New Dish Member with 211

Hey all! Glad I found this site. We just got hooked up with the 211 receiver, which is apparently a very hot item. Ordered it on Tuesday, installed Friday. Our television is a Sony KV 36 HS500. We love the HD picture, however we're very disappointed with the SD PQ.
I'm working my way through the High Def Lounge to get the answers I need. I'll keep all posted with my progress.

I'm glad to be a part of this forum though I'm certain I'll be taking far more than I can contribute. On behalf of all simpletons who are technologically challenged, thanks to all you members who so graciously share your expertise.

If anyone needs help drilling an oil or gas well in their backyard I'd be glad to help! :)

Canexpat

One thing you can try for SD is to use the S-Video connection instead of Components or DVI (HD connections). I have an 811 and use the S-Video for SD and Component for HD. I just swich Input on the TV. SD still doesn't look as good but it's better than using the HD connections.

Canexpat,

What did you say or ask to get the new receiver? I have been calling several times to sign up for the new account, but CSR cannot open the order because the new receivers are not available till Feb 1st.

I didn't say or ask anything specific about the receiver, the sales person simply said I'd get the 811. I didn't review or question the unit other than read about it on Dish's website. I didn't realize there was newer technology until the installer showed up; he had the 211 and told me this was the latest. As numb as I was guess I got lucky.
I live in Oregon; don't know if that made a difference.


I'm going to try the S-Video connection tonight. Thanks.

I didn't say or ask anything specific about the receiver, the sales person simply said I'd get the 811. I didn't review or question the unit other than read about it on Dish's website. I didn't realize there was newer technology until the installer showed up; he had the 211 and told me this was the latest. As numb as I was guess I got lucky.
I live in Oregon; don't know if that made a difference.


I'm going to try the S-Video connection tonight. Thanks.

Sometimes it is better to be lucky and dumb than smart and out of luck, I think I heard that somewhere. Roger on waiting till Feb 1st, they won't even talk about getting a 211 till then based on what I have heard.

I'm very happy with the 211's I bought from dishdepot.com.
Great picture on it.Just that the first 211 I got last week took about 3 hours to work...thats when the picture finally came on.
The 2nd 211 I had activated yesterday took 20 minutes till it had a picture. I figured something out..it all depends on a few things..how intelligent the tech person is on the phone from Dish Network and how the weather is where you live.All are factors as to how fast it will take for your receiver to start showing a picture the first time you set it up.

Canexpat, try changing how your STB is setup to handle the SDTV format... maybe you'll get better results with 480p output rather than 480i. With your 4:3 TV it's unlikely you'll appreciate upconversion in the STB to your HD format.

I co-worker called E* yesterday to upgrade her SD receiver to HD. She asked for the 211, but she was told it was not available until 2/1/06, but they had a supply of 622 they would send her. As she didn't anything about the 622, she declined. When she told me about her call to E*, I decided to give it try. The CSR told me that under no circumstances would I get the 622 as they "aren't available until 2/1". I told the CSR about the convdersation I had with my co-worker... well, the CSR had no idea why this imfomation was provided to a customer. I hung up! Hey E* get it together.

I don't understand their logic with the "can't purchase MPEG4 receiver until 02/01/2006". What difference does it make if I lease today or on 2/1?

Thanks Rsawdey I'll try that when I log off. The S-Video cabling gave me a marginally better picture. The last sentence in your post is hard to swallow.

If anyone needs help drilling an oil or gas well in their backyard I'd be glad to help! :)

Canexpat

If there's signs of crude in my backyard you will be the first to know. Well, after my neighbors hear me screaming "Eureka!" :D

I didn't realize there was newer technology until the installer showed up; he had the 211 and told me this was the latest. As numb as I was guess I got lucky.
I live in Oregon; don't know if that made a difference.

Where you located? Also in Or and I've talked to at least four Dish dealers and I can't get any info on the new eqiupment. I'm thinking about switching from Direct but want to make sure I'll get the new receiver.

Canexpat,

What did you say or ask to get the new receiver? I have been calling several times to sign up for the new account, but CSR cannot open the order because the new receivers are not available till Feb 1st.
I bought my 211 from a local Dish dealer/installer. I did the install myself. Will have to wait until Feb 1 to get the mpeg4 HD channels.

