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First, a simple question (I think) and then maybe some more complex issues...
(sorry for the length of my post, I'm only slightly informed on this stuff and wanted to provide all the details needed to orient me - please be gentle)
Is it true that a coax cable is not capable of transmitting HD programming?
The reason I ask is because that's what I was told by a support person from the manufacturer of my new TV, when asked why the image quality on this nice TV was so poor. They said that coax cable (which is how this TV is connected to its signal source) is simply not able to carry an HD signal. While that sounds plausible to me (I know nothing), I wanted to get confirmation that this is indeed true before taking any further steps, because it could be complete BS, too.
Here's more background on my setup...
We have had Dish service in the house for about 3 years* (maybe it's time for me to renegotiate - see below) . I got Dish when we replaced our old, primary TV in our living room. At the time, we dumped Comcast (a move that made me very happy), junked our old analog tube TV and got a decent flat screen Vizio TV (we'll call this TV#1). Before the switch to Dish, we had 3 TVs in the house, all analog tube TVs: one downstairs in the living room (TV#1), one upstairs in the master bedroom (TV#2), and one small one in an upstairs office (TV#3). All three TVs had existing coax cables that had been used previously for the Comcast feed. When we switched to Dish, we got one new TV for the living room (TV#1), replacing the old analog TV that was there. On installation day, Dish brought us a VIP722, which we located adjacent to the new TV#1 in the living room. I also have an external HD connected to the VIP722 via USB. The VIP722 is connected to the adjacent TV#1 via HDMI cable. The picture on TV#1 looks good, from live TV to recordings (of course, HD content looks better than SD). TV#2 upstairs in the bedroom was an older analog tube TV, which we expected to replace some day (some day came a couple weeks ago). This TV was fed by a coax cable. The picture quality on TV#2 was OK, not super, but it was what we expected on an analog TV. Recently, I decided to replace TV#2, swapping in a new Vizio E480i-B2 (48" class) TV. I hooked it up using the same coax cable that had been feeding the older TV it replaced. The picture quality is not good, viewing either live or recorded HD programs - it's a bit fuzzy, muddy and obviously not what the TV is capable of. We also have a (new) Bluray disk player connected to the new TV#2 via HDMI cable, and the picture quality from that is spectacular. When viewing any signal coming from the VIP722 (via coax cable), the TV (TV#2, new) says it's displaying 480i. When viewing a DVD or Bluray disk from the Bluray player, the TV says it's displaying 1080p.
Both TV#1 and TV#2 draw their signal from the VIP722 (programs recorded to the VIP722 hard disk are available on both TVs).
(TV#3 has not changed. That's a small, analog TV in an upstairs office that is fed by another coax, going into a VIP211K. No issues with that, low expectations there, not part of this question.)
I called Vizio product support and related the above. The Vizio CS agent said that the new TV#2 will not be able to display HD as long as it's being fed from the VIP722 via coax. Coax doesn't have HD capacity. Hmmm.
The signal from the actual satellite dish itself goes to a cable junction box (on the side of the house). That first run of cable looks like HDMI or some other high capacity cable - it's not a round cable like coax, it's flat and thick. But running *out* of the cable junction box, there are three coax cables. One goes to (I assume) the VIP722, one goes to TV#2 upstairs, and a third goes to TV#3 upstairs - at least that's my guess, I have not followed each cable all the way (cables run along the house exterior; it's night time now so I can't easily see all runs, but I'm pretty sure I have it right).
So it appears that a high-capacity cable delivers the sat feed to this junction box, and from there, all remaining cable appears to be coax - except for the short connection directly from the VIP722 to TV#1 (and the connection directly from the new Bluray player to TV#2).
This appears to be how things are wired (I hope the formatting is preserved...):
-------------------------------------------- --- TV#2 (bedroom upstairs)
------------------------------------------/
dish -- junction box ====
------------------------------------------\
-------------------------------------------- --- VIP722 + TV#1 (living rm)
All single cable coax here, except for the first run of cable from the sat dish to the junction box.
I am guessing that the signal between the junction box and the VIP722 must be bi-directional - is that possible? - since it appears to be the only connection between the VIP722 and the junction box. It must feed the incoming signal to the VIP722, then carry the output from the VIP722 back to the junction box, where it then goes up (again via coax) to TV#2 upstairs. If that's not how it's working, then I'm stumped.
OK, so that's how things appear to be wired, at least to me.
Given all the coax in the mix, I am skeptical that the information provided to me from Vizio tech support was accurate and complete.
