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ScottChez

Last reply Nov 21, 2003 · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

New HDTV Tivo better than a 921 due out in Dec also

The word in the AVS forum is that the new HDTV Tivo for Direct TV will begin Beta testing in December with a release date of Feb 04 (only about 2 Months after the 921).

Is it worth waiting for the Tivo so we can compare features and then decide which one to get?

Is this why in the press release Echo Star was so upset about missing the Sept HDTV release of the 921 (lost market share)?

Who is going to by a 921 in Dec and who is going to wait?

Ideas?

27 Replies · 5756 views

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Guest

Nov 21, 2003

As slanted toward Dish as this site is, why would anybody with DirecTV even bother?

TheForce

Nov 21, 2003

I have had both E* and D* with redundant channels for nearly 3 years.

WRT- PQ the SD channels have been much cleaner on D* ever since their implementation of spot beam for locals on the prime SD channels only (CNN, FOXN, MSNBC etc.) on the non prime SD channels the PQ is about the same as E* (all shopping networks, cartoon channels, scifi, even Tech TV)
WRT- PQ on HD channels Dish beats DTV on an avaerage time slot but DTV has a practice of selecting certain popular programming such as a football game in HDTV and giving that full bandwidth while further restricting it on a same time slot movie channel such as Showtime in 1080i but the movie content is an upconvert. It took nearly 2 years for them to finally figure out they could get away with this method of banmdwidth management. The end result in a PQ shootout is that the PQ of DTV is considered inconsistent on movie channels, consistently better on HDTV video channels like HDNet but overall less quality than E* as E* consistently maintains full picture quality as received from their suppliers.

In comparing to cable- (Keep in mind I work for cable as an independent TV producer of LO programming) Cable offers varying consistency around the country even within the same company. But, generally speaking cable costs more per channel available. I have seen C-Band BUD and don't consider the BUD worthwhile mainly due to the "BUD" and it's mechanics. Many of the BUD people I have visited had something wrong with their equipment that was in need of repair at the time. This tells me something about the hardware reliability of BUD systems.

I plan to have both the HD TIVO and the the 921. The upside of TIVO is the dual OTA tuner and the upside of the 921 is dishwire and a design that is upgradable friendly. TIVO may also be upgradable but the TIVO track record has been this is not a supported feature. I suspect both will be upgradable by any skilled hardware implementer.
I see the season pass as a minor advantage for me but that is just a personal usage issue that some people think makes all the difference in the world. I set season pass up on my parent's TIVO and it is the best thing for them. I would favor a firewire dump of programming to archive far more than a season pass if a decision came down to deciding which receiver is best.

Having said all that, once again, my personal philosophy is: It's the programming stupid! Not the hardware that you watch. So, select the provider that gives you the channels you want and deal with the equipment they provide. If you really need both channel sets like NFL ST in HDTV and the new offerings that are rumored on E* then you need to have both! That's why I have both.

Guest

Nov 21, 2003

Don,

That is a good solution if money is no object

BobMurdoch

Nov 21, 2003

scriabinop23 said:
Tahoerob said:

Anonymous said:

Wow, I did not know that D* had a lower HDTV Pic Quality.
I wonder if there customers know this?
Almost sounds like it is not real HDTV.

Click to expand...

Reason:
E* uses true MPEG 2 compression.

D* uses what they call MPEG 1.5. Its really MPEG 1 (OLD!!!!) with software tweaks. Thus they would need to put up NEW satellites & then everyone would have to get NEW receivers. Not so with E*.

Robert

Click to expand...

This whole bulletin board is full of a bunch of E* die hards. I just switched from E* to D* w/ 2 directivos and must say the image sharpness/resolution and color saturation blows away E* by far - on SD channels. Regardless of what they're using to compress, I'll say its better on D*. This is subjective from both my wife and I on two sets: an X1 projector, and a toshiba 34" 16:9 hdtv.

