2H/2J for $100....some questions

[CCTX]

Ok, I was talking to Loyalty regarding the Roku then I asked about the Hopper upgrade, I was offered 2H/2J for $100 total including installation...etc.

I had some questions, did a forum search and found good answers to most but I have a few questions for the experts here:

a) Is this a good deal for the Hopper upgrade? Especially that I am not sure if I need to upgrade, I currently have 722k feeding 3 HDTV and 1 SDTV. I have been with Dish for 12 years and currently under contract with 3 months to go.
b) Are there any serious talks on adding manual timers for the Hopper?
c) Is there any way not to allow other hoppers/joeys on the network to see what someone is watching? I am trying to make sure the kids cannot access the main hopper if there are any R movies...etc.
d) Any hints/tips to watch for during installation? common pitfalls?

Your help is greatly appreciated as I am weighing the pros and cons considering cancelling the order given the extra $25 monthly fee.

 

[Teehar]

imho thats a great deal for 2 hoppers and 2 joeys.It would have cost us $200 to get that same upgrade.I'll leave the other questions alone as we don't have the hopper.

 

[JM42]

a: Good deal on the up front cost. I assume you realise your monthly will go up over a single 722K.
b: No rumors or indications they will be added that I have seen.
c: Parental controls can be set individually on each Hopper or Joey. If the Joeys have a rating or channel lock, they will not be able to view the associated content. One issue that has concerned some is that even though they can not view the content, they can view the title of what is being viewed live at another location.
d: Make sure the installer connects internet via HIC. I still think its the best connectivity option.

 

[CCTX]

Th installer should not run cables inside the house, correct?

My 722k is at the main TV and the rest of the TVs are fed through the existing cable wiring.

 

[356B]

100 bucks is the best deal.....

 

[JM42]

Th installer should not run cables inside the house, correct?

My 722k is at the main TV and the rest of the TVs are fed through the existing cable wiring.

Hard to say without knowing what the existing cable is. If it's all RG6 home runs back to a central distribution point, then probably no other cable will be needed. A web of randomly split RG59 might need to be partially or completely replaced. Odds are you can re-use the existing 722K cable for the 1st Hopper, will need a new run to the 2nd Hopper location, and have a good chance of re-using existing cable for the Joey locations.

 

[CCTX]

I believe it is RG6 running to a central point.

 

[JM42]

I believe it is RG6 running to a central point.

If so, you should be in good shape.

 

[CCTX]

Can a Hopper or a Joey feed more than on TV?

What is the best setup to feed 3 HDTVs and 1 SDTV with 2H/1J or 1H/1J (i.e. to save on monthly fees)? I understand this means 2 TVs will have to share all the time.

 

[ThomasTrain]

I'm also a happy 722K user now ( I have two 722Ks feeding 2 HD and 3 SD TVs). I own my 722Ks and have been out of contract for several years. I was offered a 2H/2J setup for free with free installation + free premiums for 3 months + a $10 credit for 12 months and I jumped on it. I'm purchasing a third party modulator to backfeed one of the joeys so I can keep the backfeed capability I have now. The final thing I need is the OTA capability and I had intended to wait until OTA was released but with this offer, I just couldn't say no. The deal means I'm back under contract but I have no plans to move or change providers so no biggie as far as I'm concerned.

 

[CCTX]

So you can share the output from the Hopper or Joey? what do you need to do this (so I can probably buy before the installation or ask the installer for)? do you have to run a cable or you can use existing cable wiring (RG6)?

 

[sparc]

Long HDMI cable to extra HDTV. RF modulator via a second coax cable to get SD. Or possibly some sort of wireless HDMI.

Previous Discussions:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/hopper-zone/280084-mirror-tvs-joey.html
http://www.satelliteguys.us/hopper-zone/278437-mirroring-hopper-joey.html
http://www.satelliteguys.us/hopper-zone/279755-hopper-joey-wiring-diagrams.html

 

[articos]

Can a Hopper or a Joey feed more than on TV?

What is the best setup to feed 3 HDTVs and 1 SDTV with 2H/1J or 1H/1J (i.e. to save on monthly fees)? I understand this means 2 TVs will have to share all the time.

You are definitely getting a good deal. Normally $200 for 2 Hoppers being reported here. You can set individual ratings locks for the kids on each Hopper or Joey, or if you do 2 Hoppers, you can isolate the Hoppers from each other, and therefore any Joey attached to those Hoppers would only be able to see the Hopper they're connected to. The installer should be able to take care of this as part of the install. That said, with the Parental Locks, you shouldn't need to do this unless you really want to keep the recordings on one Hopper completely private.

Best setup depends on whether monthly fees or potential future reliability and more tuners/recording space is more important to you. Answering the question above, I believe the Hopper or Joey can feed 2 tv's using multiple outputs (one composite and one HDMI or one HDMI and one component, or RF modulators), but they are not meant to do this. The H/J system is different from the 722k. Each Hopper and Joey is meant to run one tv as part of a whole house system - they also only come with one remote per box, so you'll need to purchase another.

