Blog - DISH Systems

Will Bad Weather Affect My Television Service?

November 26, 2018 by Dish Systems Team

Satellite TV offers a lot more than the competition these days. They offer great sports packages, tons of TV shows and movies anytime you want, the ability to watch your entertainment anywhere you want on any of your devices and much more. But maybe you have some questions and you’re concerned that bad weather will interfere with your viewing experience.

That’s understandable. Many people ask that very question. This is because it’s hard to understand how satellite TV works and you don’t want to invest in something if it is going to let you down. Well, we are here to shed some light on satellite TV and how bad weather affects it.

Let’s get this out of the way first thing. Yes, bad weather like strong winds, heavy rain, and heavy snow can affect TV services through satellite, but the good news is that this is a very rare thing. Most people will never have such a problem. So this issue should not stop you from enjoying all of the benefits from the likes of DISH and DirecTV.

There are only two main issues that cause problems. One issue with bad weather is that it can physically damage your satellite dish, the second is that some weather can disrupt the satellite signal. For instance, snow can possibly disrupt satellite TV, as well as heavy rain and winds.

Much like it does on your roof, snow can collect on your dish and that can be enough to knock it out of alignment with the satellite. This disrupts the TV signal. You could have just a few channels that are affected or if the weather is very severe, you may lose the signal entirely. That’s why it’s a good idea to gently dust it off now and then.

You also have to remember that the signal has to pass through raindrops, mist, thick cloud cover, fog or high winds. This all degrades the signal. Remember, between the dish and the satellite there’s nothing but weather. Even a tree limb growing in the path between the dish and the satellite can cause problems.

However, this shouldn’t sour you on satellite TV. Satellite TV providers are aware of this issue and they take steps to make sure that these instances are very rare. And if you think about it, the weather in the UK is pretty bad on a consistent basis and they use satellite TV just fine. That also goes for areas with much worse weather.

One of the reasons users tend to never notice any problems is because satellite companies have technology that will boost the signal in bad conditions so that users don’t miss a second of their entertainment. In fact, this happens all of the time and we are none the wiser.

I hope that this eases your mind about bad weather and satellite service. The bottom line is that they have it all figured out so that you can just kick back and relax while watching your shows, no matter how bad the weather is outside.

Reasons to Choose DishTV

October 22, 2018 by Dish Systems Team

Why You May Want to Switch to Dish

You have a lot of choices these days for home entertainment. Between Dish, Netflix, Amazon, Xfinity, Verizon and all of the others, it can be hard to know who offers what at any given time. Dish is a common choice these days and there are a lot of reasons for this. They have a lot to offer and they offer it at great prices.

But with the industry changing fast, it can be hard to keep up with exactly what they are offering and what makes it worthwhile. If you looked at what made Dish worthwhile 3 months ago, things might have changed since then. Maybe they are offering even more or less benefits for customers. Hint: They still offer a lot. So, let’s take a look at Dish right now and see why it is worthy of being your #1 choice.

First, there’s the obvious. Dish offers the best balance of channels, features, and value for your money hands down. Which is why everyone loves them. But if you aren’t a Dish subscriber yet, keep reading, you will be when we are done.

The Hopper HD DVR and the Joey boxes they offer have a lot to do with user loyalty. This is the heart and soul of your interaction with Dish. The Hopper HD DVR helps you skip ads in Primetime. It will also store 2,000 hours of content, which is double that of the competition. If you like a lot of shows, worry

not, because it will record 16 shows at once. All of them will be there when you are ready to watch them. Other features include a Remote Finder and the ability to watch 4 HD programs at once. You’ll also love the smart search which means there is just one search for the guide, DVR, On Demand and Netflix.

Need more of what you want on your Hopper so that you have your content all in one place? No problem. You can add apps like Netflix, Pandora, and Weather. Have it all at your fingertips to make life easier.

Aside from that, the Hopper offers parental controls, the highest resolution and best picture available anywhere, mobile apps that let you schedule recordings, pay your bill, watch live TV and much more. The Game Finder lets you get scores and stats from your favorite games right onscreen.

