networking directv or dishnetwork question

[ohioguy27]

I hate landline phones... So I don't have one. BUT I want to get either dishnetwork or Directv... They both "require" a landline. I was wondering if anyone knows how to interface either of these units with my home network so they can do their "dialing" via broadband... Because if I have to get a landline to get satellite... I'm going to stick with cable.

[Tazzin]

The only way I could see this working... maybe is if you get a service like Vonage to use your broadband connection .. IP telephony.. I am no means an expert.. nor do I have satellite.

[paul9]

if it's anything like sky in the uk, then you don't NEED a phoneline, just that you have to pay full price for the install and equipment if you don't connect. how do you connect to the net?

[rrcn]

I know for a fact that Dish Network doesnt need a phone line to work. The only time you would need a phone would be when you want to order pay per view channels and I think that can be done with a cell phone cause dont they ask you what your account number is when you order? or something of that nature?

[paul9]

but sky in the uk insist you connect to a phoneline for 12 months to receive their interactive discount. they have this sky interactive crap that puts a red dot graphic over the top of whatever you're watching to let you know that you can press the red button on your remote and rack up a premium rate phone bill. just another way to screw more money from you. charge you to watch a channel then load it with ads. grrrrr. pet hates of mine.

[ohioguy27]

The thing is... I'm moving to the middle of nowhere (south carolina) and the cable service there is horrible... so I'm going to use the ghetto cable service for broadband and then get my entertainment from Dish or Directv (I'm leaning toward Directv for the Tivo unit)

[elroy]

I have Dish Network and have never had a phone line connected to it. They will probably tell you that you must have one but if you can get past that issue with a little white lie then you are set. You can order movies by calling them on your cell phone but I think they charge an extra $1 to do it that way. I'm sure they figure they will lose a lot of extra profit if you don't have a phone connected and order "lots" of movies. Also if you ever call for tech support they can tell who you are immediately [caller ID]. The way I understand it is you can order movies w/o the phone line but it stores that info on the smart card in the receiver and after a while it gets full and seizes up, then you'll need to call tech support to get it going again and then they will find out you've been watching movies and will bill you for all the movies you watched. I'm not an expert on this so anyone who wants to jump in here ....

[bailey]

the only time it needs the phone line is for paying the pay for view special shows, and if that is what your wanting you will need the phone line too.

[Front242]

DirecTV does not need a phone line, nor is one required. You just need to tell them that you do not have a land line. You can still order PPV movies online with no service charge. If you try to do it over the phone they will charge you.