Hi, I just signed up for the forums here because a lot of knowledgeable people seem to be on. Anyway, in my research to find cheap local channels after cancelling Time Warner Cable, I came across Dish Network's "Welcome Pack", which isn't really advertised and I'm still trying to figure out if it's even still available. I know I see it referenced in the fine print of a lot of Dish's current promotions (as in "The Welcome Pack does not apply", etc.), but searching through the forums here, I get the impression that this plan may have either been discontinued and only those who already have it can keep it, or it may only be used as a retention device for customers who already have a higher level plan and want to cancel. I haven't called Dish just yet, but does anyone know if I'm wrong about this? $19.99 sounds like a great deal, I just don't know if it's available to me.
Welcome Pack for New Customers
- Thread starter Robertoo
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Only local. CBS, NBC, The CW, ABC, Fox, PBS. The thing is I'm streaming most of my entertainment but I still want local channels. I just don't think I'm in a good enough location to get them with an antenna.
How far are you from the transmitters of your local stations? Is the terrain in your location rough (I.E hilly or mountainous between you and the transmitter location)? Check out rabbitears.info and tvfool.com
IF you ask for the Welcome pack they will offer it ,but you have a better chance getting it if you own your receiver or you are already a sub who wants to down grade to save money. The Welcome pack has certain SD channels and your locals in Hd . ON my third account I have it for my aunt in Arkansas,who doesn't like paying much for tv. The channels for that pack are on the DISH website under english packs. I only wish that this pack had all the channels in HD and not just the locals.
Go to Dish's website and search "welcome pack" or, just click here. It is $19.99/month as you said - that is not a promotional rate either.
They also have what I think is a fairly new package called "Smart Pack". It's also $19.99 but only for (12) months, then it goes up to $32.99. You can't get a (free) Hopper with this package though, just in case you were interested in one.
They also have what I think is a fairly new package called "Smart Pack". It's also $19.99 but only for (12) months, then it goes up to $32.99. You can't get a (free) Hopper with this package though, just in case you were interested in one.
@bobvick, about 65 miles from LA. And yeah, it is pretty hilly. If anyone wants to check out my thread here, that would be great.
http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/antenna-suggestions.345404/
@MikeD-C05, I'm fine with just local HD. But would that mean I would have to request a specific satellite for installation (e.g. HD-ready)?
@Hall, thanks for the link. I swear I couldn't find that page anywhere. $32.99 is probably too much for me, but the Hopper is interesting. The thing that worries me the most though are the add-on fees (equipment lease; DVR fees, etc.) That's the kind of stuff I want to avoid, so I guess no Hopper for me.
By the way, does anyone know why all of my posts keep getting rejected. I keep getting the error message for being "spam-like" or containing "inappropriate elements". Something to do with link formatting?
http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/antenna-suggestions.345404/
@MikeD-C05, I'm fine with just local HD. But would that mean I would have to request a specific satellite for installation (e.g. HD-ready)?
@Hall, thanks for the link. I swear I couldn't find that page anywhere. $32.99 is probably too much for me, but the Hopper is interesting. The thing that worries me the most though are the add-on fees (equipment lease; DVR fees, etc.) That's the kind of stuff I want to avoid, so I guess no Hopper for me.
By the way, does anyone know why all of my posts keep getting rejected. I keep getting the error message for being "spam-like" or containing "inappropriate elements". Something to do with link formatting?
If you are a new customer, there is no benefit of starting out at the Welcome Pack. New customers get introductory discounts, and at least until the 2015 price increase takes effect, the Smart Pack is $32.99 with a $13/month intro savings for the first year, making it $19.99/month. The Welcome Pack has no discount, and is...wait for it...$19.99/month.
Again, this is based on 2014 pricing, I do not have info on how the introductory credits will change for the Smart Pack.
If you start with the Smart Pack, you can change packages to the Welcome Pack before the introductory rates run out, if you choose.
Again, this is based on 2014 pricing, I do not have info on how the introductory credits will change for the Smart Pack.
If you start with the Smart Pack, you can change packages to the Welcome Pack before the introductory rates run out, if you choose.
From your referenced thread if you wish to feed 4-5 tvs you will probably need more than one DISH receiver. With a 311 basic receiver it can only output 1 channel so that same channel would be on all 5 tvs. Additional receivers add $7/mo. to the bill but allow independent on the tvs connected to the additional receivers. You should be able to put up your TV antenna for $100-200.
