activating the DVR feature on a VIP211K - NOT !!

[MikeInAlaska]

On my second long call to Dish network now. The Dish Network "system" says they need to set up a technician visit to activate this feature. I explain to the rep that what I need is a DVR feature activation code sent down from a satellite... not a technician visit.

The rep says the local Dish Network installer can activate this feature on my receiver. Am I totally off base or is this way far fetched sounding?

 

[jckm78]

clueless csr, hang up and try another csr.

 

[MikeInAlaska]

>> clueless csr, hang up and try another csr.

ding! you win the prize : )

Actually there seemed to be something weird about it all, and I think its associated (AGAIN) with being in Alaska. The 1st rep said no way it could be done, had to be done locally. Second rep said "It SAYS you need a local installer, but thats not right." and then hung up on me on hold. The 3rd rep knew the workaround.

So yes... the answer for this situation is - keep calling.

 

[DishSubLA]

It's called CSR Roulette. A game many Dish subscribers must know how to play. What I can't figure out is that, so far, 100% of the time, it is the 3rd CSR who knows what they are doing and gets the job done.

 

[wolfjc]

It's called CSR Roulette. A game many Dish subscribers must know how to play. What I can't figure out is that, so far, 100% of the time, it is the 3rd CSR who knows what they are doing and gets the job done.

Or you can be ask to be routed to a tech.
When I activated my 211 as a dvr the CSRs could not do it but the tech guy did and very quickly.

 

[KAB]

It's called CSR Roulette. A game many Dish subscribers must know how to play. What I can't figure out is that, so far, 100% of the time, it is the 3rd CSR who knows what they are doing and gets the job done.

'Cause third time's a charm.

 

[MikeInAlaska]

I'd been watching Dish standard def on an ancient 1000? receiver for 10 years I bet. Now in the last month I am watching 1080i HD on a 1080 plasma, and now with this DVR. I had really thought Dish was crappy quality. WOW was I wrong !

 

[Smith P.]

I'd been watching Dish standard def on an ancient 1000? receiver for 10 years I bet. Now in the last month I am watching 1080i HD on a 1080 plasma, and now with this DVR. I had really thought Dish was crappy quality. WOW was I wrong !

Well, don't rush with conclusions !


Buy Blu-Ray player ($78 at W*Mart !), then you'll now what kind of crap you're watching now.

 

[MikeInAlaska]

Actually I have a blu-ray (and certainly appreciate it.) I would counter though by saying... go hook up a 1000 series Dish receiver and watch SD on it for a week : ) HD 1080i looks superb.

I also hooked my Dad up (he lives on the adjacent lot) to my HD (my 129 dish) and I notice that on his 720P LCD television HDTV looks dramatically inferior to 1080P plasma. I think its not only the 720 versus 1080 resolutions, I think the LCD takes something out of it.

 

[Pen15head]

also, do not forget to make sure your dads reciever is set up to output on 720p. (on the remote : menu-systemsetup-hd setup). its amazing how many people watch 480p on their 720/1080 tv's because they did not adjust the output.

glad your tv has better picture and you got your dvr activation on your 211. enjoy!

 

[Smith P.]

Actually I have a blu-ray (and certainly appreciate it.) I would counter though by saying... go hook up a 1000 series Dish receiver and watch SD on it for a week : ) HD 1080i looks superb.

I also hooked my Dad up (he lives on the adjacent lot) to my HD (my 129 dish) and I notice that on his 720P LCD television HDTV looks dramatically inferior to 1080P plasma. I think its not only the 720 versus 1080 resolutions, I think the LCD takes something out of it.

May I ask to continue compare apple to apples ?

So, please be honest and tell us difference of 1080 from Dish and by Blu-Ray.

 

[MikeInAlaska]

Blu-Ray is ?50?+ megabits per second of video and uncompressed audio. You cant ask that of a satellite channel. I have compressed blu-ray discs down to fit on dual layer DVD and they still look killer. So does Dish 1080i IMHO. My point with the 720 versus 1080 talk was more that I think the LCD picture hurts the results than the 720 does.

 

[Mark A Sparks]

Or you can be ask to be routed to a tech.
When I activated my 211 as a dvr the CSRs could not do it but the tech guy did and very quickly.

I am going to get an external hardrive this week for my VIP211.

So when I call dish to activate it as a dvr I should immediately ask to talk to a tech guy?

Thanks,

 

[SatboyZ]

I can say the tech route is best also...

When I first got my 211 activated I had to call back 3 times before it actually downloaded. My advice - have the tv on when you call and don't hang up until the receiver shows that is downloading the update. My 211k went a lot more smoothly when I went straight to a tech. Never can figure out how I did without the feature!

Now if they can just figure out how to acurately display time left/free space on the hard drive I will be extremely happy. Must be based on Mpeg2 because a half hour HD show off Universal decreases time left by about 3 minutes. Oh, I almost forgot, add to the list Dishonline features like the 622 such as internet timer settings.

Satboyz

 

[wolfjc]

I am going to get an external hardrive this week for my VIP211.

So when I call dish to activate it as a dvr I should immediately ask to talk to a tech guy?

Thanks,

I would since that is how I got my external hardrive to work.

 

[Jim5506]

Try the chat, the CSR's there are more experienced.

 

[NR2D]

I am going to get an external hard drive this week for my VIP211.

So when I call dish to activate it as a dvr I should immediately ask to talk to a tech guy?

Thanks,

I should check this site more often. I didn't know anything about adding an external hard drive to the VIP211K.

Now a question, where can I purchase an external HD that is compatible with my VIP211K. I have 2 and this would be a great addition.
I just ordered 2 500 GB Ext hard drives. I'll see what happens now.

Thanks in advance.

Edit 1. When I bought my IMAC last year I bought 2 external 500GB hard drives, 1 to put my working files and the other for backing up my computer. The drives I bought are G Drives. They both have USB, Firewire 400 and one has a Firewire 800 port. I would only need the USB port. I would think 1 of these would work but I am thinking it needs to be formated in a FAT32 format.

 

[KAB]

Edit 1. When I bought my IMAC last year I bought 2 external 500GB hard drives, 1 to put my working files and the other for backing up my computer. The drives I bought are G Drives. They both have USB, Firewire 400 and one has a Firewire 800 port. I would only need the USB port. I would think 1 of these would work but I am thinking it needs to be formated in a FAT32 format.

Provided the drives are self-powered (not usb powered) either should work fine. The 211 will format the drive to Linux. Anything on the drive will be wiped.

 

[MikeInAlaska]

I had two external USB drives laying around, both Seagates... popped it on and it formatted over it

 

[NR2D]

KAB, they are self powered, wall wart. And thanks for the info on the drives being formatted by the receiver..