Hopper Joey Question?

[RobinDev13]

Hi, I just had 1 hopper and 2 joeys intalled on the 18th of May. I was switching from Dtv to Dish because of the hopper, I called and signed up on the 14th for 1 hopper 2 joeys, then after doing some research, I thought that 1 hopper was not going to have enough tuners for our viewing habits. I called back on the 17th the day before the install (I got a newbie on the phone) and I asked if I could get 2 hoppers and 1 joey, after being put on hold for sometime, he told me they could not do that, that they could only do 2 hoppers with 3 joeys. I asked what about 2 hoppers and 2 joeys and I would even pay extra if needed, he said no they could ONLY do 2 h with 3 j.

It's only been 2 days since the install and we've already have been having problems with not having enough tuners, for instance today, I was recording 1 program on DIY (that's 1 tuner in use) and watching and recording a program on HGTV (which used 2 tuners, even though I was on the same channel), now my husband tries to watch a program in another room and there are no tuners available! Now my mother also lives with us part of the year and she doesn't watch any of the same programs that we do, so that will be even more of a conflict!

Now I've seen quite a few people on here who say they have 2 hoppers 2 joeys or even 2 hoppers 1 joey, so why was I told I could not have 2 hoppers and 1 or 2 joeys? How can I get another Hopper?

Thank you,

Robin

 

[sparc]

2 Hoppers and 2 Joeys is a standard configuration. Any CSR who said something different did not know what they are talking about.

Apparently DIRT might have had some flexibility in setting you up initially the way you wanted since you were a new customer. Not sure what happens now that you've upgraded.

I would send a message to someone on the dirt team and see if they'll add a Hopper to your configuration since you were told wrong information from a previous CSR. Not sure if they'll be able to do anything, but it's worth a shot.

If they can do it, I would expect at least a $199 charge for the second hopper since that's the new customer rate and possibly an install fee.

On the bottom of the main forum page, you'll see the usernames in red with @DISH Network at the end. Those are official reps from Dish that are active on the forum right now. Just send them a private message with your account or phone number.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/forum.php (scroll down to the bottom)

 

[3HaloODST]

Shouldn't have let them install if it wasn't what you wanted. That being said, since you are within the initial 60 day period, I believe you still have options. Contact a DIRT member here (go here: http://www.satelliteguys.us/forum.php , scroll to bottom, click on a red member and send them a message.)

One workaround I have heard of with this ridiculous Hopper/Joey limit, is to go ahead and go through with what they "force" you to do, then when the installer comes, tell them which receivers you actually want. Have them take back the receivers you don't want. Not sure how effective that is, but it seems like it would work to me.

 

[stardust3]

The last thing dish wants is a having a brand new customer dissatisfied with their service. They can and do make exceptions in changing or adding equipment. Expect to pay for a 2nd hopper, would of have been an out of pocket cost either way.

 

[steve4810]

It's only been 2 days since the install and we've already have been having problems with not having enough tuners, for instance today, I was recording 1 program on DIY (that's 1 tuner in use) and watching and recording a program on HGTV (which used 2 tuners, even though I was on the same channel), now my husband tries to watch a program in another room and there are no tuners available!

This is insane!!! Twelve years into the twenty first century and Echostar Corp rolls a box that can't figure out how to maximize tuner use without user intervention??

I read some posts earlier today about colored button pushing that can reduce this problem. Colored button pushing??? Really?? This is Dish's answer to customers wanting to watch 3 programs?? Press the Red button?

Man, I have no idea what I was thinking in actually considering hoppers to replace VIPs.

I've got to get away from these boards for a few days.

 

[MattG@DISH]

Hi, I just had 1 hopper and 2 joeys intalled on the 18th of May. I was switching from Dtv to Dish because of the hopper, I called and signed up on the 14th for 1 hopper 2 joeys, then after doing some research, I thought that 1 hopper was not going to have enough tuners for our viewing habits. I called back on the 17th the day before the install (I got a newbie on the phone) and I asked if I could get 2 hoppers and 1 joey, after being put on hold for sometime, he told me they could not do that, that they could only do 2 hoppers with 3 joeys. I asked what about 2 hoppers and 2 joeys and I would even pay extra if needed, he said no they could ONLY do 2 h with 3 j.

It's only been 2 days since the install and we've already have been having problems with not having enough tuners, for instance today, I was recording 1 program on DIY (that's 1 tuner in use) and watching and recording a program on HGTV (which used 2 tuners, even though I was on the same channel), now my husband tries to watch a program in another room and there are no tuners available! Now my mother also lives with us part of the year and she doesn't watch any of the same programs that we do, so that will be even more of a conflict!

Now I've seen quite a few people on here who say they have 2 hoppers 2 joeys or even 2 hoppers 1 joey, so why was I told I could not have 2 hoppers and 1 or 2 joeys? How can I get another Hopper?

Thank you,

Robin

Will you please send me a PM with your phone number or account number?

