Anyone use Dish Network TV?

Lucy Goose · 01-02-2011, 02:48 PM

And for internet as well. What do you think?

ishoot308 · 01-02-2011, 02:58 PM

I have Dish network for my TV and love it!! They offer internet service but I believe it is through a secondary company like Wild Blue or Hughes Net. Last time I checked they were very expensive for internet service.

Dan

songkrai · 01-02-2011, 05:52 PM

Both Dish and Direct have their supporters and detractors. There are satisfied customers for both and horror stories for both. Do a simple G*ogle search for each one.

Dish is pushing promotions a tad more then Direct. You do/must agree to a 12 or 24 month contract so ask around about customer service for each. Some installers are great while others are hackers - with wires all over the roof and walls. Most installers for satellite are independent contractors with a contract with one or the other. They usually get paid by the job. Do check the type of dish that will be installed on roof, side of house, or in yard. Some require a wire (RG6) for each TV - so the wires do add up in space. Some newer dishes only require one wire (RG6). Some satellite receivers can feed two televisions. But the correct wiring is needed. So all this wiring can be a tad complicated. If you only have one TV then only one wire is needed.

Internet by satellite to some is more expensive. And comes in various speeds. If you are just doing emails then the slower speed is fine. If you do video streaming or downloads then you may have to pay more.

Cable ususally does not require a 12 or 24 month contract.

There is also DSL - higher speed internet from the telephone company. So do check any promotions from Fairpoint as well as Dish and Direct.

All can bundle services including phone. But do check and compare the full total costs.

I have cable for internet and Direct TV for television.

If you are a seasonal customer - cable has an off season fee. I am a seasonal customer. I have long since fulfilled my 12/24 month contract with Direct. I can take my satellite receiver from home to home with only one account. One home gets turned off and the other gets turned one - two homes - one account - one bill.

Orion · 01-02-2011, 05:58 PM

I've had them (on the island) for 8 years now and no complaints. Dish does require two dishes to get all the channels (one south and one southwest) while Direct TV uses a single dish to the southwest (but a very wide swath of the southwest).

brk-lnt · 01-02-2011, 06:54 PM

Satellite Internet sucks. It's slow, has high latency, and the traffic shaping is horrible. It's pretty much only worthwhile when you have NO other choices (including dial-up).

NBR · 01-02-2011, 11:06 PM

I switched from Dish to Cable and after giving cable several months my TV is back to Dish.

dva · 01-03-2011, 06:10 AM

Dish has been great for me. Best if you can take your reciever with you to your summer home.

EllyPoinster · 06-02-2011, 06:18 AM

I just signed up for a bundle from TDS Telecom (successor to Union Communications) that includes their Three Star telephone plan, 5 Mbps DSL and Dish Networks Top 200 package. Price per month for the first year is about $92 and will go up $15 after that. There is a 2-year commitment but seasonal customers can pause service when they close down their summer places. No equipment or installation charges and one bill to pay.

Oh - and they throw in an HP laptop for 99 cents if you are an existing customer, $99 if not.

Such a deal.

codeman671 · 06-02-2011, 08:30 AM

We have Directv and are very happy with it. We had Hughesnet for internet for years and were able to drop it this season as Fairpoint as expanded DSL in the area. Satellite internet sucks, it is expensive, limiting and slow. It is a separate dish from TV.

If you are limited on access and need it I would look at a cellular based internet first. I have a Hughesnet dish and modem that I may be willing to part with.

CrownRay · 06-02-2011, 09:23 AM

Ill put this in...

Last night I was watching the Bruins Game at a resturaunt lounge ( I was in MA ). When the big lightning storm came in...SIGNAL DEAD!!!!

Everyone left, and went to a place down the road that had cable...No Problem!

Greene's Basin Girl · 06-02-2011, 11:24 AM

Last I knew You couldn't get WMUR ( Channel 9 out of Manchester) if you have Dish Network in Moultonborough. Maybe that has changed, but one of my friends was really mad when she signed up for Dish and she couldn't get Channel 9.

fatlazyless · 06-02-2011, 11:37 AM

So, what's the story with Direct TV? They advertise their monthly service starts at 29.99/month for the first twelve months and in the very small print below that, it says that a two year contract and a credit card is required to get started with them. What it does not say is how much the second twelve months will be costing. Anyone know?

