My 921 DVR Nightmare !

rickbbb · 02-05-2005, 03:32 PM

I had a 811 receiver and decided to buy the 921 DVR receiver that Dish Network advertised for $549.I phoned Dish and bought the DVR.Dish sent me the dvr by UPS and had a technician install it.Only problem was ..the DVR would'nt turn on.Finally after trying to get it to work for over an hour the tech phoned his supervisor who decided to send me another 921 DVR with a post paid return UPS label for me to send the other one back.No tech appointment was set up for the second DVR.The tech who originally came to install the first one told me that ..when the second 921 comes just phone Dish Advance tech and they will walk you through the installation.
second 921 came...it would'nt go on right away...finally did.I phoned Dish Advance tech who walked me through the steps to make the programming work and to download the information.After several calls to Dish Advance tech with multiple different kinds of answers on HOW to install the 921..each person I spoke to told me the other Advance tech person had given me the wrong information.NONE of them seem to know how the 921 works.What I DO KNOW is that this particular unit had a loose screw on the back of the 921 where the remote antenna goes..and there was a loose internal metal sound from the inside of the 921.the unit just would'nt work..it only showed channel 101.The remote for the 921 worked off and on.After about 9 phone calls to Dish Advance tech within a two day period...they decided to have a tech supervisor come to my place and see why the unit does'nt work..they said the original tech could of wired everything wrong..the original tech had changed my switchbox next to my satelite dishes which are on the roof and put a DPP4 power supply plugged into my indoor wall.They said before we'll send you another 921 to replace the second 921 we sent you.But First....it's best if the supervisor sees whats gong on.Dish agreed with me that the second 921 they sent me could have problems..but they also said the way the installer put in the new wiring could of been done wrong..so its many problems.
So I have to wait another week to have the supervisor come over..who will just tell me that my 921 is bad....how stupid and unproffessional is all this??? VERY ! I TRUSTED these people and thought they ad my best interests at heart!
Dish gave me a $4.99 credit for the month since they are charging me a monthly fee for a 921 receiver's services that are'nt even working.The nice guy at dish said he tried to get me more money off but his computer would'nt let him do it.I said maybe you should ask a supervisor and he told me he is the supervisor.
One good thing..until the tech comes this week..I recconected my 811 receiver and the picture looks the best its ever looked.
Is this 921 DVR worth all the head aches?
To add insult to injury...I had paid the $549 for the 921 DVR....on my NEW Dish bill they charged $45.I phoned them and asked "why are you charging me $45? They said"that's for the tax on your 921 DVR".
I asked them.."why did'nt you just add that to the price when i bought the DVR".They had no answer to my question.

rickbbb · 02-06-2005, 11:02 AM

I see how many people will LOOK at my postings...but no one responds.Is this like a click you have to be part of,or what?!

GRN · 02-06-2005, 11:26 AM

I don't think you have to be in a clique , per se. I think it's just that not enough people have the 921. Up until recently it was almost impossible to find (I remember going to about 6 or 7 different retailers. Some had not even heard of it). I'm sure you'll get more responses as the week drags on

Glenddd · 02-06-2005, 01:36 PM

I dont't think very many people are willing to pay $550 for a receiver. For example, I am waiting for the next couple of months, when, my cable subscriber will be offering their HD DVR receiver WITH HD LOCALS included on a lease basis, which is FREE installation and only about $10 a month..AND if it breaks, I don't own it...Bye bye Dish, VOOM, and/or DirecTV....unless a better offer comes along..I'm so wishy washy

mfabien · 02-07-2005, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickbbb

I see how many people will LOOK at my postings...but no one responds.Is this like a click you have to be part of,or what?!

On Saturdays, there are usually less readers and posters than on a week day. And yesterday was SuperBowl day...do I need to say more?

Normally, I don't read lengthily posts and certainly not when the script is all a bunch of sentences without paragraphs. I hope you take that remark in a positive way so readers may better enjoy your posts.

Having said that, I did read your post because of my interest with DVR's. As you can see in my signature I have a DVR from my cable provider.

The Dish 921 DVR is a good piece of equipment. The initial problems with it were more associated with the OTA aspect (about 80% of complaints). There have been problems with satellite and cable DVR's caused, in many instances, by inexperienced installers or bad quality cables (Component). I trust that your provider has delivered a brand new unit because you have purchased it. I'm not familiar with the 921 but I do expect you will get a supervisor who will make it work.

