Check-in on Dish and HD-PVR

[Chriscic]

I'm about ready to make the switch to Dish from Comcast. I would go with two 211k or 222k receivers (whichever they give me), and a USB-UIRT for the two HD-PVRs.

Any issues I need to worry about?

I'd be switching from Comcast partly for cost and partly because I'm hoping going to dish will get rid of the frequent (maybe once or twice per recording) stutter and skips.

Thanks,
-Chris

[btrcp2000]

Be d@mn sure you know what you are getting from dish. I signed up for the old absolute HD package after three separate calls where I confirmed that my regional sports network was included in HD. (It wasn't, and I believe you now need at least the silver package to get it). They WILL tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to sign. In retrospect, I should have made them come get the dish, but I accepted a fat discount on the first three months instead. Oh well, there are larger problems in the world.

Other than the weasels who answer the phone, I haven't had a bit of trouble with the service, and my two r5000s are my most stable reliable tuners.

I now have a cable box hooked upto an hdpvr all for one channel so I can watch my Reds get off to their traditional sleepwalking start in true HD glory. No problems with the hdpvr, other than convincing my pc client to play its files in sage.

I found great dish info at www.dbstalk.com and www.satelliteguys.us after the fact

[Chriscic]

Thanks for the watch-out. I've learned over the years not to trust CSRs, but good to know I need to be extra careful on this one.

Sounds like you're not using the HD-PVR with the Dish receivers. Can anyone comment who is? Thanks.

[HuMan321]

I am considering subscribing to Dish for their $9.99 6 month special. It appears they will give you HD Bronze for the 6 months at the same price.

I have 3 TV's (1 HDTV, 2 SONY 36"Wega SD) and 1 Client PC setup. I have an HD Homerun bringing in 2 feeds of OTA and want to get ESPN etc (why I need Dish).

Can anyone recommend the receivers types I should request? I am assuming if I ask for the HD Bronze with my initial 6 months they will give me an HD model. I would ask for the two tuner model while I am at it.

I am thinking i would go with one HD-PVR and am looking for advice on the best way to bring in the 2nd Dish feed if I am succesful in my hardware request. I don't think I would ever subscribe to the Dish HD because I would be happy with the OTA HD for the forseeable future.

Any other Dish info would be appreciated. The price goes up to $35 a month after 6 months for a 2 year commitment. I can't see any better deals in my area.
TIA

[btrcp2000]

When I was researching the same thing, there was no benefit to the two tuner model for sage purposes because the second tuner can only be controlled by RF remote, not an ir blaster, therefore sage cannot control it. I did see something a while back where I think someone got a jp1 remote to do it, but it was a hack-and-a-half, and you'd be about the only one around here with it.

Only benefit I can see is that you could use the second tuner as a backup in case sage misses things while you're working on it.

[stanger89]

Well I can see how the second tuner would be handy to allow people to "channel surf" on the TV without impacting Sage.

[HuMan321]

Thanks for the tips. I am about ready to call them after I call DirecTV (existing account) and ask them what they can offer me to stay. I will order an HD PVR to support one feed, but am not sure what to order to grab the 2nd feed if they give me a two tuner model. I will be asking for the HD model to support the free 6 month upgrade to HD Bronze.

I was thinking of going cable, but think their basic package is still analog. At least with Dish it is digital

[sic0048]

Make sure you use a referral from an existing customer. Both you and the referrer get some nice discounts! So ask a friend that subscribes to Dish to give you a referral code.