I'm currently building a house and will be buying an HDTV (first one) and signing up for the Dish HD package. I'm trying to figure out the order in which to do things.

Should I:

1. Have them install the Dish HD stuff right away, before I've potentially purchased the HDTV? or...

2. Try to time it right to get the TV delivered within a day or two of when I move in, so that the HDTV is already there when they hook up the Dish HD equipment? or.

3. Just have them hook up the regular Dish stuff right when I move in, then buy my HDTV after I've moved in, and then sign up for the HD package (thus having them come out twice)?

I'd rather not pay to have them come out twice, but I'd like the Dish installed right away (HD or no HD). Also, I'd prefer to not be stuck trying to hook stuff up on my own. Any thoughts or considerations I'm not thinking of?

Can you get cable or FiOS TV? What about OTA (Over the Air) broadcast? You may want to consider having OTA as a backup in case you lose Dish for some reason or another.

First things first. Have you planned your room layout? Is this a "home theater" area or just casual viewing? You need to size the HDTV for the proper viewing distance. A 42" plasma won't cut it if you are watching 15' away. What about the rest of the equipment (audio, DVD, etc.)? There are many things to think about before buying the TV.

If you are building a house, I would have your guys install quad-shield coax and ethernet cable in every room and run them all down to the basement as a common distribution site.

There's lots of info in AVS forum to guide you on all the above topics.

What you are missing is that any installer (Dish, cable TV, etc.) is going to run the coax in a manner that is convenient for them, not you. Consider that they may not fish cables in walls and instead run them along the floor. You want control over how this is done. Consider doing it yourself now (pay the workers to run the cables) while the construction is in process (before the walls are closed up). I did this while I had an addition put on my house. Nice.

If you're not comfortable with the tech details, look for a professional home theater installer in your area.

Thanks for the tips, I'm having them do most of the items you mentioned. What I was wondering was whether I should have them hookup the HD receiver when the come up install the dish right away, or wait until I have the HDTV, and just have them hook up the regular dish receivers at first.

I would just get the HD equipment from the get go if you plan to buy your HDTV shortly afterwards.

I'd look for other options then Dish as recommended also.

Thanks for the tips, I'm having them do most of the items you mentioned. What I was wondering was whether I should have them hookup the HD receiver when the come up install the dish right away, or wait until I have the HDTV, and just have them hook up the regular dish receivers at first.
If you are still building the house, you should have a separate RG-6 coaxial run put in for an TV OTA antenna in the attic or on the roof. Have a RG-6 run from the attic, preferably with some excess cable left in the attic, and in a attic location where a cable run can come in through a eave or air vent from an outdoor antenna if you (or future owner) goes that route. Run the RG-6 to the TV/rec room, master bedroom, den for connecting up to the antenna.

I have had Dish HD for 7 years and I recommend it. They currently have the most HD channels available and pretty good HD quality. Others have different opinions however. The best procedure is to get the HDTV first then have Dish come out and install the HD service. Dish will give you a good deal on their HD DVR, the 622, for new subscribers (probably free with 18 month committment to the HD package).

Rick R

The 622 dual-tuner from Dish (and any other dual-tuners you might be using in your whole house setup, like the strictly SD 322 model), has to have the cables run in an unorthodox way to be able to use the SD 2nd tuner from it (to another TV). A line has to be run from the receiver BACK INTO the outlet, and then, through the walls or whatever, on over to the 2nd TV. If you're really set on Dish, and you really don't feel you'll be switching to another service, I'd have Dish come out and wire everything appropriately while they can still get in the walls (if that's still possible).

I'd also have the house wired for an antenna, like others have suggested. That would be wise.

Yes, I talked to a low voltage company about the Dish setup, so I think I'm good to go. Just need to get the HDTV and receivers.

I'm also getting an antenna installed per the advice from many in this forum.

Thanks for the help.

From my previous experience, I would recommend having the equipment ready when the installers come out. That way, you can be sure everything is set up to work.

I had a second tv install with Dish and then waited a few months before buying it, and then had all kinds of problems getting the signal to work (very big house, with the signal diplexed from the most distant room as the cables were run). Also have had problems getting Dish to schedule an HD upgrade to my current system.

IMHO, to be sure it works, get the HDTV and then have the HD service installed.