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I have dishnetwork with multiple receivers at my house. Two models:
Stripped down Sears cheapie.
Original box from Dish netowork, that is supposed to have WebTV, a Tivo-like device, etc. Powered by microsoft.
Stripped down model never needs to "dial home." Never has. Never will.
The Microsoft box SUCKS. Microsoft and Dish split the partnership shortly after the box was made, and Microsoft refused to allow the Dish engineers to peak at the software code, so as a result anytime there's a programming change the MicroBox freaks. I mention this because this is the only box that tries to "phone home" every two-three months or so, and I need to reset the damn thing to get it to work again. Stupid microsoft.
Moral of the story - according to Dish, they "don't track our viewing habits, and the phone dial-in is only to communicate to their servers for programming changes." Bah. They can download what they need from the sky, baby. I'd give their customer service a call and speak to a technician, and make them give you a yes or no answer in regards to the phone line, with no BS. I've used dishes for five years and never plugged them into a phone line.
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