dish packages are odd, how do I do this?

[iml]

I want to downgrade my package off top250 with dish ultimate.

I basically want the dishhd package downstairs and dishfamily upstairs (my kids love boomerang).

Apparently, there is no combination that will allow this. They won't even let me set up 2 accounts to accomplish it.

If I just so tough luck no boomerang, I still can't get a package that works because they do not change out receivers or anything.

I have a 522 and a 622. DVR for SD and DVR for HD. If I changed to the hd package only my locals would be in SD but I see no way to view any channels from the 522.

I really don't understand why they restrict getting all HD channels from a dish family package.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[mdonnelly]

It's just the way Dish works. One account == one package. You could try using another name and address to setup the 2nd account (e.g. 226B Baker St.). Not sure how you would transfer your existing receivers to that new package though.

Also, the 522 would still get the available SD channels from the simulcast networks, even with the HD Only package.

 

[Pepper]

Sorry, but the absolute cheapest way to get DishHD on one receiver, and top250 on another, is exactly what you have now. If and when the channels that are keeping you at 250 become HD, you could downgrade to HD only and the SD equivalents should still be there for the SD receiver.

 

[iml]

The only channels that kept me on 250 were boomerang and bloomberg. It appears bloomberg can be added a la carte for $1.50 so I may have to just tell the kids no more boomerang and then dropping to the HD package, but it leaves me in a weird predicament since my locals are in SD and one of my DVRs is a 522.

 

[mdonnelly]

The only channels that kept me on 250 were boomerang and bloomberg. It appears bloomberg can be added a la carte for $1.50 so I may have to just tell the kids no more boomerang and then dropping to the HD package, but it leaves me in a weird predicament since my locals are in SD and one of my DVRs is a 522.

HD Only doesn't mean you can't get your SD locals, or that you can only use an MPEG-4 receiver. Matter of fact, Dish is selling the SD locals for $5/month, and the HD locals, where available, are thrown in for free.

 

[iml]

yes, but my 522 would only show my local channels and nothing else correct?

 

[kstuart]

The only channels that kept me on 250 were boomerang and bloomberg. It appears bloomberg can be added a la carte for $1.50 so I may have to just tell the kids no more boomerang and then dropping to the HD package, but it leaves me in a weird predicament since my locals are in SD and one of my DVRs is a 522.

First, your situation of watching certain channels in one room (HD) and other channels in another room (SD) is exactly the same for 99% of customers.

You watch both channels, you need to subscribe to both channels.

Second, here are some helpful bits of info:

- Legally, Dish Network must provide all HD and SD Locals to anyone who subscribes to locals. So, even if you change to "Dish-HD-Only", if you add the locals to that, you will get both HD and SD locals on all receivers.

- Currently, Dish provides SD versions of all channels in the "Dish-HD-Only" package. However, I think that is a courtesy, so that subscribers to that package can continue to use their SD receivers. It's conceivable that some channel could complain (it is "HD only" after all) and cause that courtesy to be ended. So, I would not depend on that courtesy over the long term.

- Current kid channels in "Dish-HD-Only" are Toon Disney, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, and ABC Family.

- All "a la carte" channels that you subscribe to, such as Bloomberg, should appear on all receivers. CNBC-HD is now included in "Dish-HD-Only".

 

[JH1949]

iml: why couldn't you exchange the 522 for another HD receiver that feeds all HD channels out as SD through the monoagile output ?

 

[BlackHitachi]

I was thinking of getting Dish HD for one account and Dish Family for another account! Dish family has Boom in that one.

 

[iml]

kstuart: thanks, I downgraded and still get the SD versions on the 522, hopefully they will keep it that way

jh1949: they will not do an exchange for an HD receiver (or any equipment for that matter)...at least that is what they told me.

blackhitachi: you can only have one package per account and you can't have two accounts at one address

 

[BlackHitachi]

kstuart: thanks, I downgraded and still get the SD versions on the 522, hopefully they will keep it that way

jh1949: they will not do an exchange for an HD receiver (or any equipment for that matter)...at least that is what they told me.

blackhitachi: you can only have one package per account and you can't have two accounts at one address

Yes i found that out.

 

[madisonmom]

Boom is one of the channels missed in our house, too, since the downgrade. One solution is to purchase, rent or borrow the old HB cartoons that are shown on Boom. I just couldn't justify $60 more per month for a couple of channels that we miss (Boom and MSNBC). We're loving the dishHD only package!

 

[okiekevn]

you cannot get dish ultuimate hd with family, but you can however get the dishhd standalone pack with locals for 34.99 and add dish family for 19.99. this would be 25 bucks a month cheaper then t250w/ultimate. now keep in mind though if you are on the dish dvr advanatage, you will gain an addigitonal 5.98 dvr fee when you make the change and make your savings only 19 bucks a month.

 

[theedge103]

Can you add dish family to the DishHD package? I didn't think other packages could be thrown on top of DishHD....

 

[okiekevn]

well, i know international customers can add dishhdstandalone to international packages.