Upgrade Letter 510 & JVC HM-DSR100=> HD?

[bxl4]

I just got my forced upgrade letter and I seek your advice. I've got a complicated issue. (Hey, if it wasn't complicated, I wouldn't need to visit this place, the fount-of-all-dish-knowledge.)

I own a 510 and JVC HM-DSR100 (a 4000 based receiver, I believe) and have a Dish 500 Legacy Twin. I'm guessing that Dish wants to get rid of the JVC.

My programming is Famine Pack, with Seattle locals. My desire is to get my locals in HD. I want to do a self-install (actually for WAF, I HAVE to do a self-install, long story...)

Can anyone confirm that the 510s are NOT part of this replacement? Swapping out both receivers would be fine with me if there is a free 622/722 in the deal.

Is Dish doing any horse trading currently on upgrades to get people off of MPEG2? How high in the organization would I have to go to find the person with such authority? I've been a Dish customer since 1997.

Thank you all for your advice.

OK, just got off of chat session. Wow, not any more useful that talking to a CSR, except that reading spotty English is easier than hearing it.

The upgrade target is the JVC HM-DSR100. They propose to upgrade it to a 301 or a 322(!). When i pointed out that the JVC has a digital video recorder in it, the chat CSR said to call the main phone number and ask for an "account specialist." Isn't that just a plain old CSR? I already don't like the way that this is going.

 

[boba]

"Account Specialost" is what you asked for the elite of the CSRs with retention capabilities.

 

[bxl4]

Acct. Specialist

Ah, so I may in fact get a chance to talk to someone with "horse-trading" authority?

It seems to me that turning in both of my current receivers for a 722 would save me the $5 Additional Receiver fee but add on a HD enablement fee of ~$7. I could live with that.

What are my chances?

 

[navychop]

Well, it's not a DVR. Can you use the D-VHS feature independently of the Dish side? Would you want to? Perhaps they will agree to up you to a 322 and let you keep the JVC, with the understanding that soon it will not work as a satellite receiver anymore. I'm sure they don't want to spend the money to software support the unit anymore, including the cost to get it to support the new purple security cards.

And then add icing to the cake. As an additional deal, maybe they'll upgrade you to a ViP DVR in exchange for the 510 and maybe $75. But I'm sure they'll expect the DVR fee to be paid each month.

Might be best to just take the 322 now, and wait until Dish phases out the 5xx group. That might only be a year or 2 away. Who knows? With a Tivo deal, it might be by the end of this year. I'm sure when/if Dish phases out the 5xx units, they will offer a better deal than they will today. Perhaps one that will waive the DVR fee.


Please let us know how this turns out for you.

 

[bxl4]

D-VHS functionality

I can and do use the D-VHS to time-slide shows. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of doing it on a hard disk like the modern DVRs do, but it still does a fine job of taping shows in the digital format for undiminished reproduction at a later time.

Thanks for the thought on taking the 322 deal. I may still do that, but only after I see what the best alternate offer is.

 

[bxl4]

OK, here's the deal offered

I talked to a very knowledgeable guy (that was a nice change!) who didn't have a lot of wiggle room on the upgrade.

They are offering to change out my owned JVC D-VHS receiver for a refurb, leased (no monthly payments) 501/508. There will be no change in my bill.

I tried to trade in both the D-VHS and my 510 for a 722 but that was going to cost me $150. I really only wanted the network hd signals and i think that I can get that ota for less. I took the 501.

Oh, well, when the do away with mpeg-2, I should do better.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[navychop]

With luck, you'll get a 508. More space.

 

[Mr Tony]

also the 501 & 508 have no DVR fee (like the 510 does)