| You have probably seen your share of | | | | the walls, upstairs, downstairs, up to 200ft. It's |
| mini-satellite dishes around town and are | | | | completely independent viewing. Pretty cool stuff. |
| wondering what the hype is all about. You have | | | | The advantage that this gives DISH is that for a |
| questions about whether your local channels are | | | | 4 Room setup, you're paying just ONE $5 extra |
| available, or if the service goes out when it's | | | | charge for the second Dual Tuner Receiver. That |
| cloudy or raining, or if they carry your favorite | | | | results in a big savings. |
| channel. You've probably seen one of the billion | | | | Also, another significant difference is the package |
| commercials your local cable company has put out | | | | prices. For about 120 Channels with DISH, the |
| warning you of how terrible satellite TV is, and it | | | | REGULAR price is $39.99/mo. for 2 TV's, both |
| seems confusing. You might not be sure if you're | | | | with DVR ( Digital Video Recorder/ TiVo) and it |
| TV is going to work when the 2009 Digital | | | | includes local channels. $44.99/mo. for 4 TV's. |
| Conversion goes into effect. You have questions. | | | | Compare that with DirecTV for $78.99/mo. for 4 |
| You're not quite sure what to do. And, guess | | | | TV's with ONE DVR. BIG difference. With DISH, |
| what? You're not alone. But don't worry, TV | | | | there are no rebates to mail in to get a discount. |
| service is not "Rocket Science". It's just TV. Cable | | | | DISH Network currently offers a FREE Dual Tuner |
| companies WANT you to be confused and | | | | HD/DVR for FREE that handles 2 TV's. The |
| scared. They spend millions of dollars to do just | | | | current DISH promotion is: Free Activation. DISH |
| that. And, it's because they know that most | | | | normally charges $49.99 as an Activation Fee. |
| people don't like change, even if it saves them | | | | That is being waved right now. Also, DISH |
| $20-$60 (yes $60) a month in doing so. You can | | | | advertises "3 Months FREE". Fine Print reads, |
| save a BUNDLE if you ask the right questions. | | | | "$39.99 Credit on your 1st Month, 10th Month, and |
| And yes, both offer local channels for NO EXTRA | | | | 20th Month of Service". |
| CHARGE and both give you FREE Equipment and | | | | Now, some common misconceptions about |
| Professional Installation to up to 4 Rooms. | | | | satellite TV. |
| Pitfalls. Ask, ask, then ask again what the | | | | Myth: The satellite goes out when the weather is |
| REGULAR prices are. Ignore the promos. They | | | | bad, or it's cloudy, or there's rain. |
| are confusing and you'll never get straight | | | | Fact: Cable companies are actually satellite |
| answers. | | | | companies themselves. (Funny, huh?) They get |
| With DirecTV, you'll pay an additional $4.99 for | | | | their tv signal from a satellite dish the same way. |
| EACH additional TV over and above the first. With | | | | (Ever see the big satellite dishes at the cable |
| DISH Network, you pay for every OTHER TV. | | | | company hidden behind big trees?) So, if that |
| Be sure to ask about additional charges. A | | | | were true, cable would go out when the weather |
| common mistake is to look at the advertised | | | | is bad. Doesn't happen. They just RUN cable to |
| price and assume that price will be your total | | | | your home from their dish. That's where they got |
| charge because the "ad" says "4 Rooms FREE". It | | | | their name. Interesting, huh? |
| means the standard EQUIPMENT is free, not the | | | | Myth: They're going to have cable lines running all |
| programming. Also, as of today, May 18, 2008, be | | | | over the outside of my house. |
| advised that DirecTV advertises 150 Channels for | | | | Fact: Satellite dishes now tap right into your cable |
| $34.99. Remember, that is for one TV. The fine | | | | junction box, making all of your cable outlets live |
| print reads "For 12 Months". The price skyrockets | | | | for satellite TV. EZ as pie now. |
| $18/mo. after that 12 months. And, it's a 2 year | | | | Myth: Satellite charges extra for local channels. |
| agreement. Also, the $18 savings does NOT start | | | | Fact: It's the opposite. Because so many people |
| right away. You must mail in a rebate form | | | | can get their local channels from an antenna, |
| AFTER you get your first bill, then photocopy | | | | satellite offers a $5 DISCOUNT if you can do so. |
