Dish Network Great, Cable Bad...
Written: Oct 12 '00 (Updated Oct 29 '00)
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Pros: High quality service and selection
Cons: Interruption of service in bad weather
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| tux's Full Review: Dish Network DishPlayer 500 Channel Satellite Syst... |
I love it. After cable upset me again, by raising the price (again) and offering the same disappointing quality of channels and service, I finally made the decision to buy one of these babies. The Pro's of the service are nearly too many to mention.
Channel Selection
I chose Dish Network because it offers the channels that I wanted most. I didn't know that I would end up with 150 channels. I just wanted to get my Travel channel, Tech TV, Discovery, A&E, History, TMC, The Learning Channel, FX, Sci Fi… many of the channels my local cable doesn't offer plus other channels that I didn't know existed.
There are about 20 (40 with Dish 500) music channels that have basic black screens and the name and record of the artist listed in the corner. I find myself listening to the Blues or Jazz stations quite a bit, there are no commercials - it's soothing.
I do not like the quality of programming offered by the major networks, a big reason for my move to satellite. If you need them you can have the network channels added to your system for $5 a month, or you can always have a small antenna hooked up to your TV.
Dish Network offers a sports package (ESPN Gameplan), but I'm a fan of Pro Football and I think that Direct TV offers a better NFL package (you would have to look into this if your a sports fan). (10/29)ESPN Fullcourt is offered this year for 450 college hoops games for $90.
I suggest going to the stores that sell satellites and look at the channels the systems offer (or go to their homepages, ie. dishnetwork.com). I chose Dish Network because it is giving me the channels that I want at reasonable prices.
Cost of Dish Network
I was leary of the cost of the Dish and the monthly fees, etc. In my case, the Dish equipment and the first month of service were both free. That, and I've had no billing or service problems in the 7 months that I have owned the satellite.
The monthly cost is exactly the same as my cable bill. My cable was $45 a month for forty channels and one movie service (HBO). Dish Network is $50 a month (America's top 150 and 8 HBO's). For a less expensive option choose Dish Network top 100 channels at $29 a month.
I know you want to know how I got my system for free. There was a special offer at the beginning of last spring "buy a Dish Network satellite for $200 and get a rebate check for $200". I wouldn't be surprised if they offered that program or a similar deal sometime soon, just keep an eye out for it or go to their homepage on the web. The first month of service I received for free because I installed the satellite myself.
Quality of Picture
The quality is unbeatable. The difference between Satellite TV and cable is 10-fold. The digital quality picture is comparable to that of my DVD player, don't get me wrong, I still love my DVD player.
Quality of Service
The customer service is excellent, Dish Network is rated #1 in customer satisfaction over the last two years with over 4 million customers. I have only had pleasant experiences with the customer service, then again, I've had no extreme circumstances. It is really easy to add or change service (there is a $5 charge to change a movie package). I've changed my service three times and each time it was done before I sat back down on the couch.
Interruption of Service
I want to mention the "line of sight" and interruption of service due to bad weather. If you have cable you are probably use to interruption of service anyway. I lose my service sometimes due to heavy cloud cover or rain, and sometimes I lose a few channels due to some other kind of weather disturbance (rain, soon to be snow, cloud cover or sun spots). For the most part it doesn't bother me, I can always watch a movie or better yet, I just have my girlfriend come over and I tell her that I "don't want to watch TV, lets do something romantic instead".
Because I live on the third floor of a five-story apartment building, my dish is inside my apartment facing the window. I don't have a direct "line of site" to the southwest, therefore, my signal is not perfect. The signals still lock for certain transponders, which means the channels still come in perfect, but some others just will not come in unless you have a perfect "line of site" to one of the Satellites - to the south or southeast typically. If you can put your satellite (or have it professionally installed) on your roof or in a place that has no trees, buildings or mountains blocking it you will have no problems.
Moving?
The fact that I move around a lot is a major factor in my decision to get a satellite. I don't have to worry about canceling and hooking up service every time I move. I can just pack it up and take it with me. If you move, they will upgrade your system to a 500 (if you don't already have one) and professionally install it at your residence for, if I remember correctly, around $70).
Extra's
Dish Network offers Wireless modem/internet service and email viewable on your TV - I have not used either of these services. They also offer direct movies and upgrades by hooking in a telephone line (not permanently) and ordering via your remote.
Final Word
I believe that I've covered all the basic Pro's and Con's here. Dish Network 500 (I got the model 4700 and upgraded it to the 500) was definitely the right choice for me. I'll end this opinion where I started it, I love it.
Note: I edited this opinion on October 22nd to make it easier to read and clearer.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40 a month
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Epinions.com ID:
tux
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Member: shane merrill
Location: Mass.
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
The happiness of being with people. - Kafka
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