Questions about Dish Network's HD DVR Receiver

[Phokus]

I'm currently a dish network subscriber but i have their old DVR receiver that was for standard definition televisions. I Just bought a 1080p HD Monitor... the Westinghouse 37" LVM-37w3SE (which has NO OTA HD receiver included).

I want to get Dish Network's HD DVR Receiver for a couple reasons:

1) It has HDMI

2) It seems to say in their brochure that it has an HDTV OTA receiver inside.

Would i be able to get their HD DVR Receiver without subscribing to their HD channels? I wouldn't mind even paying a little extra for the receiver if i had to, but i don't want to pay for HD channels i won't watch...

Also, it says it requires an optional antenna to receive OTA HDTV signals... their satellite dish doesn't pick up the signal automatically?

Thanks!

 

[montypythizzle]

I would just get their HD package. I still can't believe your tv doesn't have an ATSC tuner.
IF anything just record the shows you do want on the DVR 😛 That is what I do. (gotta love Planet Earth 😛)

 

[Phokus]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: montypythizzle
I would just get their HD package. I still can't believe your tv doesn't have an ATSC tuner.
IF anything just record the shows you do want on the DVR 😛 That is what I do. (gotta love Planet Earth 😛)</end quote></div>



I'm looking at their HDTV package, and i see myself only watching ESPN/ESPN2 HD and that's about it... kind of a waste of money... i just want the local channels in HDTV over the air for free 😛

As for my TV not having a tuner... well, a 1080p 37" TV for $899 is hard to beat.. especially when i have my computer, laptop, nintendo wii, and satellite tv all hooked up to it 🙂

edit: wow, quotes are screwed up here... weird

 

[Biturbo]

1) You will want an external antenna to pick up the signals. Depending on where you live and where your TV is at, you may want to pick up a powered one (~$40).

2) You can get it without their HD pack (at least at one point you could), but they charge you an extra $10/month I think.

 

[nsafreak]

Well the only way that they'll sell it to you at a discount is if you do an 18 month commitment which includes the HD programming package. I'm not sure if you can remove the HD programming package and keep your normal package without incurring a cancellation fee but I do know that having an HD DVR without an HD programming package will add $6 a month to your bill (on top of the DVR fee) whether you buy or lease the unit. Last I checked purchasing a 622 (HD DVR) ran around $500.