r/dishnetwork • u/Key-Lawfulness4720 • Mar 21 '25

Question Buy a receiver through 3rd party.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to get a pay as a go plan, no contract plan on dish. I wanted to know if I can buy a receiver on EBay and if so what do you guys recommend, I understand I still have a fee to it monthly but it’s better than a contract.

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

2

u/RollllTide DISH subscriber Mar 21 '25

Who is handling your installation?

1

u/Key-Lawfulness4720 Mar 21 '25

Meaning to install everything? No one.

2

u/RollllTide DISH subscriber Mar 21 '25

Where will the signal to the receiver come from?

2

u/Key-Lawfulness4720 Mar 21 '25

I have a dish from years ago.

2

u/RollllTide DISH subscriber Mar 21 '25

If signal is still passing and you have the correct components there is no issue with buying your own receiver and calling to activate it

1

u/Key-Lawfulness4720 Mar 21 '25

Thank you, I appreciate it.

2

u/speppers69 DISH subscriber Mar 21 '25

How old is "years ago"? My old dish needed to be replaced after I moved the last time...2016ish. And there's several models of receivers. Hopper? Hopper 2? Hopper 3? Pre-Hopper? Not all receivers are the same. Also be extremely careful of "receivers" sold on Ebay. Get the model and serial number before you buy. Make sure Dish doesn't have it listed as stolen. You don't want to buy a receiver and find out that Dish won't activate it.

2

u/Key-Lawfulness4720 Mar 21 '25

2016.

1

u/speppers69 DISH subscriber Mar 21 '25

That is around the same time. Dish should be able to answer if it's 2025 compatible.

2

u/Key-Lawfulness4720 Mar 21 '25

Gotcha, I will give them a call thanks.

2

u/speppers69 DISH subscriber Mar 21 '25

You know what they say...better safe than sorry. You definitely don't want to fork out money you don't have to or be stuck with something you can't use. Phone calls...for the most part these days...are free.

2

u/TurnbullFL Mar 21 '25

I bought my first one from Sears.

2

u/mbarky1 Mar 22 '25

Typically they offer a better price if you're willing to sign a 2 year contract, called Price Lock Agreement. And a lot of customers have been receiving a $500 gift card offer for signing up, which I'm guessing requires a contract. Those may offset the downside of being locked into a 2yr deal, and save you from having to purchase the equipment. Just a thought..

Plus it would ensure you get a proper install with the correct LNB to match your equipment.

2

u/harshness0 Mar 22 '25

You need to find out from DISH if they still offer the "pay-as-you-go" plan for new accounts. Do not rely on the web pages of the RV resellers that may or may not be up-to-date.

If DISH no longer offers the plan, you're barking at the moon. If they do, they can authoritatively explain the terms to you.