Cancellation issues, what ifs, and keeping my recorded content

[ChadT41]

A few points:

1) You're currently paying for DVR service, correct? Terminating your relationship with Dish means you're not longer paying for DVR service and that's what you want to continue to access. I think that was the point the poster you quoted was trying to make.

2) Because of the DMCA and DRM, there's no legal way for you to bypass the encryption and transfer your DVR content to another computer for playback or storage. There are supposedly Linux programs that will allow for this, but I believe discussing them would violate the no hack talk rule on this forum. The only way to keep things would be via analogue output to a DVD recorder or VCR.

3) As for your BluRay comment, I think a more accurate analogy would be that you wanted to rip the BluRays to a computer to then watch them on another device. Content owners don't would argue that this is illegal and that you should have to pay separately for digital rights to watch the content without the disk; that the license that comes with the disk is only to watch the content under certain limited conditions. Similarly, you may own the Receiver and the hard drive, but not necessarily the right to watched the licensed content on it outside of a service agreement with Dish. This may be Dish's doing or it could very well be spelled out in their contracts with the content owners. I don't think anyone here could say for certain. As for why Tivo is different, to my knowledge they have no contracts with content providers and thereby could be avoiding any such limitations. Since cable companies legally have to provide cablecards that are compatible with Tivos, I'm not sure there are necessarily even contracts there that could limit how Tivo treats the content after the underlying service is terminated.

These points aside, I think DVR recordings are a huge retention tools. I have several hard drives filled with content, and would be loathe to part with Dish and lose them. That said, if the service ever really pissed me off, I would either bite the bullet and forgo the saved content, or drop to the lowest available package so that I could continue my access.

This was the initial point I was trying to get across. Thank you for saying it so much more eloquently then I.

 

[dare2be]

A few points:

1) You're currently paying for DVR service, correct? Terminating your relationship with Dish means you're not longer paying for DVR service and that's what you want to continue to access. I think that was the point the poster you quoted was trying to make.

2) Because of the DMCA and DRM, there's no legal way for you to bypass the encryption and transfer your DVR content to another computer for playback or storage. There are supposedly Linux programs that will allow for this, but I believe discussing them would violate the no hack talk rule on this forum. The only way to keep things would be via analogue output to a DVD recorder or VCR.

3) As for your BluRay comment, I think a more accurate analogy would be that you wanted to rip the BluRays to a computer to then watch them on another device. Content owners don't would argue that this is illegal and that you should have to pay separately for digital rights to watch the content without the disk; that the license that comes with the disk is only to watch the content under certain limited conditions. Similarly, you may own the Receiver and the hard drive, but not necessarily the right to watched the licensed content on it outside of a service agreement with Dish. This may be Dish's doing or it could very well be spelled out in their contracts with the content owners. I don't think anyone here could say for certain. As for why Tivo is different, to my knowledge they have no contracts with content providers and thereby could be avoiding any such limitations. Since cable companies legally have to provide cablecards that are compatible with Tivos, I'm not sure there are necessarily even contracts there that could limit how Tivo treats the content after the underlying service is terminated.

These points aside, I think DVR recordings are a huge retention tools. I have several hard drives filled with content, and would be loathe to part with Dish and lose them. That said, if the service ever really pissed me off, I would either bite the bullet and forgo the saved content, or drop to the lowest available package so that I could continue my access.

Where is the "Mark as best answer" option?

 

[mitchflorida]

Seems like a lot of paranoia here. Just cut off your service and be done with it. My guess is you will keep all of your content. If they cut it off , you can always file a lawsuit against Dish, but I suspect you would lose or the case would be thrown out of court.

But enough with all this back and forth. The thread has gone on too long.

 

[sam_gordon]

Who said anything about wanting their (sorry) service anymore? I could care less about their service, we've seen what that's all about. Since reading comprehension isn't your strongest suit I'll reiterate - I want to drop their on and off service but keep what I paid for regarding recorded content. I also paid for the box, I paid for the hard drive that's in it. Got it?

Seems to me we're witnessing a "hurray for me, screw you" game.

Guess I better return those 33 DVD BluRay movies sitting there in my theater cabinet too, eh?

Transfer everything to an EHD. There. You get to keep all your recorded content.

Oh, you want to WATCH that content? Well, then you need a device that will read the stored content.

 

[Tampa8]

Maybe it's been said in one form or another. If you buy a DISH receiver you own only that. To watch their channels or use their DVR functions, you download their software to use on your receiver. You then pay for the use of all that. DISH does not rent receivers they sell subscriptions to programming and uses such as a DVR with their services. You could get a receiver without DVR abilities and not pay the DVR fee.

As others have posted any EHD material is not accessible after dropping your subscription. (And it can never be retrieved) I also believe you will be able to access the internal hard drive though in the past you had to trick the receiver to get there. I have not tried it with a VIP receiver, I did with a PVR 508 and I could trick the receiver for awhile, but then could not. I tried connecting to the satellite dish and that revived my access for awhile. That does not mean a VIP receiver will act in the same way.

 

[dishrich]

Can't he put his account on pause for a $5 or so a month and have access to the internal drive still?

NO, to the DVR it's either activated or NOT; there is no "sort of" activated; same difference as totally disco'g...

 

[ChadT41]

According to Jason on the main forum, if on pause, you can still access the internal drive on pause. Matt said you cannot access EHD.

 

[KAB]

According to Jason on the main forum, if on pause, you can still access the internal drive on pause. Matt said you cannot access EHD.

That is how I've always understood it.

 

[harshness]

Since reading comprehension isn't your strongest suit I'll reiterate - I want to drop their on and off service but keep what I paid for regarding recorded content.