Dish Network Tailgater

Dish allows you to take your HD television anywhere you go with the Tailgater portable satellite antenna. If you are a sports fan, this is going to change your life. You can watch the big game anywhere.

The bottom line is that you have a ton of options with Dish. You can get pre-built packages just for you and catered to your interests, internet bundles, Latino packages, voice control and much much more. Its wide range of services is not just restricted to metropolitan areas either. You will find their services in even in the remotest areas of the country as well. And customer service is top-notch. In fact, DISH was rated #1 in customer satisfaction in 2018 from the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.

It’s pretty clear that Dish remains America’s top choice and you can see why, despite users comparing Dish and DirecTV, like in this article from Gadgetreview. When you combine Dish’s value, service, and options, there is really no comparison. They continue to add more for the value as well. Just last week, it was announced that AT&T SportsNet and the Vegas Golden Knights are now available on DISH in Las Vegas and they also recently announced that American Airlines is offering live TV that is powered by DISH. They even have Dish for college campuses and are lowering costs for hospitals. So if you thought you had a great value in Dish before, it really just keeps getting better.

When is the Next Season of Game of Thrones?

October 12, 2018 by Dish Systems Team

The massively popular Game of Thrones returns for its 8th and final season in…2019! Wait, what? That’s right, if you’re a fan (like we are) of this sword-swinging, dragon-riding, epic drama, you’ll have to wait several more months for it to return to your screens. The good news is that, prior to its return, you can ensure that you get the best deal on HBO in order to have full access to this show. Game of Thrones is an HBO-specific show and cannot be viewed on any other popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu. Dish has heard the battle cry for Game of Thrones and offers premium movie channels for free for the first three months of every satellite television package. This means you can get your fill of giants, dragons, white walkers, and royalty without any extra charges for three months. What’s more? All of Dish’s television packages include the following:

Free HD DVR
Free HD for life
Price lock for 2 years
Local channels included
Dish and Amazon Alexa integration
Voice remote
Dish TV Anywhere app
Free installation

Find out more about Dish television packages and how to maximize your entertainment options and thoroughly enjoy Game of Thrones. Call our specialists to set up service (866) 989-3474.

Hopper With Sling Now Available From Dish Network

January 16, 2013 by TVBlogEditor

On January 17, 2013 new DISH Network customers will be able to enjoy Sling functionality with the Hopper to allow on-the-go connectively to your home Dish progra and DVR shows through your phone or tablet. And with built-in Wi-Fi you can connect easily to your wireless Broadband Internet network without any extra accessories! Now you can take your home programming and DVR shows with you when you’re are out and about during the day.

The Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR already offers you up to 2,000 hours of recording capability. The PrimeTime Anytime functionality records most of the primetime programming on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC with just one click then allows you the option to skip over commercials with AutoHop.

But now, with built-in Sling technology and Wi-Fi available on Hopper with Sling, you can enjoy such new features as Hopper Transfers and DISH Explorer. Check out these cool new features.

Hopper Transfers**
Only available with Hopper with Sling and the iPad®.
Hopper Transfers allow you to transfer your DVR recordings*** to your iPad and watch them from anywhere. No Broadband Internet connection is required to watch this content on your mobile device.
• Hopper Transfers technology is currently only available for iPad.

DISH Explorer**
DISH Explorer offers new content and interactive features for your Hopper or Hopper with Sling. See below for some examples of what this new functionality provides.
• Access the EPG, “What’s Hot”, Rotten Tomatoes or Thuuz ratings on Hopper through your iPad.
• Access additional information about the program that you’re watching (and comment on the program) by accessing the live Twitter® feed for the program (see screen shot on the right). Or sign into your own Facebook® or Twitter accounts to join the conversation.
• Use your iPad as a remote control for your Hopper.
• DISH Explorer technology is currently only available for the iPad.
*Must be enabled by the customer.
**Requires Broadband Internet connection to Hopper.
***Select DVR recordings cannot be transferred.

To order your new Hopper with built-in Sling technology call 888-582-4883 now!

