DishHD Absolute Question

[djsebran]

I am getting conflicting answers on what this package includes. My question is if I add an additional SD 2 tuner receiver to this package, what will I be able to tune in and view on this box?

Does this package include the mirror SD channel of the HD channels when available?

Would it include local channels in SD if the locals are added?

 

[dmendenjr]

I posted this in another thread earlier today. I just subbed to this package and when I hit the All-Sub in the guide, this is what I have (minus duplicates, PPV's, and Sports Pack Channels)

HSN SD
USA SD & HD
FOOD SD & HD
HGTV SD & HD
A&E SD & HD
Bio SD & HD
History Channel SD & HD
Sci-Fi SD & HD
Oxygen SD (Free Preview)
Bravo HD
QVC SD
TNT SD & HD
TBS SD & HD
ESPN SD & HD
ESPNews HD
ESPN 2 SD & HD
VS SD
NFL Net SD & HD
Disney HD
Toon Disney HD
Cartoon Network SD & HD
ABC Family HD
Discovery SD & HD
TLC SD & HD
Animal Planet SD & HD
National GeoSD & HD
Hallmark Movie Channel SD & HD
The Science Channel SD & HD
The Documentary Channel SD
CNN SD & HD
CNBC+ HD
MSNBC SD (Free Preview)
Nasa Select SD
Weather Channel SD & HD
Travel Channel SD & HD
Collectible & Treasures SD
Jewelry Channel SD
Americal Alive SD
Shop Lation TV SD
LSHOP SD
Sat Response Net SD
Shop at Home SD
Gems TV SD
Jewerly TV SD
ShopNBC SD
Gem Shopping Network SD
WGN America HD
Angel One SD
KTV SD
CCTV9 SD
Angel 2 SD
HD Net HD
Discovery HD Theater HD
Universal HD HD
Music HD HD
Smithsonian Channel HD HD
HD Net Movies HD
MGM HD HD
WFN (HD) HD
Vs/Golf HD
Tennis Channel SD & HD
The Golf Channel SD
NBA TV SD & HD
NHL Net HD
PolSat 2 SD (Free Preview)
KBS America SD
Dreams TV SD (Free Preview)
CCTV E SD
Euronews SD (Free Preview)
The 18 PI stations from 9400-9418 SD
3 Angels SD

Don't know if that helps or not. Long story short, you get the mirrors of MOST of the HD Channels. The ones you don't get are ABC Fam, Disney, Toon Disney, ESPNews, Bravo, and CNBC+ (I think that is it).

 

[slicked25]

Assuming you have the HD Only package, any of the above (Red) HD only channels you want get on your SD receiver like HD Net, HD Movies, MGM, etc...

 

[dmendenjr]

still need to hook up my tv2, when I do... I will update.

 

[TalonDancer]

....Would it include local channels in SD if the locals are added?

Yes. The dishHD (AKA HD Only & dishHD Absolute) package includes the SD locals and it includes all the SD channels in Premium movie packages if you subscribe to these extra cost packages i.e. locals and/or premiums.

Talon Dancer - dishHD sub from it's inception

 

[TalonDancer]

....I just subbed to this package and when I hit the All-Sub in the guide, this is what I have (minus duplicates, PPV's, and Sports Pack Channels)...
... Long story short, you get the mirrors of MOST of the HD Channels. The ones you don't get are ABC Fam, Disney, Toon Disney, ESPNews, Bravo, and CNBC+ (I think that is it).

Thanks for posting this list. It really shows how the "HD Only" package is not -- HD Only In fact, the channels available in SD currently outnumber the channels available only in HD ones by a wide margin

For people on the fence about this package....
There is an ongoing debate about whether the SD equivalents of the HD channels will remain available to dishHD subs long term. IOW is the fact that most HD channels are currently available in SD also a mistake (AKA technical problem, etc.) or is the fact that some HD channels are NOT currently available in SD a mistake (AKA an oversight). AFAIK no one posting here actually knows which way this will go long term. So take your pick.

Talon Dancer

 

[dmendenjr]

For people on the fence about this package....
There is an ongoing debate about whether the SD equivalents of the HD channels will remain available to dishHD subs long term. IOW is the fact that most HD channels are currently available in SD also a mistake (AKA technical problem, etc.) or is the fact that some HD channels are NOT currently available in SD a mistake (AKA an oversight). AFAIK no one posting here actually knows which way this will go long term. So take your pick.

I haven't run my composite cable for my TV2 yet. Since TV2 is SD, does it downcovert HD to a useable signal or does it only show the SD feeds? If it doesn't downconvert the HD, then without SD included... it renders a two TV receiver useless (as the second tv would only see PI and home shopping channels)... that was why I was under the impression that SD was also included. But like you said, all of this is speculation.

 

[8bitbytes]

I haven't run my composite cable for my TV2 yet. Since TV2 is SD, does it downcovert HD to a useable signal or does it only show the SD feeds? If it doesn't downconvert the HD, then without SD included... it renders a two TV receiver useless (as the second tv would only see PI and home shopping channels)... that was why I was under the impression that SD was also included. But like you said, all of this is speculation.

TV2 is a downconverted signal.

