Rental Contract Expiring - Upgrade advice?

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lweel8

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Sorry for the jibber jabber in advance...

Issue 1 - My current rental contract for 2 4100s and one 5920 is expiring next month. I have grand intentions of upgrading to an HDTV before Christmas but that may not happen. I'd also like to add another 4100 for the basement. I'm not interested in paying $10 a month for my current PVR which isn't dual tuner so I'm definitely returning it ASAP.

Issue 2 - Also, when my 5920 was acting up they sent me a replacement that I've never bothered taking out of the box (the old one 'fixed itself' - my wife's words).

3 questions: 1) Is there no such thing as a non-HD PVR Plus? There used to be.
2) If I add a 4100 can I swap it out for a 9200 when I hit the lotto and buy my 62" 1080p plasma? You know, hate to be stuck with the $3 a month...
3) If I call to activate the replacement, after returning the rental, will I be charged a rental fee (or worse)?
 
The 5200 was the Dual Tuner SD PVR, when it was available for Sale it cost $599 (same as a 9200). When it was available for Rental it was $20 per Month (same as a 9200 is now). It was dropped several months ago. It is no longer available from Express VU to Buy or Rent.



I personally have NEVER been given the same info that Agent Ex Vu has about Rental exchanges, despite asking many many questions, I get no clear and concise answers. According to Agent, and I am sure she will correct me if I am incorrect, you can exchange any receiver that is Rented for another Model, providing it is an Upgrade.

NOTE; Adding another 4100 you will incur a $75 charge for the Technician to bring you a 4100, activate it on the already run line. The Tech cannot take the 5900 Rental away with him, Express Vu will have to ship you an empty Box, for it's return.



Technically if you have not paid for it, I don't think you can activate it but having said that, it is possible that you have been charged for the "defective" receiver NOT going back to NESA. Check your old statements.

The new "replacement" receiver is still not technically yours.

I will leave it to your conscience as to the correct thing to do with it.
 
Issue 1) It depends on how many TVs you have. If you are planning to buy, wait for the 9200 replacement to arrive later this year (IIRC it's a 9241 and/or 9242.) The new receiver will feed 2 SDTVs easily (replacing the 5200), has dual tuners and more disk space. Even if renting, you might want to wait for the new receiver. It can replace 2 4100s and the PVR for just 2 TVs.

Issue 2) I hope you are planning on calling EV to explain the situation and returning the refurb. Otherwise, you may get a bill for the full retail price of the second 5900. :eek:
 
Well you seem to know kind of what you want, but I would add that a call to the retentions department would be in order.
 
Check online (craigslist and kijiji) are a few places to look for people selling 5200's, or even 9200's
I have seen some 9200's selling for $300 (not a bad deal, even if they wont work for HD in 1-2 years) you will still have a dual tuner SD box
Just make sure to get the serial #'s to make sure the box doesnt have a balance owing, or you wont be able to put it on your account
You can use ebay as well, but I would recommend buying it in person
If you are planning on renting again, then rent the 9200, and you can upgrade when the new mpeg4 boxes become available
You will love the 9200, its a great little toy
Shop around though, maybe rogers/starchoice will offer you a deal to swap over
As for the replacement 5900, do like nimiq mentioned, check your statements, you may have already been charged for it, as their policy is to bill you full price for the receiver if you dont ship the faulty one back within a week
 
The main issue with the 9200 is that it won't feed 2 SDTVs independently. The only exception is iff one of the TVs will accept 480i component. OTOH, the new 924x receivers have independent SD out for both TVs. IMHO, that's worth waiting a few months for if you want to feed 2 SDTVs. The 4100s only cost $3/mo each in the interim. Then there are other new features such as MPEG4 HD support, larger disk drives and support for external disk drives. Upgrading receivers is not an issue once the original contract has expired. The dish installation will likely need upgrading but that is currently covered by EV.
 
But, you can still use the 9200 on a single SD tv, allowing you to watch and record separate programs at the same time
I wouldnt buy it for $600, but for less than $300, I would consider it
I am contemplating buying one and returning my rental when the contract is up, but who knows...
BTW, current 9200's have the ability to support external hard drives, but we have yet to see them
What makes you think we will see them with the new crop of HD receivers? (P.S I hope to see it!)
 
According to E*, they don't, never have and never will. The 9200 is discontinued as a Dishnet receiver so development has stopped, apart from bug fixes to satisfy EV and existing features in common with newer receivers. It has been replaced by MPEG4 receivers in the US and the same will happen in Canada within 2 years. The new MPEG4 receivers support external drives on Dishnet. That feature may or may not be supported by EV. I don't see why it would be withheld but EV loves to shoot themselves (and their customers) in the foot with stupid corporate policies on such items.

p.s. You can't even activate an MPEG2 HD receiver on Dishnet in the US. They must be upgraded to an MPEG4 receiver first. I don't know if EV will adopt this policy after MPEG4 receivers are introduced but it's possible.
 
The 9200 equivalent in the states was the 921, it had the ability to take recorded shows from the Drive to an External device. Period.
 
The 921 never had the ability to use external drives either. It was claimed in the promotional materials but it was never implemented. The 921 was E*s first attempt at a HD PVR and it was a disaster. Dish took it off the market soon after it was introduced, before development was completed. It was replaced by the 942, AKA the 9200. The 942 has since been replaced by the 622 and the 722.
 
The 9200 equivalent in the states was the 942, it had the ability to take recorded shows from the Drive to an External device. Period.
 
Wow. Thanks for the great replies.

Based on the advice I'll definitely wait for the new HD PVR. My dish and wiring needs to be upgraded anyway and I'm not in a huge rush to punch a bunch of holes in my house.

I'm also going to check back through old statements for a charge related to the replacement box. It's been almost 2 years so it's possible they snuck one in on me. If they did charge me for it I own it, right? Then I should be able to plug it in and call to have it activated, right?

I know I'm getting out of thread but just how far does "basic installation" go? If I pre-drill a path through my basement joists will the installer put the second set of wires through or do they strictly go from point a to point b on the outside of the house and then punch through?
 
To an external device, yes. To an external disk drive, no. Dishnet came out with a personal video player onto which recorded shows could be downloaded and viewed. AFAIK, it has been discontinued. That is the only external USB device the 642 ever supported. According to Dishnet, external disk drive storage support never will be implemented on the 942. For that you need a Vip622 or Vip722.
 
I would think any decent installer would gladly use your pre-drilled holes.....

Most of mine would love you for ever.....lol

I would agree that if you find a charge for the receiver, it should now be considered yours. You would most likely find out for sure when you call in to activate it.
 
No doubt. :o

Thanks again. Now I just have to convince the wife that TV IS that important...
 
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