I dont care what model it is... I just want two hd dvr's and two normal Hd recivers and a standard def box. D* just wants too much in upfront costs.
Having just switched from E* to D* I hear what you are saying about the upfront costs, but if you really look into the numbers, the D* solution is still more cost effective, even in the first year, provided you are going to have 3 or more units.
If you are planning to have 2 units, then it would take closer to 2 years to come out ahead (assuming all other things like programming desires are equal) and I still maintain that with a single unit, Dish is probably the better/low cost alternative.
Also keep in mind that Dish simply WILL NOT allow more than 3 leased boxes and you have to actually buy numbers 4 and 5 (and yes I really mean buy as in you own them per the Dish CSR and a supervisor).
Dish charges $449 to buy a 612 or 722 and $149 for a 211 or 222. But keep in mind that you pay a minimum of $7-17 per month for as long as you are with then just for the "service" regardless of ownership status.
As an example, for my setup of 2 DVRs and 3 Receivers (all HD):
Lease #1 722
Lease #2 622
Lease #3 211
Buy #4 722 @ $449 up front
Buy #5 222 @ $149 up front
So lets add it up:
$600 up front for #4 and #5
+
$6 DVR fee
$100 for Americas Everything
$7 for sports package
$17 for 722 Lease
$14 for 622 Lease
$7 for 211 Lease
$17 for 722 "DVR Service Fee"
$14 for 222 "DVR Service Fee"
$182 a month with $69 per month just to use the boxes I lease AND own. Thats $828 a year or just short of $1700 cash over a two year contract.
With D* I ended up getting the almost exact setup, in fact a little better for me since I wont use SD resolution Duo capability plus MRV, Sunday Ticket and the Platinum package for $90/120 (promo/post promo) a month including the $20 a month in hardware charges.
I think E* is just out of their business strategy "comfort zone" at about 2-3 units and D* really starts to just make more sense the larger your requirements get.