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I have had Dish Network for several years and like it just fine. For the programming I get, it costs about the same as cable would if I lived in town--however I don't expect cable to get to my area in my lifetime. You didn't mention how much your programming on the large dish system costs per month. I haven't heard much about large dishes for years, but my brother in law used to get a WHOLE BUNCH of channels at no monthly cost at all when he had a big dish. Now this is a while ago, and maybe there is some system to collect fees now. I remember reading that some channels were going to be scrambled and a descrambler would be needed to watch them. If you can get the programming you want on your existing large dish at no monthly cost, it wouldn't take many months to make up for the cost of the new digital box. I would certainly stick with the large dish in that case. The other thing I would worry about is that if your large dish has been out in the weather since 1977, probably some of the parts could be wearing out. Plastic parts especially get brittle and go away in the sun. And I would wonder how easily you could get parts for a 1977 system if you needed them. The Dish antenna is mounted in a stationary position. There is no electrical/mechanical gadget to move the dish. Once you point it at the geostationary satellite, you are set. That satellite broadcasts all the channels, so you don't have to try to locate other satellites like you probably do with the large dish. The only problems I have had have been weather related. I have had coverage go out in heavy rain and snow storms and in wet heavy snow, the snow sometimes sticks to the dish and blocks the signal. When it does that, I melt the snow by spraying water on it with a garden hose I keep inside so it doesn't freeze. Before deciding to go with the small dish, I would suggest that you carefully look at the channels offered by Dish Network for the various monthly prices. My guess is that you will not be satisfied at the $30 level. We weren't. The Dish Network system is a good one....but it will cost you. Good luck, hope I have helped.
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