So my questions...
- How do I ensure that I'm getting an HD-quality feed from the VIP722 up to TV#2 upstairs?
- Was the Vizio tech correct in telling me that the problem is the coax cable feeding the TV?
- If so, is the solution to run HDMI up to TV#2?
- Or is the issue really just a setting? If so, is that a Dish setting, or a setting on the TV?
- Basically, who do I call next to resolve this - Dish or Vizio?
*It has been well over 2 years since we signed up for Dish. Is now a good time to try to renegotiate our subscription - or is that a fantasy? This is a separate question, but if I have to call them and they need to come do some cable work, maybe I could kill 2 birds with one stone. Just a thought. Right now I'm mostly interested in addressing the picture quality issues on TV#2.
Thanks for your help and for any suggestions.
(sorry for the length of my post, I'm only slightly informed on this stuff and wanted to provide all the details needed to orient me - please be gentle)
Is it true that a coax cable is not capable of transmitting HD programming?
The reason I ask is because that's what I was told by a support person from the manufacturer of my new TV, when asked why the image quality on this nice TV was so poor. They said that coax cable (which is how this TV is connected to its signal source) is simply not able to carry an HD signal. While that sounds plausible to me (I know nothing), I wanted to get confirmation that this is indeed true before taking any further steps, because it could be complete BS, too.
Here's more background on my setup...
We have had Dish service in the house for about 3 years* (maybe it's time for me to renegotiate - see below) . I got Dish when we replaced our old, primary TV in our living room. At the time, we dumped Comcast (a move that made me very happy), junked our old analog tube TV and got a decent flat screen Vizio TV (we'll call this TV#1). Before the switch to Dish, we had 3 TVs in the house, all analog tube TVs: one downstairs in the living room (TV#1), one upstairs in the master bedroom (TV#2), and one small one in an upstairs office (TV#3). All three TVs had existing coax cables that had been used previously for the Comcast feed. When we switched to Dish, we got one new TV for the living room (TV#1), replacing the old analog TV that was there. On installation day, Dish brought us a VIP722, which we located adjacent to the new TV#1 in the living room. I also have an external HD connected to the VIP722 via USB. The VIP722 is connected to the adjacent TV#1 via HDMI cable. The picture on TV#1 looks good, from live TV to recordings (of course, HD content looks better than SD). TV#2 upstairs in the bedroom was an older analog tube TV, which we expected to replace some day (some day came a couple weeks ago). This TV was fed by a coax cable. The picture quality on TV#2 was OK, not super, but it was what we expected on an analog TV. Recently, I decided to replace TV#2, swapping in a new Vizio E480i-B2 (48" class) TV. I hooked it up using the same coax cable that had been feeding the older TV it replaced. The picture quality is not good, viewing either live or recorded HD programs - it's a bit fuzzy, muddy and obviously not what the TV is capable of. We also have a (new) Bluray disk player connected to the new TV#2 via HDMI cable, and the picture quality from that is spectacular. When viewing any signal coming from the VIP722 (via coax cable), the TV (TV#2, new) says it's displaying 480i. When viewing a DVD or Bluray disk from the Bluray player, the TV says it's displaying 1080p.
Both TV#1 and TV#2 draw their signal from the VIP722 (programs recorded to the VIP722 hard disk are available on both TVs).
(TV#3 has not changed. That's a small, analog TV in an upstairs office that is fed by another coax, going into a VIP211K. No issues with that, low expectations there, not part of this question.)
I called Vizio product support and related the above. The Vizio CS agent said that the new TV#2 will not be able to display HD as long as it's being fed from the VIP722 via coax. Coax doesn't have HD capacity. Hmmm.
The signal from the actual satellite dish itself goes to a cable junction box (on the side of the house). That first run of cable looks like HDMI or some other high capacity cable - it's not a round cable like coax, it's flat and thick. But running *out* of the cable junction box, there are three coax cables. One goes to (I assume) the VIP722, one goes to TV#2 upstairs, and a third goes to TV#3 upstairs - at least that's my guess, I have not followed each cable all the way (cables run along the house exterior; it's night time now so I can't easily see all runs, but I'm pretty sure I have it right).
So it appears that a high-capacity cable delivers the sat feed to this junction box, and from there, all remaining cable appears to be coax - except for the short connection directly from the VIP722 to TV#1 (and the connection directly from the new Bluray player to TV#2).