 

[TNGTony]

Yes. The dishHD (AKA HD Only & dishHD Absolute) package includes the SD locals

Sorry, but no it doesn't. Local channels (SD only or SD/HD where available) are $5 extra a month total

Talon, you may have meant that the SD locals are included when you get SD locals as an add-on, but that is not what it said.

See ya
Tony

 

[TalonDancer]

Sorry, but no it doesn't. Local channels (SD only or SD/HD where available) are $5 extra a month total

Talon, you may have meant that the SD locals are included when you get SD locals as an add-on, but that is not what it said.

See ya
Tony

Thanks Tony. The "if you subscribe to these extra cost packages." qualifier was at the end of that overly long sentence. But I see now how it could be read to only apply to the movie premiums not both movies and locals.

Talon Dancer

 

[dmendenjr]

Somewhat on topic for this thread; when I run the line for my TV2 - will I get better PQ from composite or coax?

 

[slicked25]

Somewhat on topic for this thread; when I run the line for my TV2 - will I get better PQ from composite or coax?

Yes, you'll probably have to put your TV2 on Video but the picture will be much clearer no doubt.

 

[djsebran]

Thanks for all of the answers- I think I will submit an official question along with the channel information previously posted to Dish Network CS. I think that we deserve an official correct answer from Dish. I realy like the pricing of this package, but if the SD's for channels with and SD mirror are not included, this would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[dmendenjr]

if it is missing an SD mirror, you can always view the HD channel downcoverted on an SD set. (if I am to understand what the others are saying).

 

[grb]

Thanks for posting this list. It really shows how the "HD Only" package is not -- HD Only In fact, the channels available in SD currently outnumber the channels available only in HD ones by a wide margin

For people on the fence about this package....
There is an ongoing debate about whether the SD equivalents of the HD channels will remain available to dishHD subs long term. IOW is the fact that most HD channels are currently available in SD also a mistake (AKA technical problem, etc.) or is the fact that some HD channels are NOT currently available in SD a mistake (AKA an oversight). AFAIK no one posting here actually knows which way this will go long term. So take your pick.

Talon Dancer

I don't know what Dish is going to do with the SD equivalents of HD channels currently available in the HD Only (Absolute) package.

I do know however, that I stirred things up a bit at ceo@dishnetwork.com when I complained about the missing ones. Kristen Shaw@echostar.com called me to discuss the issue. Apparently nobody at Dish knew why some of the SD channels were included and others not. She researched this and called me 2 days later. Apparently, this was due to a technical problem with Dish -- SD had to be set up in the package to enable HD to be shown. This didn't quite ring true because the SD of some of the HD channels were added AFTER the HD was set up.

In any event, she made it clear that Dish did not intend to include the SD channels which may mean they will eliminate them in the future. Anyone considering this package should be prepared to deal with this event down the road...

 

[TalonDancer]

if it is missing an SD mirror, you can always view the HD channel downcoverted on an SD set. (if I am to understand what the others are saying).

AFAIK this only works if your receiver is HD capable AND serves 2 TVs one HD and one SD (e.g. 622, 722, etc). Others have said the the down converted HD leaves something to be desired when displayed on a regular 4:3 SD TV because of the black bands.

Talon Dancer

 

[TalonDancer]

.....In any event, she made it clear that Dish did not intend to include the SD channels which may mean they will eliminate them in the future. Anyone considering this package should be prepared to deal with this event down the road...

I agree.

It will be very interesting to see how Dish handles the HD receiver upgrade requests if/when they drop the SD equivalents.

Talon Dancer

 

[Jim5506]

This may accelerate my plans to buy an R5000 moded 211.

 

[8bitbytes]

AFAIK this only works if your receiver is HD capable AND serves 2 TVs one HD and one SD (e.g. 622, 722, etc). Others have said the the down converted HD leaves something to be desired when displayed on a regular 4:3 SD TV because of the black bands.

Talon Dancer

If you subscribe to the HD ONLY package, I would hope you are doing so because you have an HD capable receiver. I don't think they will let you unless you have an HD receiver.

Secondly, if you have two locations that you want to watch tv then you are going to get a dual tuner, dual location receiver.

Thirdly, yes the downconverted HD signal is still 16x9 so on a clunky 4:3 tv you will get black bars. Unfortunately folks, its time to make another upgrade. You can get a 22" or 24" widescreen lcd for cheap these days and then you won't have to look at the letterboxing if it bothers you so much. That's what I did for my second location and it looks fine.

I really don't understand all these threads about how the HD ONLY package does not have enough SD...

If you want SD, sub to a package that has the SD also.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

Thirdly, yes the downconverted HD signal is still 16x9 so on a clunky 4:3 tv you will get black bars. Unfortunately folks, its time to make another upgrade. You can get a 22" or 24" widescreen lcd for cheap these days and then you won't have to look at the letterboxing if it bothers you so much. That's what I did for my second location and it looks fine..

I don't have a problem upgrading to an HD tv , But what good is that going to do if I still have to watch SD programming on my 2nd TV from my 622? TV's aren't the issue, Its that SD output E* has on their Dual room receivers that some of us seem to forget.