Just suppose that someone were to get themself a prepaid credit card, and then when the 13th month starts up at a presumably much higher rate, be sure to have used up all the money in the prepaid credit card, and presumably the account will be closed due to non-payment. So what's the upshot-downshot of doing that to open up a DirecTV or Dish Network new account?

...........

To open an account at Metrocast Cable in Belmont NH, a credit card is not required as they will mail out a bill each month, except the similar tv service is much more expensive and Metrocast Cable DOES NOT CARRY the TENNIS CHANNEL what-so-ever, anywhere in their many channels. What a crappy cable service.....no Tennis Channel! If I remember correctly, a monthly tv account with Metrocast will cost about $85/month (an uneducated guess) plus a local monthly cable TAX which varies from town to town.

Is there anyone here who will take a look-see at www.metrocast.com/bundles.cfm and tell me what is the absolute least expensive Metrocast Cable tv service for Meredith NH 03253.......thanks....with no other internet or telephone service included!

............

You know for two dollars/day, you can read either the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal and actually read a newspaper that is worth reading and just lose the television all-together....which after a while is not too big of a loss! Plus, the www.laconiadailysun.com and www.conwaydailysun.com are freebie newspapers that have much better reporters and commentaries than the other NH paid newspapers like the Union Loser www.unionloser.com.

Jmo77011 · 06-02-2011, 05:56 PM

I think Dish is OK, but we do not get WMUR. We live closer to Portland than Manchester, so they consider that our "local" station. Our bill is MUCH lower than it ever was with cable, though. We do not use them for internet.

rick35 · 06-02-2011, 08:48 PM

We've had Directv for almost two years and the service has been excellent (compared to horrible Comcast at home). The intro price went from $35 the first year to $60. Going to consider metrocast when our contract is up.

4 for Boating · 06-02-2011, 10:19 PM

We are considering getting Dish Network in Meredith but I’m a bit concerned that for the most part, the only clear view of the horizon is to the east. I’m told if you go with the digital only package (America Top 120) that the satellite is to the east. Seems strange to me

I guess the concern is that I don’t want to sign up for something only to find it does not work after the fact or the installer tells me I need some type of ridicules sized dish.

Anyone ever had to go through this process? Not knowing if the system will work and being asked to pay before you do????

Blue Thunder · 06-03-2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 for Boating

We are considering getting Dish Network in Meredith but I’m a bit concerned that for the most part, the only clear view of the horizon is to the east. I’m told if you go with the digital only package (America Top 120) that the satellite is to the east. Seems strange to me

I guess the concern is that I don’t want to sign up for something only to find it does not work after the fact or the installer tells me I need some type of ridicules sized dish.

Anyone ever had to go through this process? Not knowing if the system will work and being asked to pay before you do????

They "usually" send someone out to check to see if you can get service at no charge. As far as the satellite to the east goes that must be something new. AFAIK both Dish and DirecTV sats are in the SW sky somewhere around 30 degrees off the horizon.

BT

dva · 06-03-2011, 06:00 AM

The new HD Dish picks up sat 62.5 and 77.They are at 200 degrees and around 40 degrees in elevation. This is much better to pick up around here.

Argie's Wife · 06-03-2011, 08:32 AM

We're doing basic cable/plus (Metrocast) and TiVo - and we're loving the family entertainment we can get that way. We subscribe to NetFlix as well, and the kids have classic cartoons (Felix the Cat, Popeye, Roadrunner, etc.) they love. We've downloaded movies off Amazon to watch at the price we'd normally pay for a rental. We've been able to record shows on the TiVo that want to watch and don't have to chase DVDs or VHS tapes to do it.

The TiVo is very intuitive to use - no snafus. It wasn't the most straight-forward thing to set up, but it has been very simple to use.

As for pricing, we subscribe to the 3-in-1 service by Metrocast (cable/phone/internet) for $136 (that's with taxes & fees - over $11 each month goes to the gov for this stuff!). The TiVo subscription is $20/month, and NetFlix is $5/month. Because we're no longer renting the cable company's DVR and cable box (which were $12/month), and we cut back our cable subscription, we found that we have much more content available at almost $20 less than we'd been paying.

I know you were asking about Dish Network - but there are other very good, reliable options, like TiVo, that you may want to consider.

NBR · 06-03-2011, 04:04 PM

We switched to cable from dish and have now switched our TV back to Dish.

