External hard drive activation fee?!

[comfortably_numb]

I bought an external hard drive online just this past week and I'm waiting for it to arrive. Yesterday, I read on the Dish website that it costs $40 just to activate it. I'm not sure I would have bought the hard drive if I had known they were going to charge me 40 bucks just to turn the darn thing on. Is this true?!

 

[KAB]

The site specifies the fee is for one time activation for the 211 DVR ability via EHD. No charge for VIPs or Hopper,

 

[comfortably_numb]

The site specifies the fee is for one time activation for the 211 DVR ability via EHD. No charge for VIPs or Hopper,

I'm sorry, but I don't think the verbiage on their site is very specific. I read this page to mean there is a one-time activation fee for ALL RECEIVERS. If that isn't true, then the wording is most unclear.

 

[navychop]

Again, ViP211 series only. Which do you have?

Not the only not so well worded spot at that site.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

 

[comfortably_numb]

Again, ViP211 series only. Which do you have?

Not the only not so well worded spot at that site.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

Hopper w/sling. Do I need to call them at all to activate it then?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Nope just plug it in and enjoy!

 

[Bobby]

I'm sorry, but I don't think the verbiage on their site is very specific. I read this page to mean there is a one-time activation fee for ALL RECEIVERS. If that isn't true, then the wording is most unclear.

That page says it is $40 to Add DVR Service and it also says compatible receivers are 211, 211K and 411 under the same area. I take that to mean just that, if you want to turn your 211s or 411 into a DVR you will pay a one time fee of $40. There is not mention of a fee in any other area of that page...

 

[comfortably_numb]

Well, this is a relief. Who needs another $40 fee right before Christmas?!

 

[harshness]

I'm sorry, but I don't think the verbiage on their site is very specific.

If you read carefully, it is very clear that the $40 fee is to "Add DVR Service" to HD receivers. The Hopper is already a DVR and as such doesn't need to have the capability added. The eligible models are listed below and none of them is the Hopper.

If you read the above section titled "Free DVR Storage", it lists the Hopper as being a compatible device. In this case, "free" means without cost.

In summary, if you have a modern DISH HD DVR (ViP or XiP models), the "Free DVR Storage" section applies and if you have a HD receiver (an HD box that doesn't come set up as a DVR), the "Add DVR Service" section applies.

 

[KAB]

If you read carefully, it is very clear that the $40 fee is to "Add DVR Service" to HD receivers. The Hopper is already a DVR and as such doesn't need to have the capability added. The eligible models are listed below and none of them is the Hopper.

If you read the above section titled "Free DVR Storage", it lists the Hopper as being a compatible device. In this case, "free" means without cost.

In summary, if you have a modern DISH HD DVR (ViP or XiP models), the "Free DVR Storage" section applies and if you have a HD receiver (an HD box that doesn't come set up as a DVR), the "Add DVR Service" section applies.

I don't know how the "free Dvr storage" section could have been any clearer.

 

[comfortably_numb]

KAB, I hope you don't think I was trying to be rude- it just seemed unclear to me after a quick read-through. However, I am totally relieved that there is no $40 fee.

 

[Tampa8]

Why would you think DISH would have a fee? Lmao. I can't even type that with a straight face....

 

[comfortably_numb]

Why would you think DISH would have a fee? Lmao. I can't even type that with a straight face....

Amen, brother. That's why I seriously wouldn't be surprised if they DID start charging an activation fee for an external hard drive for all receivers. Would it really be so difficult to believe? We're talking about the company that used to charge people a $5 BS fee if they didn't have a phone line connected 24/7. Don't get me wrong, I love my Dish system. But I swear they must have a department that sits around inventing new fees.

 

[Bobby]

That same company once did charge $40 for use of an EHD on any receiver..... They dumped that years ago... So, yes, they have fees but they also make them go away!

 

[comfortably_numb]

That same company once did charge $40 for use of an EHD on any receiver..... They dumped that years ago... So, yes, they have fees but they also make them go away!

I suspect it might be because of the good folks on this forum. It appears to me that the Dish people listen to what we have to say. I hope that never stops.

 

[Bobby]

This forum wasn't as big in those days and it really has little to do with the power of the voice. It's just that folks weren't biting on the $40 bucks and Dish decided that give a little bit was a desirable thing to do to build the base....

 

[KAB]

This forum wasn't as big in those days and it really has little to do with the power of the voice. It's just that folks weren't biting on the $40 bucks and Dish decided that give a little bit was a desirable thing to do to build the base....

If you dig deep enough, you'll find plenty of people bit, myself included. They had nothing to gain by building a "base". It was at least two years later they got "charitable".

 

[n0qcu]

Amen, brother. That's why I seriously wouldn't be surprised if they DID start charging an activation fee for an external hard drive for all receivers. Would it really be so difficult to believe? We're talking about the company that used to charge people a $5 BS fee if they didn't have a phone line connected 24/7. Don't get me wrong, I love my Dish system. But I swear they must have a department that sits around inventing new fees.

The fee was never a no phone line fee it was a fee for having the 2nd tuner in the receiver and they gave a credit for the fee if a phone line was connected.

 

[KAB]

The fee was never a no phone line fee it was a fee for having the 2nd tuner in the receiver and they gave a credit for the fee if a phone line was connected.

Potato, tomato...charge was the same regardless of the wording.

 

[BBCInc]

The ehd feature is and always was all about locking the subscriber into continuing their Dish service in order to retain access to the ehd contents.