I haven't bothered with HD yet via satellite because there isn't anything substantial enough worth $10/month and spending $4-500 on a receiver. I have OTA HD and get most local stations and that satisfies me enough, as I record via myHD on my HTPC.

.

Sigh. Your'e countering a point he didn't make. He was referring to HD programming being dramatically compressed and not being true HD. He didn't say anything about Standard def.

dswallow

Nov 21, 2003

Tahoerob said:
D* uses what they call MPEG 1.5. Its really MPEG 1 (OLD!!!!) with software tweaks. Thus they would need to put up NEW satellites & then everyone would have to get NEW receivers. Not so with E*.

That's not quite true. DirecTV uses a non-standard transport stream, but the video portion is standard MPEG-2.

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iJustine

4 minutes ago · posted in iJustine

Reading on the iPhone Duo!

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2KkkNffbY40

Direct YouTube Link - Reading on the iPhone Duo!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

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iJustine

4 minutes ago · posted in iJustine

Playing Xbox on the iPhone Duo!

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6t2FDCK5y40

Direct YouTube Link - Playing Xbox on the iPhone Duo!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

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iJustine

4 minutes ago · posted in iJustine

iPhone Duo Crease?

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YxfvCOQv5uE

Direct YouTube Link - iPhone Duo Crease?
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

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iJustine

4 minutes ago · posted in iJustine

iPhone Duo Fold Animation

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_9uczoPSEaI

Direct YouTube Link - iPhone Duo Fold Animation
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

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SuperDish_Fan23

Last reply Today at 12:04 AM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Its crazy how the ViP922 is so rare for no reason.

Why are ViP922s So rare? like its crazy how ebay has none, i checked everywhere, also, i got a ViP222k now, which is actually activated!

20 Replies · 481 views

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Strega

Yesterday at 2:34 PM

That's not really unusual. Cable companies like to the provide the box too. The phone company provided the phones in until the government forced them to allow third-party phones.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Almighty1

Yesterday at 7:02 PM

Strega said:
That's not really unusual. Cable companies like to the provide the box too. The phone company provided the phones in until the government forced them to allow third-party phones.

Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".

Reactions: AZ., Bobby and charlesrshell

AZ.

Yesterday at 9:10 PM

Almighty1 said:
Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".

someone is showing their age

Reactions: Almighty1 and charlesrshell

Almighty1

Yesterday at 9:38 PM

AZ. said:
someone is showing their age

LOL. It depends if the person saw it during the years when they were actually still available which is 1968 to 1983 meaning the person could be 43-58 years old or they can even be a few years old if they learned to read and write at a young age and actually saw a telephone with that label somewhere recently just like even here in San Francisco, payphone still exist physically in public places but whether they can be used or not is a different issue. It still looks like this even today:

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dishstaller

Yesterday at 10:03 PM

I opened my Radio Shack in Sept 1984 and right about that time they did the whole deregulation thing with the phone companies. I bought TONS of those phones that had been refurbished with a new outer shell. You could throw one of those out of a 3 story high window and it would still work.
That was an interesting time in history. I would have older customers come in and ask about phones.....they were terrified that they were going to get into trouble hooking up a second phone without the phone company knowing about it. One of the funniest episodes of WKRP was the one where Johnny thought the cops were showing up because they had an unregistered phone. I guess younger folks can't conceive of a time when you were limited to the number of phones you could have in your house....and limited to the length of the cord

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navychop

Yesterday at 11:01 PM

AZ. said:
someone is showing their age

You should hear his stories about when rocks were soft and pterodactyls were the new kid on the block!

