DISH FAQ

DISH serves up the best DVR around plus a two-year price guarantee. Not only are your costs lower in the long run compared to DIRECTV’s, but your price is locked in for two years. And you’ll get the Hopper 3 DVR—the best DVR out there if you ask us. (Why? It gets up to 16 simultaneous streams, works with up to 7 TVs, and has 2 TB of storage. Mic drop.)

DISH is one of two satellite TV providers in the US and part of the DISH Network Corporation. Along with serving up satellite TV to over 9.9 million subscribers, the DISH Network Corporation also owns the internet TV service Sling TV.

DISH’s TV service is one of the best in the country—though we should add DIRECTV is the only competing satellite TV service in the US. But while DIRECTV has its strengths, DISH is great for its two-year price guarantee and the powerful Hopper 3 DVR. (We think the Hopper 3 is the best DVR out there, by the way.)

Depending on which DISH package you choose, you can get between 190 and 290+ channels. Here’s a peek at what channels each DISH package includes.

The biggest differences between DISH and DIRECTV are the following:

Want to know more? Dig into the details of DISH vs. DIRECTV.

Sadly, you can’t get DISH satellite TV without a dish. The good news is DISH’s installation is free. So as long as you have space and permission to install a dish, you’re good to go.

DISH no longer provides satellite internet service, though it used to under the name dishNET. But you can bundle your DISH TV service with Viasat satellite internet or grab a cable, fiber, or DSL internet connection.

You can have up to seven TVs with DISH, but you’ll need six Joeys and the Hopper 3 to do it.

DISH Network satellite TV costs $84.99–$114.99 per month with a two-year contract and three-year price guarantee. Here’s a package-by-package cost breakdown:

Yes, you’ll need to sign a two-year contract to get satellite TV with DISH. But DISH also guarantees your price will stay the same for those two years—and another year after that, should you be interested in continuing service.

Depending on which package you choose, that’s likely to save you some money in the long run. Let’s compare the DISH America’s Top 120 package (190 channels) with the DIRECTV CHOICE package (185+ channels).

Depending on which version of the Hopper you add to your DISH plan, it’ll cost you between $5 to $10 a month. That’s including the $5 per month discount you get for being a new customer—and that discount lasts for 24 months.

If you cancel DISH before your two-year contract is up, it’ll cost you $20 a month for each month remaining on your contract. So, if you cancel DISH and have six months left on your 24-month contract, you’ll owe $120.

The easiest way to see your monthly DISH bill is to visit MyDISH and hover over the My Account menu. From there you can choose My Bill & Payments or Pay My Bill to log in and see what you owe.

You can also find your bill under the My Account option on your Hopper receiver, or download the MyDISH app from the iTunes Store or Google Play. And don’t forget to update your email address under the My Profile section at MyDISH.com to receive monthly emails whenever your bill is ready.

To pay your DISH bill, create an account or log in to MyDISH. Then hover over the My Account menu option and choose Pay My Bill. (P.S. You can also opt in to AutoPay under My Preferences to have your bill automatically paid each month. No more worrying about due dates!)

• Use the MyDISH app (available for Android and Apple).
• Text “pay bill” to 34741.
• Call 1-800-333-3474 to use the automated payment system or talk to a representative.
• Use your Hopper receiver and go to My Account on the main menu.
• Send a check by mail (remember it takes up to 10 business days to see your payment on your account). The mailing address depends on where you live—see where you should send your check at the DISH customer support page.

If you have questions about your DISH bill, your best bet is to call DISH customer support at 1-800-333-3474. Customer service representatives are available by phone seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight eastern standard time (EST).

If you prefer text support, you can also chat with DISH customer support about your bill, either in your web browser or using iMessages. The DISH customer support chat is also open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight EST.

Yes, DISH charges a cancellation fee if you cancel before your two-year contract ends. The fee is $20 for each month remaining on your contract.

Let’s say you cancel your DISH service and have 10 months left on your 24-month contract—you’ll owe $200 in cancellation fees.

DISH is available in most of the US, including Alaska and Hawaii.

DISH TV service requires a satellite dish, which you’ll need to have installed professionally. Luckily, DISH will mount your satellite dish to your roof and set up your DVR for free.

• DISH will email you your appointment details.
• DISH will remind you about your installation appointment by phone, text, or email the day before.
• On the day of your installation, DISH will give you a 75-minute appointment window.
• Bonus: DISH lets you track your appointment and your technician online with the My Tech feature in the MyDISH app.

You don’t need any equipment to install DISH. A professional technician will mount your satellite dish and set up your DVR for free.

But while your technician will arrive with all the tools for the job, there are a few things you can do to ensure a smooth installation:

• Get your landlord’s or HOA’s permission to install a satellite dish.
• Make sure pets and small children are safe and out of the way.
• Figure out where you want your DISH receivers, and move any TVs away from the wall.

The Hopper is DISH’s satellite TV receiver. It comes in a few different variations: the Hopper 3, Hopper with Sling, Hopper, Hopper Duo, and Wally.

Here’s how each version of the Hopper compares.

The customer service number for DISH is 1-800-333-3474. This is the best way to reach someone at DISH who can help you with billing and account questions or troubleshoot technical problems.

Technical support is ready and willing to help seven days a week, 24 hours a day. But if your issue isn’t technical, be sure to call any day between 8 a.m. and midnight EST.

To chat with DISH TV customer support, visit the MyDISH support page. You can either chat in your internet browser or—if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac—talk to support using iMessage by clicking the Chat with Messages button on the support page.

The DISH customer care chat is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight EST.

To cancel your DISH TV service, call customer support at 1-800-333-3474. DISH customer support is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight EST.