The Future of SD Satellite Equipment

CA Traveler wrote:
Bob,

OK did some reading and apparently not all receivers are leased. Perhaps someone can clarify the pros and cons, lease agreements, etc.

My reasons for buying over leasing were pretty simple. First off, the original DirecTV SD system I bought was back int he early days before there was any lease available. Second, buying allows me to do my own installation. I've seen and talked with some installers about how and where they typically install the equipment. In one case a DirecTV installer wanted to put the dish on the edge of my roof behind some trees because he was to lazy to climb up on the roof. Third, when I did the financial analysis it always seemed to me that after the two year contract commitment period I'd basically paid for the equipment anyway and after that I was pouring money down a hole on a lease. (Same for my cable modem.) And owning the equipment allows me to switch between services when their spiral rising costs get out of control. Now the downside is the equipment can become obsolete and need replacement, but that hasn't happened yet. Also equipment failure is my problem not theirs and here again that hasn't happened. Finally there's the "it doesn't work, send help" issue, but what I've found it they charge for that either way so it doesn't matter.