DISH Network Satellite Equipment

DISH Network®’s award-winning receivers and DVRs top the industry for features and functionality. But did you know other DISH Network satellite equipment, including DISH Network USB hard drives, DISH Network satellite TV software, DISH Network universal remote controls and DISH Network’s free sat dishes are just as amazing? And did you know that many of these extras, like DISH Network platinum remotes, come free with a DISH Network subscription?

Here at InternetLion.com we feel if you don’t already know about such things it’s high time you did. That’s why we put together the following article. In it you’ll find complete information on several examples of the great DISH Network satellite equipment currently available. Plus, we’ve even included comparisons of goodies like DISH Network platinum remotes to competitors’ gadgets, as well as explanations of how you too can get your hands on the company’s free satellite dishes and satellite TV software.

DISH Network Satellite Equipment You Won’t Want to Miss Out On

DISH Network USB Hard Drives

If the ViP922’s 1 terabyte of memory still isn’t enough for you, be sure to check out a DISH Network USB hard drive. To get one, all you have to do is purchase a hard drive with a minimum of 50 GB and maxim of 1 terabyte in storage space from your local electronics retailer, then follow the instructions from DISH Network to initiate a DISH Network USB hard drive activation. (If you have a 222k receiver there will be a one- time fee of $40, otherwise the fee is waived for the other receiver models).

To be sure, there is no such thing as a DISH Network USB hard drive per se as the satellite TV provider’s mother company, EchoStar, doesn’t manufacture them. But that also gives you quite a bit of liberty when it comes to purchasing your hard drive. For instance, since any hard drive that meets the listed specs can be a DISH Network USB hard drive, you could purchase one of Radio Shack’s super-cheap $59.99 Iomega® Prestige™ 320GB hard drive. The total price for this setup then would only be about $100.

Now compare this to what DIRECTV® offers: Its top-of-the-line receiver, the DIRECTV Plus DVR receiver only packs 320GB of memory to begin with. So to get one of these DVR/receivers up to snuff with the ViP922’s standard 1 terabyte of memory you’d have to add a hard drive to it. And that’s where things will start costing you mucho dinero.

You see, because DIRECTV doesn’t have a hard drive setup fee and doesn’t take responsibility for external hard drives, only a few devices will work with only a few of DIRECTV’s receivers. Specifically, you can only add on to a DIRECTV Plus DVR or DIRECTV Plus HD DVR, and only Western Digital 500GB, Western Digital 1TB, Seagate 1TB and Seagate 500GB hard drives are suggested for this add-on.

As you’d expect, these hard drive are expensive, costing $65 to $170 per unit. And because you’d have to add a 1 terabyte to a DIRECTV Plus DVR/receiver to enjoy the same amount of memory space you’d get from adding a 320GB DISH Network USB hard drive to a ViP922 you’ll end up paying out the giggy with DIRECTV. After all, even the cheapest 1TB hard drive compatible with the DIRECTV Plus, the Western Digital 1TB, costs $118. So you’d end up paying about 20 percent more for the same amount of memory space with DIRECTV as you’d get with DISH Network.

DISH Network Satellite TV Software

You might be wondering why DISH Network’s ViP922 is so special, so to answer that question we’ll now turn to DISH Network’s satellite TV software. You see, only the ViP922’s Slingbox device allows you to watch all your favorite shows remotely using your laptop or smart phone. Similar devices from DIRECTV and cable companies only usually allow you to record and schedule recording in this way, and when they do allow you to watch remotely your options are extremely limited.

What’s more, the the new version of the satellite TV software that allows you to use the ViP922’s SlingLoaded technology on your iPhone®, now includes the option for you to watch TV on your iPad®. You can download the free app from the App Store.

DISH Network Universal Remote Controls

DISH Network universal remote controls like the 6.4 IR / UHF Pro DISH Network platinum remote have no equal anywhere. To see how much better they are, all you have to do is compare them to what DIRECTV’s offering. The 6.4 IR / UHF Pro specifically offers the ability to switch between infrared and radio-frequency signals and works for all the following receivers: 222, 381, 501/508, 510, 522, 612, 622, 625, 721, 722, 811, 921, 942 and 6000.

DIRECTV’s Universal RF remote, in contrast, is only RF-capable and only works with the DISH Network competitor’s DIRECTV® HD and DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR receivers. And DIRECTV’s remote retails for over $5 more—which only goes to show once again how DIRECTV is offering less for more. Better still, all you have to do to get your own high-powered DISH Network remote is visit the company’s accessories page at DISHNetwork.com/support/accessories/default.aspx.

DISH Network’s Free Satellite Dishes

Getting a free satellite dish is perhaps the best part about becoming a DISH Network customer. Of course, competitor DIRECTV has a very similar offer, but with DIRECTV you invariably pay extra for HD, DVR service and multiple receivers, depending on the subscription service that is selected. One way or another you’ll have to sign a contract to get to qualify for your free satellite dish, so why not go with the provider that offers the lowest prices and no additional charges. To do so, simply check out the DISH Network deals featured on our site, and choose the package that best fits your needs.

Click here to learn about the benefits of switching to DISH Network today!

Disclaimer: Please note that this article was written when the satellite TV provider DISH was branded as DISH Network. As of 2/1/2012 DISH Network has changed their branding name to DISH. Article post date: 12/27/2010.