Switching between Single & Dual Mode using your remote

upsss

SatelliteGuys Pro
Original poster
Jun 24, 2010
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AZ
Does anyone have a good reason why Dish wouldn't let you switch between single and dual mode using your remote?
 
Maybe because it would be too easy to change the mode by mistake? ;)
That is not a good reason, I am not talking about a single dedicated button.
Dozens of other important functions can be changed by "mistake" through the MENU button. That is the only function that cannot be performed with your remote and I can use it practically every day!
 
That's what I was thinking too. It would probably be a pretty large call driver (same goes for closed captioning)

So you're saying if they had a CC button, that would drive up your calls? I've talked to so many people who hate it that they can't change the CC on their cable box or dish box by a simple button.
 
I wish there was some way to do this. Even if it meant navigating through the menu and having to enter a special unlock code so it couldn't be done by accident.

I've got 4 TVs hooked up to one 722k. Most of the time the satellite is in single mode so we can easily start a show in one room, pause, and finish it in any other room in the house. However, at least once a week somebody wants to watch something different from everyone else. This wasn't too big of a deal in our old house as the receiver was in the same room as the main TV. There it was not uncommon to change modes multiple times every day. When moving to the new house, we decided to go for a cleaner look and put the receiver in the basement. This can mean going up and down two flights of stairs, through a hallway, and up and down a stepstool to be able to reach the receiver. If there was someway to control this by the remote (or even over the ethernet connection) that would greatly simplify this process.

I realize that I don't have a typical dish network setup and my guess as to why they do this is the same as others have stated. They do this to cut down on technical support from users accidently switching modes. As for me I won't put up with this for long. I just haven't figured out the best solution yet.
 
When one switches between single and dual, it can cause the person in the other room to immediately lose what they were watching as it not activates the 2nd tuner for the second room, and one can screw up a current recording (has happened to me--even though it most situations it should not) and immediately end the viewer's 2nd TV experience. In fact, it has been stated on a past Tech Forum that excessive switching between single and dual modes (not if it is occasional) can screw-up the timers for recording, and I have witnessed that as well. In short, switching between Single and Dual Modes should be done only when no one is viewing the 2nd TV to possibly screw-up their viewing (this has happened to me when I switched to Dual mode in the main room for my convenience and I heard a big screaming, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY TV!!!!!" from the bedroom. OOOPS!!!) or not watching TV2 at all or only at a point when people have coordinated or you know it won't screw things up.

It has always made sense to me, and I PREFER the mode switching on the box as it prevents those in this household from accidentally messing with it and screwing things up for me or others. Changing the Mode should always be a deliberate action taken with great awareness if others use TV2. To me, that qualifies as a VERY good reason to leave that button BEHIND the little door on the box. What a good reason is is SUBJECTIVE, so telling others that their belief of the reason isn't "good" just displays 2 dimensional thinking. After all, when one attempts to set the Mode to Single, there is a warning pop-up on the TV1 screen stating that TV2 is in use, and are we certain we want to interrupt it for Single Mode.

There is just no demand for Single Dual Mode switching via remote as most people do this infrequently or even NEVER at all. I understand your desire, but one has to face the reality that there is far more demand for other refinements or features, and I have to say you are the fist in several years to make such a request. It aint gonna happen, so best to dry the tears and move on :). Humor there as I do have a few requests to apply only to me, as well.
 
So you're saying if they had a CC button, that would drive up your calls? I've talked to so many people who hate it that they can't change the CC on their cable box or dish box by a simple button.
I have to agree. Bogus reason, especially since every tv remote on the market has a CC button.
 
Maybe because most don't change modes once they are setup in the mode they need.
Maybe NOT. Maybe most people don’t understand the full potential of the Mode function and that is why "there is no demand for it". Maybe Dish screwed it up by not adding the Mode switching to the Menu. Placing the Mode switch (any place) in the Menu would require at least 3 distinct key presses so people that don’t know what they are doing cannot change the Mode by "mistake". As far as switching between Single and Dual Mode interfering with timers, it is nonsense.

