CosmicVagabond
Kentucky
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Joined: 02/04/2007
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Some of the Dishnetwork (particularly the HD receiver in my home setup) have ethernet jacks to allow you to order PPV and modify account settings over broadband connections. I am doing this now. Previously, I paid like 5 bucks extra a month as a penalty for not having a land line connected to the box. Having it connected to my router bypasses that charge. Also, there is a lot of "on demand" content available. Movies that you can watch that will begin as soon as you click the buy button. No waiting till the next showing time. Check it out, its slick! 
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2007 Rockwood Premier 2516G
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Alan_W
Longmont, CO USA
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Joined: 02/15/2004
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ventor wrote:It is not required. It only uploads data to spy on your viewing. Satellite is downloading content. That is how you see a picture. It is complete B.S.
I'll say it again: Certain receivers (not all) have it in the contract that you must keep a line connected or they will disable the receiver. This is for Dish Network. I am not speaking for Direct TV. I know this because I just went through the process of upgrading my receivers. I asked a lot of questions and didn't just trust everything they said. It is a requirement for the Dish DVRs but not for their other receivers.
The satellite also downloads the receiver smart card specific codes that enable the content on each receiver. They can shut off individual receivers or adjust available content through those downloads. If you signed a contract to connect with a phone line and fail to keep it connected, they certainly can disable your receiver and that is no B.S.
If your contract doesn't require that, you don't need to keep it connected. Two of the three receivers that I have are not connected and will remain not connected.
Alan & Cathy
Brittany 14, Cody 11, Brooke 9 and Allison 5 --  Rig and Trip Photos Website
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lhuff
Marietta, GA USA
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Joined: 06/18/2002
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Our home doesn't even have a phone line. I guess I can't use one of those Dish receivers that require it. I would think that with today's cheap cell phones and VoIP phone service Dish would be smart enough to recognize that they're removing themselves from an increasing portion of their potential customer base by requiring phone line attachment to any of their receivers. Even TiVo recognized this fact several years ago and changed the programming in their boxes to use a wired or wireless connection (for initial setup AND updates/upgrades) to the Internet rather than requiring a phone line.
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MeanderMan
Fulltiming Somewhere
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Joined: 12/23/2005
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I learned years ago why the phone line was required; our RV was set up on a site that had a phone line available and I had it connected and plugged it into the DirecTV receiver. We watched pay per view movies that year, but the next year did not have the phone line connected. I came home one day and our daughter, who was visiting, said that she hoped we didn't mind, but she watched a few pay per view movies. Hmmm......I thought, it's obvious that the phone line is only necessary so that the receiver can be accessed and the movie data uploaded to the company. I was able to watch a number of movies without ever being charged since the receiver could not be accessed. How many movies will the card hold before cutting you off? 14 by my count at the time; of course we could never hook up that receiver again. Bottom line, you don't need the phone line, but THEY do...
Happily Fulltiming Somewhere
2006 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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SKIRMISH
NORCAL
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Joined: 10/13/2005
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We have DirecTV and they recently said on the statement that we would be charged $5 a month if we unplugged it from the phone line.
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terryb149
Port Saint Lucie, Fl USA
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Joined: 01/23/2005
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I have Tivo and haven't been hooked up to a landline for 2 years and they still work good. I've been looking to replace one of them and my understanding is that you need a phone line to do the setup for a new one, then after that it isn't necessary.
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elh0146
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 01/13/2002
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erpa wrote:"You only need it for PPV" .That is what I was told by a DirectTV installer.
You do not need a phone line to order PPV...you can order PPV online. That is true for both Dish Network and DirecTV.
We've been both Dish Network and DirecTV customers. We've never had any of our receivers hooked up to a phone line, haven't had any problems, and haven't been charged extra money for not having the receivers hooked up to a phone line. When we want to watch PPV, we order it online.
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georgn66
Fayetteville, NC
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Joined: 11/03/2003
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A phone line is only neede if you have TIVO option. It also helps with Pay Per View programming, with phone line you don't have to call them to schedule PPV.
The Better Half
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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One of the things I did not like about Dish was misleading pricing. They advertise a lower price than Direc but then they find ways to nickel you to death till it's as much (if not more)
one of the charges is $5.00/month if you don't connect to a phone line.
Alas, I can find no logic for this unless they are downloading your viewing habits and selling them to someone. I mean they charge you because you DO NOT use the dial-up portion of their service? Seems strange to me.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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jmpulse
Kelseyville, CA
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Joined: 01/18/2004
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Here it goes again!
Dish Tv does not have a receiver currently that has to have a phone line hooked to it. If you don't have a phone line, you will need to have a phone bypass set up on your account. I currently have 2 HD/DVR's, neither of have a phone line hooked to them, and they work fine.
Also on the charge for the second tv, whoever sold this to you gave you bad info. If you have a dual you get a $5 charge for the second tv, if you hook that box into your phone line, Dish will discount the $5 charge.
2005 29' Forest River Sierra FW
2004 2500HD Chevy Duramax/Allison
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