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60 Posts
Once again, I'm starting to look at the current choices to get some HDTV programming to my Panasonic HDTV that I've had for over a year now with no HDTV on it. I've pretty much given up on my local cable company. They were supposed to go completely digital at the end of March, but something is holding them up (They say they can't get enough set top boxes shipped to them, but I've heard that they're having financial problems). They can't even tell me if they will carry HDTV stations or not. Oh to have Warner digital cable just a few miles down the road (they carry several HDTV channels, etc.). I was hoping for the Cable option since it would be more or less free whereas these Dish 6000 systems with installation (and an antenna added and the OTA module) seem darn expensive by comparison, especially with so little HDTV programming available so far.
In any case, this puts me back looking at dishes again. Dish Network still seems like the better choice for me (I want HDTV more than sports, etc.). I haven't been keeping up on this forum in the past couple of months. I called a local place (well in Ohio anyway) that claims one of those free installation, free hardware deals and I thought maybe they could just substitute a Dish 6000 receiver for one and have me pay the difference. The lady on the phone said, "I don't understand what you mean by high definition." ?!?!? Geeze, I expected that kind of incompetence a year ago, but even Sears are selling the HDTV receivers now! I explained what it was and she said, "let me check" and then came back and just gave me Dish Networks number as she was still unsure what the heck I was talking about.... Click.
I went over to Sears and asked about their prices. They want like $700 for a Dish 6000 system and that includes free installation. The sales droid indicated they could install an antenna for free for me while they were at it, but I'd have to provide the antenna. I asked about a 2nd receiver for a regular NTSC set in a den and this is where the guy's knowledge seemed to cave in. He seemed to think I'd need a completely separate dish installation for a regular tv! I explained to him that's not true and he gave me his business card and told me he'd get the correct information for me on the matter and I should call him the next day. Well, I called today, but he'd stepped out for the day by the time I did. He also indicated that any programming rebates or whatever would have to go through straight with Dish and he couldn't give me any information in that regard.
In any case, what are the typical going rates these days for a Dish 6000 install with a second regular receiver for another room? It seems to me, I should be able to get one of those "free" packages and just buy a Dish 6000 receiver to use instead for one of the rooms and whatever install difference for the 2nd dish. $700 just seems a bit on the pricey end when those standard NTSC installs are completely free with a 1 year program commitment. Are there rebate deals independent of Sears price? (i.e. Is their $700 price without a programming commitment?) What could I get back at this point?
The sales guy did mention price matching and I see people on here mentioning they will match the Net as well. That could help. I looked over at Dish Depot and I see by the time I pay for professional installation, Sears doesn't sound too bad after all. :-/
What do you guys think of Sears, etc. as an option or what do you recommend? I don't even want to attempt the install myself at this point on the roof.
Also, has there been any solutions for that OTA module's noisy fan (as more like an option to shut the module/fan off when it's not being used)? That fan bit is one thing that held me back before. I have a quality audio playback system and I don't fancy hearing a fan blowing during quiet scenes, especially if I'm not even watching a satellite channel (i.e. it doesn't shut off if shut sat box off).
In any case, this puts me back looking at dishes again. Dish Network still seems like the better choice for me (I want HDTV more than sports, etc.). I haven't been keeping up on this forum in the past couple of months. I called a local place (well in Ohio anyway) that claims one of those free installation, free hardware deals and I thought maybe they could just substitute a Dish 6000 receiver for one and have me pay the difference. The lady on the phone said, "I don't understand what you mean by high definition." ?!?!? Geeze, I expected that kind of incompetence a year ago, but even Sears are selling the HDTV receivers now! I explained what it was and she said, "let me check" and then came back and just gave me Dish Networks number as she was still unsure what the heck I was talking about.... Click.
I went over to Sears and asked about their prices. They want like $700 for a Dish 6000 system and that includes free installation. The sales droid indicated they could install an antenna for free for me while they were at it, but I'd have to provide the antenna. I asked about a 2nd receiver for a regular NTSC set in a den and this is where the guy's knowledge seemed to cave in. He seemed to think I'd need a completely separate dish installation for a regular tv! I explained to him that's not true and he gave me his business card and told me he'd get the correct information for me on the matter and I should call him the next day. Well, I called today, but he'd stepped out for the day by the time I did. He also indicated that any programming rebates or whatever would have to go through straight with Dish and he couldn't give me any information in that regard.
In any case, what are the typical going rates these days for a Dish 6000 install with a second regular receiver for another room? It seems to me, I should be able to get one of those "free" packages and just buy a Dish 6000 receiver to use instead for one of the rooms and whatever install difference for the 2nd dish. $700 just seems a bit on the pricey end when those standard NTSC installs are completely free with a 1 year program commitment. Are there rebate deals independent of Sears price? (i.e. Is their $700 price without a programming commitment?) What could I get back at this point?
The sales guy did mention price matching and I see people on here mentioning they will match the Net as well. That could help. I looked over at Dish Depot and I see by the time I pay for professional installation, Sears doesn't sound too bad after all. :-/
What do you guys think of Sears, etc. as an option or what do you recommend? I don't even want to attempt the install myself at this point on the roof.
Also, has there been any solutions for that OTA module's noisy fan (as more like an option to shut the module/fan off when it's not being used)? That fan bit is one thing that held me back before. I have a quality audio playback system and I don't fancy hearing a fan blowing during quiet scenes, especially if I'm not even watching a satellite channel (i.e. it doesn't shut off if shut sat box off).