 26 days of programming on 10 receivers. Pretty dumb when you can lease multiple receivers and get the same programming for $45/month on all of them at once.
I would say a 322(two tuner receiver) that was refurbished for prepaid would make the multiple tv idea viable, but they are not available at this time this way.
diferent locations
its because the receivers will be in different locations in mexico
i want to know if i can pay for 10 or 20 receivers using the same green money card
to avoid having 20 different cards
i was reading that when you are activating service you enter the receiver serial number
i was thinking that since service is automated, no one will care of find out that receivers are in mexico
what do you think ?
its because the receivers will be in different locations in mexico
i want to know if i can pay for 10 or 20 receivers using the same green money card
to avoid having 20 different cards
i was reading that when you are activating service you enter the receiver serial number
i was thinking that since service is automated, no one will care of find out that receivers are in mexico
what do you think ?
Grab as many green dot MoneyPak cards as you can when you find them!
Trying to find a plain old green dot MoneyPak card isn't easy, so hoard them. My suggestion is that you grab a bunch of them once you find them and activate them at a later date at any retailer capable of loading them, even if they don't have the empty / unactivated cards on hand, like many Walmarts.
Confused about the right card to get, please see the image and links below.
CORRECT
INCORRECT
green dot Visa
green dot MasterCard
Trying to find a plain old green dot MoneyPak card isn't easy, so hoard them. My suggestion is that you grab a bunch of them once you find them and activate them at a later date at any retailer capable of loading them, even if they don't have the empty / unactivated cards on hand, like many Walmarts.
Confused about the right card to get, please see the image and links below.
CORRECT
INCORRECT
green dot Visa
green dot MasterCard
Last edited:
THIS POST CAME FROM THE DISH TECHNICAL FORUM, BUT IT IS WELL WRITTEN ON HOW TO GET THE SERVICE/IT'S COST/AND OTHER INFO.
Dish TV Pay as you go / DishNow DishYA.
Thank You!
I want to thank the contributors to this board for their help with DishNow or DishYA or Pay as you go. I have a second home in Northern Wisc., and I used to have DirectTV. For a couple of years, DirecTV would let me turn it on and off whenever I wanted, even though it was against their express policy. But then they just stopped. So I canceled the account.
We can see some local analog TV now from about 60 miles out, but we cannot see the digital UHF signals. So . . no TV as of February.
Dish Network's pay as you go works very well for this situation. It does everything I need - but there are NO local channels, and NO digital. The typical cost is $1.50 a day, depending on the programming selected!
You can find everything you need to set it up in posts to this board, but I thought I would share my experience - as I did not quite get it right the first time!
Equipment
==========
You buy the equipment up front and you install it. I got mine at Radio Shack for $100. It comes with a refurbished receiver (DP 301), an antenna and mast (Dish 500), a remote control, and some cables to connect to your TV / VCR. It does NOT have external cables to the antenna, and it does NOT have instructions for the antenna. Radio Shack sells an installation kit for another $20. I figured I did not need it as I had the DirectTV antenna on the roof.
But the instructions from that kit would have been VERY helpful! But you can find them on the Internet. DishNetwork.com has lots of instruction books on its web site. The equipment book that comes with the kit is a little dated. The menus and set up have changed. And the book for the remote is not useful. You will need a current one. Just look around a little.
The antenna is a Dish 500. It is NOT a DishPro.
It has 2 feeds from it. You only actually use only one for this service. The 2 heads are for 2 different satellites - one at 119, and another at 110. Even though you use only one of the cables, the satellite receiver can see both satellites through some switching in the antenna itself. You hook it up to the left (119) to tune it, but it can see both.
It also comes with a fancy remote, but the book that comes with it is not for that remote. The remote looks just like the one for the newer Dish 311. Get the book for that one!