Once you experience a good working DVR, it will change the way you look at TV. You will schedule programs you like in advance and play them back when it's convenient.

rickbbb · 02-07-2005, 02:51 PM

Am going on my 3rd week now and second 921 DVR was delivered last week-was also a defefctive DVR.The Dish Supervisor will come to my home this week to determine if the DVR is REALLY defective and he'll check the installation to see if the original installer from Dish did a correct job.
When the supervisor determines its a defective DVR..I'll have to wait half aweek to have another one sent...
Am wondering if it's all worth all the stress anymore.
Dish is making me not trust them.
Don't they test their equipment out before sending it to their customers? One istaller told me once that Dish sends out refurbished receivers..and charges the customer full price to buy it or its on sale special but sold as a new unit.

old corps · 02-09-2005, 04:47 PM

Rick-I've had the 921 for 6 wks or so & altho I've had some software bugs, which are frustrating when they occur, overall I'm happy with it. I don't blame you for being p.o.'d. If I had your experience I woulda thrown it out the window by now!! I don't understand why they release a product & over a year later NOBODY seems to know diddly squat about it. I had everything hooked up except the 2nd coax from my LNB when the installer came. Sure glad I did, I knew more than he did just from reading the manual. Same sad story from so-called "tech support". Don't even waste your time talking to anybody that's not on the "advanced team". I had a couple of mickey mouse problems that anyone that really knew the product coulda solved for me in a few seconds.
I have been using it A LOT (I'm retired) & like I said I AM happy with it. It has locked up several times which requires a reboot (unplug it for a 1/2 minute). It should not do that but neither should my PC. Hope they get you straightened out!
ED

RobStl · 02-09-2005, 07:35 PM

I got my 921 in November right after the price drop. I love it! I have had some software bugs with timers (i.e. not firing) even with the 211 software. I have called the Dish 921 Tech team four times in the past 6 weeks to notify them of a bug - hopefully so they can fix them.

Overall the 921 is great and the HD quality is outstanding. Even SD looks better than with my 501. The price is not bad, either. If you buy a DVR and an HD tuner you'll spend at least $300 but can't record anything in HD!

rickbbb · 02-26-2005, 07:06 PM

The supervisor was SUPPOSE to come over to decide if the 2ND 921 Dish sent me was defective or not and he was going to check the cableing-the wireing.He did'nt come afterall.The tech who first tried to install my first defective 921 came instead.He was a very nice guy.
He was also puzzled why they had told me a supervisor would come.No one ever told the tech that.

As I said earlier this is the 2nd defective 921 DVR Dish has sent me.
To make a long story short I sent this 2nd 921 back to Dish.Am completyely finished with wanting a 921.I'll stay with my 811.Enough Is Enough !
I also have another gripe in regards to Dish Network.They don't add on more American channels..I think TNT HD was added on last year..since then all these Foreign channels have been added on and
local channels have been added to many states.
What also gets me angry is..Dish launched a new satelite back in December and I read in Reuters news service that this satelite would be up and functional by mid January 2005.Also,Dish launched another satelite in outerspace in late January 2005 I read.Also they purchased Voom's satelite in January 2005. So where the HECK are all the new channels??? I did hear that Dish paid Voom two hundred million dollars cash for their satelite...yet the FCC has to approve the deal or something before Dish can have this satelite transmitting to it's customers. I'm just becoming disheartened about the service of Dish.Dish customers bills went up in February by $4.00. But what new stuff do i get for that price hike? Nothing.

letmec · 02-27-2005, 08:04 PM

sounds like you got off on the wrong foot. the 921 is an excellent receiver. and with you trying 2 and still having problems, i have to think that there is something else wrong besides the 921. we have had a 921 for about a month and it works excellent. we have 3 receiver boxes, the other 2 are 508 models so we were used to recording capabilites before getting the 921. i really dont know how we watched tv now without the 921 and it's new features. we use 2 antennas and a switch to get satellite 110 and 119. ( our location is alaska and hard to get signal) our tv is rca, 50inch dlp technology and i have never seen better tv reception with that combination. just thought i would let you know that there are 921's out there and doing great. i wish there was something i could tell you that might help but not being right there, it is hard to see what could be the problem......

rickbbb · 02-27-2005, 10:05 PM

The first 921 Dish sent me would'nt turn on.The Dish technician who was HERE at my home consulted with his Supervisor on the phone who instructed him to try different things to get it to work....it would'nt work.So the supervisor suggested I send it back and Dish would send me another 921.Which they did.
The 2nd 921 they sent me would not work.A technician from Dish came again to install this one.Again was on the phone with his supervisor and on another phone with Dish Network's advance tech department.They all agreed it was another dud..another defective 921.
One more thing to tell you.Dish told me if these 921's I sent back were not defective they would'nt refund me.Guess what? Dish agreed that these 921's were defective when they were returned.

