Grouping of HD Channels

[illinibenz]

Hello,

I am looking to switch to satellite from cable. Time warner currently has all HD channels in the 400's which makes it very easy to only scroll through HD programming.

What is nice is that 402 relates to local channel 2, 404 to local channel 4, etc. It's very convenient.

From what I have read so far Dish is not like this. Locals in HD are in the 6000's and other HD is in the 9000's and it is not all grouped, and not easy to remember.

Is this true? Is there a work around?

Thanks!

 

[RandallA]

Hello,

I am looking to switch to satellite from cable. Time warner currently has all HD channels in the 400's which makes it very easy to only scroll through HD programming.

What is nice is that 402 relates to local channel 2, 404 to local channel 4, etc. It's very convenient.

From what I have read so far Dish is not like this. Locals in HD are in the 6000's and other HD is in the 9000's and it is not all grouped, and not easy to remember.

Is this true? Is there a work around?

Thanks!

With Dish Network locals are mapped to their local channel number. You will go to channel 2 to watch channel 2. They're also in the 6000 range but they're mapped to your local channel number and you will see both the HD and the SD version.

 

[KAB]

Hello,

I am looking to switch to satellite from cable. Time warner currently has all HD channels in the 400's which makes it very easy to only scroll through HD programming.

What is nice is that 402 relates to local channel 2, 404 to local channel 4, etc. It's very convenient.

From what I have read so far Dish is not like this. Locals in HD are in the 6000's and other HD is in the 9000's and it is not all grouped, and not easy to remember.

Is this true? Is there a work around?

Thanks!

No, not quite true, because with an HD receiver, all HD channels including OTA locals will appear in an HD ONLY Program Guide. And if you want further control, you can make an HD Faves guide.

 

[Mdvalenz]

You can make your own List of channels and they have an HD list you can stay on for the guide so it only shows you the HD channels. Though this is what I heard since I my install is in a couple weeks.

 

[kb7oeb]

Unlike with cable boxes you can create 4 custom channel lists with custom labels and group the channels however you want.

 

[dishcomm]

No, not quite true, because with an HD receiver, all HD channels including OTA locals will appear in an HD ONLY Program Guide. And if you want further control, you can make an HD Faves guide.

Actually that is not true. All channels are now mapped at their original Dish channel number. For example ESPN HD is ch 140 as is the SD feed. Unless changed by the user the reciver will default to the HD channel. Same for locals available in HD. Your major networks if available in HD work the same way. So for example we have here in this DMA chs 3(CBS), 9 (ABC), 18 (FOX) and 36 (NBC). In this case the receiver will default to the HD feed. Note...This does not apply to the VOOM channels. They are mapped in the 9000's.

 

[ts7]

Actually that is not true. All channels are now mapped at their original Dish channel number. For example ESPN HD is ch 140 as is the SD feed. Unless changed by the user the reciver will default to the HD channel. Same for locals available in HD. Your major networks if available in HD work the same way. So for example we have here in this DMA chs 3(CBS), 9 (ABC), 18 (FOX) and 36 (NBC). In this case the receiver will default to the HD feed. Note...This does not apply to the VOOM channels. They are mapped in the 9000's.

If I understand what you are saying, that is only partially correct. Dish does indeed include a "guide" selection (called All HD) that displays only HD channels. It should be noted, though, that this guide displays ALL HD channels, including those that are not part of the subscriber package. It also shows both the locals and sat networks mapped to their respective SD channels, as well as their sat channels (in the 6000 range).

At any rate, as others have mentioned, you can set your own guide (as I have done) that only includes the specific channels I want to watch and exclude all the rest (which is the majority).

From a DVR standpoint, it is advantageous to be able to select HD or SD as there is no need to record upconverted SD programming as an HD broadcast since SD uses a fraction of the disk space that an HD program uses. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of SD stuff being broadcast in "HD" when there is no difference between the SD and the HD content.

 

[jerryez]

Keep confusing the poor guy and he may never switch. You can pretty much set it up any way you want, so come on over and enjoy. I am sure that someone will quote me and say that is not really true, but to hell with them. It is simple and many more options than Cable DVR's, so enjoy!

 

[KAB]

It should be noted, though, that this guide displays ALL HD channels, including those that are not part of the subscriber package. It also shows both the locals and sat networks mapped to their respective SD channels, as well as their sat channels (in the 6000 range).

The 6000 channels can be eliminated from the guide:
Menu/6/9/ChanDisplay/DishHD Channels/Disable.