DISH HOPPER SPEC SHEETS

[Smith P.]

Dish already said that PTA will not support the mythical OTA tuner. (That is, if the OTA tuner is ever released.)

Perhaps ppl don't get the idea of collecting one stream with the big four channels from one [SB] transponder, eg one frequency, ie using ONE tuner.

If they will look at OTA, they will find each of the four station is taking own frequency, so do OTA PTA you'll need FOUR OTA tuners with four GOOD signal ! Adding to that 4x load to drive and much more space will req for that feature. One big plus is OTA MPEG-2 quality is better (in not too many sub-channels there).

 

[dwarren2]

Dish already said that PTA will not support the mythical OTA tuner. (That is, if the OTA tuner is ever released.)

That was with a single Hopper. I was wondering if you had 2, could one record PTAT while the ota tuner was plugged into the 2nd.

 

[odbrv]

The following was sent to retailers on the Hopper and Joey. ....
With one click customers can record all primetime TV programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX every day using just one tuner.
• PrimeTime AnytimeTM – o Once activated, PrimeTime Anytime records local network programming in
high definition (where available) every night, and stores them for eight days after they’ve aired.
o This allows the Hopper to record up to six TV shows at once (two live programs and four PrimeTime Anytime shows) while allowing viewers to watch up to four different recorded or on-demand shows in four rooms of the house simultaneously.QUOTE]

The above PTA statmentcan be read 2 ways for ABC,CBS, FOX, NBC locals:
1st, You can get the locals( HD and SD) downloded to your DVR and if you have them in HD they will record in HD.
2nd, You can only get HD locals dowloaded.
If it was the 2nd then the 1st line should read; With one click customers with "HD" primetime TV programming can record all primetime TV programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX every day using just one tuner.
The way they put the 1st line , it more leads to the 1st interpretation.

 

[dare2be]

That was with a single Hopper. I was wondering if you had 2, could one record PTAT while the ota tuner was plugged into the 2nd.

I'm guessing your question is, on one Hopper, can an OTA tuner be used/recorded from while PTAT is active? Of course, it would be the same as one SAT tuner recording while an OTA tuner is recording as well, since PTAT only uses one SAT tuner.

 

[Mr Tony]

Here is one question I dont think I've seen yet

Will the Hopper fix the back to back recordings issue so there WOULD be the overlap (like Directv does) or is it still a hard cut or tie up two tuners during the overlap?

 

[GaryPen]

That was with a single Hopper. I was wondering if you had 2, could one record PTAT while the ota tuner was plugged into the 2nd.

Good question. My guess is that a two-hopper setup would be able to use two OTA tuners.

OTA, has it been established that the USB OTA tuner will be only a single tuner? Perhaps it will will be a dual tuner device?

 

[GaryPen]

Perhaps ppl don't get the idea of collecting one stream with the big four channels from one [SB] transponder, eg one frequency, ie using ONE tuner.

If they will look at OTA, they will find each of the four station is taking own frequency, so do OTA PTA you'll need FOUR OTA tuners with four GOOD signal ! Adding to that 4x load to drive and much more space will req for that feature. One big plus is OTA MPEG-2 quality is better (in not too many sub-channels there).

Perhaps they get it just fine, but aren't interested in the big four nets, or not during primetime. There is a lot more to OTA than abc, cbs, fox, and nbc. A lot more. There are multiple PBS stations, digital sub-channels, and even CW such as it is.

I, and many like me, aren't interested in PTA, and would prefer more tuners instead. Many of the reasons are posted in my PTA Poll thread, if you're interested.

 

[Mr Tony]

There is a lot more to OTA than abc, cbs, fox, and nbc. A lot more. There are multiple PBS stations, digital sub-channels, and even CW such as it is.

so true. I know both of us are in major markets where there is a lot more variety than the Big 4 on OTA. I record more of MeTV (on a subchannel) than stuff from "the big 4" (sports excluded)

 

[david_jr]

I'd put the duo node in the attic, put one Hopper where you 722 is and the other where your 612 is, then take your currently unused coax that runs to the basement connect one end to the node in the attic and the other end into a standard cable splitter in the basement to feed your other TV's. Done.

Problem is the attic will not be a good location for the node as I'm having blown in insulation installed next week. I'll either have to have it in basement or out on the outside of the house. I am asking because I have to run all necessary cables before the blown in comes. I ran a third line home run from the outside of house to basement just for future proof, but now it looks like I will need to run one more coax home run to basement.

 

[Foxbat]

Should I know what this means?

A quick Google shows "DMIPS" to be Dhrystone Million Instructions Per Second, where the Dhrystone is a standardized test for a CPU's integer performance. (Don't feel bad, I had to look this up myself.)

The 1,500 DMIPS specified on the Broadcom spec sheet means the CPU in the Hopper is over 4 millions times more powerful than the minicomputer I used (VAX 11/750) back in the 1980s.

 

[digital echo]

Still two or three lines down from the dish? Thanks for making it easier for the techs as well..

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

It wil actually be a lot easier install for the techs... you can even reuse the old RG59 to send to the Joey's

A lot less wire to run!

 

[MikeD-C05]

so true. I know both of us are in major markets where there is a lot more variety than the Big 4 on OTA. I record more of MeTV (on a subchannel) than stuff from "the big 4" (sports excluded)

I love MeTV. I have my dtv pal plus dvr set to record hours of that channel. I don't have any guide data so I had to down load the schedule from their website and set up manual timers for all the shows I like. I then have to go through the recordings and watch by time to see what I want to see. I just wish London Broadcasting Company that owns the station in my area would put out psip data so DISH could upload it to the satellite, and my dtv pal dvr would get guide data from the psip data. On weekends when nothing else is on , I watch hours of MeTv.

