Looking to buy a DishNetwork package

[Polethebear]

I'm Polethebear,

I'm here because my father and I are looking to buy a Dish Package(Couldn't think of a better term). Local Cable Company stuck us with a $150 dollar Cable and Internet bill,raising it without telling us. That just isn't gonna cut with us so after learning about the benefits of dish for my cousin we are seriously considering a dish package.
I am looking for as much info as I can get and I decided to come here because I know for many pepole,DBS are not just entertainment they are a hobby and I thought I could pick some expert brains.

Anyway,I have quite a few questions.I'll try to perhaps combine the ones that I can and minamize everything as much as possible. I apologize.


First off,I guess what kinda deal would you recomend for newbies like us??? We live in a medium sized,three bedroom house if that means anything as far the dish is concerned. We are looking at getting the 250 channels or so but including everything that goes in it.what kinda deal would you suggest???

How is DishTV to deal with??? Pleasant,a bunch of butts,what???

The Process itself-My cousin says that the dish is focused on only one sat up there and it gets relayed signals from another and in that respect Dish is like cable. Is that true???? Because,I keep reading about(and I always thought) that networks used different sats. How does the process work???


That brings me to my next question,for those who do turn and tilt your dish(I guess some of you do with DishTV,at least I got that impression from reading some posts on here). How do you do it and not screw up your main signal?? Does the dish move when you change the channel??? My father was telling me how he had to help his boss fix his at work when he screwed up his and how your really not supposed to touch it once it's set.

What about free-to-air channels??? Can they be received automaticly or do they need extra equipment as I kinda got the impression they did from some of these posts here I read.You see I want to see some of the international stuff but I don't want to automaticly have to pay 25-30 dollars on average for the packages and 14-15 dollars for the al carte because although they would be great too,it would defeat the purpose of switching to dish to save money. Well,maybe one package wouldn't hurt. Do prices vary?? Would they be willing to work a deal,say the 250 channels plus an international package or two for 80-90???


I see that these systems use encyption systems.Is the encyption system used by dish compatible with some of the systems used by the networks??? In other words,would it open up more that what is just in the paid for package?? If what i just asked is considered Iliegal,forget I asked. I am new to this and I am just asking. I am not into piracy. I was looking at Lyngsat(sp?) and just wondering.

I live in North Alabama,sorta half way between Hunstville and Birmingham.I looked
at the map and for local stations I am considered or my county(Marshall) is considered in the Hunstville Area. My Cousin is in nearby Etowah and gets Birmingham. I would perfer Birmingham. For years,via cable or antenna we have gotten both. In my area,is there anyway to get Birmingham or at least both???

One final question,I have often heard that with sat on live events or programs,you don't see any commercials,you get everything raw sorta speak.Is that true with Dish???


I apologize for my questions,please answer what you can. Thank you for your time and I hope all is well with you.

Thanks,

Polethebear

 

[KE4EST]

I will leave the FTA stuff to Iceberg, however if you decide to go with Dish, I would recommend finding a local retailer and not going the 800 number way. Most of the time they do a better job, cause if they don't you can ride to town and get in their or their bosses face. I also would go with a dvr unit at least, don't know if you are interested in HD right now, but get the DVR.

 

[KE4EST]

OH yeah..... to SatelliteGuys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TNGTony]

I'm Polethebear,

First off,I guess what kinda deal would you recomend for newbies like us??? We live in a medium sized,three bedroom house if that means anything as far the dish is concerned. We are looking at getting the 250 channels or so but including everything that goes in it.what kinda deal would you suggest???

Dish now has a fabulous HD deal the 622 and install for free with an 18 month commitment to AT100+HD Pack. This is a $500 reaceiver without a commitment. It is a two room HD receiver with an ATSC (DigitalTV) tuner built in. This receiver will work on any TV. But of course the best results are on an HD TV. You can also get deals for two 622 receivers for a fee with a commitment.

A 622 receiver can receive 2 satellite channels and one over the air digital channel while at the same time it can play back two programs you have recorded. For those without a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) this is hard to imagine, but once you get used to a DVR, you will wonder how you ever watched TV without one!

There are other receivers like the 625 (Standard def DVR receiver). That is also a two room receiver.

A two room receiver will allow you to have one box running two TVs independently of each other. It's like having two receivers in one box. You can also run it in single mode if you only have it running one TV.

How is DishTV to deal with??? Pleasant,a bunch of butts,what???

Generally very pleasant. But they have their moments. The only time I had trouble was when they refused to send me a 622 under their promotion. They INSISTED that an installer had to come out. I was ademant I didn't want one for several reasons. Other than that everything has been good with me.

