Dish Network + ViP622 - Phone line required?

I'm a current Dish Network customer who am interested in HD, specifically the ViP622. I am having an excruciatingly difficult time trying to get a straight answer out of Dish Network. I am one of the increasing individuals who has a cell phone only - no land line.

I was told by Dish Network that without a phone line, they will charge me an additional $5/mo.

I went to the Dish Network web site today, and was told, with an online chat, there would be no $5 charge if I had broadband and the ViP622's ethernet port hooked up. (Yes, I have the chat session captured).

Because I was skeptical, I called Dish Network again to double check, and I was told, after the CSR checked, that I would be charged $5 a month without a phone line, and the broadband made no difference.

I emailed Dish Network again tonight, indicating the situation, quoting the chat indicating there would not be a $5/mo fee, and to please get me an official answer that was consistent.

I just got an email from Dish Network, telling me about all of the "Great benefits" of having the phone line hooked up, even though they neglected to understand that I DON'T HAVE A PHONE LINE. Looks like a stupid form letter.

So... any of you with a ViP622 care to let me know what the real scoop is? If you have one, don't have the phone line connected, with a ViP622 and Dish Network, are you being charged an additional $5/mo for lack of a phone line?

Thanks in advance!

The receiver can also be hooked up via ethernet. You don't get some of the benefits, but you don't pay the extra $5 per month this way either.

The receiver can also be hooked up via ethernet. You don't get some of the benefits, but you don't pay the extra $5 per month this way either.

What garys said is absolutely correct. I've had Dish for about 5 months now and my 722 has always been connected via Ethernet. I've never had a phone line connected to my receiver and I've never been charged the $5/month fee.

Generally, Dish CSR's know next to nothing about connecting your receiver via Ethernet. Their mantra is "You must have a phone line connected or you will be charged a $5 monthly fee."

Thanks, gents. I'll order with pride, and also make sure I go to manual billing for a while. ;-)