Rupert,
I have had Dish for 2 years with no problems. I love it. I have been in horse player heaven since I had installed. Between HRTV and TVG you will see every big race in the country and some not in the country. I received free installation but I am in a one family house. I have two DVD recorders which can record up to 100 hours of programming each. If you wind up paying $1000.00 for the installation maybe you could sublet your signal to your neighbors. You know become your own private cable company.
Good Luck!