There's are really useful option this screen is missing. I run into this periodically, it's 6:55, the news is showing nothing but commercials, and I'm looking in the guide for 7:00. I see what I want to watch next and hit select. Up comes the recording screen. Now I have to back out and go to that channel. How about another timer option? In addition to autotune, record, etc, add one to 'just change to this station right now'. Many keystrokes saved and minor frustration avoided.
One button recording is not what it's cracked up to be.
Keep in mind that Dish tried very hard--this was stated on several Charlie Chats and Tech Forums of the past when the DVR's were new--to make it as EASY or SIMPLE to operate for ALL customers. The vast majority of folks are not as tech savvy nor sharp with TV electronics as many on this board. All my family have a hard enough time dealing with the DVR's as they are now, and find it somewhat confusing even now.
Here is a likely scenario if Dish offered the option to tune to a channel from a program on the EPG that is next to air:
Customer--nice old lady: "Hey, what happened. I selected Oprah and its not on.
Dish: No dear, you selected to tune to the channel now ahead of when Oprah will start in about 10 minutes, so Oprah is not on yet, but it will be.
Cust: "Yes, but I selected to watch Oprah, and the thing said "to tune to channel now," and I did and it tuned to what should be Oprah but she's not on. Some other show is on instead with some bald guy with a moustache and Texas drawl. I just want to watch Oprah. If she is not on yet, it ought to at least let me set a timer for Oprah.
Dish: "Let me explain again . . ."
Cust: "Oh. I see. Well then, why isn't the guide display correct? When I selected to watch Oprah, another program was on instead."
Dish: "Well, let me think of how to explain this,
AGAIN. OK, how about this analogy . . ."
Cust: Oh, I get it now. I see what you mean. OK, but that sure is confusing. Why do you guys do that. I have enough options as it is and I don't need one more that only serves to confuse me. You should design your equipment to be simple for people to use, plain folks like us, not computer wizards."
Dish: Well, you are correct, and I apologize for your experience with our equipment today. If there is nothing else.
Cust: No, thank you, and look, Oprah finally came on my TV, and it is 5 minutes later than the guide said because I selected Oprah and it wasn't on.
Dish: Well, no. You see---Never mind. Have a nice day, mam. I was glad to help you today. Thank you for choosing Dish Network.
Dish really does resist over complicating its DVR's to the pleasure of us techhies because Dish is the one who gets all the phone calls--and every call cost money for Dish-- for some of the most simple things that WE can handle, but the majority of America can't. People are not dumb; they just believe that TV should be simple because they have had a hard day at work and they just want to Oprah. Instead Dish is correctly focusing on more major features and enhancing more recent features like external HDD such as--one would hope--carrying over "My Groups" or some other enhancement to external HDD.