 

[theoak]

It wil actually be a lot easier install for the techs... you can even reuse the old RG59 to send to the Joey's

A lot less wire to run!

I am not an installer ... but I would think it would be easier for installers with the Hopper/Joey.

I have RG59 all over my home to various rooms. I think most homes have "cable" to the majority of their rooms. Hence, the installer would not need to do much for the Joey's. Unless, the individual has a TV in a room that does not have "cable"; however, if this was the case, the installer would have the same issue and would need to run satellite to that room anyway.

I have a 722 using TV2 to get to my other rooms.

If I go with a Hopper/Joey, I am good.

Currently, if I want to get HD on my other TVs, I would need at a minimum a 211 and a satellite feed.

For me ... it comes down to the all mighty dollar. Having the latest greatest tech is "cool" ... but if I am going to get "fee'ed" to death with a Hopper and Joey ... I will go with a 211 with its one time DVR fee. If the equipment lease is 50% of my programming charge ... something is just wrong with that "picture" ( pun intended )

 

[Poke]

Half to admit this looks really good... Ok so looking Oh Scott great job as always ok so looking at the spec sheets my setup I for now just have 2 HDTV's one in our main room then one for the other room. So I would have the "Hopper" in the main room then 1 "Joey" for the other room and looks like the "Hopper Internet" would be like the DECA for Direct. I would hook the "Hooper Internet" where my "DECA" is basically plug it into my Wireless Router then plug the coax back into the way like my DECA is. Which then should pas the internet connection to the "Joeys" and the Hopper itself so I guss if you want to add more rooms you just get a Hopper then right?? Also can you watch what you have recorded on your DVR from your Joey I would think you could?? Overall kind of like what Direct done.. I like the bigger HD 2TB and Dish has Blockbuster now as well and being able to watch new release when they come out on Tuesdays is a plus and the Joey's are small don't take up much room..

 

[Poke]

OK never mind just read the last spec sheet answered my questions.. I will have to admit there a couple of things like with Direct but I might be going back to Dish when this comes out.. Just like the lay out and the Joey's system really cool plus with Blockbuster so forth..

 

[Mr Tony]

I love MeTV. I have my dtv pal plus dvr set to record hours of that channel. I don't have any guide data so I had to down load the schedule from their website and set up manual timers for all the shows I like. I then have to go through the recordings and watch by time to see what I want to see. I just wish London Broadcasting Company that owns the station in my area would put out psip data so DISH could upload it to the satellite, and my dtv pal dvr would get guide data from the psip data. On weekends when nothing else is on , I watch hours of MeTv.

weird. I have guide data on my DTVPal (not the DVR just the old converter box) but we've had it for 3 months now. I know in your area it was just added recently

 

[digitalblue]

Some of what you say isn't how I understand it.

As a NEW Direct customer, which I am, if I would have added one more tuner giving me a total of 9 tuners (5 in the HR34 + 4 more tuners for 5 rooms total) they would have given me the different LNB and SWM16 for free. The SWM16 is still SWM even if it takes 4 lines from the LNB it still uses only one line per device after that. So no cost there.

The SWM16 bridges DECA between the two SWM8 ports but that is a recent change. Even if it didn't you could bridge them at an ethernet switch/router with two Cinema Kits and still have a full whole home DVR system with internet access for VOD etc.. I haven't had any problems connecting to the internet with the Cinema Connection Kit from any of my clients or the HR34 but that isn't to say nobody else isn't having problems.

I would bet that both Dish and Direct are going to have multiple firmware updates before everything is resolved. Also, the HR34 is the first DVR from Direct that can bridge Ethernet with its built in port simultaneously with the DECA so that could take the place of the Cinema Connection Kit. So I don't see any negatives from a technology standpoint.

Now the disadvantage I can see is if a person uses Joey's for Dish or RVU's for Direct is that if the main box goes out you lose all TV. That is why I went to separate tuners for the HR34 so that if it bites the dust I can still watch TV in addition to watching recordings.

So the true cost for a NEW customer would be the additional $399 internet purchase to add one more HR34. The HR34 and H25's and Cinema Connection kit were all free for me, I just had to pay for the $20 install/handling fee.

That probably isn't much different than how Dish will charge new versus existing customers

First, you're an existing customer, so all the fees quoted are real and would apply if you wanted to add a second HR34 to your existing configuration and have it professionally installed. You could also buy the parts online for about $150 (used SWM16 and LNB) and install everything yourself. If you go that route your only out $550 or so.

However, new customers would have to pay $299 for a second HR34 (they would get a second AP discount as a qualifying new customer) and the difference in material cost prior to initial installation. The LNB would be a wash, so no up-charge there, but the SWM16 is $225 compared to $8 for a SWM8 resulting in a $217 up-charge (at a minimum since $225 is cost and not retail). A new customer's upfront cost for two HR34's and two H25's would be around $650 including install, and each additional H25 would be no less than $99 (and may incur an install fee) because you would have used up all of your AP product discounts on the two HR34's and two H25's.

Using your example, and assuming you would have made the selection prior to installation, you would have paid $99 for the 4th H25, the difference in material cost, and potentially an install fee for the 4th H25.

D* considers a SWM16 a "custom" install, and you will be billed for the part. If someone from DIRECTV told you differently then make them put it in writing and order it now.

As for the DECA issue, it is sporadic.

 

[dwarren2]

Shouldn't all these discussions about Direct be moved to that forum. This is about Dish and this thread is about the Hopper/Joey!

 

[theoak]

I think folks are using DirectTV's pricing scheme to speculate on what Dish's would be.

So ... it is a little "grey" area ... but relevant.