Hopper 3 - Upgrade or Keep Waiting?

[mfoster711]

I have a 2 HWS + 2 Joey 1.0 setup and debating the upgrade to Hopper 3. I am wondering if most of the bugs on Hopper 3 have been worked out or should I keep waiting.

The main reasons I want to upgrade are

1. Joey 1.0 are just tooooooo slow
2. I occosionally have timer conflicts with recordings
3. Would like to have all recordings on one DVR for ease of access and because the HopperGo only works with one DVR

With this in mind, should I keep waiting?

 

[navychop]

I like the redundancy of two HWS. And I'd hate losing the red recording LED. Minor, but probably helping me wait until the H4 comes out.

Are you saying the Hopper Go will only work with one of your HWS? What if it dies?

 

[Hall]

• Joey 1.0 are just tooooooo slow

• I occosionally have timer conflicts with recordings

The Joey 2 units that will be installed are noticeably quicker than the Joey 1 units. With just a single Hopper 3 (16+ tuners), you will not run into timer conflicts anymore. No one, in normal use, will ever need to record (16) different things at the same time.

If you "need" a 2nd Hopper for the HopperGo, which I have no familiarity with, that may stop you for now. You can get (2) Hopper 3 DVRs but you have to go through the right people. Oddly, one of the DIRT people here just posted that you can't get (2) Hopper 3 units on the same account. If that's true, Dish very recently made a policy change.

 

[Troch77]

I have a 2 HWS + 2 Joey 1.0 setup and debating the upgrade to Hopper 3. I am wondering if most of the bugs on Hopper 3 have been worked out or should I keep waiting.

The main reasons I want to upgrade are

1. Joey 1.0 are just tooooooo slow
2. I occosionally have timer conflicts with recordings
3. Would like to have all recordings on one DVR for ease of access and because the HopperGo only works with one DVR

With this in mind, should I keep waiting?

Don't wait another Minute.
Do it.

The Joey 2 is way better than those 1s.
And the H3 makes them even better.

I just upgraded from 2 HWS, and Joey1 and Joey2 - to a Hopper3 and 3 Joey2s.
World of difference between the systems.
First off its faster across the board, PTA can be used without Drama of nightly recording conflicts.

So far no big recording issues but a small one, the one recording has some small synchronization issues from time to time, Not the audio, but the Motions and Picture presentation .

Could have just been a channel issue, But I don't think so, because when I rewind or FF it wasn't present again. So I'll keep an eye on that.

Netflix is a bit slower to load on the Joeys vs The H3 and even H2s
Never Used YouTube yet.
Ondemand had no issues, Even from the joeys.

The Hybrid has much better Signal quality than the 1.2kDPP version.
Strange since I've been told its lower.

Not the case here

I've peaked and repeaked those DPP1.2k, even swapped LNBs, and still no change.
My lowest TP8 on 61.5 was 40,
It is now 55 with the Hybrid
TP11 on the 72 was always around
48 now its 61.
Which puts it exactly where my Custom 1.5K dish had my levels.
So thats a big relief.

I'll admit I'm not a fan of a single server, but I do have a 211 I can use, Plus, Roku stick, Chromecast, Smart TV, PS4, My phone, I think I can manage long enough since Dish Tech visit is usually under 48 hours anyway.
And if recordings are that troublesome to lose, Buy a EHD, Or Buy DVDs or Blu rays for Archiving.
Since I don't archive with dependants on a provider for my library, This would never be an issue in My house.

But good luck, You will save a few dollars dropping that 2nd hopper as well. $2

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I have a 2 HWS + 2 Joey 1.0 setup and debating the upgrade to Hopper 3. I am wondering if most of the bugs on Hopper 3 have been worked out or should I keep waiting.

The main reasons I want to upgrade are

1. Joey 1.0 are just tooooooo slow
2. I occosionally have timer conflicts with recordings
3. Would like to have all recordings on one DVR for ease of access and because the HopperGo only works with one DVR

With this in mind, should I keep waiting?

