I wanted to start this post by letting everyone know a little bit of history.
I was a DIRECTV subscriber for many years. I began purchasing their service when a new home I built in 1997 did not have cable service. Back then you paid two bills (USSB and DIRECTV I think) and the SD picture quality was outstanding! We owned a SONY receiver with UHF remote. Over the years the picture quality just detiriorated to the point I could barely stand the macro blocking.
Sometime in 2004 I switched to VOOM. Prior to VOOM, I had just bought an HDTV and most of the programming I enjoyed was OTA. Despite the many critics, I enjoyed the VOOM service. The picture quality was very very good.
When VOOM was shut off in 2005 I went to Dish. The World Sport programming was a big draw, and at the time I thought the DISH HD picture quality was superior to DIRECTV.
Given that I am always chasing picture quality, IT IS NOW TIME TO SWITCH BACK TO DIRECTV! Dish picture quality has softened significantly over the last year or so. Even their MPEG4 channels don't have that looking through a window feeling I got from VOOM. With the the recent satellite launch troubles I don't want to wait forever.
So I have read and read the posts looking for answers to a switcher's questions. This is what I found so far. I decided to post the questions and answers so you guys could find and correct any mistakes. Your review of this stuff is greatly appreciated!
Maybe this list will help other people considering the switch...
(1) Which receiver do I want or will I get?
If you care about OTA you want an HR20. However they are hard to find so you will most likely get an HR21. You can get two OTA tuners on the HR21 with the addition of the AM21 accessory to be released any minute. DIRECTV said the AM21 will cost $59 bucks. Solid Signal is taking pre-orders for $99. With the AM21 the HR21 behaves just like the HR20. The OTA channels integrated into the guide. The AM21 appears to contain a slightly better performing pair of OTA tuners than the HR20. The AM21 connects to the HR21 through one of the HR21's rear USB ports.
(2) I love the Dish x22 receiver, can I record three things?
No. You will only be able to record two things at once, from any of the 4 tuners (2 SAT + 2 OTA) in the HR21 + AM21 combo.
(3) Can I watch any program while the receiver is busy recording something else?
Yes. Here are the supported combinations:
-If both SAT tuners are in use recording you can watch something from one of the OTA tuners.
-If both OTA tuners are in use recording you can watch something from one of the SAT tuners.
-If one OTA and one SAT tuner are in use you can watch something from one of the remaining OTA or SAT tuners.
-You can watch recorded programming while any tuners are being used to record.
(4) I love the Dish x22 receiver, do the HR20 and HR21 have an independent TV2 output.
No. You can choose to install multiple receivers to make up for this, or you can try one of these other suggestions.
You can hook up a modulator to one of the SD outputs of the main receiver and send what is on that receiver to all other TVs in the house. This setup works especially well with a UHF remote. The only caveat is that all the TVs will be linked to the output of the first receiver.
Someone pointed out that a second receiver that accepts a UHF remote together with a modulator will give you an independent TV2 equivalent.
I was not able to figure out what secondary (lesser than an HD-DVR) receivers accepts a UHF remote. Does anyone know?
(5) Is the picture quality better than Dish?
On the HD MPEG4 channels the consensus seems to be YES!
On the HD MPEG2 channels the consensus seems to be about the same.
On the SD MPEG2 channels the consensus seems to be NO.
The SD material on HD channels (like CNN or Speed) looks a lot better than the original SD channel.
Since I don't care about SD channels this works for me. The HD MPEG2 channels are scheduled to become MPEG4 channels sometime in the next year now that the D11 satellite is successfully launched.
(6) What are the HD MPEG2 channels?
I can't get this one straight. I think HBO and ESPN. Someone pointed out a list on Wikipedia. Then the next set of posts complained that the Wikipedia page was very out of date.
Does anyone have the definitive list?
(7) How many dishes will I get?
I could not get this one confirmed either. I think the answer is two dishes or one slightly larger dish with up to 5 lnbs?
(8) How long is the contract?
2 years?
(9) Can you use an external hard drive to archive programming?
No. Does anyone know if this feature has been announced?
(10) Can you get an HD only package?
