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J
Last reply · posted in C-BAND Satellite Discussion
Not sure if this is the correct Forum for this advice and question but here goes: - Due to a breakdown of my 17 year old Sony Tube TV I had to purchase a new Flat Panel HDTV. (Guess I'll be in the poorhouse now). I was extremely dissappointed with the grainy and washed out colors when connected to the Video In Input on the Flat Panel TV from my Viewsat Receiver re Russia Today on 97.0W and other Satellites. I even tried a Component Video cable from the Viewsat but that only resulted in washed out Greens and Yellows. (Of course reception on my Bell ExpressVu 9200 Subscription Receiver is great but it doesn't work on HDMI Connectors - just Component Video).

I was about to throw my Viewsat Rx in the trashcan when my brother in law told me he uses his non HD Bell Receiver on the S Video Connection and has been happy with it. So I checked the back connections of the new Flat Panel TV and the Viewsat Rx and since I had an old S Video Connector that came with the 17 year old Sony Tube TV I tried it out with the ViewSat to my new Flat Panel TV and IT IS Working GREAT!! Reception on ALL FTA Channels especially 99.0W is even better NOW on all channels than it was on my old Sony TV. The only problem is that the S Video connector is / seems very hard to plug in, & I hope I don't have to unplug it too often. Is there an easy way to insert these plugs in and out?
13 Replies · 2431 views
emuman100
It's a terrible shame your Sony CRT TV went bad. If I were you I would have repaired it. LCD looks crappy with SD signals because the video scalars (the circuit that takes the digitized analog video and upconverts the resolution to the native resolution of the LCD panel) are usually crap. Manufacturers make sure HD pictures look good because they think that's what you buy it for. They won't use good quality scalars because that'll bring the price up.

There are places where you could have ordered a replacement chassis for your old TV. I'd never ever ever get rid of my CRT. Produces the best picture available. It might not be HD, but SD can still look really good.

I use an s-video switcher box, I have 4 s-video devices connected to my TV.

Jonathan
J
It's a terrible shame your Sony CRT TV went bad. If I were you I would have repaired it. LCD looks crappy with SD signals because the video scalars (the circuit that takes the digitized analog video and upconverts the resolution to the native resolution of the LCD panel) are usually crap. Manufacturers make sure HD pictures look good because they think that's what you buy it for. They won't use good quality scalars because that'll bring the price up.

There are places where you could have ordered a replacement chassis for your old TV. I'd never ever ever get rid of my CRT. Produces the best picture available. It might not be HD, but SD can still look really good.

I use an s-video switcher box, I have 4 s-video devices connected to my TV.

Jonathan

Eumuman100 exactly my thoughts, - my 17 year old Sony Tube TV is a 31 inch XBR Series weighing over 200 pounds with rich colours when it was working well, the picture was going Black - but after an hour or two it would work well for hours. The temporary Fix was to continuously switch it Off and On until the picture came back, OR hitting it on the side of the Cabinet - not Recommended - (did anyone see the movie Fargo?). The only repair I have had on it was cold solder joints on the Power Supply circuit board about 9 years ago for a $99.00 repair. This wasn't a component failure, - just poor solder connections from heat build up on the chassis. So I haven't thrown it out yet and am considering the 1 hour new repair charge of $166.00 to get it looked at again.
Anole
fix the old, or buy the new?

I had a rear projection 45" Mitsubishi, and it failed after a number of years of service.
So, I sat on it for a while, watching a 27"...

A buddy had a 56" rear projection RCA which died after... 10(?) years.
He spent $300 to have it fixed a couple of years ago.
I came close to following in his footsteps.
My 45" Mitsubishi had been outstanding!

Another friend spent around $350 to get his large set fixed, and it lasted maybe a year before failing again.
He trashed it.

This was all around 5 years ago.
I watched the LCDs come into their own, and thought about the choice:
- spend money to fix the old set and worry how long it would last
- put the money aside to spend on the new one

In the end, I chose to save the money and suffer, waiting for the LCDs to improve in quality and price.
Then, three years ago, I got a 42" Syntax for $800.
The $300 I hadn't spent made the deal all the sweeter.

