Q: What does Dish Planet do?
A: Dish
Planet is a certified retailer for DIRECTV®.
We specialize in satellite-based television products.
We also manage the installation of all
equipment needed to utilize and view our service.
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Q: How does satellite television differ
from legacy cable?
A: Satellite
technology for television entertainment is 100% digital on every
single channel. What this means is that the picture and audio
quality is far superior to an analog signal. This is analogous
to the difference in sound and picture clarity that one sees
when comparing the output of a DVD player versus a VCR. Cable
companies can also deliver digital signal; but not on all channels
and at a price much higher than their satellite counterpart.
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Q: How are Dish Planet’s solutions
different from those of other retailers on the market?
A: Dish
Planet is one of the few retailers that offer DIRECTV® product
lines. Most companies offer one or the other, but customers often
do not know which carrier is best for them. We are carrier-neutral
and can help customers with their decision making process by
delivering a customized solution designed to fulfill their specific
needs and preferences. Additionally there is a significant
financial
benefit to customers if they choose to buy from us. The satellite
provider,
DIRECTV®, will only provide service
at the full suggested retail price. Unlike them, we have unbelievably
low prices because we purchase inventory in volume and pass the
savings to our customers.
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Q: What is unique about Dish Planet?
A: Dish Planet constantly has unique promotions
and exciting special offers
including free equipment upgrades,
free gifts such as DVD players, digital cameras, DVR receivers
and satellite radios. These specials are not available from any
other retailer or even from DIRECTV®. In addition,
Dish Planet’s paramount priority is to make every single
customer experience a memorable one. Besides the unsurpassed
customer service you are guaranteed to receive from Dish Planet,
there is a significant financial benefit to you if you choose
to buy from us. The satellite provider
DIRECTV®, will only provide service at the full suggested retail
price. Unlike them, we have unbelievably low prices because we
purchase inventory in volume and pass the savings to our customers.
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Q: What are the competitive advantages
of Dish Planet’s products and services?
A: Dish Planet strives at making the customer’s “going
satellite” experience enjoyable, satisfying and rewarding – from
the initial decision making process to
the sales and installation.
Our state-of-the-art contact center allows our customers
to connect
with our live, courteous and knowledgeable customer service agents
with minimal "hold" times. We are always throwing in
free “extras” for our customers at the point of sale.
Our installation experts are skilled, trustworthy, and customer-focused
and we are able to schedule installations in the evenings and
on weekends to accommodate our customers' preferences. Moreover,
the time-window for the installation appointment is a couple
of hours, unlike our competitors that generally require a time-window
of a full day. Our outstanding service does not end with the
installation - our post-installation customer service ensures
the complete
satisfaction of our customers. And finally, we thought
we would mention that we
do all of the above at the “lowest
cost” to our customers, guaranteed!
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Q: What are Dish Planet’s
target audiences?
A: Our target audience ranges from consumers that
currently just have an antenna for their television signal reception
to anyone who is fed up with the never-ending price hikes that
the cable companies continue to leverage on their customer base.
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Q: Where can one purchase Dish Planet’s
products?
A: The
products can be purchased through our national call center by
calling 1-800-669-9709 where our specialized customer service
agents analyze and formulate the smart choice at the most competitive
prices.
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Q: What is one to make of those anti-satellite
ads?
A: Have you seen one lately? Anytime a company resorts
to a mudsling advertising campaign, you know they are desperate.
These campaigns don't work because consumers are getting more
and more sophisticated. Numbers don't lie - satellite subscription
numbers are up and cable subscribers are defecting! With cable
operators facing turmoil ranging from bankruptcies and corporate
corruption to chronic price increases and sub-standard customer
service, the satellite providers have seen, and continue to experience,
a dramatic upsurge in demand for their services.
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Q: How
do I sign up for DIRECTV® satellite services through Dish Planet?
How does it work?
A: You must:
- Be a first time DIRECTV® customer
- Have a credit card (Visa, MC, Amex, Discover) or a checking
account
- Pass a credit check in order to be eligible for service.
This is how it works:
- Click on Order Online and go thru the 4 step order process.
- If at any time you need assistance, feel free to chat online,
call or email
our sales center.