So even if YOU were here...the 921's I had still would'nt of worked.
These 921's were checked and re checked and were DEFECTIVE. Understand???!!!! I'm happy that your 921 is so wonderful.I sadly did Not have the same experience !

letmec · 03-01-2005, 10:12 PM

i am sorry for your troubles. hope that you are able to get a 921 (number 3) and get it set up ok. you will see what i mean. truly a great unit. but now i wonder about the supplier of the 921 for you. or something. you have an unusual story. that kind of stuff usually happens to me. good luck. let the board know if they get you going.

rickbbb · 03-02-2005, 06:47 PM

Thankyou for your kind words. I have decided NOT to get the 921.This whole situation has left a bad taste in my mouth.
Oh and this story is'nt over.As I told you and everyone here on these boards..I had a technician come twice..the tech was on the phone with his supervisor and with a supervisor also from the advance tech department of Dish Network.All agreed this second 921 was defective.
Now I have to wait about 2 months before they will refund me.I called Dish and they said that their "People" have to test the product and see if it's really defective..and if they don't think it is..then I won't get my money back. Now this is after I had a tech and two supervisors already saying to me it was defective when i had it at home.
Something tells me Dish might try to scam me.I hope not though.

They have a name for me returning this..they call it BUYERS REMORSE.Whatever the heck they mean by THAT !
I've been a devoted customer for over 2 years.I should'nt be treated like this !

iserum · 03-21-2005, 09:13 AM

Britghthouse networks is offering me dual tuner HD DVR service with all digital cable channels, TMC and Showtime for $45.00 for one year (for dish subscriber only promotion). With dish the cost of DVR is $550 plus programming, I willhave all locals HD channels, plus INHD and INHD2 two more channels as compared to DN, three other rooms are already connected to cable no box needed for analog channels.
If DN wants to be competitive they need to lower the price of HD DVR.

02-05-2005, 03:32 PM	#1
rickbbb Phillips 47 Inch LCD HDTV Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern California Age: 51 Posts: 2,108	My 921 DVR Nightmare ! I had a 811 receiver and decided to buy the 921 DVR receiver that Dish Network advertised for $549.I phoned Dish and bought the DVR.Dish sent me the dvr by UPS and had a technician install it.Only problem was ..the DVR would'nt turn on.Finally after trying to get it to work for over an hour the tech phoned his supervisor who decided to send me another 921 DVR with a post paid return UPS label for me to send the other one back.No tech appointment was set up for the second DVR.The tech who originally came to install the first one told me that ..when the second 921 comes just phone Dish Advance tech and they will walk you through the installation. second 921 came...it would'nt go on right away...finally did.I phoned Dish Advance tech who walked me through the steps to make the programming work and to download the information.After several calls to Dish Advance tech with multiple different kinds of answers on HOW to install the 921..each person I spoke to told me the other Advance tech person had given me the wrong information.NONE of them seem to know how the 921 works.What I DO KNOW is that this particular unit had a loose screw on the back of the 921 where the remote antenna goes..and there was a loose internal metal sound from the inside of the 921.the unit just would'nt work..it only showed channel 101.The remote for the 921 worked off and on.After about 9 phone calls to Dish Advance tech within a two day period...they decided to have a tech supervisor come to my place and see why the unit does'nt work..they said the original tech could of wired everything wrong..the original tech had changed my switchbox next to my satelite dishes which are on the roof and put a DPP4 power supply plugged into my indoor wall.They said before we'll send you another 921 to replace the second 921 we sent you.But First....it's best if the supervisor sees whats gong on.Dish agreed with me that the second 921 they sent me could have problems..but they also said the way the installer put in the new wiring could of been done wrong..so its many problems. So I have to wait another week to have the supervisor come over..who will just tell me that my 921 is bad....how stupid and unproffessional is all this??? VERY ! I TRUSTED these people and thought they ad my best interests at heart! Dish gave me a $4.99 credit for the month since they are charging me a monthly fee for a 921 receiver's services that are'nt even working.The nice guy at dish said he tried to get me more money off but his computer would'nt let him do it.I said maybe you should ask a supervisor and he told me he is the supervisor. One good thing..until the tech comes this week..I recconected my 811 receiver and the picture looks the best its ever looked. Is this 921 DVR worth all the head aches? To add insult to injury...I had paid the $549 for the 921 DVR....on my NEW Dish bill they charged $45.I phoned them and asked "why are you charging me $45? They said"that's for the tax on your 921 DVR". I asked them.."why did'nt you just add that to the price when i bought the DVR".They had no answer to my question. Last edited by rickbbb; 02-05-2005 at 03:35 PM. Reason: wanted to add something to what I wrote.