No. It seems nobody is willing to sell me only HD.
I was a DIRECTV subscriber for many years. I began purchasing their service when a new home I built in 1997 did not have cable service. Back then you paid two bills (USSB and DIRECTV I think) and the SD picture quality was outstanding! We owned a SONY receiver with UHF remote. Over the years the picture quality just detiriorated to the point I could barely stand the macro blocking.
Sometime in 2004 I switched to VOOM. Prior to VOOM, I had just bought an HDTV and most of the programming I enjoyed was OTA. Despite the many critics, I enjoyed the VOOM service. The picture quality was very very good.
When VOOM was shut off in 2005 I went to Dish. The World Sport programming was a big draw, and at the time I thought the DISH HD picture quality was superior to DIRECTV.
Given that I am always chasing picture quality, IT IS NOW TIME TO SWITCH BACK TO DIRECTV! Dish picture quality has softened significantly over the last year or so. Even their MPEG4 channels don't have that looking through a window feeling I got from VOOM. With the the recent satellite launch troubles I don't want to wait forever.
So I have read and read the posts looking for answers to a switcher's questions. This is what I found so far. I decided to post the questions and answers so you guys could find and correct any mistakes. Your review of this stuff is greatly appreciated!
Maybe this list will help other people considering the switch...
(1) Which receiver do I want or will I get?
If you care about OTA you want an HR20. However they are hard to find so you will most likely get an HR21. You can get two OTA tuners on the HR21 with the addition of the AM21 accessory to be released any minute. DIRECTV said the AM21 will cost $59 bucks. Solid Signal is taking pre-orders for $99. With the AM21 the HR21 behaves just like the HR20. The OTA channels integrated into the guide. The AM21 appears to contain a slightly better performing pair of OTA tuners than the HR20. The AM21 connects to the HR21 through one of the HR21's rear USB ports.
(2) I love the Dish x22 receiver, can I record three things?
No. You will only be able to record two things at once, from any of the 4 tuners (2 SAT + 2 OTA) in the HR21 + AM21 combo.
(3) Can I watch any program while the receiver is busy recording something else?
Yes. Here are the supported combinations:
-If both SAT tuners are in use recording you can watch something from one of the OTA tuners.
-If both OTA tuners are in use recording you can watch something from one of the SAT tuners.
-If one OTA and one SAT tuner are in use you can watch something from one of the remaining OTA or SAT tuners.
-You can watch recorded programming while any tuners are being used to record.
(4) I love the Dish x22 receiver, do the HR20 and HR21 have an independent TV2 output.
No. You can choose to install multiple receivers to make up for this, or you can try one of these other suggestions.
You can hook up a modulator to one of the SD outputs of the main receiver and send what is on that receiver to all other TVs in the house. This setup works especially well with a UHF remote. The only caveat is that all the TVs will be linked to the output of the first receiver.
Someone pointed out that a second receiver that accepts a UHF remote together with a modulator will give you an independent TV2 equivalent.
I was not able to figure out what secondary (lesser than an HD-DVR) receivers accepts a UHF remote. Does anyone know?
(5) Is the picture quality better than Dish?
On the HD MPEG4 channels the consensus seems to be YES!
On the HD MPEG2 channels the consensus seems to be about the same.
On the SD MPEG2 channels the consensus seems to be NO.
The SD material on HD channels (like CNN or Speed) looks a lot better than the original SD channel.
Since I don't care about SD channels this works for me. The HD MPEG2 channels are scheduled to become MPEG4 channels sometime in the next year now that the D11 satellite is successfully launched.
(6) What are the HD MPEG2 channels?
I can't get this one straight. I think HBO and ESPN. Someone pointed out a list on Wikipedia. Then the next set of posts complained that the Wikipedia page was very out of date.
Does anyone have the definitive list?
(7) How many dishes will I get?
I could not get this one confirmed either. I think the answer is two dishes or one slightly larger dish with up to 5 lnbs?
(8) How long is the contract?
2 years?
(9) Can you use an external hard drive to archive programming?
No. Does anyone know if this feature has been announced?
(10) Can you get an HD only package?
No. It seems nobody is willing to sell me only HD.