Reactions: Foxbat, charlesrshell and Bobby

dishstaller

Today at 12:04 AM

dishstaller said:
One of the funniest episodes of WKRP was the one where Johnny thought the cops were showing up because they had an unregistered phone.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA0yZ1nrm6M&pp=ygUPd2tycCBwaG9uZSBjb3Bz

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dishstaller

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 12:02 AM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Country singer John Anderson died today

He was 71 yrs old. One of my favorite songs is Seminole Wind....the violin is killer.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sh9P3X33w

5 Replies · 41 views

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FTA4PA

Yesterday at 10:53 PM

Rest In Peace

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mikew

Yesterday at 11:01 PM

I Wish I Could Have Been There is an amazing song. Rest in peace Mr Anderson.

Reactions: dishstaller

Bobby

Yesterday at 11:03 PM

Rest in peace.

Reactions: dishstaller

comfortably_numb

Yesterday at 11:04 PM

Hope you're out there Swingin', John.

Reactions: dishstaller

dishstaller

Today at 12:02 AM

mikew said:
I Wish I Could Have Been There is an amazing song.

That's one of those songs that hits a little too close to home for me. I like the song but just can't listen to it. It's kinda like that song "Daddy never was the Cadillac kind".....reminds me too much of my Grandfather who died Feb 18, 1995.

niembre

Last reply Yesterday at 11:21 PM · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

OTA no working after Update

My OTA is not working anymore. This started after the latest update. I have the OTA dongle with a OTA antenna that I've been using for years. My hopper does not recognize the dongle anymore and when I go to the OTA setting, it has a screen that says to plug a dongle into the USB. I tried unplugging and plugging back, in the same usb port and other ports. The Hopper does not recognize it. Anyone have same issue?

201 Replies · 5100 views

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Scott Greczkowski

Sep 24, 2026

Did you people having this issue contact Brittany yet? Shes trying to keep track of things and it would be good for you to contact her as maybe she can get this somewhere and get fixed.

Now while unofficial, I am hearing this issue wasn't caused by DISH's software team, but was caused by a chipset driver update that seemes to have hosed some older USB devices. If this is indeed the case I can see why DISH didn't know and why they are slow in fixing it as they need the chipset company to fix its drivers and release them to DISH so they can be pushed out to all.

DISH does not hate you guys nor do they want you to buy new USB dongles. I am rather sure they didn't even know this was an issue until they saw it posted.

Again contact Brittany if you are having this issue, so she has your info and hopefully she can do something for you to keep you happy.

Reactions: Foxbat, Briant73, pamajestic and 3 others

bookworm370

Sep 25, 2026

Scott Greczkowski said:
Did you people having this issue contact Brittany yet? Shes trying to keep track of things and it would be good for you to contact her as maybe she can get this somewhere and get fixed.

Now while unofficial, I am hearing this issue wasn't caused by DISH's software team, but was caused by a chipset driver update that seemes to have hosed some older USB devices. If this is indeed the case I can see why DISH didn't know and why they are slow in fixing it as they need the chipset company to fix its drivers and release them to DISH so they can be pushed out to all.

DISH does not hate you guys nor do they want you to buy new USB dongles. I am rather sure they didn't even know this was an issue until they saw it posted.

Again contact Brittany if you are having this issue, so she has your info and hopefully she can do something for you to keep you happy.

Thanks, but until they do, can't Dish just revert to the old driver that worked? Then test the new driver when delivered,d before pushing it again.

But then what does an old CIO know! I've only reamed quite a few buttholes from my people that didn't do that!

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slow_poke_pete

Sep 27, 2026

bookworm370 said:
Thanks, but until they do, can't Dish just revert to the old driver that worked? Then test the new driver when delivered,d before pushing it again.

But then what does an old CIO know! I've only reamed quite a few buttholes from my people that didn't do that!

dish can't revert back to older drivers or updates. although just one reason not to buy the ota dongle!!!

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ppappas

Sep 30, 2026

slow_poke_pete said:
dish can't revert back to older drivers or updates. although just one reason not to buy the ota dongle!!!