Dish Aiming
===========
The key thing here is to get the mast perfectly plumb - straight up and down. My mast was off just a tad, and I could not find the signal. The receiver can take a minute or so to respond to the signal, and it does not even see really weak signals. The book says: "Azimuth adjustments should be made a 1/4 inch at a time, waiting 5 seconds between each movement." That seems like an eternity on a cold roof!
I finally paid a Dish TV guy to come out and use his signal strength meter. He had to adjust the vertical just to find the signal. If you have lots of problems, Radio Shack sells a meter! It's called a "Satellite Finder", and costs $40. The potential problem is that there are LOTS of satellites up there. I have no clue which ones use what frequencies, and which one is Dish versus DirectTV or something else.
The aiming is VERY, VERY touchy. To do it properly, you really need the satellite signal strength meter while you are up there on the roof. Alternatively, do what I did - look in the yellow pages for Dish or Satellite installation. Erik's Satellite Service saved me!
Receiver Set up
============
When you first start up the receiver, it is supposed to go directly to dish aiming. If it does not, select System Setup, then Installation, then Point Dish/Signal.
The receiver is a Dish DP301. But it looks just like the DISH 311 - including the fancy remote. It initially comes up looking for Satellite 119 on some transponder or other. Don't mess with that. Once it is correctly pointed, it will figure out the other satellite and transponders.
AFTER you have a signal locked, you must then select the "Switch Test". It does some 28 tests and sets up the whole business to be able to see multiple satellites and transponders. You aim it at 119, and it figures out where the others are, assuming the dish antenna is set up correctly.
GreenDot Money Pak
================
This is how you pay for the service. Do NOT buy the DishNow prepaid card. That entitles you to a certain number of days of Dish service, but all in one shot. What you want it service by the day!
Instead, go to Walgreens or Walmart or CVS and buy a GreenDot Money Pak. Do NOT buy a GreenDot Credit Card. The money pak costs $5 ($4.99 actually), the card costs $10, and is of no use whasoever! You pay for it with cash, and then load it with some more cash. $20 is the minimum. After 90 days, if there is any balance, they take $5 a month off the card. I think that only starts AFTER you first use it. So, it's a trade off. It costs $5 to load the card, or buy a new one, and after 90 days, it costs $5 a month. It makes the most sense to just buy 3 month's worth each time if you can.
You only use it when you call Dish TV to start any programming. You give them (key in) the verification number. That's the only account number you have.
Activation
=======
I got most of this from this forum - thank you very much SteelersRule! I grew up in Pgh.
1. Make sure the receiver is plugged in and attached to the antenna, and the antenna is aimed correctly. I usually have it on so I can watch things happen.
2. Write down on a piece of paper, the following numbers:
4. Call the number on the screen, or 1-888-347-4132. It's all automated. Generally, it is difficult to talk to a human in this system. Enter the receiver number and activation number when asked. It will repeat them back for verification.
5. Order programming. You can select English or Spanish to narrow down the field. Then Basic, Movies or Adult.
Basic gives: Family, AT100, AT200, AT250. See comments below on these.
Movies gives: HBO, Stars, Cinemax, or Showtime.
I dunno what Adult has for choices (just in case my wife reads this!)
6. How much. It will ask if you want to use the entire amount of the card. It will tell you how many days you can purchase. Say NO! You want to do a few days. Order as many days as you want for that service.
It will then send a signal to the receiver.
7. Anything else? Say NO, and it will disconnect.
Say YES, and you can order another set of programming - say Movies along with the BASIC.
8. Download. On the first activation, it will ask if you want to update the system. YES, tell it to do that. And it will take some time. WAIT. Don't mess with it until it is done. Even after it looks like it is done, WAIT. It seems to take several minutes to actually get all of the channel information into the receiver. If you start selecting channels right away, it may tell you that you have not subscribed to them, or they will show up as RED in the list. Wait a bit. It eventually figures it all out.