What’s the best choice between Cable TV, Satellite TV & Internet TV

December 19, 2012 by TVBlogEditor

In the early days of television broadcasts, the only way to receive programming was through the air. Due to limited bandwidth on the airwaves, only a few stations could be broadcast at a time. As technology progressed, companies were able to develop alternative ways to deliver content to their customer’s televisions. One way was through high-bandwidth cables that allowed for a huge expansion in the amount of content that could be delivered into homes. After cable came satellites that could deliver content through receiver dishes installed in the customer’s home. This expanded the amount of available content even further. The latest form of content delivery comes from the Internet. A variety of different streaming services offer unlimited or a la carte on demand content.

Cable TV

Television cable programming is delivered through an extensive network of underground cables that feed to a central office. Due to the large infrastructure costs during initial construction, cable companies justify charging very high prices for their service. Cable television bills can reach $100 for the most basic service, and customers who want a lot of premium content can expect to pay more than $200 per month. Cable subscriptions are also susceptible to blackouts of local sports. Cable television is reliable, but its high costs and inflexibility have caused a lot of customers to look elsewhere.

Internet TV

High-bandwidth internet access has allowed content providers to begin streaming programs through a customer’s internet connection. This can be done through game consoles, special TV-top boxes and DVD/Blu-Ray players. Streaming content over the Internet requires additional subscription costs that go beyond payments to an ISP. These subscriptions usually cost less than $10, but the selection of available movies and television shows can be very limited. Internet TV is becoming an attractive option for customers looking to get away from the high costs of cable.

Satellite TV

Satellite TV is special in its ability to deliver content that would not normally be available to customers in a specific area. For example, satellite providers could offer programming that is only available to certain cities to customers all across the world. This is especially attractive to sports fans who want to access games that aren’t available through cable or the Internet. With packages costing as little as $30 a month, satellite TV usually cost much less than traditional cable. This is because satellite television can be scaled to a large group of customers without significant infrastructure costs. Satellite also doesn’t require the presence of an existing Internet subscription, making the cost even cheaper than Internet TV.

Watch Commercial Free TV With Dish Auto-Hop

October 22, 2012 by TVBlogEditor

Dish Network has introduced a new model of digital video recorder (DVR) that comes with a variety of features that can make viewing television (TV) shows much easier. The new DVR is known as the Hopper. The device is able to use a feature of Dish Network known as PrimeTime Anytime. PrimeTime Anytime gives Dish Network customers the ability to record all of the primetime programming on all of the four major TV broadcast networks at the same time. These programs are then saved so they can be viewed at any point in the next eight days. The one feature of the new Hopper DVR boxes that is attracting the most attention is the Dish Auto Hop feature. This is a revolutionary new idea that gives viewers the ability to completely remove all of the commercial breaks that occur during a primetime broadcast. It is different from fast forward and 30-second-skip features because every commercial is automatically removed without any input from the user once the feature is activated. The commercials are actually recorded along with the program. This means it is possible to watch the program with Auto Hop disabled so the commercials can be viewed as well. The Auto Hop feature can be activated by viewers at the start of a primetime program that has been recorded with the PrimeTime Anytime service. Activating Auto Hop means that the DVR will skip TV commercials automatically. The only sign that there was a commercial break is a small Hopper logo in the bottom corner of the screen and a sudden flash of a commercial before the program resumes. This can reduce the amount of time it takes to watch a single show and can make it easier for viewers to explore new shows without sitting through long blocks of advertising. The experience of watching a dramatic commercial free TV show can be made better because the mood that is created will not be broken by intrusive and irrelevant advertising. Viewers who are using the Dish Auto Hop feature might still need to use the skip-ahead button for some broadcasts. Auto Hop currently works exclusively with PrimeTime Anywhere. The feature is also not available until a few hours after the program has aired. Local broadcasts, news and sports are not covered by this feature. Regardless, the implementation of Auto Hop on the new Hopper DVRs is an amazing step forward for consumers because it finally puts the viewer in complete control of the broadcast. The total absence of advertising while watching a show means that only the programming that a viewer wants to see will be played.