02-06-2005, 11:02 AM	#2
rickbbb Phillips 47 Inch LCD HDTV Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern California Age: 51 Posts: 2,108	Why Don't People Here Respond To My Postings????? I see how many people will LOOK at my postings...but no one responds.Is this like a click you have to be part of,or what?!

02-07-2005, 02:51 PM	#6
rickbbb Phillips 47 Inch LCD HDTV Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern California Age: 51 Posts: 2,108	No new 921 Yet Delivered. Am going on my 3rd week now and second 921 DVR was delivered last week-was also a defefctive DVR.The Dish Supervisor will come to my home this week to determine if the DVR is REALLY defective and he'll check the installation to see if the original installer from Dish did a correct job. When the supervisor determines its a defective DVR..I'll have to wait half aweek to have another one sent... Am wondering if it's all worth all the stress anymore. Dish is making me not trust them. Don't they test their equipment out before sending it to their customers? One istaller told me once that Dish sends out refurbished receivers..and charges the customer full price to buy it or its on sale special but sold as a new unit.

02-09-2005, 07:35 PM	#8
RobStl HD is outstanding Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St. Louis Posts: 3	My 921 I got my 921 in November right after the price drop. I love it! I have had some software bugs with timers (i.e. not firing) even with the 211 software. I have called the Dish 921 Tech team four times in the past 6 weeks to notify them of a bug - hopefully so they can fix them. Overall the 921 is great and the HD quality is outstanding. Even SD looks better than with my 501. The price is not bad, either. If you buy a DVR and an HD tuner you'll spend at least $300 but can't record anything in HD!

02-26-2005, 07:06 PM	#9
rickbbb Phillips 47 Inch LCD HDTV Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern California Age: 51 Posts: 2,108	My Recent 921 Technician Visit..UPDATE The supervisor was SUPPOSE to come over to decide if the 2ND 921 Dish sent me was defective or not and he was going to check the cableing-the wireing.He did'nt come afterall.The tech who first tried to install my first defective 921 came instead.He was a very nice guy. He was also puzzled why they had told me a supervisor would come.No one ever told the tech that. As I said earlier this is the 2nd defective 921 DVR Dish has sent me. To make a long story short I sent this 2nd 921 back to Dish.Am completyely finished with wanting a 921.I'll stay with my 811.Enough Is Enough ! I also have another gripe in regards to Dish Network.They don't add on more American channels..I think TNT HD was added on last year..since then all these Foreign channels have been added on and local channels have been added to many states. What also gets me angry is..Dish launched a new satelite back in December and I read in Reuters news service that this satelite would be up and functional by mid January 2005.Also,Dish launched another satelite in outerspace in late January 2005 I read.Also they purchased Voom's satelite in January 2005. So where the HECK are all the new channels??? I did hear that Dish paid Voom two hundred million dollars cash for their satelite...yet the FCC has to approve the deal or something before Dish can have this satelite transmitting to it's customers. I'm just becoming disheartened about the service of Dish.Dish customers bills went up in February by $4.00. But what new stuff do i get for that price hike? Nothing.

02-06-2005, 11:26 AM	#3
GRN Think outside the Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Parts Unknown, NY Posts: 635	I don't think you have to be in a clique , per se. I think it's just that not enough people have the 921. Up until recently it was almost impossible to find (I remember going to about 6 or 7 different retailers. Some had not even heard of it). I'm sure you'll get more responses as the week drags on

02-06-2005, 01:36 PM	#4
Glenddd Lovin High Def. Join Date: Dec 2004 Age: 39 Posts: 22	I dont't think very many people are willing to pay $550 for a receiver. For example, I am waiting for the next couple of months, when, my cable subscriber will be offering their HD DVR receiver WITH HD LOCALS included on a lease basis, which is FREE installation and only about $10 a month..AND if it breaks, I don't own it...Bye bye Dish, VOOM, and/or DirecTV....unless a better offer comes along..I'm so wishy washy