The Process itself-My cousin says that the dish is focused on only one sat up there and it gets relayed signals from another and in that respect Dish is like cable. Is that true???? Because,I keep reading about(and I always thought) that networks used different sats. How does the process work???

Well... sort of. It really comes down to what programming you want. The basic stuff is on one satellite at 119°. If you want nothing more than America's top 100 or most of America's 200 then that is all you need. If you want all of AT100, 200, 250, Everything Pack and Dish Latino then you need to see 110° too.

ALL new dish installs include a Dish 500. This dish can pick up 110° and 119° at the same time. The national HD channels are mirrored at 129° and 61.5°. Local channels are mostly at 110° and 119° but some are at 61.5°, 105°, 118°. 121 and 148°.

So this is why you really want to figure out what programming you want ahead of time and order it so that they free install will include all the equipment necessary.

Now don't let this scare you off. Most people only need a Dish 1000 for everything with HD. Take a look at what channels are on what satellite on this chart www.dishchannelchart.com

There are a bunch of different dishes for Dish Network. The names of dishes are as follows:
Dish 300 - Single slot satellite dish for DBS satellite location: 61.5°, 77°, 110°, 119°, 129°, 148°, 157°
Dish 500 - Standard dish included with every new install for 110° and 119°. This dish is capable of receiving any two DBS satellites 9° apart simultaneously. Some have reported it works for 119° and 129°.
Dish 500+ - Specifically designed for 110°, 118.75(FSS Circular) and 119°. This dish picks up all three slots simultaneously.
Dish 1000 - Specifically designed for 110°, 119° and 129°. This dish picks up all three locations similtaneously. It has been reported that this dish can also be used for 129°/148° simultaneous reception as well.
Dish 1000.2 - Same as Dish 1000 only a little larger for better signal from the 129° location.
Dish 1000+ - Specifically designed for 110°, 118° (FSS Circular), 119°, 129°. This dish picks up all four satellite locations simultaneously.
Superdish121° - (DISCONTINUED) - Specifically designed for 110°, 119° and 121° (FSS Linear) simultaneous reception. 121° is being phased out of the standard Dish Network service.
Superdish105° - Same as above except 105° instead of 121°.

That brings me to my next question,for those who do turn and tilt your dish(I guess some of you do with DishTV,at least I got that impression from reading some posts on here). How do you do it and not screw up your main signal??

Once installed, I do not recommend you move your dish at all, especially if it is a Dish 1000. These are a bear to get right. I have 3 dishes on my system (before the Dish 500) and I have not moved any of them since the installer put them up one at a time 8 years ago. The first dish is over 10 years old and never been touched.

Does the dish move when you change the channel??? My father was telling me how he had to help his boss fix his at work when he screwed up his and how your really not supposed to touch it once it's set.

That is correct. Leave them alone. There is no reason to move them around. Now if you want to play and look in the sky for other satellite...say you want to see the channels available to you at 148°, you can get a Dish 300 and easily aim one of those. Now the switches needed are another story.

What about free-to-air channels??? Can they be received automaticly or do they need extra equipment as I kinda got the impression they did from some of these posts here I read.You see I want to see some of the international stuff but I don't want to automaticly have to pay 25-30 dollars on average for the packages and 14-15 dollars for the al carte because although they would be great too,it would defeat the purpose of switching to dish to save money. Well,maybe one package wouldn't hurt. Do prices vary?? Would they be willing to work a deal,say the 250 channels plus an international package or two for 80-90???

There really isn't a whole lot of FTA on dish and a Dish receiver DOES NOT DO FTA. Anyone who tells you that they do are theives stealing signal or just plain wrong. International channels with AT250 are the following:
TV Japan (Selected Programs - mostly news) from 61.5°, 118 and 148° unless you are in Hawaii then it is only at 119°.
China Central TV (English) 110/119
China Central TV (Spanish & French) 110°/119°

There are also a slew of spanish channels with international content, but the networks themselves are as american as pie de manzana!
Univision, Galavision, TeleFutura, Amavision, V-Me and HITN.

I see that these systems use encyption systems.Is the encyption system used by dish compatible with some of the systems used by the networks??? In other words,would it open up more that what is just in the paid for package?? If what i just asked is considered Iliegal,forget I asked. I am new to this and I am just asking. I am not into piracy. I was looking at Lyngsat(sp?) and just wondering.

A Dish Network receiver is strictly for Dish Network stuff and nothing more. An FTA receiver is for Free-To-Air stuff and their is precious-little of that on any Dish satellite. Sorry.

I live in North Alabama,sorta half way between Hunstville and Birmingham.I looked
at the map and for local stations I am considered or my county(Marshall) is considered in the Hunstville Area. My Cousin is in nearby Etowah and gets Birmingham. I would perfer Birmingham. For years,via cable or antenna we have gotten both. In my area,is there anyway to get Birmingham or at least both???