Here is the main reason that I would like to be able to switch the Mode with the remote. Receiver’s TV1 HDMI output goes to my HDTV in the living room, TV2 output SD (coax) goes to my HDTV in the bedroom. How do you watch HD on your TV2 and still be able to operate your TV2 independently of TV1? (Don’t tell me to get another HD receiver). You simply add a cable from your receiver’s TV1 component output to your TV2 in the bedroom (if you prefer, you can swap the HDMI and the component cables).

Now, if no one is watching TV1 and you want to watch HD on your TV2, you simply switch the receiver Mode to Single and switch the input from the coax to your HD input and you are watching HD on TV2. If someone is watching TV1 and you don’t like what they are watching, you switch the Mode to Dual and you are back controlling independently your TV2 as before (of course in SD). You can still do this trick using the front panel Mode switch, but it would be a pain in the butt.
 
Maybe NOT. Maybe most people don’t understand the full potential of the Mode function and that is why "there is no demand for it". Maybe Dish screwed it up by not adding the Mode switching to the Menu. Placing the Mode switch (any place) in the Menu would require at least 3 distinct key presses so people that don’t know what they are doing cannot change the Mode by "mistake". As far as switching between Single and Dual Mode interfering with timers, it is nonsense.

Here is the main reason that I would like to be able to switch the Mode with the remote. Receiver’s TV1 HDMI output goes to my HDTV in the living room, TV2 output SD (coax) goes to my HDTV in the bedroom. How do you watch HD on your TV2 and still be able to operate your TV2 independently of TV1? (Don’t tell me to get another HD receiver). You simply add a cable from your receiver’s TV1 component output to your TV2 in the bedroom (if you prefer, you can swap the HDMI and the component cables).

Now, if no one is watching TV1 and you want to watch HD on your TV2, you simply switch the receiver Mode to Single and switch the input from the coax to your HD input and you are watching HD on TV2. If someone is watching TV1 and you don’t like what they are watching, you switch the Mode to Dual and you are back controlling independently your TV2 as before (of course in SD). You can still do this trick using the front panel Mode switch, but it would be a pain in the butt.
I agree completely with your first statement.

However, you can accomplish what you're talking about with no mode switching at all, just get another UHF remote and assign it to TV1. Then switch your remote TV between RF-input and HD-input all you like, swapping remotes when you do so. All outputs are always active, so switching between the two is as simple as changing the active input on the TV.
 
I agree completely with your first statement.

However, you can accomplish what you're talking about with no mode switching at all, just get another UHF remote and assign it to TV1. Then switch your remote TV between RF-input and HD-input all you like, swapping remotes when you do so. All outputs are always active, so switching between the two is as simple as changing the active input on the TV.
You are correct that you can accomplish similar functions with your suggestion, but I don’t think it would be very practical.

1) You would have to constantly move TV1 remote from room to room. Both remotes, TV1 and TV2 will look identical but perform totally differently. In addition, as you said, you have to purchase a new UHF remote.

2) To operate TV2 you will have to use both remotes. TV2 remote for TV on/off, volume control and input switching, and TV1 remote for channel surfing, etc. It would be very confusing.

With my suggestion, all you have to do is switch Modes. Maybe Dish can still add the Mode function to the remote in a future software update. However, I would not hold my breath.
 
place a small solenoid with a rubber covered plunger in front of mode button. attach a remote recevier to the solenoid. program the receiver to work with a button on the Dish remote. Press the button on the Dish remote. Ta da. Mode switching from a remote location.
 
I have 2 622s. Both are connected to other SD tvs. Since I often use PIP when watching sports, I have to switch from dual mode to single mode. I do this on a more than once a day basis. I believe Dish will not put a button on the remotes to switch modes. There are just too many remotes that would need replacement. However, creating a sw update to allow the switching to take place as they do for CC and many other HW choices should not be that difficult.
 
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