The Walking Dead And AMC Back On Dish Network

October 22, 2012 by TVBlogEditor

DISH enters multi-year agreement to carry AMC, IFC, WE tv, SundanceChannel and Fuse; AMC channel broadcast resumes Sunday, October 21. The AMC channel will be carried on DISH channel131. Walking Dead fans who are subscribers to Dish Network can rejoice, just in time for the 3rd season, D

ish network gets The Walking Dead back on the airwaves. After months of dispute, Dish Network and Voom have reached an agreement. Now Dish subscribers can now enjoy one of the most popular shows on TV once again. Other AMC Networks programming, including Sundance Channel, WE tv and IFC, will return to DISH Nov. 1. The Madison Square Garden Company’smusic-oriented Fuse channel will begin broadcast Nov. 1, as well. “We are glad to have settled the case and reestablished our long-term relationshipswith AMC Networks and Cablevision,” said Dave Shull, senior vice president of Programming at DISH. “This multi-year deal delivers a fair value for both parties and includes digital expansion opportunities for AMC Networks’ programming.” The Walking Dead airs Sunday at 9/8 central.

DISH Hopper vs. DIRECTV Genie

October 2, 2012 by TVBlogEditor

For customers looking for the ultimate Whole-Home HD DVR experience, the DIRECTV Genie is no comparison to the Hopper by DISH. From exclusive features like PrimeTime AnytimeTM and AutoHopTM to its industry-leading 2 Terabyte hard drive, the Hopper has no match. With the Hopper, you get: More music! DISH is the exclusive TV provider of SiriusXM music channels, plus customers can enjoy music from the Pandora app on their broadband-connected Hopper or Joey. More movies! Access thousands of titles from Blockbuster @HomeTM, DISH Online, and On Demand directly on your TV through the Hopper or Joey (based on subscription). More magic! Features like AutoHop, the Remote Control Locator, integrated apps, and stunning graphic menu displays were designed with customers in mind and make watching TV even more intuitive and enjoyable on every TV in the customer’s home. Compare DISH Hopper^TM vs. DIRECTV Genie^TM

	Hopper by DISH	Genie
PrimeTime AnytimeAutomatically record primetime shows*	YES	NO
AutoHopAutomatically skip commercials in select shows*	Yes	NO
Hard Drive Size	2TB	1TB
Recording Capacity	Up to 500 HD hours	Up to 200 HD hours
TV Everywhere Technology(with connected Sling Adapter or nomad (sold separately)	Live TV and DVR recordings	DVR recordings only
Maximum Number of Simultaneous Recordings	6 recordings *With PrimeTime Anytime enabled*	5 recordings
On Demand OptionsWhen connected to broadband internet	Access to more than 15,000 IPVOD titles	Access to 7,000 IPVOD titles
On Demand OptionsWhen NOT connected to broadband Internet	Access to 80 new release titles	Access to 12 new release titles
Sports AppsDISH GameFinder vs. DIRECTV ScoreGuideTM	Available on Hopper & Joey Lists games 4 days in advance Doesn’t interefere with TV viewing ThuuzTM Excitement Ratings	Available on Genie only Same-day games only Interferes with TV viewing No Thuuz Excitement Ratings
Bluetooth® Integration**Listen to TV audio via Bluetooth headset	YES	NO
Remote Control Locator	YES	NO
Receiver Fees for 4 TVs***1 Hopper and 3 Joeys vs. 1 Genie and 3 Clients	$31/mo	$38/mo
Free with Eligible Programming Package1 HD DVR & up to 3 clients; everyday monthly price shown	America’s Top 120 & Higher $44.99/mo DishLATINO Dos & Higher $44.99/mo *(DHA/DHA24 qualification)*	Entertainment & Higher $54.99/mo Optimo Mas & Higher $46.99/mo *(Low Risk qualification)*
Set-Top Box Size	YES. 38% smaller than the Genie**	NO
External Hard DriveSold separately	*Adds* to the DVR storage	*Replaces* the DVR storage
SRS TruVolume®Prevents annoying volume fluctuations	YES	NO
Number of Supported TVs on Whole-Home DVR2 Hoppers with 4 Joeys vs. 1 Genie with 3 Clients*****	6 TVs *2 Hoppers allowed per account*	*4 TVs* *Only 1 Genie allowed per account*
Integrated AppsPandora, Facebook, Twitter, weather, news, and more	Available on Hopper & Joey	Available on Genie only