01-02-2011, 02:48 PM	#1
Lucy Goose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 228 Thanks: 29 Thanked 108 Times in 29 Posts	Anyone use Dish Network TV? And for internet as well. What do you think?

01-02-2011, 05:58 PM	#4
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	TV, but not for Internet I've had them (on the island) for 8 years now and no complaints. Dish does require two dishes to get all the channels (one south and one southwest) while Direct TV uses a single dish to the southwest (but a very wide swath of the southwest).

01-02-2011, 06:54 PM	#5
brk-lnt Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Down Shores Posts: 1,944 Thanks: 544 Thanked 570 Times in 335 Posts	Satellite Internet sucks. It's slow, has high latency, and the traffic shaping is horrible. It's pretty much only worthwhile when you have NO other choices (including dial-up). __________________ [insert witty phrase here]

01-02-2011, 11:06 PM	#6
NBR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 119 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Dish I switched from Dish to Cable and after giving cable several months my TV is back to Dish.

01-03-2011, 06:10 AM	#7
dva Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 50 Thanks: 18 Thanked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Dish Dish has been great for me. Best if you can take your reciever with you to your summer home.

01-02-2011, 02:58 PM	#2
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,243 Thanks: 2,389 Thanked 5,282 Times in 2,054 Posts	I have Dish network for my TV and love it!! They offer internet service but I believe it is through a secondary company like Wild Blue or Hughes Net. Last time I checked they were very expensive for internet service. Dan

01-02-2011, 05:52 PM	#3
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 732 Thanks: 35 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	Both Dish and Direct have their supporters and detractors. There are satisfied customers for both and horror stories for both. Do a simple G*ogle search for each one. Dish is pushing promotions a tad more then Direct. You do/must agree to a 12 or 24 month contract so ask around about customer service for each. Some installers are great while others are hackers - with wires all over the roof and walls. Most installers for satellite are independent contractors with a contract with one or the other. They usually get paid by the job. Do check the type of dish that will be installed on roof, side of house, or in yard. Some require a wire (RG6) for each TV - so the wires do add up in space. Some newer dishes only require one wire (RG6). Some satellite receivers can feed two televisions. But the correct wiring is needed. So all this wiring can be a tad complicated. If you only have one TV then only one wire is needed. Internet by satellite to some is more expensive. And comes in various speeds. If you are just doing emails then the slower speed is fine. If you do video streaming or downloads then you may have to pay more. Cable ususally does not require a 12 or 24 month contract. There is also DSL - higher speed internet from the telephone company. So do check any promotions from Fairpoint as well as Dish and Direct. All can bundle services including phone. But do check and compare the full total costs. I have cable for internet and Direct TV for television. If you are a seasonal customer - cable has an off season fee. I am a seasonal customer. I have long since fulfilled my 12/24 month contract with Direct. I can take my satellite receiver from home to home with only one account. One home gets turned off and the other gets turned one - two homes - one account - one bill.

06-02-2011, 06:18 AM	#8
EllyPoinster Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 160 Thanks: 13 Thanked 25 Times in 20 Posts	New Dish Customer I just signed up for a bundle from TDS Telecom (successor to Union Communications) that includes their Three Star telephone plan, 5 Mbps DSL and Dish Networks Top 200 package. Price per month for the first year is about $92 and will go up $15 after that. There is a 2-year commitment but seasonal customers can pause service when they close down their summer places. No equipment or installation charges and one bill to pay. Oh - and they throw in an HP laptop for 99 cents if you are an existing customer, $99 if not. Such a deal.

06-02-2011, 08:30 AM	#9
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,492 Thanks: 221 Thanked 810 Times in 486 Posts	We have Directv and are very happy with it. We had Hughesnet for internet for years and were able to drop it this season as Fairpoint as expanded DSL in the area. Satellite internet sucks, it is expensive, limiting and slow. It is a separate dish from TV. If you are limited on access and need it I would look at a cellular based internet first. I have a Hughesnet dish and modem that I may be willing to part with.

06-02-2011, 09:23 AM	#10
CrownRay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Medford MA/Blackcat Island Posts: 148 Thanks: 0 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Ill put this in... Last night I was watching the Bruins Game at a resturaunt lounge ( I was in MA ). When the big lightning storm came in...SIGNAL DEAD!!!! Everyone left, and went to a place down the road that had cable...No Problem! __________________ "The ocean (or lake) itself is not dangerous, it's the hard stuff around the edges that will kill you."

