by Jack Berkins on February 21, 2012
When it’s finally time to get your satellite TV wired, there are few things to consider before that day arrives to ensure your Dish TV installation goes off without a hitch. Some are more important than others (and the majority will automatically be handled for you), but here are a few of the most important things to expect:
Confirm the installation time/window – unlike cable, the top satellite TV retailers won’t have you waiting all day long for your installer. They’ll give you a short window (usually 3 hours) and the installer will keep you up-to-date before he/she arrives, especially if they’re stuck and might be a bit late. When you sign up, just make sure you confirm and jot down the expected arrival time – there’s nothing worse than spacing on the time and having to reschedule.
Consider your TV setup before installation – when your dish installer arrives, they’ll have all the equipment and hardware rearing to go. Their first step will be to match the TVs to your ordered receivers…and figure out how they’ll get the cables into your home. To save time, before they even get there give your access options a quick once over (e.g., the shortest distance from your roof line to your TV, which TVs require dual tuners, etc). The more secure you are in your proposed setup, the easier it’ll be for your installer to wire the best solution possible.
Check for line of sight – in the vast majority of cases, you’ll have ample access to the certain part of the sky required for either a DIRECTV or DISH install. However, there are instances when a dense tree or other obstruction may make things a bit trickier. In general, both services require a rough Western sky. If you have a large building or anything else hovering over your roof, your installer may need to get reeeal creative. In the off chance they can’t get a strong enough signal, chances are switching from DIRECT to DISH or vice versa will give the new provider sufficient room (their required angles to the sky are 10-30+ degrees different).
Sign up with a quality provider – we can’t preach this one enough. Anyone can promise you priority service and rock-bottom prices, but few actually deliver. In the satellite TV world, setup is sort of a different animal than most service industries. You really only deal with your retailer during ordering and installation; thereafter, you’re officially a DIRECTV or DISH Network customer. So, make sure you scope out the current DIRECTV and DISH specials and get hooked up with the a top flight retailer…come dish tv installation time, you’ll be glad you did. Check out the buttons below for our most highly recommended retailers and enjoy your new service!
by Jack Berkins on February 18, 2012
If you’ve finally gotten fed up with the random price hikes and fees associated with cable, you’re probably looking to buy satellite dish and start fresh. Before you dive right in, it’s always a good idea to step back and give your entertainment needs a closer look — you’ll be much happier after installation and probably save some money as well. Here are our top 5 ordering tips:
1) Carefully pick a programming package
Sure, you may think you know which channels and types of programming you like, but there are literally hundreds of different, full-time channels available, so make sure your favorites are covered. If you’re looking to maximize your savings, the Direct TV Choice Package starts at just $29.99/mo (150+ channels) while DISH carries the Family Package at $19.99/mo (50+ channels).
With either service, you can switch packages fairly easily, so if you end up missing a channel or two, chances are you’ll be able to upgrade for another $10/month and get it added. Be sure to check out the latest satellite TV promotions to take full advantage of current specials and free bonuses, they may already include a few of your select premium channels at no extra charge.
2) Go with a reputable provider
A satellite TV provider helps you with your initial order, schedules your installation (usually – and hopefully – with their own in-house team) and follows up post-installation to make sure everything went smoothly. There are plenty out there, but only a handful that really excel at what they do. Nothing’s more frustrating that getting the wrong the equipment or having your installer cancel during your expected delivery window. Check out our recommended providers here.
3) If you’re hooked on HD, get it free
Chances are you have an HD TV or are in the market for one, and satellite broadcasters are well aware of that…and trying to keep up. Over the past few years, DIRECT and DISH have competed heavily to bring you the most high definition channels. As of this writing, DISH technically has more (200+ to DIRECTV’s 160+), but a good 50 of those aren’t full time HD channels, so it’s closer than it seems. Cost-wise, both services have offered free HD for life (~$10/mo value) during one promo or another, so if HD is incredibly important to you (it is for me!), you may want to wait to buy satellite dish until you can lock in that bonus.
4) Don’t get stuck with a clunky receiver
Your receiver unavoidably connects you to your programming…in more ways than one. A slow or out-of-date one can take forever to change channels or perform a search while a top flight model may add unnecessary fees to your bill. These days, equipment is getting cheaper to manufacture, so you can usually get a free HD or HD DVR receiver upgrade during your order; just make sure to inquire about it. If you’re leaning towards dual tuners (that allow you to control two TVs from one box), you can find that with DISH – here’s a quick rundown of all the dish network receivers available.
5) Nothing beats quality customer service
Too many companies overlook that point. Sure, they offer around-the-clock access to operators, but they’re farmed out overseas or just too junior level to really help when a sticky problem arises. The good news is both Dish Network and DIRECTV have put a premium on training their customer service agents…and keeping them domestic. If you call late at night, you’ll find some calls still do get switched overseas, but over the years we’ve had quite a bit of experience with various call centers, and I can’t remember a single bad experience.
Bottom line, buying a satellite dish can be a pretty big move — with all the options and ads, it can be overwhelming at times. Just stick to the basics above and you’ll be well on your way to creating your perfect system. Remember, it’s your service, so make sure you enjoy on your terms and at the best price available. Good luck!