* During primetime hours record ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC plus two additional channels (feature not available in all markets). AutoHop only available with playback after 1 AM Eastern Time of select primetime shows recorded as part of PrimeTime Anytime. Both features must be enabled by customer and are subject to availability. Available on the Hopper Fall 2012. * Based on DISH fees of $10/month DVR Service fee and $7/month Additional Receiver fee for each Joey; and DIRECTV fees of $20/month Advanced Receiver Service fee and $6/month Additional TV fee for each Client. Hopper dimensions: 16” W x 11.4” D x 2.05” H; Genie dimensions: 15.75” W x 11.85” D x 3.25” H. * Additional HD DVR receivers may be added to Genie accounts to support more than 4 rooms, however the additional HD DVR’s will not be visible by the Clients. The Genie also supports RVU-enabled devices, for a maximum of up to 8 rooms.

Fall TV Shows 2012 – Classic Remakes

August 28, 2012 by TVBlogEditor

Classics Seasoned with a 2012 Twist – The new fall television schedule is taking audiences for a bumpy ride through familiar territory. Twists on classic characters and plots abound, but TV fanatics need not fear! These offerings only hint at the traditional, and television’s faithful are in for some creative treats this season. ABC’s twist on the Faustian deal emerges as 666 Park Avenue, slatted to premiere on Sunday, September 30. An adaptation of Gabrielle Pierce’s book series, this supernatural drama follows Dave Annable (from Brothers & Sisters) and Rachael Taylor (from Charlie’s Angels), an innocent Midwestern couple, in their experiences as resident managers of The Drake, an Upper East Side apartment building owned by Terry O’Quinn (of Lost fame) and his wife, Vanessa Williams (from Desperate Housewives). Beyond the normal challenges of managing a building of the city’s rich and famous, all of the residents of The Drake have made deals with the Devil for their hearts’ desires. Graphic novel fans that are experiencing withdrawal after the demise of CW’s Smallville and the summer’s venture into Gotham with The Dark Knight Rises may be happy to see CW’s latest contribution Arrow which premieres Wednesday, October 10. An updated Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow, played by Stephen Amell, is the comic-book classic wealthy playboy by day and a vigilante crime-fighter by night. After surviving a boating accident that killed his father and his girlfriend’s sister, with whom Queen was having a lurid affair, the tormented tragic hero honed his archery skills alone on a deserted island. He returns to civilization in order to take down his father’s enemies to clear his family name. Superhero fans are holding their breath to see if the writing and acting will keep them tuned in. The next evening, Thursday, October 11, promises a remake of another kind on CW, Beauty and the Beast. This traditional fairy tale has been refashioned multiple times, but this fall’s rebirth, starring Kristin Kreuk (from Smallville), is clearly a remake of the 1987 show with Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. Unlike the 1987 version, Kiwi Jay Ryan’s character, Vincent Keller, will be scarred not socially outcast because of a lion-like appearance. Producers are promising the bestial nature of the character will emerge through his actions as the season progresses. The recent Sherlock Holmes craze has jumped the pond, re-imagined from BBC and coming to CBS on Tuesday, September 25, with the premiere of Elementary. This modern exploration of the fictional crime-solver stars Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock, a recovering addict and NYPD consultant. His Watson is his female “sober companion,” a former surgeon played by Lucy Liu. As innately pessimistic creatures, humans thrive on post-apocalyptic tales, and NBC is offering us Revolution starting Monday, September 17. This drama draws heavily upon mythology and our collective need for others, thanks to the creative minds of J.J. Abrams (Lost) and Eric Kripke (Supernatural). Set in a dismaying post-apocalyptic future with no electricity, stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Tracy Spiridakos, Billy Burke and Giancarlo Esposito struggle to figure out how technology vanished and who holds the key to survival. Only the next few weeks’ worth of ratings will tell if audiences will tune in for the new perspectives on the classics.

