Satellite TV FAQ

Questions and Answers about Satellite TV

1.What is Dish Network service?
2.Does Dish Network offer Local Network Channels?
3.Can I use my existing wiring for Dish Network?
4.Why do I need to connect my Dish Network receiver to my phone line?
5.Will the phone connection interfere with regular phone usage?
6.Can Dish Network service be connected to more than one TV set in my house?
7.If I have more than one Dish Network receiver, do I pay a full monthly subscription for each receiver?
8.Will bad weather conditions interfere with my Dish Network reception?

What is Dish Network service?
Dish Network is the nation's leading digital satellite entertainment service. It provides access to over 225 channels of programming to homes and businesses that have Dish Network receiving equipment (small satellite dish, a digital receiver, and remote control). Dish Network offers a wide variety of programming for every member of the family - all 100% digital-quality picture and sound.

Does Dish Network offer Local Network Channels? Dish Network now offers local channels in most major U.S. cities and their surrounding areas.

Can I use my existing wiring for Dish Network? If the existing wiring in your house is RG-6 coax cable, you can use it to connect your Dish Network receiver to your satellite dish. If your existing wiring is not RG-6 coax cable, you will need to have the installer run new wiring. It is important that you use RG-6 coax cable, due to the frequency of the digital signals it must carry.

Why do I need to connect my Dish Network receiver to my phone line? Customers need to connect their receivers to a landline phone for billing and pay per view purposes. The connection sends purchase information from the receiver to the Dish Network computer system. With the phone connection, Dish Network customers can order Pay Per View movies and events with their remote control, get popular sports subscriptions such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET, and can have the programming subscription on their main receiver "mirrored" to other receivers that are connected to the same phone line.

Will the Dish Network receiver phone connection interfere with regular phone usage? No. A modem inside of your receiver makes a toll-free call to the Dish Network computer system in the middle of the night. The modem's call only lasts a few seconds and if you are using the phone, it will try again later.

Can Dish Network be connected to more than one TV set in my house? Yes. You can get separate Dish Network receivers for the number of TV sets in your home that you want to hook up. This gives you the flexibility of watching different Dish Network programs on different television sets. If all of your Dish Network receivers are connected to the same landline phone, it's only $4.99 a month for separate programming on the second and each additional TV in your home.

If I have more than one Dish Network receiver, do I pay a full monthly subscription for each receiver? No. You can connect more than one TV in a single household to Dish Network services. If your receivers are connected to the same phone line, it's only $4.99 a month for separate programming on the second and each additional TV in your home. The programming you request for the primary access card in your receiver is copied for all of the access cards in the other receivers and you are authorized to receive this same level of programming on these televisions.

Will bad weather conditions interfere with my DIRECT TV reception? On very rare occasions in some areas, severe weather conditions may interrupt your signal for a moment, but it always returns quickly and clearly.

During your professional installation, eXpert installers will optimally place your dish, minimizing lost signals during inclement weather. Dish Network reception is highly reliable year-round, nationwide. Dish Network service is only minimally affected by weather, under extreme conditions, but it always returns quickly and clearly. On average, Dish Network customers only lose signal for 15 minutes a year, total - compared to cable outages which can last hours or even days at a time.

1.What are my programming choices with Dish Network service?
2.Does Dish Network offer channels on an a la carte basis?
3.Does Dish Network offer music channels?
4.Are Dish Network packages affected by sports blackouts?
5.Does Dish Network offer a Spanish-language programming service?
6.Does Dish Network offer a Chinese-language programming service?
7.Can you explain the Locks & Limits (parental controls) feature the Dish Network System offers?

What are my programming choices with Dish Network? Dish Network offers access to more than 225 channels of programming. With access to popular networks such as CNN, ESPN, Lifetime, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, HGTV, 36 commercial-free music channels, as well as up to 55 pay per view choices a day including hit movies and special events. Dish Network also offers a variety of professional and collegiate sports, including NFL SUNDAY TICKET only on Dish Network, and much more. Click here for a complete list of programming options available from Dish Network.

Does Dish Network offer channels on an a la carte basis? Dish Network typically bundles their programming together into different packages, so that customers can receive the best value possible. However, select channels are available on an a la carte basis. See the programming section for details.

Does Dish Network offer music channels? Yes. Dish Network offers access to up to 36 commercial-free music channels through Music Choice. Ranging from Jazz and Country to Classical and Hit List, there is music available for every musical taste.

Are Dish Network packages affected by sports blackouts? Dish Network is the provider of the most comprehensive sports programming lineup in the digital home entertainment industry, and they are subject to league blackout rules and broadcast guildlines. As these restrictions are sometimes complicated, please refer to the Dish Network.com blackouts page for further details.

Does Dish Network offer a Spanish-language programming service? Yes.

Does Dish Network offer a Chinese-language programming service? Yes.

Does Dish Network have parental controls? The Locks & Limits feature built into your equipment lets you restrict access to movies based on the motion picture rating system, pay per view spending limits, and block the viewing of entire channels. This is a great feature for parents who wish to control what their children watch on Dish Network programming.

Dish Network offers access to over 225 channels of programming entertainment. If you are a parent, you may want to limit the channels that your children are watching. Let's face it, you can't always watch what your children are doing. Maybe you want to order HBO programming, but you don't want your children watching it - or - maybe you have young children in the house and you don't want them to watch programs you deem unsuitable for their age. Dish Network has a perfect solution!

The Locks & Limits feature built into your equipment allows you to restrict unsupervised television viewing however you want to. You can block specific movies based on their MPAA rating, lock out entire channels, set limited viewing hours, or even establish spending limits on pay per view programming. This is a great feature for parents who wish to limit the programming that their children watch on Dish Network, but don't want to limit their programming options, when they pick their programming packages.

With the Locks & Limits feature, you can protect your children from flipping to channels that are inappropriate for their age group.

1.How are customers billed for Dish Network programming?
2.How do I pay my bill?
3.Can I pay my bill online?

1.How does Dish Network bill customers? Customers are billed by Dish Network for the programming package that they purchase, plus any pay per view programs, and sports packages you order. We bill in advance for most programming. Pay per view movies are automatically charged to your bill after you order them, if you maintain a continuous phone connection to your receiver.

2.How do I pay my Dish Network bill? Customers may pay their bills by using electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment service that automatically deducts your Dish Network payment from a checking account or credit card. Another payment method is to mail their payment in.

3.Can I pay my Dish Network bill online? Yes. When you register with Dish Network.com, you can manage your account online. In addition to paying your bill, you can view your current and past Dish Network billing statements, view recent transactions and set up automatic billing plans - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.