Don't Lose The Remote Control!
Written: Jan 23 '01 (Updated Jan 23 '01)
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Pros: good reception, good price, easy to operate
Cons: favorite list limited to 30 channels, almost impossible to operate without remote control
The Bottom Line: I recommend checking into other options before buying Dish Network.
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| reneep31's Full Review: Dish Network DishPlayer 500 Channel Satellite Syst... |
We switched from Direct T.V. to Dish Network because we got a great deal. Primestar had been our satellite provider. We really enjoyed Primestar. Direct T.V. bought out Primestar, so our service had to be changed to Direct T.V. While in the process of changing, we were offered a great deal (free equipment and service for six months free of charge). With such a great offer we decided to try Dish Network. Because we didn’t actually use Direct T.V., I can’t compare Direct T.V. and Dish Network. I can only compare Dish Network to Primestar, which is no longer available. The first thing we noticed, and it was to be expected, was that all our favorite stations were on different channels. This is something that we have gotten used to. The biggest change (one that is hard to get used to) is the fact that we can not program all the channels that we receive on one list. With Primestar we were able to block out the channels that we did not subscribe to. Dish Network does not allow us to do that. We can program up to 30 channels on our favorite “lists”. We have access to more that 30 channels, so we can not program all of our channels on one list. We have programmed some of our channels on my list and the others on my husband’s list; we also programmed the cartoons on my son’s list.
The reception is great, I can not complain about that. The price comparison is adequate. We were paying approximately $30 per month for the basic package and equipment rental, we are now paying approximately $30 per month for the package that is one step up from the basic (the equipment is ours so we no longer have to pay a rental fee). The equipment does seem to be inferior to Primestar’s. I have not compared the satellites, the remote control is adequate, but the receiver is definitely inadequate. It appears to be less sturdy, and there are only two controls on it. The only controls on the receiver are a power switch and a channel up and down. The lack of controls on the receiver makes it almost impossible to use the system without the remote control.
A few weeks ago, we had our first problem with Dish Network. Our remote control went on the blink; it would not function properly. Our son was the last one to watch television, so the satellite was programmed on his list (cartoons only)! My husband was a little upset; he doesn’t enjoy watching cartoons. As I’ve stated in the previous paragraph, the system is almost impossible to use without the remote control. The only things that you can do are to turn the power on/off and change the channel. You can not change the “list” that the receiver is programmed to. In our case, it was our son’s channels, so we were only able to watch cartoons. My husband called the customer service department, he was told that the warranty had expired about a month ago and that it would cost $100 to replace the remote control. He was outrageous, the remote control is not worth that much and the system should be operable without the remote control. Fortunately our remote control started working again and we did not have to purchase a new one.
Dish Network is good, but it is not the best. I recommend checking into other options before buying Dish Network. I know if our remote control goes out again that we will change services before we purchase a new one!
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 30/month
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Epinions.com ID:
reneep31
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Member: Renee Parrott
Location: Rutherfordton, N.C.
Reviews written: 45
Trusted by: 22 members
About Me:
I am a Christian stay at home mom to my two sons, Chase and Josh.
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