My 45" Mitsubishi is still dead so I can't compare the picture, but when visiting my buddy with the 56" set, I feel like buying him and his wife new glasses so they can see how crappy/soft it looks!

LCD sets have improved a lot since I got mine, but even on it, the picture quality when watching HD is dramatic!
As described above, it's possible to tune up a set independently on each input (have 10) to optimize the picture.
I have a number of video sources driving my set, and they all look as good as they are.
You cannot make a sharp HD picture out of an SD, nor particularly a crappy SD, but given the quality of each source, they are tuned to give the best pictures possible.
truckracer
I have read about some high quality scalars that make the SD pics look good on a bigger screen. They are terribly expensive.
J
Thanks Anole & Truckracer. Anole, after lots of Video store visits trying to decide between LCD and Plasma, I settled on a Panasonic Plasma Flat Panel. You are correct in that when I watch "Discovery" HD and another great channel called "Oasis" on my Bell 9200 Rx the HD pictures are indeed stunning. Sports, ie Canadian and NFL Football, & NHL Hockey on TSN are also great. So flat panel TV's have their place in todays modern technology, - the only downer was that the 2 - HD channels package choices are another $10.00 to $15.00 per month more!!
Peter Parker
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
No idea what improvements might be involved.
10 Replies · 520 views
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cpdretired
Two bugs out and three new bugs in.🐞
Almighty1
Updated to H713 on a Hopper 3 from H712 with Hopper Plus a few hours earlier.

It brought a old problem back:

One of the problems I am seeing is that the Available Joey Software section no longer is showing the Android TV versions even after a manual software reset twice and the nightly reboot. Until it does, nether Technician Android TV download and Hopper Plus is able to check, download and update the Android TV software.

This was a major problem with H703.

H710 removed that dependency but it's broken again.

Rick Durham and brittanygarden
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dishstaller
Two bugs out and three new bugs in.🐞
Yep. Just got a call from a customer who said her DVR buttons stopped working. Told her about the new software and had her reboot her H3, problem solved.
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S
Updated to H713 on a Hopper 3 from H712 with Hopper Plus a few hours earlier.

It brought a old problem back:

One of the problems I am seeing is that the Available Joey Software section no longer is showing the Android TV versions even after a manual software reset twice and the nightly reboot. Until it does, nether Technician Android TV download and Hopper Plus is able to check, download and update the Android TV software.

This was a major problem with H703.

H710 removed that dependency but it's broken again.

Rick Durham and brittanygarden
i can still see my joey software version with H713.. i am starting to think it's time to get rid of the hopper plus. i just have 2 joey 4's and the hopper 3 with no issues. it seem like the people that have the hopper plus have issues!!!
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Almighty1
i can still see my joey software version with H713.. i am starting to think it's time to get rid of the hopper plus. i just have 2 joey 4's and the hopper 3 with no issues. it seem like the people that have the hopper plus have issues!!!
Are you talking about the Available Joey Software section which goes something like this:
Available Joey W153 W209 J613 J713 J813 K113 J913
Software
in H713 in diagnostics which is directly below the "Switch" section which is what I am referring to that should have a number starting with P which is needed for the
Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey 4
or the top area where it shows what the current version of the software is for the Hopper 3?

Seeing what your Joey 4/Wireless Joey 4 software version just tells you what is the current software version already installed, until the P version(s) shows up in "Available Joey Software" section which is different for the Hopper Plus, Joey 4, Wireless Joey 4 and it will only list one for the device(s) that exist in one's own configuration which lists what's the latest available, those devices will not be able to check or update their software as it will say "Failed: No Tgt" while "Download ATV Files" in TECHNICIAN SETTINGS under tools will respond with:
"Download ATV Files 3000
This device is not currently targeted for
Android software"
as both are dependent on the P version being listed in the "Available Joey Software" section. It usually takes a few minutes before it shows up. I know with H710-H712, it was not shown and the Download ATV Files worked except since H710, even if you selected everything shown which for me would be the Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey 4 versions, the first download will as a end result only download the Hopper Plus's versions even though it shows all three as downloaded based on what Available Joey Software shows which is always two P numbers P153 and P15317. After the first successful download, the next download will actually download all three and Available Joey Software will reflect that. In H708 (H709 was skipped as no one mentioned it on the forums) and earlier, it always downloaded everything selected and would show 6 P versions in the Available Joey Software area. The Available Joey Software section is how I tell if there is a newer software available for the Hopper Plus and when I see that, I do the Download ATV files first which is where I get my information to post in my other thread, "Latest available software version for Android TV devices - Hopper Plus, Joey 4, Wireless Joey 4". The Download ATV files does not do any install or update the Hopper Plus as I still need to manually hit Menu, Settings, Device Preferences, About, Software Update to update the software.