- After you submit your order, one of our sales agents will
contact you to complete the order, which includes credit card
details for payment and
running a credit check. You must provide
us with your social security
number.
- After your order is successfully processed, you will have
two options to get your System depending on where you reside:
Either the System (dish and receivers) is mailed to your home,
which takes 2 to 3 days or the installer
will bring it along
when he/she comes to perform your free standard installation.
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Q: Why is Dish Planet
referred to as “Next
Generation TV”?
A: To give you the best perspective, let’s
go back into time – to a little known invention by Paul
Nipkow in 1884 consisting of a disk with holes spiraling into
its center. We know it's hard to believe, but this little disk
shaped the development
of television.
The “first” generation of television
sets were not entirely electronic. The display
(TV screen)
had a small motor with a spinning disc and a neon lamp, which
worked together to give a blurry reddish-orange picture about
half the size of a business card. The period before 1935
is called the "Mechanical Television Era". This
type
of television was not compatible with today's fully-electronic
television system.
The time period right after World War-II is when
the modern-day television as we know it came into being. Families
had accumulated savings during the war years, and were eager
to purchase homes, cars, and other luxuries denied them during
the War. Television sets were soon added to their “must
have” lists. The explosion of sets into the American
marketplace occurred in 1948-1949. The Post-War sales boom
for England followed a few years later.
1950-1959 was an exciting time period for television. In
the USA, black and white television exploded onto the scene at
the beginning of the decade, the mid-decade saw electronic
color television and remote
controls launched, and at the end of the decade the public
witnessed some interesting styling changes and the introduction
of transistorized television.
Over forty years later, we now talk to each other
on digital cellular phones and send email over a global network,
but television in the United States has stayed essential the
same. Sure, we've seen a few incremental advances, such as stereo
sound, closed captioning, and better receivers, but nothing has
come along to shake up the way we think about television. But
all that has just recently changed. Television has gone satellite,
digital and interactive!! And Dish Planet is here to bring it
to you –
Dish Planet is the universal choice in next generation
TV!
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Q: What do you mean by “all digital
programming”? What is “digital” programming?
A: Remember the good ole days when someone in
the family would assume the
job of antenna contortionist? To
improve that ephemeral picture to a viewable standard, they would
skillfully adjust the alignment, length, and altitude of the
antenna to get the best possible picture. But sometimes the picture
would still
show a foggy double image or ghostly images from
the next channel. All these problems are caused by the weak signals
from distant or blocked transmitters.
A basic natural law that our technology can't
overcome is the weakening of
television signals as they travel
away from the transmitter and around or through objects. Both
analog and digital signals get weaker with distance. However,
while
the picture on an analog TV slowly gets worse for more
distant receivers, a picture
on a digital set will stay perfect
until the signal becomes too weak for the receiver to pick it
up. By perfect we mean the picture on the TV is exactly the same
picture the broadcaster started with at the transmitter. In a
digital signal, a one is always
a one and a zero is always a
zero.
Satellite TV is 100% Digital. Cable may provide
digital programming, but charges about twice as much.
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Q: Does HDTV translate to just a better
picture or is there more to it?
A: There is more to it – the Sound! HDTV
broadcasts sound using the Dolby Digital/AC-3 audio encoding
system. It's the same digital sound used in most
movie theaters,
DVDs, and many home theater systems since the early 1990's. It
can include up to 5.1 channels of sound: three in front (left,
center, and right),
two in back (left and right), and a subwoofer
bass for a sound you can feel (that's the .1 channel). Sound
on digital TV will be "CD quality" with a range of
frequencies lower and higher than most of us can even hear.
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Q: Will I receive my local channels?
A: Yes,
local channels are offered via satellite to over 100 cities with
more cities being added every week. Visit the ‘Locals’ section
on the Programming menu to determine if your city qualifies for
locals or call us at 1-800-669-9709.
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Q: Is my satellite service going to be cut out due
to bad weather?
A: No, Satellite systems cut out due to bad installation and
not bad weather! All of our technicians are certified and use
the highest grade equipment to ensure your satellite system will
not cut out due to bad weather.
