New Customer - Impression After One Week!

[Kirk1233]

Wow sorry so many seem so defensive about this didn't mean to offend anyone by my suggestion. To me it just seems with most people having fast Internet connections these days it would be a lot faster than over satellite. If it would cost a lot of money to implement no need to do so. If it could shave 30 minutes off of a lot of installs though that could end up saving more money than it costs.

I also think it would be cool if it could grab an IP feed of a channel if you lose your signal due to weather, but once again not a necessary feature if it would be too costly...

 

[JSheridan]

Wow sorry so many seem so defensive about this didn't mean to offend anyone by my suggestion. To me it just seems with most people having fast Internet connections these days it would be a lot faster than over satellite. If it would cost a lot of money to implement no need to do so. If it could shave 30 minutes off of a lot of installs though that could end up saving more money than it costs.

I also think it would be cool if it could grab an IP feed of a channel if you lose your signal due to weather, but once again not a necessary feature if it would be too costly...

Not a question of being defensive or offensive, it's just that 'most' people around here still don't have fast unlimited internet and won't in the foreseeable future.

We download Hoppers here in the shop before they go out so our installs move right along.

 

[JM42]

Seems it would be easier to pre-download the software vs install them with the bare-bone s/w they ship them with

I would agree, but that hasn't been my experience for any of the half dozen or so Hopper installs I've been through now.

 

[tom231]

[QUOTE="

 

[navychop]

[QUOTE="

Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[thelegendlc]

The autohop feature is certainly not a gimmick. Along with the 16 inputs it is one of my favorite functions. I use it all the time for recorded network shows. We end up frequently watching a show from beginning to end without even touching the remote control. Try it I think you will like it! It works flawlessly.

 

[Hall]

We have yet to watch a show that takes advantage of the Autohop commercial skipping feature, so I don't know how useful this is. At this point, I am guessing that this is more hype.....

You've yet to use it or see how it works and you're knocking it ?

First, Autohop only works on shows recorded off of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Second, it varies by network (for contractual reasons), but you can't "autohop" right away - you have to wait 12-18 hours for some networks, 3 days for another, 7 days for another, etc. I don't remember the exact timeframes (nor is it that important).

Go into the PTAT folder and pick a show that has a red kangaroo icon in the corner of the show's logo and play it. It will ask if you want to enable Autohop. You have to do this every time, in this case, to cover Dish's *ss (1).

(1) A few months after Dish introduced Autohop, Dish got sued by multiple networks. When that happened, Dish changed the defaults related to Autohop to put the "choice" on the viewer when it comes to skipping commercials automatically. The networks argued "Dish is deleting our commercials" while Dish said, "No, the customer/viewer is choosing to skip the commercials and the commercials are not deleted at all. They're still there.".

 

[Pakbackr]

You've yet to use it or see how it works and you're knocking it ?

I wasn't knocking it...I just didn't understand why it is not available on all shows. Its not even available on all PTAT shows. I have since tried it and my commercials are not skipped entirely. I still saw a few seconds of a couple commercials each break. So, it is a nice feature, but because it doesn't skip them entirely, nor is it available on all shows, it is in fact an over-hyped benefit, IMHO!

 

[JSheridan]

I wasn't knocking it...I just didn't understand why it is not available on all shows. Its not even available on all PTAT shows. I have since tried it and my commercials are not skipped entirely. I still saw a few seconds of a couple commercials each break. So, it is a nice feature, but because it doesn't skip them entirely, nor is it available on all shows, it is in fact an over-hyped benefit, IMHO!

 

[KAB]

I have since tried it and my commercials are not skipped entirely. I still saw a few seconds of a couple commercials each break. So, it is a nice feature, but because it doesn't skip them entirely, nor is it available on all shows, it is in fact an over-hyped benefit, IMHO!

I guess I don't understand how having to watch only 3 or 4 seconds as opposed to skipping through or watching 4 minutes or more is not a benefit not worth mentioning, regardless of Network demanded delays. I have easily gotten into the routine of waiting a week to watch any CBS or Fox show (not affected by ABC since our affiliate is not O&O).

 

[Hall]

I wasn't knocking it...I just didn't understand why it is not available on all shows. Its not even available on all PTAT shows. I have since tried it and my commercials are not skipped entirely. I still saw a few seconds of a couple commercials each break. So, it is a nice feature, but because it doesn't skip them entirely, nor is it available on all shows, it is in fact an over-hyped benefit, IMHO!

Yes, it is available on all PTAT shows. Every once in a while, a show gets missed, but it's so infrequent, it's hardly worth mentioning. Also, based on the network, there can be a delay before it applies.

 

[n0qcu]

Actually it's available on all PTAT except for live or sports.

 

[Pakbackr]

Actually it's available on all PTAT except for live or sports.

Actually, I am several weeks in now and I notice that Autohop is not available on all my PTAT shows. But when it is available, I have to admit that I like it a lot. I guess in my mind, I was expecting the commercials to just disappear completely for a smooth seamless viewing experience. So, that it is not. However, I really don't mind a few seconds on the front and end of the commercial break. I've grown accustomed to it now. It is definitely more efficient than me skipping 20 seconds into a show, then backing up, then skipping...makes my wife crazy.

 

[Hall]

The benefit I think most people get from Autohop is not having to hold the remote, waiting for commercials to press the skip-ahead button.

What shows aren't showing Autohop ? Give the show and when it aired. Just curious if others don't have Autohop on the same ones. As I said before, sometimes a show will get missed but I wouldn't say that it's (1) show out of the dozens and dozens there are per week.

 

[KAB]

Actually, I am several weeks in now and I notice that Autohop is not available on all my PTAT shows. .

Like said many times, they will be in three to seven days (pending network and affiliate ownership). The only time there is an exception is usually if the program came in after an extended sports event.

 

[Pakbackr]

Like said many times, they will be in three to seven days (pending network and affiliate ownership). The only time there is an exception is usually if the program came in after an extended sports event.

Tonight alone Blackish recorded with Autohop, yet Modern Family and Goldbergs didn't. Someone want to explain that one?

 

[Hall]

Autohop isn't available until the next day.* Not even sure why/how you think Blackish is "recorded with Autohop". What do you mean ?

Believe it or not - well, I don't think it's ever been confirmed - but it's thought that Dish has employees watch each show after it airs and they manually add 'markers' that tell the DVR when to skip-ahead and stop. This 'data' is uploaded to the receivers sometime in the middle of the night.

* I'm not even taking into consideration the contractual delays with the different networks.

 

[Pakbackr]

Autohop isn't available until the next day.* Not even sure why/how you think Blackish is "recorded with Autohop". What do you mean ?

The Autohop symbol was showing up on my list, but I have two unwatched shows under the icon - one from tonight and one from last week. And upon deeper look, I see that the Autohop is only on last week's recording, not tonight's. So, Autohop only happens the day after - interesting!

 

[Hall]

Yes, as I said, someone has to sit down and watch the episode and mark the start and end of commercials. When they're done with ALL shows for the day, the info is sent to our receivers.

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

 

[thomasjk]

It has happened that way since Autohop was introduced.

Sent from my XT1032 using the SatelliteGuys app!