Recent content by thxdan

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    XStreamHD Press Release

    I'm sure some of the folks on the forum thought of this already, but I just want to put it out there clearly: Not only does Echostar lease all of AMC-16, they're using most of its capacity for their white-label IPTV service called "ViP-TV" (all MPEG-4 SD and HD for small telcos using the same...
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    Ku Band Program Packages

    Hi there, You can always subscribe to GlobeCast World TV. But most of the channels aren't in English. Most are a la carte or in language-specific packages. Here's the info: GlobeCast WorldTV - Whats on WorldTV Good luck, -Dan
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    So MGM HD does not do DD5.1 in some Movies? What's up with that?

    The Voom channels frequently "faked" 5.1 by "synthesizing" (artificially creating it) for any show/movie that didn't have true 5.1. This is actually bad practice, because it does things like move the dialog around the soundstage so that it no longer comes from the center channel. It's much...
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    Pangea Day on Ku-band: Sat 5/10/08

    Hi all, Pangea Day is a 4-hour live broadcast from across the world that will be televised on Saturday. 24 independent films will be shown, along with live hosts and live musical guests, coordinated across multiple stages on several continents. It will be available in the US on several...
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    muzak audio quality

    A good rule of thumb for MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio is that 256kbps for stereo gets you very high quality audio--that's what NPR uses for audio distribution to its radio station affiliates (or at least they used to). Remember that MPEG-1 Layer 2 is older than MP3, so it's less efficient and needs...
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    New HDTV/Analog Channels on Dish only?

    The 322 always outputs its picture in an analog state. To get the best picture, you need to have the receiver in the same room as your nice fancy new TV, and hook up your 322 via S-video. (That's the highest quality output on that model of receiver.) Here's a pic of the 322's back panel: Tech...
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    Skyvision DSR410 x4package deals

    I should clarify: I didn't do a master reset. I bought the receiver from a surplus place, where it hadn't been used in at least a few years. However, X4 appeared as a choice the first time I plugged it in, so it already had maps in memory that included X4. But it seems like the specific...
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    Skyvision DSR410 x4package deals

    Hi all, Just wanted to say that I was able to subcribe my 920 to the Ku-DigiPack from SRL (which is *very* similar to the Skyvision programming package for the DSR-410) with no issues. I got my 920 used last year, and it seemed like it hadn't seen C-band, channel maps, or the 4DTV guide in...
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    Akimbo cancels boxes and media center

    Actually, you can! Any shows or movies that you download via the Akimbo PC software can be streamed to your Xbox 360, as long as you have the new "Spring '07" free Xbox update. On any XP or Vista PC, download the Akimbo software, get a title or two, then share the folder that's holding the...
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    Akimbo

    Dave, Thanks for the kind comments! I like your financial comparison...but the thing I'd like to stress is that Akimbo's value is different depending on what YOU like to watch. That's because the pricing varies between our providers. Only about half of our content is covered by the monthly...
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    Akimbo

    I'm sorry to hear that you cancelled, but I'm glad to take the constructive criticism. I agree that the Media Center Edition experience is not as good as we'd like it to be. I think we all want it to look as smooth as MCE's built-in features, although the "Online Spotlight" plugins for MCE...
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    Akimbo

    Disclaimer: Sorry for the salesman-like jargon below. I joined Akimbo a few months after registering here. It's great to see that the Internet TV services are being covered here...I'll stop back more often now! Yes, Scott's right. Akimbo is a download-and-view service, not a streaming...
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    NASA-TV Channel knocked out

    NASA was great earlier The coverage of the launch was great earlier...not HD, but very free. E* has a "technical difficulties" card up in place of the NASA feed. Bad timing. Rather it be the TV feed than the shuttle though!! -Dan
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    Dolans new dish

    I vote that Installs, Inc. cancel its contracts with local installers who are continuously late, cancelling, or rescheduling appointments. "3 Strikes and You're Out" seems appropriate to me! -Dan
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    New Channels Added! (BBC, Noggin, etc...)

    I remember reading that it's up to the local PBS member station if they multicast PBS Kids or their other channels (like PBS You for continuing education). On the plus side, they are all up in the clear if you have a Ku-band dish and a DVB receiver. -Dan