Dish Network DishPVR 501 System

Dish Network DishPVR 501 System

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  • A So-So Performing Entry Level Digital Video Recording Device

    Jan 17 '05
    Pros: Record up to 36 hours of programs; pause live television (up to an hour).
    Cons: Hard drives are unreliable.

    Summary: I have not subscribed to cable television since my wife and I moved into the new house we had built outside Chicago some four years ago. When we moved into our new housing development cable was not available, despite being told it was coming any ...

  • DON'T DO IT!

    Jul 23 '07
    Pros: cheaper than cable, not much else there that I didn't have with cable
    Cons: No OnDemand free programming, system and equipment broke within days, outrageous cancellation fee

    Summary: We switched from Comcast cable to Dish Network to save money with a bundle program through the phone company. It was installed on Thursday and broken by Saturday night. The unit keeps telling me the DVR box is overheated even when the thing has been ...

  • The bottom line is money wins and the customers lose. Sound familiar?

    Feb 05 '07
    Pros: You get satellite tv, just like every other service out there.
    Cons: If you have a problem, it's likely they will charge you to fix it.

    Summary: I subscribed to this company thinking like anyone else that I was getting a dish the pointed up at a satellite and descramble television shows that I could watch and record it on my TiVo. Well, that's what I got, with one exception... I didn't have ...

  • Dish Network and Windstream

    Feb 05 '07
    Pros: the DVR is great and a reasonable price
    Cons: the internet kicks me off often

    Summary: Windstream a newer company in Newark offers telephone, television and internet services to the area. The television Service is through Dish Network and the internet runs through the phone line. This is called DSL or digital subscriber line. DSL is ...

  • Do not trust their online purchase Money Back guarantee!!

    Dec 22 '06
    Pros: More TV channels than local cable.
    Cons: Bad customer service, non-refundable $200 equipment fee for HDTV, lie about money back guarantee.

    Summary: After years of frustration with my local cable company I have decided to give a try to one of the available TV satellite systems. The ones available in my area were DirectTV and Dish Network, so after doing some research on both provider's websites I ...

  • Hidden Fees from Dishnetwork

    Aug 08 '06
    Pros: Cheaper than DirectTV.
    Cons: Many many hidden fees. Bad customer service. Faulty Equipment.

    Summary: If you want to sign up for dishnetwork, think twice before you actually do it! There are hidden fees you will never find out before something actually goes wrong. 1. Repair fee During one time my receiver suddenly broke down and didn't work at all ...

  • Equipment is ok but service is UNACCEPTABLE

    Jun 08 '06
    Pros: When you have a signal, reception and programming are okay.
    Cons: Unreliable service. Terrible support for Hawaii and Alaska. Dozens of stations you'll never watch.

    Summary: If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, don't expect uninterrupted service! The angle to the satellites is so low on the horizon because they're so far away that even minor weather often left us without a signal! Dish Network didn't seem to care, and 9 out of ...

  • Get them now while you can

    May 11 '06
    Pros: Ease of use, No DVR fees
    Cons: Not as intuitive the 721 model, but gets the job done

    Summary: I just want to start off by saying that I have been a Dish Network customer for 6 years now and have been very satisified with the level of service and the quality of the products that I have purchased from them. I currently own a 721 DVR, a 4900 and ...

  • I now OWN my TV programming

    Mar 29 '06
    Pros: Everything
    Cons: Almost Nothing

    Summary: I now own the way I watch TV. I am no longer subject to the whims of any network programmer as to when, where, and how I watch their shows. It's great! I'll never go back to cable again! (or regular satellite tv for that matter.) I don't have any ...

  • Dish Network in Hawaii with Tivo

    Sep 23 '05
    Pros: clear signal, cheaper by a few dollars
    Cons: difficult to set up with Tivo, potential extra charge for each TV

    Summary: Think of Dish Network as the alternative. The alternative to Oceanic Cable and the alternative to supporting a monopoly that’s so easy to hate. It’s not that Dish Network is necessarily better or even cheaper, but that you’re doing something different ...

  • Dish Network 501 PVR

    Aug 27 '05
    Pros: Cool product when and IF it works
    Cons: Very unreliable. Customer service is seriously lacking.

    Summary: I have now had this service for three years. We absolutely love being able to pause live TV, skip commercials, record our shows, etc. -- WHEN it works!! Which is very rarely. We are now on our SEVENTH receiver, yes, seventh!! They will gladly send you a ...

  • Dish Network Picture Quality and Service

    Jul 14 '05
    Pros: Pricing is better. Service is much better.
    Cons: Digital versus analog picture, based on preference. Frame rate a bit lower than cable.

    Summary: This review tailor's mainly to people who are thinking about switching to Satellite from Cable TV. They claim satellite provides better picture quality than cable, but keep in mind that some people might not prefer it. In my own experience, I used to ...

  • DISH network is shoddy, customer service is SHADY

    Jul 12 '05
    Pros: None
    Cons: Customer service, contracts, big ugly dishes, bad quality picture, DVR, remote, extra wires.

    Summary: So I got an ad in the mail offering DISH network for $19.99 a month plus free HBO and Showtime for three months. It would then go up to $31.99 a month for the cheapest package available, and I could cancel HBO and Showtime. Also I was required to pay ...

  • Dish Network...TV is okay, service is lacking

    Apr 07 '05
    Pros: Beats the price of cable.
    Cons: Some pretty shady stuff going on when trying to cancel.

    Summary: Comcast and Ticketmaster are #1 and #2 on my **** list. Ticketmaster with what they charge to "service" you per ticket and Comcast with their increase in fees every couple of months or so. I can remember paying $35 for basic cable five years ago...when ...

  • DirecTV finally gets some competition but cable may still be #1

    Jan 31 '05
    Pros: Nice picture, very helpful staff, skip commercials!
    Cons: Can't watch one channel and record another, lack of Dolby Digital and 5.1 channels

    Summary: I used to consider DirecTV the preferred choice of satellite television providers. With the introduction of new personal video recorder models, also referred to as PVR's or DVR's, Dish Network has established themselves as a formidable competitor in the ...

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