I'm being forced to upgrade.

[freak]

Last night while watching RFD-TV I noticed a crawler that says they are moving to channel 9900. I can't receive that channel so I called and they said I need a new receiver. I currently have a HTS 3500. Dish wanted $60 for a new receiver but I see ads all over the internet for free equipment with free gifts and reduced programming costs for 10 or so months.

1. Can I take advantage of these offers even though I am an existing customer? I am not in a contract. If not can I just have my wife sign up?

2. How can I tell which company's are not frauds? Any recommendations?

 

[boba]

You don't need a new receiver but you probably need a new dish. RFD TV is moving from the 119 satellite to the 110 satellite and you need a dish 500 or two dish 300s to see both 119 & 110. DISH will probably do a free upgrade if you don't have a 500.

 

[freak]

Pardon my ignorance but the device that is referred to as a "dish 500" is the actual "dish" and not the receiver?

 

[garn9173]

Pardon my ignorance but the device that is referred to as a "dish 500" is the actual "dish" and not the receiver?

Correct. All of the promotions you hear about are for new customers ony.

 

[garys]

Yes, it is a bit larger and has two lnb's or a larger twin lnb or quad lnb on it. It fits on the same mount as the Dish 300.

 

[freak]

Could my wife qualify as a new customer? Sorry I'm a little unhappy at paying $60 because dish decides to move a channel.

 

[goaliebob99]

sure she can as long as she hasnt had an account with dish before

 

[Hall]

Isn't RSN worth $5/mo to you ?? That's only broke out over a year too... If the channel remains on-air longer, your cost per month is less obviously.

Or, you could buy a Dish 500 and install it yourself, possibly for less than $60. No idea if your old receiver supports more than (1) satellite though.

Try and sign up in your wife's name I guess....

 

[cebbigh]

If you call dish and go to the Tech option you can probably get a free upgrade. If you can't get it for free that way write ceo@echostar.com. I've never had trouble getting a free dish in the past to accomodate programing that I'm trying to get. Just be sure to tell them that you can't get the program without the new dish.

 

[Stacy A]

It was my understanding that if Dish changed anything that required an upgrade in order to receive the same programming you currently receive, then they will give the upgrade free in order for you to continue to receive what you are currently getting.

 

[Hall]

RFD is currently a public-interest channel but I'd read that that's changing. If he subscribes to AT60 and they put it in AT120, he's out of luck for anything free. Upgrading to AT120 is an option as it likely requires (2) satellite locations (or does it not ?). That might get him the free equipment upgrade necessary to receive all the channels in that package.

 

[cebbigh]

RFD is currently a public-interest channel but I'd read that that's changing. If he subscribes to AT60 and they put it in AT120, he's out of luck for anything free. Upgrading to AT120 is an option as it likely requires (2) satellite locations (or does it not ?). That might get him the free equipment upgrade necessary to receive all the channels in that package.

Hmm. I've never thought it through because I've always had AT120 or above. Is all AT60 programing on 119?

 

[Hall]

Even AT60 has channels on numerous different satellites....

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/...t_50/index.asp?viewby=5&packid=10049&sortby=1

It does appear that any paid programming is all on 119' though. If someone has AT60 and wants the Pentagon Channel from the 61.5' satellite, who pays for the dish, if needed ??

 

[minnow]

All I have with Dish is the superstation package(Distants with NPS, however) and I get the RFD channel.

 

[Hall]

Because it happens to be from a satellite that you're pointing at....

If I wanted the ARTS channel (61.5) and the Good Sam Network (148) -- I am paying for them -- will Dish install (2) more dishes for me, for free ??

 

[TimLones111]

This is the first I've heard of RFD-TV moving to 9900..When is this supposed to happen?

 

[Hall]

It's not moving to 9900. It will most likely stay at the channel # it's at today. It's moving from the 119' satellite to the 110' satellite. Channel 9900 is an 'information' channel that you only see if your dish sees the 110' satellite. There's one of these for a couple of Dish's satellites.

 

[TimLones111]

It's not moving to 9900. It will most likely stay at the channel # it's at today. It's moving from the 119' satellite to the 110' satellite. Channel 9900 is an 'information' channel that you only see if your dish sees the 110' satellite. There's one of these for a couple of Dish's satellites.

9900 is one of those "You now have a Dish 500" screens. I have 522-Upgrading to a 622 very soon..This shouldnt affect me then..

 

[papalittle]

whats on the good sam network? is that programming that is sent to the good Samaritan villages and hospitals?

 

[Zero327]

It was my understanding that if Dish changed anything that required an upgrade in order to receive the same programming you currently receive, then they will give the upgrade free in order for you to continue to receive what you are currently getting.

It's a nice thing DISH does from time to time, but it's not a requirement by any means.