Sadly, I had to dump the Dish

[Mark Strube]

I'd like to keep it, however the family has voted otherwise. Their ViP211 receiver is far too problematic, it constantly freezes on the local NBC-HD channel (off-the-air), and we've had it replaced twice. (No problems with neither the old VOOM box nor the 622, hooked to the same feed.) So, it's just a software bug that's taking them too long to fix.

Combine that with way too many other random problems with that box - and a few days ago in the morning 2 of the locals that I'm guessing are on the same tower both went out (12-1 and 58-1), and the fact that we would've still had those with Cable since they get direct fiber feeds wasn't helping my argument. So, that was the last straw for the family, and I can't pay for it all by myself since they were pitching in.

I was loving all the extra HD channels, however it cost considerably more than Cable, and they weren't willing to keep helping me pay for it with all these extra problems.

The dish will stay up - they only require me to return the boxes, the switching box, and the LNB's... so if we ever decide to get it back, we'll still have a perfectly peaked dish ready to go.

I can say this - as a result of having it for about 5 months, I learned A LOT about the technology due to my natural curiosity, so I've got a new wealth of knowledge to help people out with.

To anyone getting Dish - it's great... loads of HD content to watch. However, be ready for the possibility of some serious bugs, and if your locals in HD are important to you, be sure to have a good signal already. (And stay away from the ViP211 for now... I have near perfect signal from all the locals, but that box is very problematic.)

[AndrewP]

I did not like 211 too. My solution: I sent it back and saved myself $5/month. Then connected 622 HDMI output with HD projector in the basemant and component output with HDTV in the living room. Now I can watch HD in both places and kids can have their channels with TV2 output.

[Mark Strube]

Yeah, that wouldn't of worked for us. We need to be able to watch 2 different programs on 2 different HDTV's... and the coax wouldn't cut it sicne they're used to real high-def now. (And there's no way we could pay for a 2nd 622.)

[FiberOptic]

I have TWC and thinking of switching to Dish, I was told that the Dish box has a connection for a HD OTA antenna, so I can pick up the Chicago HD channels.  A person at Radio Shack told me about this and indicated that my service would be a lot cheaper.  My cable bill is around $130 a month, curious which Dish program you had.  When I was on the dish website, it looks a lot cheaper.{fart}

[Mark Strube]

We had the full HD package to get every channel they offered... so if you've got that with a HD-DVR, it's a good amount more expensive than cable.

Also... just be sure you can already receive the chicago HD stations.

[NDP1623]

I'm looking at my dish bill right now and here are the current charges -

84.99 - Dish HD Silver and Movie Value Pak W/ Locals

6.00 - Leased Receiver Fee

5.98 - Dish Network DVR Service Fee

5.99 - Dish Home Protection

5.00 - Programming Access Fee  (Box Not hooked up to phone line)

5.00 - Programming Access Fee  (Box Not hooked up to phone line)

5.72 - State Local Tax

TOTAL =

$ 118.68

Thats not bad for having as many HD channels as I do.  Also if I had a home phone I could save $10 on my bill every month.  Not sure what Time Warner charges, but I know they dont have near the amount of channels in HD.  I also have HBO and Starz HD.

[AndrewP]

If you have broadband Internet, then you can get Sunrocket VOIP for $99/year and save $120 in Programming Access Fees. And you will get a phone with all calls within USA, Canada included.

[Blitzburgh]

Get DirecTV alot better than Dish, and there equipment is pretty sweet.

[FiberOptic]

NDP, how many TVs do you have set up with HD and SD?  How many DVRs?

[Mark Strube]

Get DirecTV alot better than Dish, and there equipment is pretty sweet.

Um... No, and... no.

[NDP1623]

I have three TVs hooked Up.  One HD, and 2 SD TVs.  I only have one DVR(VIP622), the other box is a 322.

[Blitzburgh]

Um... No, and... no.

LOL:rofl: :rofl:  Whatever you say...lol

[Mark Strube]

Considering DirecTV kills the quality of their high definition content more than Dish, and that there's a lot less of the content at this point, I don't see how it's "alot better."

[bradsmainsite]

Its definetly not better just different anyone who claims to be better is not being truthful.

Each person has different needs and situations requiring something diffferent for all of us, but to say its one is better than another I think not.

That is one argument you will NEVER win!

[Mark Strube]

It also depends on WHEN you're speaking of. Who knows, sometime next year DirecTV might have much "better" service when it comes to HD with all their plans for additional satellites and channels. Right now, at this moment, Dish is the best choice if you're simply looking for the most HD content... but then you might have to deal with some annoying hardware glitches that you might not have to deal with if you had DirecTV, and vice versa.