Dish Network and DirecTV Satellite TV

With a host of retailers offering similar products, how do you ensure you get the best?

Our technology editor James Irwin looked at what Dish Network® and DirecTV® retailers are offering. As a result The-States-Online has partnered with the major retailers to bring you absolutely the best deals on offer.

If you look around you really can get a complete system including DVR installed for free, but you may find it difficult to separate the different offers available. So we developed our 3-Steps-To-Free-Sat-TV process. We researched all the special offers and rebates to find what you get for free and what you pay for, and the monthly cost to get the programming you want. So we are able to recommend the best deals from each retailer.

Here is the 3-Step System :-

Step 1 : Compare - equipment, prices, special offers. Go straight to Step 1.

Step 2 : Choose - select what is best for you and your budget Go straight to Step 2.

Step 3 : Order - order your system. Go straight to Step 3.

STEP 1: COMPARE This step is the most important; after all, only you know which features are most important to you and what price you are willing to pay for additional programs or features; table last updated 03/28/06.

	DishNetwork Products.com	Allsat.com	DishPronto.com	VMCSatellite.com	Rapid Satellite.com
System	Dish Network®	Dish Network®	Dish Network®	Dish Network®	DirecTV®
Free Equipment
Free Ordering and Delivery	$49.99 activation fee credited back with first bill	$49.99 activation fee credited back with first bill	$49.99 activation fee credited back with first bill	$49.99 activation fee credited back with first bill
Free Install
Number of Free Rooms	4	4	4	4	4
Free Home Protection Plan			18 months free then $5.99/mo		$5.99/mo
Lifetime Equipment Warranty					Externded warranties available.
Cost	basic 40 channels $19.99/mo top 60 channels $29.99/mo Top 120 $39.99/mo Top 180 $49.99/mo Everything $84.99/mo Locals Add $5/mo	basic 40 channels $19.99/mo top 60 channels $29.99/mo Top 120 $29.99/mo Top 180 $39.99/mo Everything $74.99/mo Locals Add $5/mo	top 60 channels $29.99/mo Top 120 $29.99/mo for 10 months then $39.99 Top 180 $39.99/mo for 10 months then $49.99 Everything $74.99/mo for 10 months then $84.99 Locals Add $5/mo	basic 40 channels $19.99 /mo top 60 channels $29.99/mo Top 120 $39.99/mo Top 180 $49.99/mo Everything $84.99/mo Locals Add $5/mo	Basic $29.99 /mo 150 channels for 1st 3 months, then $41.99 180 channels $46.99/mo 245 channels $96.99/mo Locals add $3/mo
HDTV	From $10/mo, HD programming first 6 months free then only $9.99/mo	$49.99 for HD receiver, programming from $49.99/mo	$49.99 for HD receiver, programming from $49.99/mo	$49.99 for HD receiver, programming from $20.00/mo	Free after $100 rebate, programming from $9.99/mo
Free DVR	Free install and equipment, then $5.98/mo	Free install and equipment, then $5.98/mo	Free install and equipment, then $5.98/mo	Free install and equipment, then $5.98/mo	Free after $100 rebate, then $5.99/mo
HDTV DVR		$299.99 initial payment	$299.99 initial payment		$399.99 initial payment after $100 rebate
Additional Incentives and Offers	Win an XM Satellite Radio System - one winner per week.	Next Day Installation for orders before 10AM. Free gift : choose either Home Theater System, MP3 player and Stereo Tuner or DVD player.	$100 bill rebate if you spend at least $39.99/mo on programming. Free gift - home theater/$1000 shopping spree or $30 gift voucher.		30 day money back guarantee. Price guarantee.
Minimum Commitment	18 months, 2 years with DVR	18 months	18 months	18 months
Other Points	International programming available from $19.99/mo - requires extra dish ($99)	#1 in ACSI (American customer satisfaction index)		Largest online dish dealer	Largest directv dealer

STEP 2: CHOOSE As you can see there is a lot of information to take on board, your final decision may be influenced by cost or may be just one of the extras that is being offered. The-States-Online recommended packages for each retailer are:

Allsat.com: Digital Home Advantage package - Free delivery and installation up to 4 rooms, free DVR equipment, America's top 120 $29.99 for first 10 months plus Starz movie package free for 3 months, $5.98/mo for DVR, $49.99 activation fee paid on order and then credited to first bill making activation free.

DishPronto.com: Digital Home Advantage package - Free delivery and installation up to 4 rooms, free DVR equipment, America's top 120 $29.99 for first 10 months plus Starz movie package free for 3 months, $5.98/mo for DVR, $49.99 activation fee paid on order and then credited to first bill making activation free.