Daily Cost
=======
It is a simple algorithm to figure the daily cost. But here is the current rate:
Service Cost / Day
Dish Family $0.67
Top 100 $1.11
Top 200 $1.54
Top 250 $1.90
HBO $0.50
Cinemax $0.43
Showtime $0.43
Starz $0.43
10 Adult clips $0.83
Programming
==========
I did a comparison of the various packages, and it hardly makes sense to buy the Dish Family or Dish 100. The Dish 200 covers mostly everything. Dish 250 adds a few things: CNBC World, NICK TOONS, All ENCORE movies, FOX Movie, West Movie Channel, TMC Extra West, Outdoor Channel, Tennis Channel, Discovery Kids, History International, Bloomberg, Military Channel, National Geographic, Planet Green, The Science Channel.
There's a table at Wikipedia that is helpful. And each of the entries can be selected to display more information. It can be found at:
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dish_Network_channels"]List of Dish Network channels in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_outdated_serious.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox outdated serious.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Ambox_outdated_serious.svg/40px-Ambox_outdated_serious.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/8/8f/Ambox_outdated_serious.svg/40px-Ambox_outdated_serious.svg.png[/ame]
Manuals
======
Dishnetwork.com has manuals for everything if you poke around a bit.
Problems
======
I haven't tried these yet, but folks on this forum offer some options.
System Reset
If things are not showing up correctly, try resetting the whole system.
You may have to do this more than once.
Press and hold down the POWER button on the front of the DP301 for about 5-7 seconds. This will cause the receiver to go through a HARD RESET, and everything will need to be re-downloaded to the receiver (including channel lineup info). While it is doing this, do not touch anything. I have found that this usually solves the problem. Also, I have learned to NEVER turn off the receiver once the CORRECT channel lineup finally appears.
I just leave the Tuner ON all the time, and shut off the TV. Usually keeps everything correct
Resend Activation Signal
The activation signal is only sent once.
If you pay for the service and it does not activate because you did not have a signal, you can call and say "customer service rep" and it will ask you if you want to talk to a representative. Say yes, then tell them you want the activation signal sent again. They will ask for the receiver number. When I did this, it started the activation in less than a minute. After a couple more minutes of programming downloads, I was up and running.
Good luck with this. It took me a couple of tries, but it works slick.
Dish TV Pay as you go / DishNow DishYA.
Thank You!
I want to thank the contributors to this board for their help with DishNow or DishYA or Pay as you go. I have a second home in Northern Wisc., and I used to have DirectTV. For a couple of years, DirecTV would let me turn it on and off whenever I wanted, even though it was against their express policy. But then they just stopped. So I canceled the account.
We can see some local analog TV now from about 60 miles out, but we cannot see the digital UHF signals. So . . no TV as of February.
Dish Network's pay as you go works very well for this situation. It does everything I need - but there are NO local channels, and NO digital. The typical cost is $1.50 a day, depending on the programming selected!
You can find everything you need to set it up in posts to this board, but I thought I would share my experience - as I did not quite get it right the first time!
Equipment
==========
You buy the equipment up front and you install it. I got mine at Radio Shack for $100. It comes with a refurbished receiver (DP 301), an antenna and mast (Dish 500), a remote control, and some cables to connect to your TV / VCR. It does NOT have external cables to the antenna, and it does NOT have instructions for the antenna. Radio Shack sells an installation kit for another $20. I figured I did not need it as I had the DirectTV antenna on the roof.
But the instructions from that kit would have been VERY helpful! But you can find them on the Internet. DishNetwork.com has lots of instruction books on its web site. The equipment book that comes with the kit is a little dated. The menus and set up have changed. And the book for the remote is not useful. You will need a current one. Just look around a little.
The antenna is a Dish 500. It is NOT a DishPro.
It has 2 feeds from it. You only actually use only one for this service. The 2 heads are for 2 different satellites - one at 119, and another at 110. Even though you use only one of the cables, the satellite receiver can see both satellites through some switching in the antenna itself. You hook it up to the left (119) to tune it, but it can see both.
It also comes with a fancy remote, but the book that comes with it is not for that remote. The remote looks just like the one for the newer Dish 311. Get the book for that one!
