25 minute phone call to DISH

I called DISH technical support today, mainly to see what kind of range could I expect on the wireless feed from my VIP622 DVR.

I don't know who the lady was, but she needs to be training the other "techs" at DISH. Not only did she take the time to answer my problem, she went over a list of "tips" she has recorded for her own use. The list included any problem questions she had received that required more than her knowledge base provided. An example was to spend as much time as possible until you know every function, by memory, on the DISH and your HDTV remote. She made sure all of my questions on previous calls had been solved.

Since I had someone that knew her stuff on the phone, I told her I was thinking of adding another HDTV. She asked me my plans for the future, IE how many HD TV's will I have when my home is finished on both floors. I asked her if I could get another VIP622 DVR under the current promotion. Her computer told her no, only one allowed. She put me on hold, and told me the next promotion should be in July, and I should consider waiting until then.

Here's the best part. She told me the VIP 622 could use an extra dedicated hard drive, with a minimum of 40gb and a maximum of 750gb! She was not sure if I could use the extra hard drive on BOTH of the VIP622 units. UNREAL, what a great customer service person!

As cheap as hard drives are now, I could buy one for each DVR, and have 200 hours on the unit, PLUS what ever the dedicated hard rive would hold. (anyone have a clue how much space a 2 hour HDTV recording would take? Whatever that totals, double it when I have my second DVR installed.

To top things off, she told me of a few things in the works for DISH.
Some of copyright holders are working on a way to stop us from recording SD to a disk. This project was in the very early stages. DISH is working on a way for paying customers to record to disk that cannot be copied. ( I hesitate to even bring this up. Please don't start a big ruckus over this. Like she said, it's in the discussion stage only. No need flaming a person for being honest).

Here's another one in the idea stage......how about being able to watch your DISH programing from a laptop computer when your away from home? Once again, it's just a thought. They are even trying to figure out if HD would work if your laptop is HD compatible.

This lady was by far to most knowledgeable, friendly and helpful person I have ever talked to. (only matched by a DELL manager that sent me a NEW, UPGRADED Dell desktop a year after the warranty ran out.)

Now I have a new problem. I have seen a few posts in this forum urging you to keep your cool, and extend some understanding to the technician that can only do for you what her computer allows.
Let's just say that advice might be true............ I have to buy a new HDTV to go with my SECOND VIP622:yippee:

Look for another thread on your experience with 50" or larger TVs.

It's nice to post something nice about customer service in this day and time. I have to admit I have yet to encounter a DISH tech that was not nice and friendly, but todays encounter receives a :thumbsup:

Nice to read an uplifting experience for a change. I am sure your attitude was also a factor.
Most folks only report on bad experiences, which can help others, as well as themselves.
But all in all, I think it's fair to say most transactions go smoothly.

The best thing is to know what you are entitled to before you even call Dish. I broke some parts of the OP's message apart to talk about each point.

Since I had someone that knew her stuff on the phone, I told her I was thinking of adding another HDTV. She asked me my plans for the future, IE how many HD TV's will I have when my home is finished on both floors. I asked her if I could get another VIP622 DVR under the current promotion. Her computer told her no, only one allowed. She put me on hold, and told me the next promotion should be in July, and I should consider waiting until then.

You are entitled to a DIU (Dishin' it up) promotion once every 12 months. Did you upgrade last July? When you do this kind of upgrade, you are then also committed to Dish for 2 more years. 18 months for any DIU upgrades completed before 2/1/2008.

Thats not necessarily a bad thing but it is a point to be known and considered. Consider the possibility of you moving soon to a place Dish reception is not possible. That is not a way out of this contract. You will be penalized. Read your contract.

Also, if you like the 622, you will love the 722. ;)

Here's the best part. She told me the VIP 622 could use an extra dedicated hard drive, with a minimum of 40gb and a maximum of 750gb! She was not sure if I could use the extra hard drive on BOTH of the VIP622 units. UNREAL, what a great customer service person!

For a one time $39.00 activation fee per account, you can use a EHD and share it with all ViP DVR's on your account. Soon even non-DVR ViP receivers such as the 211 will turn into DVR's (using a EHD). The software for this feature is coming this summer.

Look around this forum. This has already been talked about.

To top things off, she told me of a few things in the works for DISH.
Some of copyright holders are working on a way to stop us from recording SD to a disk. This project was in the very early stages. DISH is working on a way for paying customers to record to disk that cannot be copied. ( I hesitate to even bring this up. Please don't start a big ruckus over this. Like she said, it's in the discussion stage only. No need flaming a person for being honest).

See the post I started titled DRM on PPV. It has already started for new movies. D* has also been doing it for awhile. I don't think they will ever bother with older stuff as it is already out there.

Here's another one in the idea stage......how about being able to watch your DISH programing from a laptop computer when your away from home? Once again, it's just a thought. They are even trying to figure out if HD would work if your laptop is HD compatible.

There are many security issues that need to be resolved before this can happen. This sort of feature is a long way off. For now, we have pocketDISH. It's not HD but you really don't need HD with such a small screen.

Now I have a new problem. I have seen a few posts in this forum urging you to keep your cool, and extend some understanding to the technician that can only do for you what her computer allows.
Let's just say that advice might be true............ I have to buy a new HDTV to go with my SECOND VIP622 :yippee:

This is all very true. Also, try to understand what you might be entitled to before you call. Thats what this forum and others are all about.

The best thing is to know what you are entitled to before you even call Dish. I broke some parts of the OP's message apart to talk about each point.



You are entitled to a DIU (Dishin' it up) promotion once every 12 months. Did you upgrade last July? When you do this kind of upgrade, you are then also committed to Dish for 2 more years. 18 months for any DIU upgrades completed before 2/1/2008.

Thats not necessarily a bad thing but it is a point to be known and considered. Consider the possibility of you moving soon to a place Dish reception is not possible. That is not a way out of this contract. You will be penalized. Read your contract.

Also, if you like the 622, you will love the 722. ;)



For a one time $39.00 activation fee per account, you can use a EHD and share it with all ViP DVR's on your account. Soon even non-DVR ViP receivers such as the 211 will turn into DVR's (using a EHD). The software for this feature is coming this summer.

Look around this forum. This has already been talked about.



See the post I started titled DRM on PPV. It has already started for new movies. D* has also been doing it for awhile. I don't think they will ever bother with older stuff as it is already out there.



There are many security issues that need to be resolved before this can happen. This sort of feature is a long way off. For now, we have pocketDISH. It's not HD but you really don't need HD with such a small screen.



This is all very true. Also, try to understand what you might be entitled to before you call. Thats what this forum and others are all about.

Good call on the upgrade. I was due for the upgrade, and DISH honored it on both the receivers, even though I got the first 622 5 weeks ago.So I will have all new equipment from DISH by Thursday.

As for the tree problems, that is a concern. The installer asked me if I knew of the problem before he started. He called in and got permission to intall a new dish pointed a different direction. I should be well covered for the 24 month period. I have had nothing but great service from DISH, even better that DIRECTV when I was using their service. Since our cable TV signal is about as strong as a rotor antenna, I only have DISH & DIRECTV to choose from.

Thanks for your reply, it was a great read.

I think DISH just answered all my questions via tech chat. Here is the latest as of 2:30 PM May 13:

the one time activation fee to use an external hardrive covers both of my VIP622 receivers.

you can use UP TO a 750gb external hard drive with USB 2.0 on the VIP622 DVR.

you can use the same external drive on both the VIP622 units

I hope that clears up any of the confusion I might have caused.