I ordered it last week it came the other day
all hooked up
im in the Boston Market :-)
cost was 49.99

they also sent a shipping lable to send back my 811
now just waiting for locals to go online

So,let me get this right.Your paying Dish Network $49.00 to upgrade to a 211 receiver..but you'll still be leasing the 211,right? If it's a lease then why is'nt the upgrade Free since you'll be paying dish a monthly fee to rent it anyway?
If thats the case..Dish is not customer friendly.Can you say Rip Off artists? I CAN. :rolleyes:

So,let me get this right.Your paying Dish Network $49.00 to upgrade to a 211 receiver..but you'll still be leasing the 211,right? If it's a lease then why is'nt the upgrade Free since you'll be paying dish a monthly fee to rent it anyway?
If thats the case..Dish is not customer friendly.Can you say Rip Off artists? I CAN. :rolleyes:

Generally, all leases have a deposit, except for some new customer deals...I think it was $50 on the 811 since the beginning.

daleb,
that still does'nt make it right that they charge an upgrade fee for something their customer is going to rent every month. That's bad business.Makes Dish Network look bad.

Canexpat, I have the same problem with my 211 and the SD picture, i've tried every connection i could with my Mitsubishi 52 inch dlp,not much change. As for the others who are trying to get the new 211, i was getting the same run around at dish. What i did was as soon as the rep told me i had to wait until 2/1,or said they would sent me the 811, i would say never mind, hang up and call back, i talk to 7 reps before someone said sure, we can send you the 211. Got it two days later.

:yippee: :yippee:

daleb,
that still does'nt make it right that they charge an upgrade fee for something their customer is going to rent every month. That's bad business.Makes Dish Network look bad.

Of course, I didn't say I liked it.

I pushed DN very hard and they finally gave me the VIP 211 for no cost. I just told them that I will not pay the $49 and I will switch to another service. At that point they gave me the reciever for free. I needed a second dish installed to recieve HD. They wanted me to pay $100 for that. I finally got them down to $25 which is the same price as my receiver turn credit I got.

You just have to play the game a little and stay firm with your decisions. Don't let them think they can win and they want to win to keep customer happy.

I think DN needs to rethink their customer service a little bit more. Either by gving the lease equipment for free or charge about the 1/3 the price for the equipment. Plus why do we need to pay for DVR when the DVR is in the machine? I think this is ridiculous and is only a profit maker for them. It isn't like we are recording shows on a server that is in Colorado while I live in Minnesota. It is just a joke.

Yes, the DVR is a money maker for Dish. You're paying for the DVR "service" not the dvr. Just like TIVO, You buy or lease the unit, you pay for the recording service. (Unless you have an old 501(NO FEE), before Dish started charging the DVR service fee.)
Oh. the fee's going up to $5.98 on Feb 1.

Yep, it's a bummer we have to pay an upgrade fee to lease a receiver.
But remember:
DishHD MPEG-4 Hardware
Model MSRP
ViP211 $399
ViP622 DVR $699

fred

Mikey
I live near Salem. Sorry I didn't reply sooner.
I signed up through Sky High Entertainment.

High people.Just got off the phone talking with a representative.All of us who are subscribed to HD programing will be receiving an offer soon.We´ll be offered an upgrade to the newest HD DVR for $99! Sounds pretty good to me.I have a problem with the date given by the representative though.April 1!! :confused:

:yippee: At least Dish does have an upgrade policy. Unlike Directv and the equipment is a much better quality and Directv does not offer a dual tuner receiver. I can understand the upgrade fee and not owing the equipment in that it gets us the best products. The equipment won't work anyway if we are not on Dish Network. Effective Feb 1, DTV will be using lease equipment on all new sales. The customer will not own there equipment at all. We are a DN dealer and have had the 211's in stock for 3 weeks but they did not let us do upgrades to the 211's until the new rules came out. We are not happy with the rate increases but cable went up and DTV is going up. www.jaxbestsource.com

why is that each time i call i have been told that it maybe either 811 or 211 i will get. I already have the 811.

We are dealers and we fall under different rules than Dish Network Direct. We can now do upgrades with the 211 and we are not to use 811s any more. :confused:

what is the difference in the 211 and 411

The 211 has an ethernet connector but I am not sure what all it will function as in the future. I was told that it will use voip to order movies and things. It also does not require a phone line to all receivers for ordering movies if all of the receivers are the new type. The 411 has been discontinued and this receiver took its place. It died before it was really born. :yippee: