New DISH Subscriber With Questions

[rk911]

We took delivery of the new MH a couple of weeks ago and are on its maiden voyage. Banana Boat III is equipped with a Winegard Trav'ler automatic satellite dish and a DISH network Vip722k receiver/DVR. The system is setup to watch/record two different programs simultaneously...one on the front TV and another on the rear TV. This is our first encounter with satellite TV in general and with DISH in particular.

We purchased the receiver and set up the accounts with Solid Signals, an authorized DISH network seller and they have been super. The dish works well and overall we're happy. But there have been a few hiccups for which I am getting conflicting answers. So I'm turning to those of you who are more experienced with DISH network for some straight answers.

* local channels: I made it clear to the DISH guy and to Solid Signals that the service was for an RV and that we wanted to be able to get whichever local channels/networks that were available wherever we might find ourselves. Both DISH and the Solid Signals customer service reps told me..."no problem" and that all I needed to do was call DISH and change my service address whenever we needed to. They added that the address needed to be a valid USPS address.

On our first night out I called DISH and asked to change my "service address" and that everything else in the account was staying the same. The off-shore CSR asked for the receiver ID and then promptly told me that the Vip722k was not compatible with that request. I asked for a supervisor and got the same response. The next morning I called the CSR at Solid Signals who set up our account. She told me that there are many DISH TV CSR's who are ill trained or lazy and either don't know how to or don't want to change a service address and that I might need to call 3 or 4 times in order to get the change made. sound about right?

Tonight we're in a different location and I tried again. This time a DISH CSR in NYC said "no problem" but it took about 20-minutes for him to make the change. Should it take that long? He said he had to get someone to "override" whatever he was doing. ???

Which is going to be my typical response from DISH when I call to change the service address...the argument I received on the first night, the 20-minute call the second night or something else? are there any "magic words" I should be using when I call them?

* Once the DISH CSR said that the service address change was made he said I had to re-load the guide and package by entering our local zip code in the installation menu (MENU:6:1:1). He said that was to ensure the dish antenna on the MH could lock onto the proper satellites. But the Trav'ler antenna had already locked onto sats 110, 119 and 129 and I had a picture and all of my channels prior to my calling DISH. Once I did enter the new zip code the receiver did a re-load that took about 15-minutes to complete and when done I had the new locals.

What's the real purpose of changing the zip code??? Will doing that get the local channels without having to make a call to DISH? Do I even NEED to change the zip code or is it just a good idea to do it? Is the real reason for the zip code to force a re-load?

So, what's the real skinny on all of this???

[afrescopXx]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
As said, we've found the Dish online chat system to be the easiest and most reliable for changing our service address. I use a prewritten script that starts off by saying this account is for our RV, and we've changed locations. It then goes on to request the change to our service address only, not our billing address, followed by the new address. It typically takes about 5 minutes to get the change made, and another 10 minutes or so for the program guide to update. Once in awhile it takes a second chat session to get the guide updated when the CSR fails to set the correct flag, but that's pretty rare. I have a text file with a script for all of the locations we frequent regularly, along with a template for new entries. I've never needed to make any settings changes to either our Hopper or 211k.

I agree. This is the quickest, easiest way to get the locals as you move from place to place. I do not bother if going to be at a place for a only couple of days.

We have Dish at home too so changing the service address will change the home receivers as well. Example: If I am in the Dallas, TX area and request the change I will get the Dallas locals in the RV. At the same time my receivers bac at home in San Antonio will also be set to the Dallas locals which they will NOT be receiving.

[Robocop]

Although it gets old dealing with the CSRs regarding the Zip Code deal, I too have found that a request to bump your receiver can make a big difference as already mentioned. I was trying to get assistance while in Canada recently (they did not need to know that since I had a decent signal) but the CSR could not get it through her head that I had a Tailgater and could NOT receive Eastern arc sats and kept asking me about their signal strength. And she was not an off shore CSR. But I also agree it is better to talk with a DISH Tech Support or RV Specialist at times.

[Bill_Satellite]

Thanks TW. Guess I have never seen anyone who owned a K before!

[TechWriter]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

The OP actually has a 722k and not a 211. However, the 722 also has a built in OTA tuner.

But the OP's 722

k

does not have a built-in OTA tuner -- it's an option: 722/722k differences.

OP will need the MT2 OTA tuner as previously mentioned.

[Dutch_12078]

Us out West wrote:
Don't even remember when I cranked up the OTA...no need to.

We have DISH with Pathway X2 and so easy to get locals after a move there is no need for fooling around with the OTA.

For folks using the Dish VIP211 series receivers with the external hard drive/DVR option activated, having the OTA channels available increases the possible recording/watching combinations.

[rk911]

thanks to everyone who responded. some comments follow:

@dutch_12078: based on a thread about a similar topic (maybe it was yours) i prepared a similar "script" but haven't used it yet.