Christine Grochmal of Villa Ridge, MO, a Dish Planet customer,
had this to say, “I listen to the anti-satellite statements
on TV and here in Missouri we have had ice, snow, freezing rain,
and very high winds and have not lost our signal once. I want
to know what planet these people are from because it isn't this
one. I have had absolutely no
interruption of my satellite service,
it is the greatest.”
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Q: Will my monthly rate increase like cable?
A: No. The facts are clear that cable companies increased their
monthly bill 5
times the rate of inflation while satellite provider’s
rates have marginally gone
up – way below inflation rate.
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Q: Does the monthly price quoted include sales tax?
A: No, your quoted monthly price does not include taxes. You
will need to add
your local sales tax, which varies from State
to State, averaging around 4%.
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Q: Does the dish need to go on my roof?
A: No. The final location of the dish is pre-approved by you
(the customer) before the technician installs the dish. There
are usually five different locations that a dish can be mounted
onto for residential dwellings.
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Q: Is there a local service office in my area?
A: Yes. We have trained certified technicians in your neighborhood
ready to service you should you ever experience technical difficulties.
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Q: What is a receiver? Do I need one and if so, how
many?
A: A receiver converts the satellite signal from the dish to
your TV and also
enables you to interact with your TV to, amongst
other things, order pay per view, record, pause live TV, play
games, view programming guide, etc. It is a required piece of
equipment to view satellite TV. Typically each television set
requires one receiver. However, some receiver models can support
up to two televisions. Don’t
be
confused with all this!
Just tell us how many televisions are in your house and
how many
you want to view satellite programming independently (i.e. watch
different channels on different TVs) and we will determine the
appropriate receiver combination for you.
By the way, there are three types of receivers; Standard, DVR,
and High-Definition.
DVR or Digital Video Receivers combine the function of standard
receivers and a VCR into one. These are our most popular receivers.
High-Definition receivers convert high-definition programming
to a high-definition TV for the best resolution. However, for
high definition quality, not only do you need an HD receiver,
but also a high-definition TV.
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Q: Do I need a cable-ready TV?
A: No. Satellite digital programming is compatible with every
TV ever manufactured in the last 15 to 20 years. High-definition
programming requires a high-definition TV.
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Q: What is a standard installation?
A: A standard installation will take approximately
2 to 3 hours, depending on the number of TVs and the type of
receivers to be connected. There must be a clear view of
the southern sky from where the dish will be installed. It
will include the standard mounting of the dish, an exterior cable
run, one wall penetration, connection of the dish to the receiver(s),
and connection of television(s) to receiver(s). The installer
will also provide up to 100 ft of cable for connecting the dish
to the receiver. Any additional work that you might want
the installer to do will be charged at an extra rate to be negotiated
between you and the installer and should be agreed upon before
any additional work is done. Wiring additional equipment
such as a sound system or running cables through the attic and
walls is considered outside the scope of the standard installation
and will cost extra. An adult with the same last name
as that on the invoice will need to be at home at
the time of the
installation to sign the appropriate paperwork and to finalize
the programming selection process on the phone with the DIRECTV® representative that will activate the programming
on the system. You will also may be asked to complete a Quality
Survey with a Dish Planet representative. Finally,
the
installer will show you the basics on operating the system
and assure that you
have a good signal and that the equipment
is operating according to specifications.
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Q: Do I need a credit card?
A: It is best if you have one. A credit card is
preferred for signing up for our programming. We accept Visa/Master
Card/ American Express and Discover. The credit card information
is required to verify credit worthiness. If you do not have a
credit card, we can still offer you our services as long as you
have a checking
account.
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Q: Do I have to choose my programming right now?
A: No. If you are not sure which package(s) you desire, you
can simply choose the basic programming package for now. You
can always upgrade at no cost later.
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Q: Can I change my programming
package?
A: Yes, you can make changes to your Program Package
at anytime as long as
you maintain the minimum programming (Total Choice).
There may be a
small service fee charged if you change to a lower tier package,
but no change fee charged if you upgrade to a higher tier package.
If you are not sure of your programming package, we recommend
that you start with the minimum and upgrade anytime later.
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Q: I am interested in International programming.
How do I sign up?
A: Many
International Programming packages are available, including South
Asian,Vietnamese, Italian, Chinese & Spanish.
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Q: What about Adult Programming?
