I am new to home satellite systems. I currently have an active thread in the FTA forum trying to figure out how to get set up for FTA. In this thread I want to discuss subscription service alternatives.
Currently, I am aware of 4 different ways to get subscription satellite services: Dish Network, DirectTV, 4DTV with the DSR922, and the DSR410 packages (ESPN is not available with 410). I believe there was something called BigDish, but it seems to have gone the way of 4DTV. My first question is: are there other options that I don't know about? Each of the above offer regular cable-type channels. How would one subscribe to services that would descramble the channels that are not typically offered in nationwide cable packages (or does 4DTV do that as well)?
I have the impression that the Dish Network, DirectTV, and DSR410 get all of their programming from one satellite, whereas 4DTV accesses multiple satellites. Is that correct?
With Dish Network and DirectTV, you can have it installed in up to four rooms for the price of one room. I am concerned that that might not be the case with the other two options. The DSR922 receiver is a lot more expensive upfront, than any of the other options. I could see potentially upgrading to it in time, but I need a multi-room subscription service with little upfront cost, as I will already be purchasing a few things to get my FTA system up and running.
Assuming I already have a 8.5' mesh dish with a C/KU LNBF, I could get a DSR922 for $439 with a qualifying $100 purchase and I would get free analog, videocipher analog, free digital, and digicipher channels. Or, I could get a
Mercury II for $109 for my FTA digital, and a DSR410 for $130 for digicipher, for a total of $239. That is a savings of $200. Am I missing something? What are the limitations as far as multiple tv viewing?
Alternatively, I could get the Dish Network with 4 room
installation with no upfront cost, and a Mercury II for $109 for FTA digital. That would be a saving of $330 over the first option and $130 over the second option and I know I could get the subscription channels in every room with no polarity restrictions, etc. Honestly, this last option looks the most attractive to me. But, I don't feel that I am looking at other the variables. What else is there to consider?