[schrdr]

Has anyone used DISH Network. What are your experiences?

Thanks

[JerryLBell]

I'm currently using DISH Network. My comparison shopping of cable and satellite providers available in my neighborhood (Village of Dunedin) made me decide that it had the best price, features and selection of channels I actually watch. Your results may vary, of course. Like all satellites, it is susceptible to outages during heavy rainstorms. Since those typically seem to happen in the afternoons around here and I don't watch much TV in the daytime, it really hasn't affected me. It's my first experience with the "Joey" and "Hopper" boxes and it has been pretty good so far (it's been about a year and a half). The "Hopper" DVR has some ridiculous number of tuners and a huge hard drive so you can record something like 15 different shows at once and store hundreds of hours of HD material. They even have an option to automatically record ALL of the prime time shows from the 4 major networks 7 nights a week and keep them for up to 2 weeks. And you STILL have a ton of disc space left. The "Joey" is a secondary box for having TV in another room. You plug it into a wall outlet and into your TV (no direct connection to the dish needed) and can watch anything that the main "Hopper" box has recorded or can pick up. You can move it room to room pretty easily and you can have more than one if you want.

The only down side to DISH I've found is that, like ALL other providers, they give you a great price for the first year and then it starts creeping upward. I'll probably shop around when my 2-year contract with DISH is up. I might try a cable provider or perhaps DirecTV again (I've had both DISH and DirecTV back in North Carolina and Michigan). Or I might try "cutting the cable" and go all internet-based. Trouble is, I haven't found any single internet-based TV provider that has the exact mix of channels that either my wife or I watch.

I forget exactly who I got to do the DISH install for me. If I recall, it was a store up on 441 near the Sam St. John's seafood restaurant. The installation was quick and easy as the houses here are all pre-wired for cable and satellite. You must need a southern exposure. My dish ended up on the roof on the side of the garage as our house faces south. We've never had a problem with the dish or any of the equipment so far.

[billethkid]

When properly installed with maximum signal strength
there is little or no signal lost during heavy rain/storms.

As a provider they have very good customer service.
Their in-home equipment is among some of the best....the latest Hoppers.

$$$$$ is all a factor of what deal can be made at whatever price for the longest period of time....just like all the others.

The entire set up is very dependent upon the installing technician. I recommend requesting Dish employee and stay away from sub contractors that they very often use.

Reception quality is as good as all the other suppliers.
If you go with them ask about their "protection" program. For about $7 per month.....anything....ANYTHING....any service calls are all covered.

We have used Dish for over 15 years prior to moving to FL.

[leftyf]

We have had Dish and Direct TV many times over the year. Not really any difference, just see who offers the best deal at the time you need them and don't be afraid to switch back and forth.

[Kahuna32162]

We were a Dish customer for 8 years before moving to The Villages and have been with them here for another 5. As mentioned in previous posts, the equipment is the best in the industry. We have a Hopper and 2 Joeys that allow for viewing, recording and watching multiple program at will. An occasion hard rain can cause signal lost on HD channels, but then I just watch something on DVR. BTW, never lost one second of signal during Hurricane Irma last year. I find the price to be competitive and consistent over the years, if you feel like it's too much and you're considering switching, just call customer service and you'll be routed to a "retention specialist" who can always cut you a deal.

I'd much rather deal with DISH than Comcast, given their track record of horrible customer service.

[JerryLBell]

Originally Posted by Kahuna32162

BTW, never lost one second of signal during Hurricane Irma last year.

I forgot to mention but we had the same experience. We were able to watch the hurricane coverage practically right up to when it went over us. Given that we do lose signal to some thunderstorms, that struck us as strange. Handy, but strange.