Edit: I see sparc just linked to the discussions re: how to use H/J on multiple tv's.

Something to keep in mind re: one Hopper vs. 2 Hoppers: with only one Hopper, you have only 3 tuners to drive the tv the hopper is connected to as well as any Joeys. The Joeys have no hard drive, so that Hopper is your total DVR space as well. With 2 Hoppers, you get double the recording space, plus 3 more tuners that can be accessed, plus if one of your Hoppers goes out, you will still have tv via the other Hopper while waiting on the replacement. If you only have one Hopper and it dies, there's no television while waiting on a replacement Hopper. Since Hoppers and Joeys cost the same monthly, I'd definitely go for the second Hopper. 2 Hoppers and 2 Joeys would be my thought for 4 tv's, or can save $7 monthly by dropping a Joey and mirroring.

 

[CCTX]

Thank you.

Ok, so I am between a straight 2H/2J setup where each TV set gets either H or J OR another thought for 2H/1J with hopper mirroring. Now if I go the second route, I have the following questions:

1) As I understand, the composite output of Hopper will go on a separate coax to the other room where the other SDTV is. These two rooms are quite apart. So I would like the wiring to go through the attic just like the existing RG6 cable wiring hopefully through the same outlets. Will the installer be able to do so? He may need to replace to dual-outlet face. Is this something reasonable?

2) Will this be Ok as part of the normal install?

 

[CCTX]

Yes, I understand I will need to supply the RF modulator but will the installer make it happen? I do not want to wrong the guy and ask him for something he should not do. By the way, any recommendation for a good modulator?

 

[articos]

Thank you.

Ok, so I am between a straight 2H/2J setup where each TV set gets either H or J OR another thought for 2H/1J with hopper mirroring. Now if I go the second route, I have the following questions:

1) As I understand, the composite output of Hopper will go on a separate coax to the other room where the other SDTV is. These two rooms are quite apart. So I would like the wiring to go through the attic just like the existing RG6 cable wiring hopefully through the same outlets. Will the installer be able to do so? He may need to replace to dual-outlet face. Is this something reasonable?

2) Will this be Ok as part of the normal install?

Definitely not part of a normal install. If you get a good install tech, they may know how to do what you're asking, but I would not count on it.

Converting the composite to coax will require an RF modulator they likely will not have with them. You might get lucky, but again, don't count on it. If you have 2 coax cables in the wall already, the tech should have a double outlet faceplate with them, and that won't be a problem, without charge. If you don't and they have to fish the cable for you to the attic, that's an additional charge, usually $75 and up, depending on the complexity of the wall fish. I'd try to get on the line with the installer first, if it's Dish's internal tech or a vendor, and tell them what you'd like to do, to make sure they know in advance and can send someone who's proficient. This way you can also see how much you're looking at.

Keep in mind, mirroring the Joeys or Hoppers isn't the way the boxes are normally used. You may also get an install tech who says they can't do it. The folks around here tend to live on the cutting edge in getting what they want out of the system, recommended or not.

 

[sparc]

Yes, I understand I will need to supply the RF modulator but will the installer make it happen? I do not want to wrong the guy and ask him for something he should not do. By the way, any recommendation for a good modulator?

RF modulator or any related coax would not be part of the install. Techs are only responsible for getting the Dish Hopper/Joey equipment connected. You would have to get the second coax run set up on your own (or at best for an extra charge).

Since you already have RG6 home distribution and satellite already set up, the tech may not have to run any cable at all during the install.

 

[CCTX]

Thank you so much for all the insights.

1) Will the HIC be needed for the install? I can connect each Hopper to a wireless router using ethernet if needed.
2) Should I expect any antenna replacement?

I am educating myself on installation tips but most of the threads are dated back to March and April which makes sense.

 

[sparc]

1) Will the HIC be needed for the install? I can connect each Hopper to a wireless router using ethernet if needed.
2) Should I expect any antenna replacement?

1) if you already have ethernet at 1 hopper, then a tech wouldn't normally install a HIC. HICs are only used off of client lines. For example, when ethernet happens to be near a joey.
2) I'm guessing not since it sounds like you already have HD on a recent receiver with the programming you want. Tech will know for sure though. Which dish do you have now?
________________________________

 

[articos]

Yes, I understand I will need to supply the RF modulator but will the installer make it happen? I do not want to wrong the guy and ask him for something he should not do. By the way, any recommendation for a good modulator?

I'm going to defer to others on this. I'd err on the side of no with regards to the installer making it happen, especially if it's an internal Dish tech. If it's a vendor, they may be more willing, but the chances are also good they'll have no idea what you're trying to do when it comes to modulators. Recommendations for specific modulators, I have to also defer to others who know more.