I got home Friday evening to find @aelerelean napping on the couch, the TV off, the fan and A/C running. But lo, what was that other noise I hear? The sound of computer fans spinning like they were trying to get airborne. The hell? I looked around. It wasn’t the ceiling fan, @aelerelean didn’t have the box fan on, the PS3 wasn’t on (I can’t hear it anyway). So what the hell was it? That’s when I turned to the shelves below the TV. There were some lights missing. Namely, the Dish receiver. No lights, but the fan spinning for all it’s worth. Fuck. Just a week prior the receiver failed to see satellites and I was sent a refurb. This one just stopped booting. So, on the phone I get to Dish. I was pissed (because, hey, I had this thing a week).

“Thank you for calling Dish Network AT&T[don’t ask] how may I help you?”
“The receiver I got last week now doesn’t work.” I was nice. I was calm. I wanted my TV. Dollhouse premier starts in 45 minutes.
“Well, all right, what are you seeing?”
“Nothing. It’s black. The fans are on, and the green light randomly shines.”
“Oh, um, wow. Let’s get that fixed.” I’m sure she was expecting “I got’s an error thingy” or “Mah power dun went off and now I cain’t gets mah judge judy!” She verified some information and “sent a signal.” As soon as she did, THE GODDAMN THING WORKED!
“Holy crap! I guess I just needed to call you! I have a picture!” For all of 2 minutes. Then it died again.
“Okay, this is a harddrive issue. I will overnight you a new one. And for your trouble since you just had an issue a week ago, i will issue a $50 statement credit.” W00t! Remember, kids, being nice and calm gets you stuff.  I took down the RMA number and we completed the call.

What I learned/kinda already knew:

  1. Overnight is only overnight if it is before Friday. Quite possibly before Thursday noon. I knew this. Overnight Friday 6:45pm gets you sometime Monday. Even if it is FedEx.
  2. Dish Network support does not suck. At all. I don’t know if it has anything to do with me still being linked to AT&T or not. All signs point to no. Dish is Dish is Dish. My account number probably says “hey, AT&T customer. Say this greeting.” Nothing more.
  3. I am lost if I can’t have the TV on in the living room. Really. It’s stupid. I have a perfectly good tv and receiver in the bedroom. But I don’t want to be in the bedroom. I want to be in the living room. Stupid, I know.
  4. PS3 Media Server is 15 kinds of awesome.

So yes, woe is me, I can’t watch TV in the living room. I had to hook up the antenna to watch the Steelers get their goddamn asses kicked (what the fuck, guys? Really? What the fuck??). Whatever will I do? *eyeroll*