Dumped Cox - need help on switching to Dish

[RickBaker]

Finally got fed up with Cox and dumped their cable service. They are our only option for internet, so stuck with them there. So, we're looking at switching to Dish and I'm confused about all of the options. We have 4 TVs, and I'm thinking about getting Dish America Silver. When I fill out the order form however, it only allows to select 3 HD receivers, the 4th one only has a SD receiver listed. Since Dish America is an HD package, will the 4th receiver work properly for that?

Also, is this a decent option? We're not worried about any movie channels. The only time we watch movies is on Netflix, so not worried about a package with movie channels, but I'm kind of confused with the primary difference between Dish America Silver and say America's Top 200.

Thanks in advance for any assistance

 

[DishTechPA]

Dish will only allow you to lease 3 receivers. The duo receivers, 722 dvr, 222 non dvr, support 2 TVs, one HD, one SD. They probably are setting you up a duo and 2 singles. So the 4th TV will work just fine, it just wont be in HD, it will get all of the channels that the other 3 TVs receive.

 

[mdram]

are they all hdtvs?
i would phone in a request if you want hd service on all of them

 

[CK SatGuy]

Or PM a Dish Agent here on the fourm. Their names are highlighted in red.

 

[navychop]

Are all 4 in use at the same time? Do they all need different channels? Maybe Sling is an option. Or purchasing a ViP211. Got to remember, more boxes = more monthly fees.

Also, with Blockbuster Movie Pass there is the option to drop Netflix and save a few bucks.

 

[KAB]

DIRT (Dish Internet Response Team) members are in RED at the bottom of the Forum page:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/forum.php

By all means, contact them (PM) ...they are very helpful folks.

 

[RickBaker]

2 of the TVs are for the kid's room, so HD isn't really an importance there, just mainly concerned about if the SD receiver will work with that particular package. And yes, we always seem to be watching something different, so at times we'll have all 4 TVs going in the house. Not too worried about the monthly fees, just want a quality service. And thanks for the info on contacting a dish agent.

 

[mdram]

well you could do it with 2 duodvrs
each would run 1hd and 1 sd tv
although that would use the tuners, so you would not be able to record anything, unless you used the ota module

 

[navychop]

But all TVs would watch any channels they wanted. No sense in paying for more boxes than you need.

 

[RickBaker]

Hmm, I might have to investigate the ViP211 and sling. I'd definitely like to have boxes for the living and master bedroom.

 

[harshness]

Oklahoma is typically a Western Arc market so SD receivers will work reception-wise. I have no idea what they'll get you programming-wise.

The key, as many have pointed out, is to figure out how many boxes you really need. Two HD DVRs will probably do it for you and it will insure that all TVs have access to all subscribed programming.

 

[harshness]

Hmm, I might have to investigate the ViP211 and sling. I'd definitely like to have boxes for the living and master bedroom.

You need boxes wherever you want HD video. SD renditions of the HD content can be sent everywhere.

 

[mdram]

this is whati would think about
how many streams will you need at once?
do you want to be able to watch all 4 tvs while recording 4 shows? sat or ota?

 

[KAB]

Let me see if I have this right (and excuse the repetition). 2 HDTVs...one in LR and MBR. Two SD tvs...one in each of the kid's room. Correct?

If so, two 722's sounds like the logical solution...with the TV2 output of each going to one of kid's room. No need for an SD receiver, unless I've missed something.

Also keep in mind. There is no one time fee for an EHD...and it can be used with both 722s. An EHD for the 211 can not be used with a 722.

 

[RickBaker]

Let me see if I have this right (and excuse the repetition). 2 HDTVs...one in LR and MBR. Two SD tvs...one in each of the kid's room. Correct?

If so, two 722's sounds like the logical solution...with the TV2 output of each going to one of kid's room. No need for an SD receiver, unless I've missed something.

Also keep in mind. There is no one time fee for an EHD...and it can be used with both 722s. An EHD for the 211 can not be used with a 722.

Yep, that's what we want. Would the tech do the wiring for the TV2 output going to the kids room?

 

[TG2]

Yep, that's what we want. Would the tech do the wiring for the TV2 output going to the kids room?

Yes they will cable.

And be mindful of the children.. when they start programming shows they want recorded ... it could eat up space quickly without things that the *bill payers* want to have...

My sister & her son lived with me for a while, and feuds started over his timers and hers conflicting and him "accidentally" cancelling out hers..

that might be the real reason to do a 722k, HD & SD for the parents, and a 722k for the kids.. neither the two shall cross you, and if you throw in some bread between the rooms I'm sure the fights could rival scenes in the Gladiator. or 722k for the parents and 2 211's one for each kid...

Hence I had my own 722k, sister & nephew shared ... I was not about to be the bill payer and not get what *I* wanted on DVR (and added the OTA just recently so now getting even more of what I want on my DVR than to have to compromise).

Some people wonder why you'd get two of the 813's when they come out..

640k who's going to need more than 640k?
4 digit years? we can save space if we only store the last 2 digits of the year..
​

yeah... 3 tuners who could ever need that many? (or 6 with two 813's)

 

[KAB]

Yep, that's what we want. Would the tech do the wiring for the TV2 output going to the kids room?

Yes, they should unless there are some oddities in your house design.

 

[whatchel1]

Yep, that's what we want. Would the tech do the wiring for the TV2 output going to the kids room?

I would go with 2 HD DVR's & 2 211's. That way you should come out with the right number of tuners to lease and if you want the 211's to become DVR's just pay a one time fee of 40 and add to ext hard drives to them.

 

[osu1991]

I would go with a 722 and 2 211's for the other two. You still get 4 tuners and 2 211's are cheaper than a second 722. If you want dvrs's where the 211's are placed, then add an external hard drive and pay the one time dvr activation fee to turn the 211's into dvrs.

 

[Mr Tony]

If you go with a HD only package (like Dish Silver) the receiver must be a HD model

Now the dual tuner units like 722, 622 will downconvert that HD channel to SD on tuner 2. Dish wont activate a SD only receiver like a 311 or 625 with that package (we just had a thread like that recently)