I would upgrade as there is nothing in the pipeline that I know about to wait for.

 

[Cold Irons]

Downsized to a smaller house in town June; went from a 722 to a Hopper 3 & love it. Would never go back; no timer issues, more storage, ease of access for Netflix, etc. On a forum like this, you'll see more "bug" reports than the median; just the nature of a tech forum with a lot of power users. I have no complaints (other than a couple of minor issues) on my Hopper 3.

 

[Hall]

Yeap, we haven't experienced any of the bugs that have been discussed here. I know there was an issue with locking up or black screen after you exit Netflix (or other apps), but we haven't ran into, nor do we use the apps. We use a Roku for Netflix. There was also something about OTA recordings not working properly but we don't record off of OTA when there are satellite-provided locals. The sub-channels rarely are much interest to us.

 

[tripodrob]

I'm really curious if the OTA bugs have been resolved. My locals are in SD, so I rely on OTA, especially recording.

 

[MikeD-C05]

No longer any problems with OTA using the single usb ota dongle. The new usb dual tuner ota dongle has yet to be released to the public. Hopefully in February ,but they don't guarantee the functionality for dual ota tuners till May. So I'm sure there will be glitches till then.

 

[navychop]

So did they get the red "recording in progress" LED working?

 

[inazsully]

I've read that perhaps the PQ is better with the mew Hopper 3 compared to the original Hopper. Is this true? If so how this is this possible?

 

[navychop]

Small improvements in signal processing.

 

[Hall]

I've read that perhaps the PQ is better with the mew Hopper 3 compared to the original Hopper. Is this true? If so how this is this possible?

Personally, I can't say the picture is different. Certainly not enough that the difference jumps out at you.

 

[JSheridan]

I've read that perhaps the PQ is better with the mew Hopper 3 compared to the original Hopper. Is this true? If so how this is this possible?

I found that the picture is much better with the Carbon UI. Doesn't matter which Hopper you're using the CUI has a better picture.

 

[Troch77]

I've read that perhaps the PQ is better with the mew Hopper 3 compared to the original Hopper. Is this true? If so how this is this possible?

No.
Its no different.
Some enthusiasts claim that every time a new receiver is installed or released.

It is definitely faster than the H2 in just about every function.
Even the Joey 2s are a think a tad faster than the H2 when connected to the H3.

 

[Troch77]

So did they get the red "recording in progress" LED working?

There is no indication you are recording unless you go to the DVR menu, or Tuner Activity menu.

 

[Troch77]

I found that the picture is much better with the Carbon UI. Doesn't matter which Hopper you're using the CUI has a better picture.

That I'll agree with when it comes to the Menu...
But the actual PQ, looks no different on my 211z ,211k than the Hopper 3.
Or the H2s it replaced.

 

[Hall]

There is no indication you are recording unless you go to the DVR menu, or Tuner Activity menu.

Nor is one needed with (16)+ tuners. I guess one could look at a pre-Hopper 3 and see the light on and realize, "oh crap, I wanted to record something but probably can't), disregarding the fact that maybe only 1 of the 3 (or 4, if you have the OTA module) was in use. With (16)+ tuners, it simply isn't going to happen.

 

[Troch77]

Nor is one needed with (16)+ tuners. I guess one could look at a pre-Hopper 3 and see the light on and realize, "oh crap, I wanted to record something but probably can't), disregarding the fact that maybe only 1 of the 3 (or 4, if you have the OTA module) was in use. With (16)+ tuners, it simply isn't going to happen.

So far 4 of us only had a max of 6 tuners going at once.
And thats including the PTA tuner.

But it was nice not getting tossed from your live program to allow a recording to end 3 minutes later.

 

[Hall]

So far 4 of us only had a max of 6 tuners going at once.

If someone with a Hopper 3 complains about running into timer conflicts, it will be hard to not respond, "get a life".