The only way would be to "move". This is an underhanded way to get channels you are otherwise not entitled to purchase. You would have your system installed and then change your SERVIVE address to one that qualifies for the locals you want. Be sure you can pick up the transponder the locals are on because almost all locals are on "spot beam". Your brother lives "Near-by" (a couple of miles) then there shouldn't be any problem picking up that transponder. But if "Near by" means 30 miles, then check first.

One final question,I have often heard that with sat on live events or programs,you don't see any commercials,you get everything raw sorta speak.Is that true with Dish???

You are talking about FTA again. Or more specifically "wild feeds". Dish Network (and DirecTV) are really "Cable in the sky"). You do not get wild feeds on Dish Network EVER.

I apologize for my questions,please answer what you can. Thank you for your time and I hope all is well with you.

No problem. Some of us here live to answer questions like these! Check out the echostar knowledge base too at www.echostaruser.com then come back here and ask all the questions you've got!

Welcome to Satelliteguys.

See ya
Tony

 

[KE4EST]

Wow Tony you really did a good detailed post on this great job!!

Also I will add to what you said above about the Dish 500 yes it will pick up 119 and 129 also if for some reason you don't want 110.

 

[TNGTony]

Thanks for the confirmation on the Dish 500 thingy. I never saw any reason why it wouldn't work, but I was hedging my bets.

It's nice to be an insomniac with nothing better to do.

See ya
Tony

 

[KE4EST]

Oh we have plenty to do...just lazy sometimes

 

[larrykenney]

Nice work, Tony! That's the best overall summary of Dish Network's satellites and antennas that I've seen anywhere.

Larry
SF

 

[Polethebear]

Thank You everyone for the welcome and the info. Esp you,Tony. This is the kinda walk through I was looking for when I came here. Thank you.



Ke4est-Is going through a local retailer cheaper??? Do they give you better deals on equipment and channels??? My dad got a name of a local guy from my cousin that we are gonna call. BTW,that's quite an avatar...that's um interesting.

Is FTA even worth the time of day,taking in consideration what you would need. I wouldn't mind getting the BBC and I thought it would be cheaper than paying for Dish's International Packages but since I would need a C-Band(I guess) for the BBC....welll,I guess I'll stick with the packages.

I saw a map of what is considered the local areas for stations and I am listed to get Huntsville,but a mexican resturant I went to had either Dish or Direct TV and was getting Birmingham stations. What do you think??? Is Direct TV's maps different than Dish's???


Anyway, Thanks again

I'm sure I'll have some more Q's

Best,

Polethebear

 

[Polethebear]

Ke4est,

I'm sorry!!!!

I couldn't see the messages and I had your avatar mixed up with another in my head.

Please excuse my comments. YOUR avatar is very pretty.


Polethebear

 

[TNGTony]

Thank You everyone for the welcome and the info. Esp you,Tony. This is the kinda walk through I was looking for when I came here. Thank you.

Glad to help!

Is going through a local retailer cheaper??? Do they give you better deals on equipment and channels??? My dad got a name of a local guy from my cousin that we are gonna call

Local dealers should have the exact same deal as E* itself for new subscribers. As stated before, the difference is, if you have a problem with the install or other hardware issues, you know who to contact. It isn't a faceless corp.

Is FTA even worth the time of day

FTA is a hobby like HAM radio or model car building. It is not IMHO a good way for regular TV vieweing for a family. But that is MY opinion. I'm sure Iceberg is getting his torch and pitch-fork-armed mob together to hunt me down for saying that though.

Check out the FTA forum for info about that.

I saw a map of what is considered the local areas for stations and I am listed to get Huntsville,but a mexican resturant I went to had either Dish or Direct TV and was getting Birmingham stations. What do you think??? Is Direct TV's maps different than Dish's???

Yes, Dish and DirecTV sometimes have slightly different borders for what counties get which locals. This has to do with the shifring TV Market borders and when the companies froze them. TV markets actually change slightly every September. In order to avoid having to switch local channels for thousands of subscribers every September and dealing with the angry responses, Dish and DirecTV were allowed to "freeze" the TV Market borders. But DirecTV may have frozen their borders in 2001 and Dish in 2002. I really don't know which year they froze their borders but that is the explanation for those in fringe areas.

However, as far as I can tell, in your case, Marshall County has always been in the Huntsville market so that explanation does not work in your case. Is the restaurant in Marshall county? If so, maybe they are using a different service address or maybe they have an antenna to pick up OTA. Digital OTA reception just like the digital satellite reception: Perfect picture or nothing at all.

See ya
Tony