 

[RobinDev13]

Hi, Thanks everyone! I've PMed MattG (or at least I think I did, I've never PMed anyone before LOL). If he is isn't able to help, I'll contact dish, hopefully I will not get a customer service agent who's only been working there a few weeks. Maybe, if I'd gotten someone more experienced, I would have gotten what I wanted in the 1st place - 2 hoppers!

 

[Tampa8]

Shouldn't have accepted. It's not a matter of blame, had you said you are not interested if you can't get that configuration either you would have been given to someone else, or you could have asked to be given to someone else. Maybe it's hindsight, but if I knew I had a new CSR and I wasn't getting something that seemed reasonable I would be asking for someone else. But at this point water over the damn. Hope things work out, there should be no reason you can't have two hoppers and two joeys.

Also if HGTV was using two tuners it could be because it was available for PIP. That third tuner in reality was probably available.

 

[Tampa8]

This is insane!!! Twelve years into the twenty first century and Echostar Corp rolls a box that can't figure out how to maximize tuner use without user intervention??

I read some posts earlier today about colored button pushing that can reduce this problem. Colored button pushing??? Really?? This is Dish's answer to customers wanting to watch 3 programs?? Press the Red button?

Man, I have no idea what I was thinking in actually considering hoppers to replace VIPs.

I've got to get away from these boards for a few days.

Steve, with respect you don't really understand what you are complaining about. You can't compare the Hopper to a VIP receiver, which by the way I have seen plenty of people confused over the second output from the VIP722. That one button allows the Joey to see either Hopper, allowing access to six tuners. It allows you to pick which Hopper to record to. The OP's problem is a CSR problem, not an equipment problem. In fact they figured out on their own what was needed and was probably correct, so it's not that complicated.

 

[RobinDev13]

Matt took care of everything!!! Will have the 2nd hopper installed on Thurs! Thanks!

 

[MattG@DISH]

Matt took care of everything!!! Will have the 2nd hopper installed on Thurs! Thanks!

You're welcome!

 

[Tampa8]

Matt took care of everything!!! Will have the 2nd hopper installed on Thurs! Thanks!

So the DIRT team keeps yet another customer happy. As Scott pointed out, must play a part in DISH #1 satisfaction. I just hope Matt's head doeen't get too big to fit into the forum....

 

[steve4810]

Steve, with respect you don't really understand what you are complaining about. You can't compare the Hopper to a VIP receiver, which by the way I have seen plenty of people confused over the second output from the VIP722. That one button allows the Joey to see either Hopper, allowing access to six tuners. It allows you to pick which Hopper to record to. The OP's problem is a CSR problem, not an equipment problem. In fact they figured out on their own what was needed and was probably correct, so it's not that complicated.

With the same respect, I do. I did not imply there was any equivalency between a hopper and VIP receiver technology.

I pointed out as succinctly as I could fact that someone in the OP's home had be aware of specific techniques to allow three tuners to be tuned to different channels is patently inexcusable. The device has memory, a microprocessor and an operating system and it is therefore completely realistic to believe a bright high school student would have no trouble writing a routine that, when a timer is about to fire to record a program, looked to see if any tuner is already tuned to the channel where the recording would take place and if so began recording from that tuner. Then, if the viewer of that channel took action to view another channel the routine would grab another available tuner and only if none were available at that time, inform the viewer there was no tuner left.

I wrote code for a living for a time, a long time ago, and this is a kiddie problem.

Edit: I just deleted two paragraphs that compared the computing idiocy of the hopper to a smart phone because I decided that was going too far, seeing as how carriers charge $100 or more plus a two year commitment for a smart phone and Dish is "giving away" the hopper "for free".

It is important that someone tells the emperor that he has no clothes.

Steve

P.S. I have failed to stay away from here as I threatened for even a day. Pretty sad on my part.

 

[navychop]

I wouldn't even dare try.

 

[JM42]

a bright high school student would have no trouble writing a routine that, when a timer is about to fire to record a program, looked to see if any tuner is already tuned to the channel where the recording would take place and if so began recording from that tuner. Then, if the viewer of that channel took action to view another channel the routine would grab another available tuner and only if none were available at that time, inform the viewer there was no tuner left.

What you describe sounds good on paper, but I prefer it the way it is. Your approach ultimately doesn't solve anything, only delays the issue. I'd much prefer knowing when the Joey is first turned on we have potential conflicts.

The way it is now timers fire in the background and do not impact the tuner I currently "own." When Joey comes up, he knows right away what the deal is. If Joey joins my tuner I get notification and know that we might have to coordinate our usage. I don't go on obliviously thinking I can change channels on my tuner at 8:30 only to find out I can't. In a dual Hopper config, the Joey can swap Hoppers at that point. In a single Hopper config, I can decide to swap to the recording tuner and free up a tuner for Joey, or we can decide what to watch together, or to stop a recording.

Hopper tuners are essentially first come first served, and about as easy to understand as possible. Any auto-magic manipulation would ultimately cause more misunderstanding and trouble than it would solve.

 

[david_jr]

Matt took care of everything!!! Will have the 2nd hopper installed on Thurs! Thanks!

Please keep us updated on how it goes.