Dish Aiming
===========
The key thing here is to get the mast perfectly plumb - straight up and down. My mast was off just a tad, and I could not find the signal. The receiver can take a minute or so to respond to the signal, and it does not even see really weak signals. The book says: "Azimuth adjustments should be made a 1/4 inch at a time, waiting 5 seconds between each movement." That seems like an eternity on a cold roof!
I finally paid a Dish TV guy to come out and use his signal strength meter. He had to adjust the vertical just to find the signal. If you have lots of problems, Radio Shack sells a meter! It's called a "Satellite Finder", and costs $40. The potential problem is that there are LOTS of satellites up there. I have no clue which ones use what frequencies, and which one is Dish versus DirectTV or something else.
The aiming is VERY, VERY touchy. To do it properly, you really need the satellite signal strength meter while you are up there on the roof. Alternatively, do what I did - look in the yellow pages for Dish or Satellite installation. Erik's Satellite Service saved me!
Receiver Set up
============
When you first start up the receiver, it is supposed to go directly to dish aiming. If it does not, select System Setup, then Installation, then Point Dish/Signal.
The receiver is a Dish DP301. But it looks just like the DISH 311 - including the fancy remote. It initially comes up looking for Satellite 119 on some transponder or other. Don't mess with that. Once it is correctly pointed, it will figure out the other satellite and transponders.
AFTER you have a signal locked, you must then select the "Switch Test". It does some 28 tests and sets up the whole business to be able to see multiple satellites and transponders. You aim it at 119, and it figures out where the others are, assuming the dish antenna is set up correctly.
GreenDot Money Pak
================
This is how you pay for the service. Do NOT buy the DishNow prepaid card. That entitles you to a certain number of days of Dish service, but all in one shot. What you want it service by the day!
Instead, go to Walgreens or Walmart or CVS and buy a GreenDot Money Pak. Do NOT buy a GreenDot Credit Card. The money pak costs $5 ($4.99 actually), the card costs $10, and is of no use whasoever! You pay for it with cash, and then load it with some more cash. $20 is the minimum. After 90 days, if there is any balance, they take $5 a month off the card. I think that only starts AFTER you first use it. So, it's a trade off. It costs $5 to load the card, or buy a new one, and after 90 days, it costs $5 a month. It makes the most sense to just buy 3 month's worth each time if you can.
You only use it when you call Dish TV to start any programming. You give them (key in) the verification number. That's the only account number you have.
Activation
=======
I got most of this from this forum - thank you very much SteelersRule! I grew up in Pgh.
1. Make sure the receiver is plugged in and attached to the antenna, and the antenna is aimed correctly. I usually have it on so I can watch things happen.
2. Write down on a piece of paper, the following numbers:
- The Receiver number as shown in your device. It starts with R.
It is also in the packing materials, but you need the whole number, including the last 2 digits! - The GreenDot MoneyPak activation number. It is either on the packaging, or on the receipt.
- You might also note the date you activated the MoneyPak to determine when the 90 days are up.
- Your zip code. I don't know why, but you need it.
4. Call the number on the screen, or 1-888-347-4132. It's all automated. Generally, it is difficult to talk to a human in this system. Enter the receiver number and activation number when asked. It will repeat them back for verification.
5. Order programming. You can select English or Spanish to narrow down the field. Then Basic, Movies or Adult.
Basic gives: Family, AT100, AT200, AT250. See comments below on these.
Movies gives: HBO, Stars, Cinemax, or Showtime.
I dunno what Adult has for choices (just in case my wife reads this!)
6. How much. It will ask if you want to use the entire amount of the card. It will tell you how many days you can purchase. Say NO! You want to do a few days. Order as many days as you want for that service.
It will then send a signal to the receiver.
7. Anything else? Say NO, and it will disconnect.
Say YES, and you can order another set of programming - say Movies along with the BASIC.
