I was hoping to find some SBC Dish Network users that could give me their opinion on the service. I'm thinking of switching over my cable from Time Warner to combine it with the Phone and DSL package I already have with SBC, but I'm wondering if it would be a good or a bad move. I would definitly be getting more options like 2 DVR boxes and recievers for every tv for a little less than what I pay with Time Warner, but I remember hearing horror stories in the past about Dish Networks and their reception. So if anyone could provide any advice before I make this bold decision, I would greatly appreciate it.
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Any SBC Dish Network users?
- Thread starter starcrossed
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I've had Dish Network for 3 or 4 years now, and would never look anywhere else. I don't know if the SBC partership would change anything, I can't imagine how. I'm very happy with them. Nobody's perfect, but they do a good job. Service and reception have been great.
I've never had the service, but I did used to work there. Most people calling in for service problems had crappy installs and/or really poor signal strength. If you have an authorized dealer do it you should be ok. Just make sure you don't live in a redwood forest or anything 
and that the cable they use to install the dish is RG-6 not the cheaper RG-59 that the cable company uses OR that your house may be prewired for. It seems silly, but it does make a big difference...the higher voltage used in DBS systems will burn out RG-59. Anyway, if you can get a signal strength greater than 70 you should be ok until a hard rain. 80-90 % and you should be ok in a torrential rain. 100-125% (don't ask how you can have 125% strength--i never figured that out either) and you should be fine even in a hurricane/blizzard.
and that the cable they use to install the dish is RG-6 not the cheaper RG-59 that the cable company uses OR that your house may be prewired for. It seems silly, but it does make a big difference...the higher voltage used in DBS systems will burn out RG-59. Anyway, if you can get a signal strength greater than 70 you should be ok until a hard rain. 80-90 % and you should be ok in a torrential rain. 100-125% (don't ask how you can have 125% strength--i never figured that out either) and you should be fine even in a hurricane/blizzard.
starcrossed said:
I hated Dish Network and have since moved to DirecTV. The only positive thing I have to say of DISH is 1) You can actually fire off an email to their CEO and he actually reads them, I believe his name is Charlie. 2) They are good about trying to obtain ALL of your local channels. As far as their technology, I had three new generation boxes and they froze and reset themselves all the time. It took their installers 9 hours (yes, 9) to install the Dish, and they end up busting a fist size hole in my sheetrock which I had to have patched, they also left 50ft of cut coaxial cable in my attic that I had to dispose of myself. Ohh yeah this was all done to a house that is less than 1 year old, that had all new coaxial wiring. I'm sure my experience was probally an isolated event with ignorant installers, but nevertheless DISH customer service never did anything to make it right. So I switched. DirecTV uses a branded TIVO which is much nicer than the DishPVR, and their programming rates are better suited for my needs. If I was going DISH again, I would not get the "Digital Home" package, I would get the other option whatever it may be. With the Digital Home, they use one satellite box for two rooms which is very annoying. This allows only one room to use S-VIDEO or COMPOSITE and forces the other room to use standard coaxial. With Digital Home, you also are not allowed to add another reciever within your initial contract year. Either case, the best way would be to simply ask people around your community and see what their experience is. Good installers can make all the difference.
Ohh and its funny how the "original' coax that the DISH installer said would not work, worked out fine for the DirecTV people--and I get almost 100% signal strength with no busted holes in my sheetrock.
joshuawaire said:
When I worked there you were allowed to chose either 2 two-tuner recievers or (up to) 4 single tuner recievers. You could actually always add a reciever, but reducing your package was not allowed. You only get one free installation, so that would fall to you to install yourself if you decided to later order a new reciever or pay $100 bucks just to get the techs out to your house again--although i frequently waived this charge under "extenuating circumstances" ie the customer's account was in good standing and it didn't feel like he/she was a freeloader. (Yelling/cursing was never a good idea) I would highly recommend the $5.99 insurance package they offer--it gets you free house calls and more.
And yes, it probably was due to inept installers. Like any company (apple and dish included) nobody is perfect. You're right about the Tivo. I always did love the DirectTV tivo over the DishPVR.
Last thing: RG-59 will work for a year or more, but 9 times out of 10 it will break down. If you ever only get about half of your channels and you notice you've lost all of your even numbered transponders during a system test...well, time to rewire the house with RG-6.
Ok, I'm done shelling for Echostar now...i have cable
for the cable modem--i can't imagine life w/o it!Ive been with Dish Network for about six years, and I greatly prefer it to DirectTV, which my grandma had up until we switched her to Dish. We live in an area that a lot of people tell me reminds them of Deliverance And we have never had signal problems. The installs we had done were by service pros, not just some guy, and they did an excellent job on our first two recivers, and our recently added two. We have actually referred Dish to three other people around here that used to use DirectTV and said it was much easier and nicer to deal with. And, DirectTV local channels really suck, we couldnt get them to give my grandma the St. Louis locals, because they had her routed through Paducha, KY so those were her only "Locals" option. As soon as we switched her to Dish, she was able to get local channels same day. OK im done, hope that helps.
PS, the SBC thing is only a way to pay your Dish programming thru your SBC bills, so you can consolidate all of your communications systems into a single bill.
And we have never had signal problems. The installs we had done were by service pros, not just some guy, and they did an excellent job on our first two recivers, and our recently added two. We have actually referred Dish to three other people around here that used to use DirectTV and said it was much easier and nicer to deal with. And, DirectTV local channels really suck, we couldnt get them to give my grandma the St. Louis locals, because they had her routed through Paducha, KY so those were her only "Locals" option. As soon as we switched her to Dish, she was able to get local channels same day. OK im done, hope that helps. PS, the SBC thing is only a way to pay your Dish programming thru your SBC bills, so you can consolidate all of your communications systems into a single bill.