RapidSatellite.com: Free Standard DirecTV System package - Free delivery and installation up to 4 rooms, free DIRECTV HD system, free DIRECTV DVR system, 150 channels �29.99 for first 3 months with free premium channels, all with low price guarantee with difference refund if you find product cheaper elsewhere.

DishNetworkProducts.com: Free nationwide installation, free DVR, 4 rooms free, lifetime warranty, $100 rebate after 10 months, Starz movies free for 3 months.

VMCSatellite.com: Free 4 room system, free installation, free DVR, lifetime warranty, Starz movies free for 3 months, you are paid $100 just for signing up.

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STEP 3: ORDER - Hopefully we've given you the information you need to go ahead and order your Dish Network® or Directv® system. As I said before The-States-Online has partnered with these retailers to give you the best possible deals. Don't forget the promo codes.

ORDER DISH NETWORK®

Click Here to Order or to get more information from Allsat.com: or call TOLL FREE: 1-800-425-5728 using PROMO CODE: CJ1944693

Click Here to Order or to get more information from DishPronto.com: or call TOLL FREE: 1-800-315-0788 using PROMO CODE: CJ1944693

Click Here to Order or to get more information from DishNetworkProducts.com:

Click Here to Order or to get more information from VMCSatellite.com:

ORDER DIRECTV®

Click Here to Order or to get more information from RapidSatellite.com: or call TOLL FREE: 1-800-315-1722 using PROMO CODE: CJ1944693

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What is the Dish Network®
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) serves more than 11.3 million satellite TV customers through DISH Network®, and is a leading U.S. provider of advanced digital television services. DISH Network's services include hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, Pay-Per-View, HDTV, sports and International programming.

What is DirecTV®
DIRECTV® is a digital satellite entertainment service provider. Using the most advanced satellite technology, they deliver access to more than 250 channels of programming to homes and businesses that have DIRECTV® receiving equipment - a small satellite dish and a digital set-top receiver. and a remote control. The DIRECTV® service offers digital-quality picture and sound.

What is HDTV
This is High Definition TV. A HDTV satellite receiver is required. HDTV programming is six times sharper than standard television images. The higher resolution means that you get a cleaner, crisper image - especially with action or sporting images.

What is DVR
This allows you to record TV without videotape. You can pause, instantly replay, rewind and slo-mo live TV.

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Compare Satellite and Cable
Just in case you-re wondering how cable compares, the following table provides a comparison between Satellite and Cable TV technology.

Satellite TV Cable TV

Cost per Month $19.99/mo $69.99
(rising 8% per year)

Max Channels >More than 240 90

Free DVR No

% Outages 1% 3-5%

Additional TV Charge Up to 4 free $5+

Multi-Channel Viewing

HDTV Some

100% Digital Channels No

All Sports Limited

Foreign Language No

Pay-per-View Movies Up to 40 Channels Up to 20 Channels

Reinstall if you Move No

Can I Receive Satellite TV

To receive a signal from the satellite you need a clear and uninterrupted view to the south. Imagine where the sun is at midday and look half way up the sky - that's roughly where the TV signal comes from. If you're in any doubt, just ask your installer.

Another thing to mention is that you need to be sure that you have the right to mount a receiving dish if you are living in shared or rented property.

Here is a list of states and cities where you can receive satellite TV as long as you meet the criteria just described:

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Akron Albuquerque Anaheim Arlington Atlanta Aurora Austin Bakersfield Baltimore Baton Rouge Birmingham Boston Buffalo Chandler Charlotte Chesapeake Chicago Chula Vista Cincinnati Cleveland Colorado Springs Columbus Corpus Christi Dallas Denver Detroit Durham El Paso Fort Wayne Fort Worth Fremont Fresno Garland Glendale Glendale Greensboro Henderson Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Jersey Kansas Laredo Las Vegas Lexington Lincoln Long Beach Los Angeles Louisville Lubbock Madison Memphis Mesa Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Modesto Montgomery Nashville New Orleans New York Newark Norfolk Oakland Oklahoma Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Plano Portland Raleigh Reno Riverside Rochester Sacramento San Antonio San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Jose Santa Ana Scottsdale Seattle Shreveport St Louis St Paul St Petersburg Stockton Tampa Toledo Tucson Tulsa Virginia Beach Washington Wichita

Here is a list of states where you will need a dish that is bigger than the standard 16" or 18" diameter:

Alaska Hawaii

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