DISH Network Retailer Chat Recap - "Hopper Special" - 2/16/2012

[KAB]

We could call Claude the new "Bob" now since that username is available !

Claude needs to take a vacation. He had great credibility until these rantings. Don't think I will ever be able to recommend DISHSTORE anymore. And I PM'd him about it. Kept going on.

 

[Stargazer]

Looks like its a homerun with the improvements vs the previous DVR's but they struck out when it comes to the fees. I had a feeling that they would not waive that first Joey $7 fee and I knew all along that the Joey would be the same $7 fee as the additional outlet fees. Next, they will probably start charging that $7 fee for the first dual tuner receiver on your account (222, 522, 625, 722, 922) if it has two tv outputs just like they are doing with the first Hopper/Joey.

I always try to look on both sides of the fence so here is the other side ...

One can see an advantage though if you have dual tuner receivers in single user mode. I may pay $4 more for the first Hopper but save $10 on the second one that has three tuners so that is a total savings of $6, two additional tuners, Primetime anytime, lots of additional hard drive space, apps and knowing all additional outlets will be in HD and simply by splitting it without an additional wire run to the dish. The $6 in savings could be applied to another Joey which is $7 giving me three televisions. Most people only have three televisions or less but most also never put their DVR's in single user mode either.

If they make the Hopper their main receiver in the future or the only one for new customers then I don't think people will be happy to be forced into the $10 fee that it has.

 

[handymantoo]

What are plans A, B, or C. I looked at my contract and statement and there is no plan listed.

 

[Laddyboy]

Ouch... here comes that SOON word again! That along with the package choices, only 3 tuners, and extra fees, looks like that makes up my mind with going with the 5 tuner DirecTV install. Dish drops the ball again...I'm not surprised. It was a good attempt though.

I think the lack of multiple Hopper integration will end up pushing others in that same direction. Maybe after a couple years on the other side, Dish will have everything working OK. I don't think I understand the extra fees complaint nor the package choices (unless you mean sports).

 

[Rinker97]

Coming out at a good time for me since the house should be done and we should be in by April 1st. I'll be glad to get off of cable. Gives me some time to see how it's going before I have to order.

I hope hopper will be enough tuners for me. I would probably enable PTAT so I would have 2 tuners left during prime time. I like the HR34 from Direct with 5 tuners but don't like how they do the EHD. I think for me, Dish is a better solution. I'll just need to decide if 1 hopper and joey is enough or if I should spend a little more and get 2 hoppers.

One question, if I set up timers to only record new shows and there is a conflict, will it record the show if it is broadcast later? I think that would be a nice feature for the channels that rerun their shows right away.

 

[Jim S.]

The big thing about Hopper is shared DVR with HD to the remote TVs. If your SD at the remotes, then you don't have any need to upgrade.

You mean other than the fact that the Hopper gives you an additional tuner, which is really necessary since channels inexplicably schedule their best shows opposite one another rather than spacing them out where you could watch them all?

 

[sparc]

But a much better system, with a lot more features. Its up to the customer to decide what they want and no one is forcing anyone to upgrade.

true, but you also indicated that Dish wants all their customers on the Hopper/Joey.

The pricing doesn't seem nearly as aggressive enough to make that happen. Making the first joey a part of the primary hopper/whole home fee would go a long way to making this a more palatable upgrade.

 

[///M AZING]

Scott: I agree, whether it is the RV, Tailgater, or the Weekend Cabin, It would be reasonable to allow 1 standard receiver (at the normal monthly charge). I think that a 2 account requirement would push people to "the other choice" more rapidly that Dish thinks.

Not understanding the big deal here as I don't rv/tail gate... can't you just pack your 2nd hopper or leave it in the rv? Is it the $200 upgrade for a second that is the problem? Or even just take your main hopper with?

 

[dishrich]

I wish the fees were a bit lower, but I have a 722k and a 622 (single mode) My bill will go up a whopping $1. Wow. Not sure if I can afford that.

And you even get the privilege of LOOSING a tuner for that $1...

 

[Laddyboy]

Not understanding the big deal here as I don't rv/tail gate... can't you just pack your 2nd hopper or leave it in the rv? Is it the $200 upgrade for a second that is the problem? Or even just take your main hopper with?

The Tailgater antenna doesn't work with anything other than a ViP 211.

 

[dare2be]

I wish the fees were a bit lower, but I have a 722k and a 622 (single mode) My bill will go up a whopping $1. Wow. Not sure if I can afford that.

My more common setup will go up $11, almost triple the cost.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

true, but you also indicated that Dish wants all their customers on the Hopper/Joey.

The pricing doesn't seem nearly as aggressive enough to make that happen. Making the first joey a part of the primary hopper/whole home fee would go a long way to making this a more palatable upgrade.

They don't want to upgrade everyone overnight.

Sometimes good things come to those that wait... is this one of those times? That I don't know.

 

[dare2be]

They don't want to upgrade everyone overnight.

