sat box died

[buckeyefarmer]

Last night my dish network receiver shut off unexpectedly, kept trying to reboot and keeps failing. Tonight it was working, but it turned off in the middle of the football game.
It's the Vip722 DVR box, 1 yr warrenty and it is 3 yrs old. Looks like I'm hosed because it's not a rental box. Anyone else have their box up and die like this.

 

[/pine]

they do fail...have you tried unplugging the unit from the power source wait 30 seconds and plug it back in...?

 

[brokenknee]

Yes a few years ago, but we have direct. We had more than one receiver so just moved one to the living room until we got a new one.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Unplugging didn't help.

I bought this box when my first one died. My first box I bought for $5 and it lasted for many years. This one cost $$$$ and only lasted 3 yrs. I might pull the HD and see if I can image it to a new drive.

 

[Skyco]

I had a DirectTV box fail. Then I found they won't let you "buy"* a new one without signing a 2 year contract. I refused to do it.
Turned out a neighbor had a couple he disconnected identical to mine and gave them to me.
Called them up to get one activated and they gave me a bunch of grief that I'd still have to sign a contract. Only after threatening to disconnect my entire $90 a month service did they finally relent.
Hope Dish Network isn't that way...I really did not like their attitude, I was not about to sign a 2 year contract when I'd been a customer for many years without one. My job situation is dicey right now, if I got RIF'd one of the first things to go would be the sat tv luxury.


* DirecTV is in some class action lawsuits right now, many people "bought" one of their boxes from various sources then find out you don't really "own" it...they can demand it back if you disconnect. Not sure where this stands right now, I researched it when mine went bad a year or 2 back.

 

[Phils]

I frequent the Dish Network forum at SatelliteGuys. I have read MANY times there that all you need to do is call and have Dish put the DHHP on your account (Dish Home H? Protection), It's about $6/month. Then after you get your warranty receiver, you can cancel it. Here's the first thread from a search for DHHP and it, too, mentions that you can call to put on the protection and initiate the service call at the same time.

Monthly Service Plan-Worth the $6?

I realize this sounds bizarre for a company to let you buy warranty service when you already need it, but (as I said) I've seen it posted too many times.

I have DHHP on my account (ever since my first receiver with a harddrive) and don't bother to remove it after I use it, but I could. There's no charge (usually) for shipping.

I did just have a $15 service call ($95 if you don't have DHHP) because I was having difficulty aiming a dish I bought for my RV. I could get the 119 satellite easy enough but couldn't get the second sat (110). I called on a Saturday morning and the tech was there before 3 in the afternoon (and I live WAY out in the country). With his fancy meter (I own a cheap one) he showed me the error in my aim.

[on edit] reading through the thread I linked to, it seems Dish charges $25 for you to stop DHHP now. I haven't been keeping up on the DHHP threads since it's something I didn't intend on stopping. And THAT mainly because I figured if I stopped it, and then needed a new receiver, I'd hear "...sorry, the rules have changed".

There were posts in that thread about receivers being replaced for free + $15 shipping so I don't know if that'd apply to your 722.

[after reading more] it's DHPP -- Dish Home Protection Plan

Phil

 

[brokenknee]

Yes, direct does let you buy their warranty even after you need it. The last storm we had (60+mph winds) a couple of weeks ago knocked my dish out of alignment. I tried to alien it myself with the wife watching the signal on the TV. The best I could do was get some of the channels back.

Wife called direct and they told her it would be $45 for a service tech to come out or she could sign up for their service contract at $6 dollars a month and then cancel it in two months. I think they are working off the same principle as rebate coupons, they know there is a lot of people that will either forget to cancel or will just keep the service.

It only took the kid that came out about 10 minutes to realign the dish. He had a bulldog meter, he claimed with the new dish and HD receiver that is the only way you can get it aligned. The kid did have an attitude like most of the people that I have dealt with at Direct TV. They know the only competition they have in rural areas is Dish, and I have heard (but have no direct experience with them) that they are no better than direct.



edit; don't know if Direct charges you to cancel the service contract. Dealing with them in the past this is probably the case. Their sales people are great for not giving all the information.

 

[Bird]

Five years ago, we had Dish. The first box died while still in warranty. They sent new one under warranty, but I had to pay $14.95 shipping and handling. And when it came, the instructions for installation weren't even close to what was required, so I took some time on the phone for them to figure out how to make it work. When the second one died, the idiot I got on the phone concluded the problem was the remote control and he was going to send another one at my expense. Now I don't know much about this equipment, but I did know for sure that the problem wasn't the remote control. That's when I dumped Dish and went to DirecTV. But I'm paying the $5.99 a month for their protection plan and have never needed it.

 

[rekees4300]

Been happy with DirecTV for several years. Have had a few receivers die, if unplugging and replugging doesn't fix a problem then the receiver is usually toast. Solution is to get a new one. For long term customers the price can be negotiable. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

 

[/pine]

if they are not too old you can buy receivers on e-bay (really cheap) and Direct TV will send you a card...I've done this many times....I have two different accounts with Direct TV (GA/FL)...I once bought a (non-HD) receiver on e-bay for .99 cents (+ $6 shipping) that I am still using...

if the agent gives you a hard time ask to speak with their supervisor...I have had nothing but satisfactory service from Direct TV for almost 15 years...

The trick is to not go through any type of retailer or installation agency...if you need to...try to find an independent installer...if you go through an affiliated service agent you will have to sign a contract.