8. Download. On the first activation, it will ask if you want to update the system. YES, tell it to do that. And it will take some time. WAIT. Don't mess with it until it is done. Even after it looks like it is done, WAIT. It seems to take several minutes to actually get all of the channel information into the receiver. If you start selecting channels right away, it may tell you that you have not subscribed to them, or they will show up as RED in the list. Wait a bit. It eventually figures it all out.
Daily Cost
=======
It is a simple algorithm to figure the daily cost. But here is the current rate:
Service Cost / Day
Dish Family $0.67
Top 100 $1.11
Top 200 $1.54
Top 250 $1.90
HBO $0.50
Cinemax $0.43
Showtime $0.43
Starz $0.43
10 Adult clips $0.83
Programming
==========
I did a comparison of the various packages, and it hardly makes sense to buy the Dish Family or Dish 100. The Dish 200 covers mostly everything. Dish 250 adds a few things: CNBC World, NICK TOONS, All ENCORE movies, FOX Movie, West Movie Channel, TMC Extra West, Outdoor Channel, Tennis Channel, Discovery Kids, History International, Bloomberg, Military Channel, National Geographic, Planet Green, The Science Channel.
There's a table at Wikipedia that is helpful. And each of the entries can be selected to display more information. It can be found at:
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dish_Network_channels"]List of Dish Network channels in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Ambox_outdated_serious.svg" class="image"><img alt="Ambox outdated serious.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Ambox_outdated_serious.svg/40px-Ambox_outdated_serious.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/8/8f/Ambox_outdated_serious.svg/40px-Ambox_outdated_serious.svg.png[/ame]
Manuals
======
Dishnetwork.com has manuals for everything if you poke around a bit.
Problems
======
I haven't tried these yet, but folks on this forum offer some options.
System Reset
If things are not showing up correctly, try resetting the whole system.
You may have to do this more than once.
Press and hold down the POWER button on the front of the DP301 for about 5-7 seconds. This will cause the receiver to go through a HARD RESET, and everything will need to be re-downloaded to the receiver (including channel lineup info). While it is doing this, do not touch anything. I have found that this usually solves the problem. Also, I have learned to NEVER turn off the receiver once the CORRECT channel lineup finally appears.
I just leave the Tuner ON all the time, and shut off the TV. Usually keeps everything correct
Resend Activation Signal
The activation signal is only sent once.
If you pay for the service and it does not activate because you did not have a signal, you can call and say "customer service rep" and it will ask you if you want to talk to a representative. Say yes, then tell them you want the activation signal sent again. They will ask for the receiver number. When I did this, it started the activation in less than a minute. After a couple more minutes of programming downloads, I was up and running.
Good luck with this. It took me a couple of tries, but it works slick.
How will G3 Smart Card / Nagra 3 be handled with DISH Pre-Paid?
I just ordered a DISH Network 301 prepaid refurbished receiver off of eBay from a dealer and it has yet to come. What is the situation with receiving the G3 Smart Card with Nagra 3? Have any swaps occurred yet for prepaid receivers? Does anyone know whether we will incur a charge, like S&H, for the eventual swap?
Another post on the matter.
P.S. None of the posts in this thread discuss the prepaid bundled smart cards, unless I've missed something.
I just ordered a DISH Network 301 prepaid refurbished receiver off of eBay from a dealer and it has yet to come. What is the situation with receiving the G3 Smart Card with Nagra 3? Have any swaps occurred yet for prepaid receivers? Does anyone know whether we will incur a charge, like S&H, for the eventual swap?
Another post on the matter.
P.S. None of the posts in this thread discuss the prepaid bundled smart cards, unless I've missed something.