Okay, that makes sense. I'll probably do that then and jump back down to the Welcome Pack when I have to. I only have two concerns with this though. First, what are the odds that the Welcome Pack gets discontinued between now and then and I get left out in the cold when the promo ends. Second, don't I have to sign a 2 year contract for that Smart Plan package/promo price and wouldn't breaking that after the first year cost me something in fees?
@boba Yeah, it's four TVs at the moment. I'm thinking about adding a fifth. I think I read somewhere that for four TVs I would have to either lease/buy all four boxes or I could get 2 dual-tuner card boxes which will each push out to another TV. Is that true? It's a shame Dish doesn't work with a simple coax into TV. But yeah, this may be a moot point if I can get those channels OTA.
By the way, what are your guys' fees on your receiver units, if you don't mind me asking? Are the dual-tuner models more expensive than the standard?
@boba Yeah, it's four TVs at the moment. I'm thinking about adding a fifth. I think I read somewhere that for four TVs I would have to either lease/buy all four boxes or I could get 2 dual-tuner card boxes which will each push out to another TV. Is that true? It's a shame Dish doesn't work with a simple coax into TV. But yeah, this may be a moot point if I can get those channels OTA.
By the way, what are your guys' fees on your receiver units, if you don't mind me asking? Are the dual-tuner models more expensive than the standard?
The dollar amounts all of us are throwing around are only for (1) TV, maybe (2) if you get a dual-tuner receiver. With (4) TVs, you could get away with (2) receivers, but that 2nd one will cost you (I don't know how much). Plus, those 2nd TVs will not have HD programming.
I think you can walk through ordering what you want/need, including specifying how many TVs to include. It should give you almost all of the charges (may not give local or state taxes).
I think you can walk through ordering what you want/need, including specifying how many TVs to include. It should give you almost all of the charges (may not give local or state taxes).
Is your internet via TWC? I am asking because they have a Starter TV package for $20/month which includes locals in HD. You could buy a Tivo Romio Plus and up to 8 Tivo Minis if you want DVR capability. The Roamio and Mini as also excellent streaming platforms for Amazon/Netflix/Hulu/YouTube.
That said, you might be better off getting a promotional package with Dish on the Hopper, and then switch to the Welcome Pack later, merely because TWC is such a miserable company to deal with.
$14 for a duo non dvr, $17 for a duo dvr. $7 for solo non DVR, $10 for a solo DVR. HD or SD receiver makes no difference. As always, first receiver is always "free".
I had a technician out for some signal strength issues and he said that the HD channels on the Welcome Pack are going away January 1st.
I haven't heard about that and haven't received anything from Dish regarding it but who knows.
I haven't heard about that and haven't received anything from Dish regarding it but who knows.
That's odd, as I OWN my VIP722k (I own all my equipment), and I still pay $7 a month for it... It's the only receiver I have hooked up, and it's only on a single tv set.
Dishes "Welcome pack" and "Smart pack" aren't worth the money. They are stuffed with free channels, and the few so-called "premiums", don't provide enough value to even cover the costs at $19.95 a month.
In the next year I think I've finally decided I'll likely go back to Charter, using a $150 Tivo Roamio basic with cable card. Their pricing is much less than Dish, with double the channels. They aren't 90% garbage channels either. How F'ed up is that, when CHARTER is cheaper and has more channels?
I'd say he is misinformed or misunderstood what he was told. That also goes against what Dish has been doing for years. When they add a channel, the HD version typically is included "free". Look at the AT packages - there's no AT120-HD version.
The Welcome Pack is in line with a typical lifeline/starter/? package from cablecos, which include your locals plus extra channels. It might not be worth $20/mo but it's effectively the going rate.
On top of the locals - which may be all that some people are looking for - it includes Food Network, HGTV, History, Hallmark, MSNBC, Oxygen, TBS, TLC, Weather Channel. The webpage for that package is seriously lacking. The majority of channel 'icons' are generic Dish logos that you have to randomly click to see what channel it is referring to. It does appear that 75% are "shopping" channels though !
See, people here point that out, but I FAIL to understand what the difference is. A fee is a fee, and I OWN my receiver. Why should I pay anything extra just because my receiver happens to be capable of recording?
I originally signed up for Dish mostly for MonstersHD (Voom) and Charlie drove a stake through their heart just because he's a cheap you know what. We all know how that ended up. Dish did have cheaper packages that were worth having, but not any longer.
