What's the cheapest least invasive route for HD with Dish?

[120inna55]

I've had my Samsung 61" DLP (HLN617W)for a week, now, and I absolutely love it.

I've been watching DVD's via DVI with incredible results. Prior to purchasing the set, I consulted this forum regarding the potential lackluster results from watching standard def. I am pleased to say that I am content with the quality of SD on this set. Of course some stations are worse than others...

My dilema is that I have a 721 and absolutely can't live without my DVR functionality. I'm holding my breath for the 941 (passing up the 921). I don't want to leave Dish, I don't want to give up my 721. Meanwhile I can't get HD, and I'm chompin' at th' bit to see this set shine.

In another thread squicken recommended the following while I'm waiting for the 941:

I don't think a DVR and a HD receiver are mutually exclusive. Dish doesn't charge a rental for their 811, just $10/month for HD programming pack. Keep your SD DVR, and maybe every once in a while you'll watch some HDTV.

Did I understand this correctly, that if I sign up for HD, the 811 is free?

Keep in mind I only have a Dish 500. I already have 2 cables coming into the house. Will this mean more?

How much should I expect to shell out for all this?

 

[Neutron]

You can lease an 811 for $5 a month. I don't think there's a free promo anymore. I could be wrong though.

 

[Hall]

You can lease an 811 for $5 a month.

Where ?? How ??

 

[Neutron]

I got that from what I had been hearing over on the DISH forum. Here's another offer:

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/getdish/dha/index.shtml


AND

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/getdish/free_for_all/index.shtml

I could have sworn DISH had a leasing program.

 

[mike123abc]

It is not easy to find on the web site, you have to log into your account then click on the upgrade equipment tab. Then you will see the offer:

$0 Up-front equipment cost

No commitment

No equipment to buy


Installation or shipping charges apply.
Limit 2 receivers
Maximum of 4 leased receivers per account
Offer not available in Alaska or Puerto Rico.
DISH 811 not available in Hawaii.

CALL 1-800-333-DISH
FOR DETAILS!

811/510 and 301 are the ones offered.

 

[Neutron]

I thought they still had that. Since I'm no longer a DISH sub thats why I couldn't find it.

 

[120inna55]

So how would I go about hooking up the 811?

I have an old Dish 500 (that was upgraded to have two separate LNBs). One cable goes to tuner 1 (on the 721), the other goes to tuner 2 (on the 721). Please don't ask me which switches I have...it's been so long since I've been up on that roof!

Is the Dish500 enough, or am I forced to upgrade to SuperDish? I thought I heard someone say that 110 & 119 currently have all the HD available on Dish anyway. Is this true?

Forgive the elementary question, but is there a simple way to split it once it comes inside? I do not want to disable any of the abilities of my 721. I would rather not run an additional cable into the house.

Thanks.

 

[mallu2u]

I called Dish the other day and they said I could get either a 510,311 or 811 for $50 one time fee and $5/month lease fee. That promo is still on

 

[K R Kimmel]

So how would I go about hooking up the 811?

I have an old Dish 500 (that was upgraded to have two separate LNBs). One cable goes to tuner 1 (on the 721), the other goes to tuner 2 (on the 721). Please don't ask me which switches I have...it's been so long since I've been up on that roof!

Without knowing what your LNB/Switch configuration it is difficult to answer this question. Most of the info on your LNB/switch config is available in the check switch screen of your 721.

Is the Dish500 enough, or am I forced to upgrade to SuperDish? I thought I heard someone say that 110 & 119 currently have all the HD available on Dish anyway. Is this true?

Nearly all of the current HD content is on the 110 sats. CBS-HD E and W are located on the 61.5 and 148 sats and a HD demo channel is available on 61.5. These would require a second dish (not a SuperDish) pointed at the side sat.

Forgive the elementary question, but is there a simple way to split it once it comes inside? I do not want to disable any of the abilities of my 721. I would rather not run an additional cable into the house.

You cannot split the feed between the LNB/Switch and receiver. There are ways to keep the number of lines coming into your house down to two. The methods require DishPro LNB's and either a DP34 switch located inside your house or a DPP44 switch located either inside or outside.

 

[Hall]

I don't have that offer. Have I not been a subscriber long enough ?? Or is it because I'm already a lease customer ??

 

[jmbrooks]

You can lease an 811 for $5 a month. I don't think there's a free promo anymore. I could be wrong though.

This is the deal I got, the $5 a month is instead of the "extra" receiver fee. I have been an E* sub for 3+ years. Had dish 500 legacy LNBF's. Got a DP quad (built in switches, 4 reciever outputs) for free when I purchased the 721 during the the $250 deal. I also do not use a cable combiner and have 4 cables running to my living room where the receivers are.

My total additional costs were:

$5 Receiver Lease
$10 HD pack

For your equipment needs you could get either the DP quad LNBF or a DP34 switch (don't know if the DP34 works with legacy LNBF's, assuming that is what you have). I recommend the DP quad LNBF as the DP34 switch requires the extra complication of a power inserter. Then use a DP cable combiner/seperator (not sure of the name) for the two inputs of the 721 (combine 2 cables to 1 at the dish and then seperate 1 back to 2 at the receiver) and the other cable run for the 811. Check with Dish Network as the combiner/seperator is NOT just a simple cable splitter.

 

[skidog]

I called dish yesterday and asked them about getting the 811 and she said all I had to pay for was the shipping which is 24.95, so I did and it's on it's way, I have only had dish for about a year. So when I get the 811 I just unhook the 301 and hook up the 811 and call dish so they activate it and I'm done or so they say . However I'm still confused about the OTC, I have an antenna in my attic but I don.t know how that will work so when I get it I'm sure I'll have ?'s.