"steelersrules" what telephone do you call? i have called about four or five numbers and all i get is the run-around and past around. i have gotten "i can't help you" and "i can activate if you sign up for regular service.". why is dish network selling a product and service they won't support?
i had bought a card from radioshack and activated it on the phone, but i wasn't getting a good signal. now i get a signal from sat.110 but not fron sat.119, will that be a problem on activation? so far i'm in to this system about $200.00 and still haven't been able to watch.[ dp quad lnb [lagacy lnbs were not working],signal meter, reciever+shipping, $40.00 card.]
i am retired and on soc.sec. and this system would be nice for me because i don't need a long term contract.
any help you can provide would be helpful,
thanks,
outrider.
i had bought a card from radioshack and activated it on the phone, but i wasn't getting a good signal. now i get a signal from sat.110 but not fron sat.119, will that be a problem on activation? so far i'm in to this system about $200.00 and still haven't been able to watch.[ dp quad lnb [lagacy lnbs were not working],signal meter, reciever+shipping, $40.00 card.]
i am retired and on soc.sec. and this system would be nice for me because i don't need a long term contract.
any help you can provide would be helpful,
thanks,
outrider.
1-888-347-4132
1-888-347-4132 is the automated # you call for Dish Now! (Dish pre-paid)
Steelersrule's detailed post regarding this is :
http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/123868-dish-network-prepaid-question.html#post1221682
Good luck!
1-888-347-4132 is the automated # you call for Dish Now! (Dish pre-paid)
Steelersrule's detailed post regarding this is :
http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/123868-dish-network-prepaid-question.html#post1221682
Good luck!
the number i was wanting was the number to call to resend activation signal.
as i said earlier, i am getting a signal from sat.110 but not from sat. 119, do i have to be getting from 119 for the activation to work or will it activate on 110 ?
i had called 1-888-347-4132 to activate the $40.00 card from radioshack [12/2/08], when i tried it again to try to get a second "hit" the auto. system did not understand. i called 18004540843 [transferred and put on hold, after 15mins, i hung up].called 18882333474 was told to call the '4132' #,18003333474 said thet could 'activate it' if i would go on a monthy billing, i declind and they said 'they could not help me", so you see, i have only been getting the runaround.
i guess if i really want this stuff to work, i'll have to call a pro installer and spent another $100.00, which i really don't have, how can something so simple be so difficult and costly?
as i said earlier, i am getting a signal from sat.110 but not from sat. 119, do i have to be getting from 119 for the activation to work or will it activate on 110 ?
i had called 1-888-347-4132 to activate the $40.00 card from radioshack [12/2/08], when i tried it again to try to get a second "hit" the auto. system did not understand. i called 18004540843 [transferred and put on hold, after 15mins, i hung up].called 18882333474 was told to call the '4132' #,18003333474 said thet could 'activate it' if i would go on a monthy billing, i declind and they said 'they could not help me", so you see, i have only been getting the runaround.
i guess if i really want this stuff to work, i'll have to call a pro installer and spent another $100.00, which i really don't have, how can something so simple be so difficult and costly?
We have a vacation home, this sounds like the perfect solution. We bought the house about two years ago, it already has a DISH Network antenna on the roof but we've never used it (got cable TV instead). Will a DISH Network 301 be compatible with this old antenna? Sorry, I don't know the model number.
Outrider,
It sounds like too me that your Dish 500 is not set to the right angles/skews it needs to be in order to pick up BOTH 110/and 119. Either that, or the mast(the metal arm it is attached to) is not plumb causing the angles/elevations to be messed up causing no reception on 119.
I "think" the signal being sent comes off of 119, but don't quote me on that. This is the reason why, in the self-installation manual, that say to go into the menu, and enter the POINT DISH/SIGNAL Menu(Press MENU BUTTON on Remote, then #6, Then #1, Then #1 on Remote).
While in the point dish menu, set the satellite to 119 and the transponder to 11. Others have said to use other transponders, but this is the one Dish says in the manual to look at while pointing to get maximum signal on nearly all transponders on satellites 110/119.
Make sure you have the right angles/skews/elevation for the Dish 500 available to you based on your zip code. You can find these in the same menu you are in by typing in your code, highlighting a Dish 500, and setting the satellite to either 110, or 119.