Dish Free Preview Channels – August/September

August 15, 2012 by TVBlogEditor

Check out what’s FREE this month on Dish Network. MGM HD Thursday, Aug 2nd – Tuesday, Aug 28th Channel 385 MGM HD is a 24/7 movie network, featuring blockbuster hits, cherished favorites, modern masterpieces and studio exclusive extras from the legendary MGM Collection in true 1080i HD. Included In: Blockbuster @Home Sony Movie Channel Thursday, July 26th – Tuesday, Aug 21st Channel 386 (HD Only) Sony Movie Channel is the first U.S. multi-platform television network from Sony Pictures Entertainment created specifically for the Hollywood movie fan, offering uncut and uncensored movies in stunning high definition. Programming is selected from more than 3,500 Sony Pictures films, which collectively have received 184 Academy Awards including 12 for Best Picture. Included In: Blockbuster @Home EPIX Movie Package Thursday, Aug 9th – Tuesday, Aug 21st Channels 292, 380-382 Watch the latest blockbusters plus exclusive comedy, concert, and sporting events. EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX 3 and EPIX Drive-In give you more choices to watch the latest blockbuster movies and your all-time favorite Hollywood hits! Included In: The EPIX Package Cinemax Friday, Aug 17th – Monday, Aug 20th Channels 310-314 Just like its name, Cinemax gives you cinema to the max. With 5 channels of unique programming, including 4 channels in high-definition, Cinemax offers the best variety of top movies with first-run theatrical premieres, new-to-Cinemax movies, top box office releases and movie favorites. Cinemax: The Ultimate Movie Experience. Included In: The Cinemax Package Palladia Thursday, Aug 16th – Tuesday, Sep 11th Channel 369 Welcome to Palladia: a state of the art, high-definition channel showcasing the best in music from today’s biggest artists. Palladia is your all-access pass to the hottest events from MTV, VH1 and CMT: MTV Video Music Awards, VH1 Divas and the CMT Music Awards, as well as iconic music series like Unplugged, VH1 Storytellers and CMT Crossroads. Palladia: The music starts here. The experience never stops. Included In: BB @Home Animal Planet Thursday, Aug 16th – Tuesday, Sep 11th Channel 184 Animal Planet is the world’s only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. Included In: America’s Top 200 and Higher Ovation Thursday, Aug 6th – Tuesday, Sep 11th Channel 291 Ovation is the only multi-platform network celebrating art, artists and all forms of artistic story-telling. Its programming tells the stories of artists, their work, and the powerful impact art has on each of us. Ovation programming is a one-of-a-kind mix of original and selectively curated series, films, documentaries and specials. Included In: America’s Top 200 and Higher GSN Thursday, Aug 16th – Tuesday, Sep 11th Channel 116 GSN is the only TV network devoted exclusively to GAMES, including a broad array of genres, casino games, reality/game show hybrids, physical games, documentaries, as well as its very popular game shows. Included In: America’s Top 200 and Higher, Heartland Package Rural TV Thursday, Aug 16th – Tuesday, Sep 11th Channel 232 RURAL TV features live news with daily market coverage with a focus on the business and policy issues of rural America. RURAL TV’s programs include expanded livestock auctions, equine enthusiast blocks, country music and entertainment shows, rural event coverage and expanded international programming. Included In: America’s Top 250 and Higher, Heartland Package Tennis Channel Monday, Aug 27th – Sunday, Sep 9th Channel 400 Tennis Channel is the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to the professional sport and passionate lifestyle of tennis. A hybrid of comprehensive sports, health, fitness, pop culture, entertainment, lifestyle and travel programming, the network houses every aspect of the wide-ranging, worldwide tennis community. The Tennis Channel has telecast rights to the US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open), Australian Open, and more. Included In: America’s Top 250 and Higher Universal Sports Wednesday, Aug 15th – Tuesday, Aug 28th Channel 402 Universal Sports is the premier media destination for Olympic, endurance and adventure sports programming. Major domestic and international championship and Olympic qualifying events found on Universal Sports include track and field, skiing, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, volleyball, marathons, triathlons and rugby. Included In: Multi-Sport