Dishnetwork Antenna

I'm newbie to HD and I spend quite a time for the last 3 days to read posts in this forum. I'm very happy to learn a lot from your posts. I'm currently have Cox cable and to upgrade to HD, you have to pay Cox or DTV a big fee for the equipments at first. That's why I go with DN because I get free HD equipments and they'll come to install the systems this Sunday. Actually, on the top of my roof has 2 DN dishes already installed from previous owner. I have several questions and hope many of you will spend some time to answer. Thanks.
1) I subcribe 60 plus, local, HBO+Showtime, and HD package. DN will intall 2 dishes free. Why do I need 2 dishes? I don't subcribe Voom and my zip code is 92602. Somebody on this forum said that this is good because you can activate Voom later and don't have to pay a fee on the second dish installation. I checked it on DN webpage and it's true that if I subcribe Voom now, I'll have to pay $99 for 2nd dish installation.
2) Someone said that since I live in West coast, I need to have 3 dishes to receive all channels. If that's the case, then I still need to have a third dish installed if I want Voom later.
3) If I need a third dish and I want to do it by myself, can I use a DTV dish for DN? Since I'm used to be a DTV customer and when I moved, I kept the dish with me. So, I want to know if it will work with DN?
4) As a new DN customer, I get the promotion programming price and free equipments. I saw some of people in this forum have to pay $200 to $300 for HD equipment upgrade. Why don't they just close the account and let somebody else in the household open a new account? I've signed up for 1 year contract. If I close my account after 1 year and come back later, will I be considered as a new customer? This works for cell phone service provider if you are not their customer for more than 6 consecutive months. Then, you will be considered as a new customer when you're back.
5) I've checked my zip code and it doesn't have any off air HD local stations :confused: . My friend is living at 92601 (about 5 miles from my house) and he can get many free HD stations with an antenna on his roof. He has DTV and he told me they have just broadcasted locals in HD now. Anybody knows when DN will have it?
6) Two of my friends recommended me to get the DVR service ($5 more per month) because they love it. I don't watch shows and rarely record a TV program. I need your opinion on this. I'll have two 811 and one 322 installed in my house. If I want to upgrade to DVR later, do you know how much I have to pay for upgrade?

I live in Orange County zip 92630 and you dont need third dish for voom. One dish will get the 110 and 119 sat. The other dish will be pointed at 61.5 and will get your hd channels including voom. I did the same package as you. You get the 60 package for 19.95 for the first 3 months and then it goes to 31.00. Hd package is $10.00 and if you get voom it's just 5 bucks more. As for the antenna it looks like your in Irvine (Lake Forest for Me) and your right, nothing shows up. You might have the hills that are you blocking you since the transmitters are on Mount Wilson. I'm not far from you and I have a straight line to all the transmitters and get every local in HD at least when they have HD programming. As for DVR, I have an external tivo, DVD recorder hooked up so I know nothing of the 942's. PM me if you have any other questions.

1) I subcribe 60 plus, local, HBO+Showtime, and HD package. DN will intall 2 dishes free. Why do I need 2 dishes? I don't subcribe Voom and my zip code is 92602. Somebody on this forum said that this is good because you can activate Voom later and don't have to pay a fee on the second dish installation. I checked it on DN webpage and it's true that if I subcribe Voom now, I'll have to pay $99 for 2nd dish installation.
Maybe the second dish is for the 148 satelite. Irvine is near LA so I'm assuming channels like KHIZ 64,KVMD 31,KBEH 63 and CBS-HD. But if you can pick those channels with an antenna then you could always re-aim the dish for 61.5 or 129 in the future.
2) Someone said that since I live in West coast, I need to have 3 dishes to receive all channels. If that's the case, then I still need to have a third dish installed if I want Voom later.Yes if you need 148 and 61.5.
3) If I need a third dish and I want to do it by myself, can I use a DTV dish for DN? Since I'm used to be a DTV customer and when I moved, I kept the dish with me. So, I want to know if it will work with DN?You may have to change the LNB and arm bracket in order to use DishPro series switches and equipment.4) As a new DN customer, I get the promotion programming price and free equipments. I saw some of people in this forum have to pay $200 to $300 for HD equipment upgrade. Why don't they just close the account and let somebody else in the household open a new account? I've signed up for 1 year contract. If I close my account after 1 year and come back later, will I be considered as a new customer? This works for cell phone service provider if you are not their customer for more than 6 consecutive months. Then, you will be considered as a new customer when you're back.Be carefull what you aggree to. Some people get better deals because they commit and/or lease the equipment. Just like everything in life saving money can cost you more later if you're unhappy.
5) I've checked my zip code and it doesn't have any off air HD local stations :confused: . My friend is living at 92601 (about 5 miles from my house) and he can get many free HD stations with an antenna on his roof. He has DTV and he told me they have just broadcasted locals in HD now. Anybody knows when DN will have it?I don't know about Irvine but LA has plenty. If you friend can get them then should able to get too I imagine.
6) Two of my friends recommended me to get the DVR service ($5 more per month) because they love it. I don't watch shows and rarely record a TV program. I need your opinion on this. I'll have two 811 and one 322 installed in my house. If I want to upgrade to DVR later, do you know how much I have to pay for upgrade?I have the 921 and love the capability of recording HD. There always a situation where two programs are on during the same time and a dual receiver allows you to record both. As a new customer you may be able the lease the 942 for $250 plus $10 a month (DVR fee included). A new line of MPEG4 receivers are on the horizon so they could be some risk in buying until DN reveals they upgrade offers.

Thanks for all of your answers. I'd better stay with HD receiver for now. I see Dn is offerring free DVR monthly fee. I'll try to put up an antenna to get more local HD.
Is the lnb of DN different from DTV? I saw Radio Shack sold lnb but it didn't say that was for Dish or Direct.
I see my neighbors having DN and their dishes are installed at the chimney on the roof. Is it included in "standard installation" or you have to pay extra for the installation guy to climb up to your roof? I just want to know so they won't charge me more on this Sunday.

I think the old legacy series LNB from DN where equivilent to DTV but phyically had different style mounting. For example DN has a "D" shape mount and arm. Not sure if the same series switches would work between the two companies. The dual sat dishes would be different because DN's dish500 get 110 and 119 while I think DTV got 101 and 119 I seem to remember the LNBs where separated further apart.

Today dish uses dishpro and dishpro plus LNB which have totally different electronics. However you may still be able to get legacy if you need or make a special request.

All my dishes are installed on the roof either using lag bolts or mounted to a vent pipe. Some people have it mounted to the side of the house. As far as the chimney I'm not sure but if that's typical for your area then why not.