02-09-2005, 04:47 PM	#7
old corps High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 141	Rick-I've had the 921 for 6 wks or so & altho I've had some software bugs, which are frustrating when they occur, overall I'm happy with it. I don't blame you for being p.o.'d. If I had your experience I woulda thrown it out the window by now!! I don't understand why they release a product & over a year later NOBODY seems to know diddly squat about it. I had everything hooked up except the 2nd coax from my LNB when the installer came. Sure glad I did, I knew more than he did just from reading the manual. Same sad story from so-called "tech support". Don't even waste your time talking to anybody that's not on the "advanced team". I had a couple of mickey mouse problems that anyone that really knew the product coulda solved for me in a few seconds. I have been using it A LOT (I'm retired) & like I said I AM happy with it. It has locked up several times which requires a reboot (unplug it for a 1/2 minute). It should not do that but neither should my PC. Hope they get you straightened out! ED

02-27-2005, 08:04 PM	#10
letmec How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16	sounds like you got off on the wrong foot. the 921 is an excellent receiver. and with you trying 2 and still having problems, i have to think that there is something else wrong besides the 921. we have had a 921 for about a month and it works excellent. we have 3 receiver boxes, the other 2 are 508 models so we were used to recording capabilites before getting the 921. i really dont know how we watched tv now without the 921 and it's new features. we use 2 antennas and a switch to get satellite 110 and 119. ( our location is alaska and hard to get signal) our tv is rca, 50inch dlp technology and i have never seen better tv reception with that combination. just thought i would let you know that there are 921's out there and doing great. i wish there was something i could tell you that might help but not being right there, it is hard to see what could be the problem......

02-27-2005, 10:05 PM	#11
rickbbb Phillips 47 Inch LCD HDTV Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern California Age: 51 Posts: 2,108	To LetMec About My 921 Experience The first 921 Dish sent me would'nt turn on.The Dish technician who was HERE at my home consulted with his Supervisor on the phone who instructed him to try different things to get it to work....it would'nt work.So the supervisor suggested I send it back and Dish would send me another 921.Which they did. The 2nd 921 they sent me would not work.A technician from Dish came again to install this one.Again was on the phone with his supervisor and on another phone with Dish Network's advance tech department.They all agreed it was another dud..another defective 921. One more thing to tell you.Dish told me if these 921's I sent back were not defective they would'nt refund me.Guess what? Dish agreed that these 921's were defective when they were returned. So even if YOU were here...the 921's I had still would'nt of worked. These 921's were checked and re checked and were DEFECTIVE. Understand???!!!! I'm happy that your 921 is so wonderful.I sadly did Not have the same experience ! Last edited by rickbbb; 02-27-2005 at 10:05 PM. Reason: added mad face

03-01-2005, 10:12 PM	#12
letmec How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16	i am sorry for your troubles. hope that you are able to get a 921 (number 3) and get it set up ok. you will see what i mean. truly a great unit. but now i wonder about the supplier of the 921 for you. or something. you have an unusual story. that kind of stuff usually happens to me. good luck. let the board know if they get you going.

03-02-2005, 06:47 PM	#13
rickbbb Phillips 47 Inch LCD HDTV Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern California Age: 51 Posts: 2,108	To Letmec Thankyou for your kind words. I have decided NOT to get the 921.This whole situation has left a bad taste in my mouth. Oh and this story is'nt over.As I told you and everyone here on these boards..I had a technician come twice..the tech was on the phone with his supervisor and with a supervisor also from the advance tech department of Dish Network.All agreed this second 921 was defective. Now I have to wait about 2 months before they will refund me.I called Dish and they said that their "People" have to test the product and see if it's really defective..and if they don't think it is..then I won't get my money back. Now this is after I had a tech and two supervisors already saying to me it was defective when i had it at home. Something tells me Dish might try to scam me.I hope not though. They have a name for me returning this..they call it BUYERS REMORSE.Whatever the heck they mean by THAT ! I've been a devoted customer for over 2 years.I should'nt be treated like this !

03-21-2005, 09:13 AM	#14
iserum High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,954	Thinking about going back to cable Britghthouse networks is offering me dual tuner HD DVR service with all digital cable channels, TMC and Showtime for $45.00 for one year (for dish subscriber only promotion). With dish the cost of DVR is $550 plus programming, I willhave all locals HD channels, plus INHD and INHD2 two more channels as compared to DN, three other rooms are already connected to cable no box needed for analog channels. If DN wants to be competitive they need to lower the price of HD DVR.