This appears to be how things are wired (I hope the formatting is preserved...):
-------------------------------------------- --- TV#2 (bedroom upstairs)
------------------------------------------/
dish -- junction box ====
------------------------------------------\
-------------------------------------------- --- VIP722 + TV#1 (living rm)
All single cable coax here, except for the first run of cable from the sat dish to the junction box.
I am guessing that the signal between the junction box and the VIP722 must be bi-directional - is that possible? - since it appears to be the only connection between the VIP722 and the junction box. It must feed the incoming signal to the VIP722, then carry the output from the VIP722 back to the junction box, where it then goes up (again via coax) to TV#2 upstairs. If that's not how it's working, then I'm stumped.
OK, so that's how things appear to be wired, at least to me.
Given all the coax in the mix, I am skeptical that the information provided to me from Vizio tech support was accurate and complete.
So my questions...
- How do I ensure that I'm getting an HD-quality feed from the VIP722 up to TV#2 upstairs?
- Was the Vizio tech correct in telling me that the problem is the coax cable feeding the TV?
- If so, is the solution to run HDMI up to TV#2?
- Or is the issue really just a setting? If so, is that a Dish setting, or a setting on the TV?
- Basically, who do I call next to resolve this - Dish or Vizio?
*It has been well over 2 years since we signed up for Dish. Is now a good time to try to renegotiate our subscription - or is that a fantasy? This is a separate question, but if I have to call them and they need to come do some cable work, maybe I could kill 2 birds with one stone. Just a thought. Right now I'm mostly interested in addressing the picture quality issues on TV#2.
Thanks for your help and for any suggestions.
52 Replies
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5688 views
I use Excel for that!
Thanks 
No, her checkbook is a separate spreadsheet!Excel? Is that your wife's name?
T
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And I still have my K&E Duplex Log/Log Deci trig at the ready.
Posted Via The FREE SatelliteGuys Reader App!
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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4 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
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....
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....
68506 Replies
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2671298 views
Marques Brownlee
Time for another AWESOME video from Marques Brownlee!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
0 Replies
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5 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
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15 views
For quite a while now, people with a VIP211k have been losing their recordings on their activated external HDDs... even when there's nothing physically wrong with HDD. I believe this is an intentional and underhanded tactic that Dish is pulling in an attempt to force users away from the VIP211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
168 Replies
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7494 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Has anyone subscribed to NBA League Pass for 2026-27 and try to link their account to NBA.com to stream League Pass? I purchased it for 2026-27, and when I linked, I got a message saying success, but then I receive an error that my linked subscription does not include the preseason games for NBA League Pass. Is that how it has always been? I know satellite doesn't have the preseason games on the NBA League Pass channels, but I thought that I was able to stream the preseason once I linked my account on NBA.com?
2 Replies
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86 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
143 Replies
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1465 views
Nah, you just don't understand how ignore works, which is why you made your own NFL thread thinking there wasn't one
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
530 Replies
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18124 views
Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat.
WTF… …What the Foxbat!Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat.
S
wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming youWTF… …What the Foxbat!
I know. Here's what Scott has in store for me if I get out of line:wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming you
S
OMG to freaking funny
You're no fun.
I thought I would come here and find lots of complaints about the update to the dish anywhere mobile app, but am not seeing any. It used to look just like the desktop webpage. Now you can no longer filter by sports channels or movie channels. Plus that they made it look like a big button telephone and you see fewer channels in the screen which requires more scrolling. Yes I realize you can look at sports then select which sport you want to look at, I just liked being able to see all sporting events in the guide with all other channels being filtered out. Am I alone in the wilderness on this?
7 Replies
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157 views
Supporting Founder
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Apple has finally released their Apple TV 4K with built-in Siri and a microphone so it can respond to your queries even if you don't have the remote. It also increases in price, to $299. I had been planning on updating my current Apple TV 4K streamers, but that's $600 for the two of them, and that's a pass at this point.
At $299, it had better come with 256 GB of Storage, Gigabit (or better) Ethernet, the latest HDMI tech and standards, and one year of free Apple One. But it probably won't…
At $299, it had better come with 256 GB of Storage, Gigabit (or better) Ethernet, the latest HDMI tech and standards, and one year of free Apple One. But it probably won't…
Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K. New Siri AI and hands-free control. Stunning picture and immersive HomePod surround sound. Works with your Apple and smart home devices.
www.apple.com
20 Replies
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331 views
S
. apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while
they all do that anyways.. ever notice your cell phone slows down when you come up for an upgrade..
. apple's been making money off of software and not hardware for a while
You should have looked in the APP STORE instead.