So with any new Hopper 3 software update, the first things I will check is the Notifications in Settings to see if any of the settings were reset. For the "Remote Control Mode Reminder" setting, I would try it with off, exit notifications then hit TV on the side of the remote to make sure it does not show the reminder before going to notifications andputting it back to on, exit to see if it works correctly before going back to notifications for the other settings. Then I would look at Available Joey Software and regardless if the 2 P versions, one appears to be the 3 digit major version number and the other is the full 5 digit number which is the 3 digit major version number with 2 more digits, exists or not. Attempt to do the Download ATV Software for all 3 Android TV devices Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey 4 until all of them is downloaded and shown in Available Joey Software which should be a total of 6 things added. If Download ATV Software has the no target like since H713, I will wait until I see a P version before I do it.

For reference, it's in the following threads:
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bookworm370
Yep. Just got a call from a customer who said her DVR buttons stopped working. Told her about the new software and had her reboot her H3, problem solved.
Reboot just fixes it for a short time and then it's back to messed up

Try going exclusively to an IR remote and you will see the pain
Almighty1
Updated to H713 on a Hopper 3 from H712 with Hopper Plus a few hours earlier.

It brought a old problem back:

One of the problems I am seeing is that the Available Joey Software section no longer is showing the Android TV versions even after a manual software reset twice and the nightly reboot. Until it does, nether Technician Android TV download and Hopper Plus is able to check, download and update the Android TV software.

This was a major problem with H703.

H710 removed that dependency but it's broken again.

Rick Durham and brittanygarden

Within the last few hours as I did check earlier today when it was still missing, the Available Joey Software line now has added "P154 P15403" which is for the Hopper Plus that I have but my Hopper Plus software is still on P15317, I will do a Download Android TV (ATV) Software for the Hopper Plus, Joey 4 and Wireless Joey which are all Android TV devices and then manually do a check update on the Hopper Plus to update the software shortly.
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BatStang2000
This happened to me. I was outside mowing and my wife came out and said that our nieces and nephews were going to be on the Noon News. She had it on in the bedroom on our Joey3. Since they weren't on yet, I decided to turn it on in the Living Room on our Hopper3. When I selected the channel (through Dish, not OTA) the Joey3 turned itself off. When I went back to the bedroom to turn it back on, the Hopper3 did a reboot. Luckily it all finished before their story came on, but I just found it strange.
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Van
Van
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
Who says dinner or lunch has to be the only good meals of the day?

Honey butter grits with scrambled eggs and grilled boneless pork ribs on flakey biscuits washed down with cranberry juice.
6630 Replies · 379374 views
TRG
TRG
Bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast. Coffee.
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TRG
TRG
Wound up at the Waffle House this morning. Got the two egg breakfast with coffee.

1622.webp
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dfergie
Speaking of waffles, I'm going to put my mini waffle iron on stove so I'll remember to make waffles in the morning... Had some last week, been awhile.
dfergie
Dos cackleberrys over easy on top of 2 corned beef hash patties fried in skillet... Chocolate milk.
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TRG
TRG
Cold morning today, only 32 degrees. Fired up the oven and made cinnamon rolls (from a tube) and a pot of coffee.
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68511 Replies · 2671603 views
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ClarkGable
Five O'Clock World - The Vogues
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FTA4PA
Six O'Clock News - John Prine
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Bobby
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson
harshness
Somewhere - Barbra Streisand
sdfntx
Somewhere in Time - John Barry
meStevo
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Continuing the Kilauea thread in the Pub here. Perhaps the Iceland one too next time there's remarkable activity.