Make sure the mast is PLUMB during installation. I cannot stress this enough. Either buy a level, borrow one from a friend, or steal one(just kidding). And make sure it is a good one. Not the garbage one they give you in the installation kit. A good leveler will not cost you much, and it is a good thing to have around the house.
Also buy a decent compass. Invest $15 in a good one. Hell, you can find a good one a sports stores for cheaper. Just make sure it is a good one, and has a dial on it where you can turn it to the angle you need(example is 167 degrees). And when you find it, making sure the solid red arrow is pointed due North, and You and the compass are pointed at the angle/direction you need.
If the mast is not plumb/level, the angles/skew/elevations according to your zip won't matter because the Dish won't be able to pick them up properly. That Mast must be plumb.
This is what I would do:
1. If possible disconnect the Dish, and make sure the Mast is plumb first. 90 Degrees straight up and down, and at the top where the Dish will be resting, it is plumb as well. Not tilted in any direction(Bubble in between the two lines on the levler)
2. Set the Elevation and Skew angles on the Dish while off. Get the correct angles needed for your Zip and set them BEFORE even placing the Dish on the Mast. I do/did this as a great reference/starting point for pointing the Dish, and have found that if I set it before placing the Dish on the mast, I don't "really" have to mess with them to improve signal. But that is me. It may be different for you.
3. Place the Dish 500 on the mast. Connect the wire to the 119 side of the LNB(you could use the 110 side, but they say connect it to th 119 side. The switch is built inside the LNB, so this does not really matter IMHO). Don't tighten it down fully yet. Move it from right to left to the direction where the satellites are with regards to you and your zip code(remeber that compass). Make sure your TV is turned up loud to where you can hear it(or someone is there to shout at you to stop moving it) make the tone noise(while set at satellite 119 and transponder 11). The tone noise does not come up immediately, so wait about 5-10 seconds as you move it from right to left pointed towards the sky(moving about a inch or two every time).
4. You will eventually get a tone. Move it till the tone is at it's highest pitch(stronger signal. Higher the pitch in the tone, the stronger the signal). Then tighten down the satellite Dish on the mast. If you get signals on average between 55-65 on all the transponders(You can look at them individually on both 110 and 119) you have a good signal. The SPOTBEAM signals, don't concern yourself with for the most part. These are mainly there for the local channels, which Dish NOW customers don't get anyway, so they are inconsequential for now. If they become available, then I would worry(not going to happen in the near future).
The above should get your dish right, and your receiver "may/most likely" do a firmware/software download in order to get the latest firmaware/software for the DP301(I think it is 3.96 as of 12/15/08). While it is doing this(after you get the Dish pointed correctly), DON'T TOUCH THE RECEIVER.
Let it download. It could take anywhere from 5 minutes, to an hour(not likely), but just leave it alone until it is done. It will either tell you, or turn off on it's own.
And you "may" have the channels, and the amount of days you already ordered on the display on the TV. I cannot guarantee it, but it may be there.
The only other thing I can think of is that you have a bad LNB, and the 119 side is just faulty, while the 110 side is fine.
I doubt that. But it could be true. But do all I stated above FIRST. If it is faulty, take the entire system back to wherever you got it(I HOPE you kept the receipt), and exchange it.
Good Luck
If it is a Dish 500, is pointed correctly at satellites 110/119, then yes, it will be fine. Even if it has either a Legacy or a DP(Dish Pro) LNB, it will be fine AS LONG AS you buy a DP301 receiver, refurbished for Dish NOW!/YA! programming.
The retailers listed here, from Sadoun to Satelliteguys, sell the receiver alone.
Not sure on the price, but they do sell it by itself.
Just make sure you specify(better to call and talk to someone IMHO. You could just go to their websites and order it there though) that you want the DP301 that has been refurbished for Dish NOW!/YA! programming.
They will know what you mean.
Glad to help, but I am actually having a HUGE problem with my Dish NOW! service, and I wonder if anyone is experiencing the same thing:
Over the past couple of days, I have tried, in vain, too add programming to my service via a Green Dot Money Pak and my DP301.