Sometimes good things come to those that wait... is this one of those times? That I don't know.

Oh, I'll be waiting, but receiver fees going down? I won't hold my breath. I doubt there is a Dish precedent for that. Just the opposite.

 

[dishrich]

I have also never used their HR34 Mutliroom DVR but have been told that you can only watch one recording in a remote room at a time meaning that bedroom 1 can watch a DVRed show, while Bedroom 2 can't. If this is true (and again I have never used one) that is a big limitation to have.

You are getting VERY bad info then...ALL 4 rooms can watch DVR'd shows out of the HR34, whether the secondary outlets are full-receivers (H25's) or thin-clients. THAT was the whole idea of coming out with this thing...
Furthermore, ALL 5 tuners in the HR34 can be used for either recording OR live TV out to those secondary rooms. If the secondary rooms are H25's, since they have their own tuners built in, you could be recording 4 TV shows, while still watching 4 LIVE shows simultaneously in ALL 4 rooms! Since D* charges $6 per receiver (NOT $7 as you had stated earlier) whether it's a full-receiver OR thin-client, I would just as soon go with the full receiver & gain a (live) tuner at EACH secondary TV!

I think you are confused with the current DVR's (HR2x) in a WHD set-up, where each DVR on the network can only stream 1 remote session at a time...(but still can stream a different local session)

And since you did bring up comparable costs w/U-verse...sorry, but even it's better (technology-wise) than this H/J crap...you at least have 4 full tuners in the DVR, & AT&T does NOT charge you an added WHD fee - & their additional receiver fees are the SAME monthly as those Joey's. And I do NOT even want to hear about that 8-day Prime Time on-demand sham, with the one tuner that's basically stuck ONLY being able to record big-4 net programming. It does NOT begin to make up for having 2 less tuners than the HR34, nor even thinking about trying to run 4 rooms of satellite service.

I figured all along this would be yet another high (monthly) price, but 2nd rate technology offering by DISH - at least I wasn't disappointed in being disappointed (again)...

 

[gdarwin]

What are plans A, B, or C. I looked at my contract and statement and there is no plan listed.

Only Dish knows. You will not find it on your contract or statement...

 

[Laddyboy]

snip

And I do NOT even want to hear about that 8-day Prime Time on-demand sham, with the one tuner that's basically stuck ONLY being able to record big-4 net programming. It does NOT begin to make up for having 2 less tuners than the HR34, nor even thinking about trying to run 4 rooms of satellite service.

I figured all along this would be yet another high (monthly) price, but 2nd rate technology offering by DISH - at least I wasn't disappointed in being disappointed (again)...

The third tuner doesn't have to be used to record PTAT. I'm not sure where you got that idea. It's an option that's available and one their research said was desirable. On the other hand, several of us were disappointed the Hopper only has 3 tuners as we could see it wouldn't work for a household with several members. Being able to add a second Hopper that's integrated would help, but that isn't ready yet and of course carries an additional fee. I doubt Direct is being scared with this intro. Dish is using its research that tells them that this setup will satisfy the majority of its subscriber base. Those of us here aren't their normal base, one presumes.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I think you are confused with the current DVR's (HR2x) in a WHD set-up, where each DVR on the network can only stream 1 remote session at a time...(but still can stream a different local session)

Bingo I think you nailed it! Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[Tyralak]

Well I called dish today to cancell since Direct tv whole home solution seems to be a better deal. They transferred me to the retintion department and was told by the rep that come March 15th dish will offer a special package for current customers. I hope this is true or i will switch to direct tv.(this is after being wit dish for 20 years).

For those of you obsessing over the number of tuners in the DirecTV whole home DVR and thinking it's a superior unit, keep this in mind. It isn't a full function whole home DVR the way the Hopper/Joey system is. You can't pause/rewind live TV from the extension units unless they happen to be DVR units themselves.

 

[ScottChez]

Too Soon on NOT Too Soon that is the question I ask of thee . . . . .

I am with DirecTV. I hate there guide. I want to switch to Dish. I currently have 3 HD DVRS all Networked Together with an OTA tuner for each DVR. For the My Play List I see all recordings form all HD DVRS (rooms).
Switching from DirecTV to Dish, the Two Hoppers would not talked to each (not yet) other AND I would loose about 15 Local OTA channels as there is no OTA tuner yet. They say it will be soon.


To Soon or Not Too Soon?

I have read so many threads on here about the 922 and other older models where new features were mentioned but not released for a year and in some cases NEVER.

To Soon or Not Too Soon,

The answer to the is

I must stick with DireCTV for now, maybe look at getting the new HR34 some more.


PS sure do wish they would finish adding the Weather Channel Weather scan to all cities.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-forum/277671-weather-channel-weather-scan-2.html

 

[FitzAusTex]

Guess Dish isn't going to recommending Hoppers for those who only want service for one TV. Not sure why the Whole Home $4 fee is going to be assessed for 1 Hopper and 0 Joeys...seems kinda difficult to do Whole Home with only a Hopper...