| your bill and send it in with a completed | | | | Try This: Call the cable company and order JUST |
| "Redemption Form" that you must print out from | | | | local channels. Then ask how much it will cost. |
| their website. In 4-8 weeks, your discount will | | | | Then when they tell you (it'll be about $12-$15 |
| begin. So, be prepared to pay FULL price until that | | | | mo.), tell them that their commercials say that |
| happens. Then, full price after the 12 months. | | | | only satellite charges for local channels, but they |
| Also, with DirecTV, they advertise that you can | | | | don't, so you'd like them for FREE. (hee, hee) |
| get a "FREE" upgrade to High-Definition (HD) OR | | | | Myth: If I move, it will cost an arm and a leg to |
| DVR. Fine print says that you must subscribe to | | | | get set up at my new residence. |
| their $57.99/mo. or higher package to qualify. | | | | Fact: It's free. The beauty of satellite is that it is |
| (Again, that's for 1 TV) Then, you'll pay an | | | | not limited by location. |
| additional $5.98 for the DVR Service Fee. Same | | | | Myth: Someone will be drilling holes into my roof |
| goes for the HD equipment. So, if you're wanting | | | | Fact: A satellite dish will NEVER go on a roof. It |
| to upgrade your equipment, remember to ask | | | | must be secure, and it cannot be on a roof. It is |
| what the REGULAR prices are for the package | | | | securely mounted to an eve on the side of the |
| for ALL tv's in your home. | | | | roof. |
| FREE Movie Channels. This is an easy one. You | | | | Myth: If my signal goes out, I have to climb on |
| MUST cancel them BEFORE the 3 months are up, | | | | the roof to repoint my dish. |
| or you'll get hit for almost $40 JUST for the | | | | Fact: Satellite TV has 99.9% uptime, compared to |
| movie channels. Advice: If you know you won't | | | | cable at 96% uptime. Oh, and customer service is |
| keep them, tell them to NOT give them to you | | | | open 24/7/365. Ever call the cable company after |
| for free. You don't HAVE to accept the free | | | | 5 PM. GOOD LUCK! |
| movie channels. It's just another teaser. | | | | Myth: Cable doesn't charge for High Definition. |
| For an upgrade to a standard HD receiver, it's | | | | Fact: This is partly true. Cable doesn't charge for |
| free for one TV when you order the $57.99/mo. | | | | High Definition PROGRAMMING. But, who WOULD |
| and above package. To upgrade to a HD-DVR, it | | | | for 15 or 20 channels, right? (Satellite TV carries |
| costs $199 up-front, then you get a Mail-In | | | | about 90 HD Channels for $9.99/mo.) But, what |
| Rebate for $99 that takes a couple of months to | | | | cable DOES charge for is the High Definition |
| receive. DirecTV is the exclusive provider of the | | | | Access Fee for the receiver. It's just a play on |
| NFL Sunday Ticket. (All NFL games for ALL NFL | | | | words. |
| teams EVERY Sunday) | | | | Myth: My cable company says that I won't have |
| With DISH Network, it's a little easier to know | | | | to change anything in 2009 when the Digital |
| what the regular prices are because they don't | | | | Conversion happens. |
| advertise "Promotional" prices. With DISH, the | | | | Fact: What they're NOT telling you is this: You'll |
| advertised prices are for 1 or 2 TV's. DISH uses | | | | have to purchase Digital Converter Boxes at $40 |
| "Dual Tuner" Receivers. What that means is you | | | | each for EVERY television you would like service |
| can have 2 TV's connected to one receiver, both | | | | on. (Some will provide vouchers for up to 2 TV's |
| independent of each other, but you just don't | | | | if you sign a 2 yr. agreement at DIGITAL CABLE |
| have to pay for that second TV. How does this | | | | PRICES ON ALL TV's.) |
| work? Great question. The remote for TV #1 | | | | These are some facts that may help you decide |
| where the physical box is at is an infrared (IR) | | | | which satellite TV service to look into, and when |
| remote. Meaning, you point the remote towards | | | | you do, you'll be educated and know what |
| the receiver to change the channel, just like any | | | | questions to ask so you can be certain that |
| other type of remote. Then, on the back of the | | | | you're getting an accurate quote. Knowledge is |
| receiver, there's a small antenna, and the remote | | | | power, and hopefully this article has empowered |
| for TV #2, where there is no receiver, is a Radio | | | | you. |
| Frequency (RF) remote. Meaning it goes through | | | | |