Everytime I have called the automated service, since Tues. 12/16, I have been rerouted to a customer service agent, AFTER I enter in my RECEIVER # for some reason.
No explanation. Nothing. I can't order any programming, which is pissing me off because the agents(morons) who work for Dish tell me, which I already know, that my Rceiver #, and Green Dot MoneyPak # are all valid, and it should work.
They even try it on their own, and right after typing in the Receiver #(I ALWAYS type in the info using the keypad on phone and never say it), and the automated voice asks if it is correct, and then says, "OK, just a second....", and right after that statement, and a second or two, the voice prompt says, "Please hold, while I transfer your call to a customer service agent."
I don't know why the hell it is doing this. I just ended programming on Sunday, December 14th, so everything was fine until then.
It is like the automated system has flagged my receiver or something, and is unable/unwilling to let me add new programming. Nothing.
And all I get is the runaround from the customer service agents who have no clue what the problem is(they even try it themselves using my receiver number, and Greendot Moneypak number, and get the same results. They get sent to another agent AFTER entering in and confirming the Receiver #). They tell me that there is a problem with the automated service, but I think/believe it is just an excuse to get me off the phone. They give me this crap that everyone is experiencing this, so it is an automated service problem.
Is anyone else having this issue with trying to add new/more programming to a receiver?
If you can, can some of you try the service/automated system for me, and just let me know if after you enter in and verify your receiver number if it begins to allow you to go through the process of adding more programming(It would say after verifying the receiver number, "I see you have activated a Dish Now pin before, have there been any changes to your satellite system?"
You don't actually have to order anything(I would never spend your money
), I just want to see if there actually is a problem with the automated service(which would be a relief knowing I am not the only one having these problems), or if they have just decided to treat my receiver like the plague or something.
Just like to see if you can actually get to the point of ordering more/new programming because apparently I can't anymore. This is a bummer/pisser.
Over the past couple of days, I have tried, in vain, too add programming to my service via a Green Dot Money Pak and my DP301.
Everytime I have called the automated service, since Tues. 12/16, I have been rerouted to a customer service agent, AFTER I enter in my RECEIVER # for some reason.
No explanation. Nothing. I can't order any programming, which is pissing me off because the agents(morons) who work for Dish tell me, which I already know, that my Rceiver #, and Green Dot MoneyPak # are all valid, and it should work.
They even try it on their own, and right after typing in the Receiver #(I ALWAYS type in the info using the keypad on phone and never say it), and the automated voice asks if it is correct, and then says, "OK, just a second....", and right after that statement, and a second or two, the voice prompt says, "Please hold, while I transfer your call to a customer service agent."
I don't know why the hell it is doing this. I just ended programming on Sunday, December 14th, so everything was fine until then.
It is like the automated system has flagged my receiver or something, and is unable/unwilling to let me add new programming. Nothing.
And all I get is the runaround from the customer service agents who have no clue what the problem is(they even try it themselves using my receiver number, and Greendot Moneypak number, and get the same results. They get sent to another agent AFTER entering in and confirming the Receiver #). They tell me that there is a problem with the automated service, but I think/believe it is just an excuse to get me off the phone. They give me this crap that everyone is experiencing this, so it is an automated service problem.
Is anyone else having this issue with trying to add new/more programming to a receiver?
If you can, can some of you try the service/automated system for me, and just let me know if after you enter in and verify your receiver number if it begins to allow you to go through the process of adding more programming(It would say after verifying the receiver number, "I see you have activated a Dish Now pin before, have there been any changes to your satellite system?"
You don't actually have to order anything(I would never spend your money
), I just want to see if there actually is a problem with the automated service(which would be a relief knowing I am not the only one having these problems), or if they have just decided to treat my receiver like the plague or something.Just like to see if you can actually get to the point of ordering more/new programming because apparently I can't anymore. This is a bummer/pisser.
- Status