06-02-2011, 11:24 AM	#11
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	Last I knew You couldn't get WMUR ( Channel 9 out of Manchester) if you have Dish Network in Moultonborough. Maybe that has changed, but one of my friends was really mad when she signed up for Dish and she couldn't get Channel 9.

06-02-2011, 11:37 AM	#12
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,746 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	So, what's the story with Direct TV? They advertise their monthly service starts at 29.99/month for the first twelve months and in the very small print below that, it says that a two year contract and a credit card is required to get started with them. What it does not say is how much the second twelve months will be costing. Anyone know? Just suppose that someone were to get themself a prepaid credit card, and then when the 13th month starts up at a presumably much higher rate, be sure to have used up all the money in the prepaid credit card, and presumably the account will be closed due to non-payment. So what's the upshot-downshot of doing that to open up a DirecTV or Dish Network new account? ........... To open an account at Metrocast Cable in Belmont NH, a credit card is not required as they will mail out a bill each month, except the similar tv service is much more expensive and Metrocast Cable DOES NOT CARRY the TENNIS CHANNEL what-so-ever, anywhere in their many channels. What a crappy cable service.....no Tennis Channel! If I remember correctly, a monthly tv account with Metrocast will cost about $85/month (an uneducated guess) plus a local monthly cable TAX which varies from town to town. Is there anyone here who will take a look-see at www.metrocast.com/bundles.cfm and tell me what is the absolute least expensive Metrocast Cable tv service for Meredith NH 03253.......thanks....with no other internet or telephone service included! ............ You know for two dollars/day, you can read either the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal and actually read a newspaper that is worth reading and just lose the television all-together....which after a while is not too big of a loss! Plus, the www.laconiadailysun.com and www.conwaydailysun.com are freebie newspapers that have much better reporters and commentaries than the other NH paid newspapers like the Union Loser www.unionloser.com. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

06-02-2011, 05:56 PM	#13
Jmo77011 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 86 Thanks: 60 Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts	I think Dish is OK, but we do not get WMUR. We live closer to Portland than Manchester, so they consider that our "local" station. Our bill is MUCH lower than it ever was with cable, though. We do not use them for internet.

06-02-2011, 08:48 PM	#14
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 807 Thanks: 58 Thanked 203 Times in 130 Posts	We've had Directv for almost two years and the service has been excellent (compared to horrible Comcast at home). The intro price went from $35 the first year to $60. Going to consider metrocast when our contract is up.

06-02-2011, 10:19 PM	#15
4 for Boating Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 26 Posts	Dish TV We are considering getting Dish Network in Meredith but I’m a bit concerned that for the most part, the only clear view of the horizon is to the east. I’m told if you go with the digital only package (America Top 120) that the satellite is to the east. Seems strange to me I guess the concern is that I don’t want to sign up for something only to find it does not work after the fact or the installer tells me I need some type of ridicules sized dish. Anyone ever had to go through this process? Not knowing if the system will work and being asked to pay before you do????

06-03-2011, 06:00 AM	#17
dva Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 50 Thanks: 18 Thanked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Dish TV The new HD Dish picks up sat 62.5 and 77.They are at 200 degrees and around 40 degrees in elevation. This is much better to pick up around here.

06-03-2011, 08:32 AM	#18
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	We're doing basic cable/plus (Metrocast) and TiVo - and we're loving the family entertainment we can get that way. We subscribe to NetFlix as well, and the kids have classic cartoons (Felix the Cat, Popeye, Roadrunner, etc.) they love. We've downloaded movies off Amazon to watch at the price we'd normally pay for a rental. We've been able to record shows on the TiVo that want to watch and don't have to chase DVDs or VHS tapes to do it. The TiVo is very intuitive to use - no snafus. It wasn't the most straight-forward thing to set up, but it has been very simple to use. As for pricing, we subscribe to the 3-in-1 service by Metrocast (cable/phone/internet) for $136 (that's with taxes & fees - over $11 each month goes to the gov for this stuff!). The TiVo subscription is $20/month, and NetFlix is $5/month. Because we're no longer renting the cable company's DVR and cable box (which were $12/month), and we cut back our cable subscription, we found that we have much more content available at almost $20 less than we'd been paying. I know you were asking about Dish Network - but there are other very good, reliable options, like TiVo, that you may want to consider.

06-03-2011, 04:04 PM	#19
NBR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 119 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	We switched to cable from dish and have now switched our TV back to Dish.