The issue is that you didn't pay for a long term license for the content (as you have done by buying retail-packaged disc-based movies). If you go to Amazon or a video store, you can rent a movie or buy a movie and the price is different. It is the same thing here except that DISH lets you keep the recording as long as you keep the DVR service on the same account.

I also paid for the box, I paid for the hard drive that's in it.

And you get to keep those mechanisms as long as you want.

Guess I better return those 33 DVD BluRay movies sitting there in my theater cabinet too, eh?

You bought a different kind of license with these movies that entitles you to long-term viewing.

 

[mike123abc]

All your EHDs are encrypted with a key that is tied to your account. So you can move the drives between devices on the same account 622/722/922/Hopper, but when you cancel service Dish deletes your key. So, if you subscribe again in the future you will not have access to your EHD recordings since that encryption key has been lost.

 

[SomeDishGuy]

She needs to forward this to an upper level supervisor. I'm sure some key manager at DISH must be archiving these complaints?

>>"It's another way your firm takes its customers hostage. It's trickery. What if I just unplug my sat cable and wall and then cancel? You can't touch my "dead" receiver then.>>

Now if you think I'm rude, she dodged the question, like she's taught to do.

An "upper level supervisor" isn't going to give a different answer, or be able to change it. You've been given information in this thread how it works, when your receiver loses authorization, you will no longer be able to watch recorded content.

If you want to complain, ask for the address to "Dispute Resolution", you can send a letter to the corporate office and let them know what you think. That is the most direct way to log your outrage.

 

[Claude Greiner]

You used to be able to cancel and have access to the DVR recordings on Dish.

What this tells me is that Dish has made DVR part as a subscription tier.

The whole reason for this is that Dish wants to make things as miserable for you as possible if you cancel or don't pay your bill.

The same thing goes for the OTA tuner. You don't pay they shut the feature down.

What they don't want is people not paying their bill and have no incentive to pay since they can watch DVR RECORDINGS or watch OTA channels if they got an antenna

 

[ChadT41]

You used to be able to cancel and have access to the DVR recordings on Dish.

What this tells me is that Dish has made DVR part as a subscription tier.

The whole reason for this is that Dish wants to make things as miserable for you as possible if you cancel or don't pay your bill.

The same thing goes for the OTA tuner. You don't pay they shut the feature down.

What they don't want is people not paying their bill and have no incentive to pay since they can watch DVR RECORDINGS or watch OTA channels if they got an antenna

I disagree with your broad statement, but even if thats how it was, why should they continue to offer the software for free?

 

[Hall]

What this tells me is that Dish has made DVR part as a subscription tier.

How does DirecTV handle a similar situation? Time Warner does it the same as Dish. Anyone know about Comcast, etc?

 

[ChadT41]

I don't know about Comcast, but Cox does not give you access after cancellation.

 

[spudmancbr954rr]

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/prods_hd-recorders.html

I use the 1512.

I'm not sure if I'll stick with DISH or not. I've been with them for 9+ years and love the programming and equipment. The contract disputes get annoying, but that's part of the game. Anyway...I'd like to get all of my content onto regular hard drives (PC/Windows) over the next few months while I'm comparing other TV providers and this Hauppauge model 1512 looks like just the ticket. Have you had any issues at all with the content on the DISH DVRs being "protected" in some way that would not allow the Hauppauge HD recorders to work? Also, knowing that these things need to be connected to a PC to work...I'm wondering if I'll need to build a new system with a faster multi-core CPU, more memory, etc. or if my Windows 7 Core 2 Duo with 4 GB of RAM rig will be ok. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Claude Greiner]

I disagree with your broad statement, but even if thats how it was, why should they continue to offer the software for free?

I agree if you lease their equipment.

If you own it, they should leave the DVR recordings and the OTA alone

 

[KazooGuy]

I'm not sure if I'll stick with DISH or not. I've been with them for 9+ years and love the programming and equipment. The contract disputes get annoying, but that's part of the game. Anyway...I'd like to get all of my content onto regular hard drives (PC/Windows) over the next few months while I'm comparing other TV providers and this Hauppauge model 1512 looks like just the ticket. Have you had any issues at all with the content on the DISH DVRs being "protected" in some way that would not allow the Hauppauge HD recorders to work? Also, knowing that these things need to be connected to a PC to work...I'm wondering if I'll need to build a new system with a faster multi-core CPU, more memory, etc. or if my Windows 7 Core 2 Duo with 4 GB of RAM rig will be ok. Thanks in advance for your help.

System requirements

• Laptop or desktop PC with 3.0 GHz single core or 2.0 GHz multi-core processor
• Microsoft® Windows® 8, 7 or Vista (32 or 64-bit), or Windows XP Service Pack 3
• HD PVR 2 GE Plus includes HDPVRCapture.com application which runs on Mac OSX 10.7 / 10.8 ( Intel 32/64bit only, no PPC support)
• TV set with HDMI input
• 1 GB memory recommended
• Graphics card with 256 MB memory
• Sound card
• 220 MB free hard disk space
• CD-ROM drive (for software installation)

 

[spudmancbr954rr]

Thanks KazooGuy. I did see those minimum requirements on the Hauppauge website; I was just wondering if anyone had "real world" experience with their product and what type of PC setup they had used. One thing seems certain...nobody can use the HDMI output to record with these things because of copyright / DRM issues. Seems like component video out works well; I'm just looking for input from anyone who has used the model 1512 or something similar from Hauppauge with a DISH DVR.

 

[dare2be]

The Hauppauge does not require high system resources since the majority of the video processing/encoding is done by the unit itself.