Currently there is precursory lava flowing into the crater, leading to the next episode that'll probably start within the next day.

You can see the pace of inflation / deflation here. It serves as the primary predictor for when the expect the eruptions, which coincide w/ inflation turning into significant deflation and last for several hours on average with significant fountaining.



View: https://youtu.be/Uecu2seh4b4


Wife and I like the AfarTV feeds, for the discussion along w/ them, though they're otherwise just mirrors of the official USGS feeds.


View: https://youtu.be/iws3rh5vLAQ
119 Replies · 3234 views
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Foxbat
​
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Foxbat
​
Foxbat
Oooo, quite the show now. All three vents have doming and overflows. The cone that built up around the North vent lost its upper quarter at 02:50 Oct 17 and is now spewing lava at a healthy rate. Don't know if I would say it's a fountain, but it's close.


IMG_1534.webp

edit: The USGS has called the official start of Episode 55 as starting at 03:19 HST Oct 17, 2026:

Alert Level: WATCH, Color Code: ORANGE 2026-10-17 13:43:56 UTC
HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)

Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Issued: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 3:43 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H488
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii

Summary: Episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.

Volcanic Activity:
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.

Fountain heights are relatively low at about 100-150 feet (30-45 m), and it is not clear whether this episode will evolve to the same heights as previous episodes. Continuous overflows from the vents began yesterday, October 16, just before 6 a.m. HST and transitioned into episode 55 fountains at 3:19 a.m. HST this morning. The current forecast is for winds are blowing from the north-northeast direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the south-southwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu.
  • All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele's Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
Foxbat
Kīlauea seems to be returning to the "normal" eruption script, impressive fountaining from the North Vent. For once, the V2 Cam has the best overall shot:
IMG_1535.webp
The lava flows have covered a good portion of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
BlackHitachi
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk
Since the Reds have there thread we should too!

Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
5390 Replies · 510354 views
osu1991

View: https://youtu.be/9j3vxhzM8MY?is=Rs1cY1FQAiRWi87i


Come September (1961)
Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida with Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin
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Y
1791758462355.webp


Simple, charming. Entire premise is quite silly but Cary Grant carries it across the line in good fashion.
T
Last: The Social Reckoning. Spoiler alert, they make Zuck look like a...
Foxbat
Since it was already "paid" for, I spent the two hours of my time watching the John Cena action movie on Apple TV, "Matchbox The Movie" even though the reviews were brutal. It was better than I expected, so I didn't feel like I had wasted an afternoon watching it. But it felt like another "Reacher"/"Neghley"/"Mission: Impossible"/"Fast & Furious" crash and blow stuff up with lots of automatic gunfire mixed in movie featuring covert CIA operatives.

I don't think we'll get a follow-up movie from this. I expect Mattel will have other toy lines to exploit.
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dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
Anyone making their own breakfast sausage? I've recently been trying different recipes, found some I like, some I've modified...
38 Replies · 3565 views
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navychop
Bob Evans Sage.
R
Bob Evans Sage.
I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.
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dfergie
Swaggerty's isn't too bad, sausage prices are lower per lb than making my own from pork butts right now so I've been buying JC Potter or Owen lately.
(Swaggerty's at Sam's is pre cut, I usually partially freeze the rolls and cut with my slicer and vacuum seal on parchment paper)
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S
I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.
amazon maybe :what
S
I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.
owens on amazon is 54.99 for a 4 pk 16 oz a sausage. i feel that's kind of steep!!!
S
Swaggerty's isn't too bad, sausage prices are lower per lb than making my own from pork butts right now so I've been buying JC Potter or Owen lately.
(Swaggerty's at Sam's is pre cut, I usually partially freeze the rolls and cut with my slicer and vacuum seal on parchment paper)
id'e rather make my own vs store bought.
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R
owens on amazon is 54.99 for a 4 pk 16 oz a sausage. i feel that's kind of steep!!!
Especially when I can get a two pound roll of Jimmy Dean from Sam's Club for $7.38.
dfergie
They run Owens at $3.99 for lb and $7.99 a couple times a month at some grocery stores here, I actually was wrong, just checked a pork sirloin roast it was $1.99 a lb. (cooked it yesterday so pack was in trash)
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