They can absolutely put the old driver back if they wanted. This is an embedded software environment in which they have total control. All they have to do if build a new version of firmware with the old OTA driver and test it of course. They just don't want to spend the resources doing so. If they are not going to continue supporting the single tuner adapter, then they have to say so.

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Almighty1

Oct 1, 2026

ppappas said:
They can absolutely put the old driver back if they wanted. This is an embedded software environment in which they have total control. All they have to do if build a new version of firmware with the old OTA driver and test it of course. They just don't want to spend the resources doing so. If they are not going to continue supporting the single tuner adapter, then they have to say so.

Unless of course they didn't keep a copy of the old drivers and can no longer get it. Then there is always the their support for the product is EOL after a x amount of time so it will make the consumer have to buy the current product offering.

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Briant73

Yesterday at 9:19 PM

Anyone heard any updates on this, I'm still having the issue so thought I'd check in.

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Almighty1

Yesterday at 9:48 PM

Briant73 said:
Anyone heard any updates on this, I'm still having the issue so thought I'd check in.

No updates but if you can get DISH Technical Operations to roll you back to H710 or earlier even though H708 would be best because it also eliminates another problem like in this comment, you will also no longer have the problem as long as you don't update manually or forced to any new version until the problem is fixed as the problem started in H711 and still exist in H712 and H713.

https://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/th...ftware-version-713-is-out.423921/post-5108817

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dishstaller

Yesterday at 9:57 PM

Installed an off-air antenna a couple days ago for a customer who had just cancelled his Dish service. He had a dual off-air adapter and gave it to me. Cool. I'll keep it on the truck....might come in handy. Got to admit I don't watch anything as far as live tv goes anymore. Even if we have severe weather, our local channels will have a live feed on Youtube.

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navychop

Yesterday at 11:21 PM

In other news, it was announced that the software fix for the two tin cans and a string will not be forthcoming. A hardware fix is required. However, that fix will let you receive stations from a gazillion miles away.

Truck roll charges may apply. Two year commitment required.

Reactions: Bobby, dishstaller and charlesrshell

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MartyDe

Last reply Yesterday at 10:37 PM · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info

ATSC 3 converter boxes

Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.

Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York

Group has secured lower pricing from key tech players to make less costly boxes available

www.tvtechnology.com

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navychop

Tuesday at 12:03 PM

DEATH TO NEXGEN!

Reactions: primestar31, RaVo68, gms49ers and 1 other person

TRG

Tuesday at 12:12 PM

17 years ago the US turned off analog OTA signals in favor of digital broadcasting. Now the push is ATSC 3 "Nextgen TV". But nobody seems to be able to agree on DRM implementation protocols. People don't want to hook their TV up to the internet in order to watch over the air TV. At least I don't. With all the data they collect about your viewing habits the box should be given away at no cost.

Reactions: N5XZS, osu1991, slow_poke_pete and 1 other person

navychop

Tuesday at 12:27 PM

Comb your hair.

primestar31

Yesterday at 7:29 PM

navychop said:
DEATH TO NEXGEN!

It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.

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navychop

Yesterday at 10:37 PM

I truly hope you are right.

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Yesterday at 10:32 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Club TWiT: Mikah's Crafting Corner

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bRMaZHVPGg

Direct YouTube Link - Club TWiT: Mikah's Crafting Corner
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Yesterday at 10:32 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Security vs. Features: The Windows Update Problem

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHxdmb3SE2E

Direct YouTube Link - Security vs. Features: The Windows Update Problem
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

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Social Feed

New HDTV Tivo better than a 921 due out in Dec also

Reading on the iPhone Duo!

Playing Xbox on the iPhone Duo!

iPhone Duo Crease?

iPhone Duo Fold Animation

Its crazy how the ViP922 is so rare for no reason.

Country singer John Anderson died today

OTA no working after Update

ATSC 3 converter boxes

Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York

Club TWiT: Mikah's Crafting Corner

Security vs. Features: The Windows Update Problem