A: We have various levels of Adult Programming
available. The systems and the services come with inherent Adult
Guard features to ensure these channels are password protected.
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Q: Our Homeowners Association forbids
satellite dishes. What can I do?
A: THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORBID SATELLITE
DISHES! Our dish antenna sizes are 18" or 20" and comply
with the Satellite Consumer Bill of Rights, a regulation released
by the FCC on August 6, 1996. This regulation PREEMPTS area zoning
ordinances and Homeowner Association covenants and restrictions
on DBS dish antennas. This rule was implemented by Congress in
the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Some Home Owner’s Associations
have been fighting to keep restriction rights, in some cases
arguing that a dish antenna is installed in a common area by
calling the air space above the homeowner's roof where the dish
antenna is installed, the "common area". Don't worry
- the government is on your side in this matter! Visit the FCC
website for details. (http://www.fcc.gov)
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Q: If I live in an apartment or condo
can I still get a dish?
A: Yes, if you have a balcony. If you rent, then
your landlord must give you permission. FCC rules permit residents
of rental property to install a satellite dish, but only in certain
areas. Generally, FCC rules permit renters to install a dish
only
in areas that are subject to the renter's exclusive use
and control. In most cases,
this means an area that you may use,
but that is not available for the general use
of all tenants.
Such an area may include a balcony, patio, yard, deck or other
area that only you have the right to use. If you have such an
area, you may install a
dish. Additionally visit the FCC
website for details. (http://www.fcc.gov)
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Q: Can I get a Dish installed on my motor home or tractor-trailer?
A: Yes, we do have packages available for your RV or motor
home. We welcome
your call to discuss mobile mounting solutions.
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Q: Can I use my pre-wired cable?
A: Dish Planet installers will use RG-6 cable to provide the
best possible satellite reception. If your home is pre-wired
with RG-6 cable and the installer determines that it is in good
working condition, we could use your pre-wired cable.
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Q: What is a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)?
A: DVR is an integrated satellite TV receiver and
Digital Video Recorder. This advanced receiver contains a huge
internal hard drive that can record up to 100
hours without
videotape. It lets you pause and replay any show (even live
TV!),
skip recorded commercials and create slow motion effects.
Here is what one of our customers Jimmy Smith of Lincoln Park,
MI had to say about their new DVR…….“We have completely disconnected
the VCR because the DVR is light year’s more advanced
then
the VCR. We never miss a show and we can stop live TV, back it
up to as much
as two hours prior, all the while we can skip through
the commercials and catch up with the live
TV again, try doing
that with a VCR. This has been FANTASTIC; it has revolutionized
our entire television experience.”
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Q: What is High-Definition or HDTV?
A: HDTV reproduces theater-quality sights and sound by digitizing
TV programming, allowing it to be transmitted and received the
same way that a DVD player can reproduce movies with big-screen
quality effects. High-Definition digital broadcasts transmits
as many as 10 times more pixels, or picture frames, than you
are used
to seeing on a standard broadcast television, resulting
in sharper, more lifelike
colors and richer sounds. HD Satellite
TV is broadcasted in widescreen (16:9)
format.
Unlike standard
(4:3) format, which causes some images to appear squeezed in
the middle or cut off along the sides of the screen, widescreen
HD broadcasts reproduce screen images as they were originally
meant to be seen. You will need a High-definition receiver, a
HD compatible TV to take full advantage of
the HD viewing experience.
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Q: Why do I need a phone line connected
to my receiver?
A: A phone line connection is required for some
receiver models (dual receiver models - one receiver connected
to two TVs). The phone line will not interfere with your telephone
use. Its primary purpose is to provide continuous access to On-Demand
movies and events.
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Q: Will
I have Parental Control system to lock out channels that I
don’t want my family to view?
A: Yes, Satellite TV has an advanced yet easy to use Parental System
Lock feature. The Parental System Locks gives you the capability
to hide any channels from your Electronic Program Guide or lock
them out. This prevents any children in the household from viewing
the programming or accessing the program information.
You can restrict
your receiver from viewing programming that contains certain ratings
(PG 13, R, NC-17, etc.) or expanded ratings (violence, nudity,
etc.) or any channels (HBO, ESPN, etc.)
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