@ those who suggested using 'tech support', the CSR who gave me the argument on our first night was from 'tech support'. the next night i chose option '3', the dept that makes changes to programming packages. that CSR basically said it makes no difference which dept i choose for a service address change. i guess ill-trained CSR's are everywhere.

@cmoecmoe: ok, on the zip code, craig. but i still don't understand what function the zip code performs if it's not needed to lock in the satellites or get the local programming. anyone?? the program guide with the new locals didn't download until i changed the zip code.

@georgelesley: great tip! i will use that. is the 'bump' what causes the program guide to re-load?

@sch911: we also have an OTA antenna on the RV but as you surely know reception is hit and miss in an RV. and we don't care about local programming, just the broadcast network programming. receiving it on the DISH means we can record it on our DVR. and our MH came with the Jack antenna which is at a fixed elevation. i had the dealer pull it with the idea of switching to a Winegard but after pulling the Jack we found that the Winegard has a smaller footprint than the Jack meaning I'd have leftover hole on the roof and on the lounge ceiling so I'm stuck with the Jack.

*ReneeG & BB-TT: i wondered about that. on our first night out the park had a PO box address so i just used the address of another nearby RV park. i like the idea of 100 (insert street name here) idea!

regarding the OTA module: i see a problem. like other RV our MH is also equipped with a cable TV input but there is no video switch. instead OTA and cable are both served with a single coax line. the TV input is switched to 'TV' and when the OTA amplifier is on OTA channels are tuned; when the OTA amp is off cable channels are tuned. in essence the OTA amp functions as a switch. if i can figure out the wiring I might try the same thing that Dutch is doing...feeding the OTA antenna to the TV and DISH receiver.

@wa8yxm: excellent idea. thanks es 73.

_____________________________

thanks to all. it's truly appreciated.

[Us_out_West]

Don't even remember when I cranked up the OTA...no need to.

We have DISH with Pathway X2 and so easy to get locals after a move there is no need for fooling around with the OTA.

[Dutch_12078]

ReneeG wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:
Get an OTA Module from SolidSignal to connect to your roof antenna. Then scan for the local channels yourself. You will get more local channels and they will all be HD.

The OP has a VIP211k receiver that has OTA reception built in. The newer and less featured VIP211z would need the OTA USB module. Using OTA of course, assumes always parking in areas with good OTA reception.

Plus, you still have to get satellite signal. This wouldn't work in the case of too many trees and no satellite signal, so you'd have to have an HD manual antenna to get OTA signal.

My OTA antenna feeds both the sat receiver and the TV. If there's no sat signal, I don't need to turn the receiver on, just the TV with the mode switched from HDMI to antenna.

[Dutch_12078]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:
Get an OTA Module from SolidSignal to connect to your roof antenna. Then scan for the local channels yourself. You will get more local channels and they will all be HD.

The OP has a VIP211k receiver that has OTA reception built in. The newer and less featured VIP211z would need the OTA USB module. Using OTA of course, assumes always parking in areas with good OTA reception.

The OP actually has a 722k and not a 211. However, the 722 also has a built in OTA tuner. Just in case the OP does not know this, only the TV connected to output 1 via HDMI or Component cable will get an HD signal. The 2nd TV picture will be in SD.

Yep, you're right of course, Bill, thanks for the catch. My mind must have leaped from his VIP722 to my VIP211. At least it knew they both have the built-in OTA tuner 🙂

[ReneeG]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:
Get an OTA Module from SolidSignal to connect to your roof antenna. Then scan for the local channels yourself. You will get more local channels and they will all be HD.

The OP has a VIP211k receiver that has OTA reception built in. The newer and less featured VIP211z would need the OTA USB module. Using OTA of course, assumes always parking in areas with good OTA reception.

Plus, you still have to get satellite signal. This wouldn't work in the case of too many trees and no satellite signal, so you'd have to have an HD manual antenna to get OTA signal.

[ljr]

If you have a Hopper, OTA alone won't cut it.

[BB_TX]

Yes, OTA is great, when available. But we have stayed in a number of areas too far from OTA transmitters to get anything but small town stations with off the wall programming. No major network stations. And no park cable. In this cases local network programming via sat are the only option.

When a CSR wants a physical address I just tell them 100 highway # (whatever the nearest highway is) and the zip or town name. Has always worked. I guess every town with a highway has an address of 100.

[wa8yxm]

Clearly the Dish VIP line is designed specifically for RV use so you know it is compatable.

You need to ask Solid Signals for the office which can best handle this type of thing.. odds are they can get you a number NOT LISTED in the manual where people know which hole you dig with a shovel and which one you wipe with tissue.

(how's that for cleaning up an old line?).

[ljr]

When you get a competent Dish CSR the process is quick and simple with no additional action by you. Unfortunately Dish has very few competent CSRs. If they don't immediately seem to understand and respond, just politely end the conversation and call back. Solid Signal is correct. Three or more calls is routine. With a little practice you will learn to detect a clueless CSR in a sentence or two.