First Look: DISH 381 Receiver

[chastulsa]

Just when I think I have seen it all my email box tonight was filled up with information on a new Satellite Receiver I have never heard of before.

Folks this one is a STRANGE receiver.

It's a HIGH DEFINITION receiver but the key is it does not receive Dish Network HD services!?!?!

This one sounds like a late April Fools Joke to me but I have received it from a few of my very trusted contacts which is why I am passing the info on to you. With that said I would not be surprised if we never see this receiver on the market. (At least I hope we never see it on the market)

Ladies and Gentleman... May I introduce to you the new DISH 381 receiver!

This unit cleary is for people who dont want HD or cant afford a HDTV but still want to enjoy OTA. Dont forget there will be a time when analog OTA will no longer exist, this will give Dish the edge to offer a OTA solution with a low cost sub fee. I think its a good idea to help get the OTA (13% of TV viewers) money.

 

[BFG]

maybe it's just a numeric coincidence. I just noticed on the tech portal that the DP811 are scheduled for software P3.80. I wonder if P3.81 will be the version that magically transforms them to 381s by disabling the satellite HD decoding.

that's not happening or will happen.

The reason the 381 leaves out any dish hd capabilities is because there is no current MPEG2 HD packages available. There is nothing in software or relation that is inhibiting anything...

 

[dlsnyder]

Some are not getting it.

There are NO SD Locals on any SAT (dish or direct tv) at all on several DMAs. My relatives have to switch the TV inputs over and then use a rabbit ears to get there Standard Def Locals. There is no guide data.

Forget HD, this thing will do SD locals OTA, and as an added bonus it does HD Locals OTA. If they down load Guide data they will love it more.

I predict Thousands will be sold (leased).

I grew up in the middle of Nebraska, every one has Dish, everyone there will want and beg for this recevier.

Not all products are for the big cities.

Dish will probably still require you to subscribe to a locals package in order to get program info just as you do now. The 811 may not even be capable of displaying PSIP program data like it does for the Dish program guide.

 

[BFG]

the 811 inserts the guide data they have for local stations they carry without having a local subscription, you just have to be able to be connected to the satellite the sd locals are on

 

[MikeD-C05]

Does anyone remember how bad that sd channels looked through the 811? They sucked. I feel sorry for anyone who uses this new 381 receiver and hopes to see good picture quality on the sd channels , which will make up 95 % of their tv viewing experience.

 

[dlsnyder]

...And this box might qualify for the $40 vouchers that we're supposed to get 2 of. If any are still available when the vouchers come out.

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking. I wonder if they might even hold off on announcing this "new" model until those vouchers are available. That would be a cheap way to get thousands of potential new subscribers on-board and recycle those old 811s. Brilliant if Charlie can pull it off. The problem is the lack of full PSIP compatibility.

 

[dlsnyder]

the 811 inserts the guide data they have for local stations they carry without having a local subscription, you just have to be able to be connected to the satellite the sd locals are on

Unfortunately that only works for the SD feeds, if there are multiple streams on the digital channel. Here in LA my 811 never knows what is really on KOCE-DT 50.1 because the data never gets passed through by Dish.

 

[dodge]

Dish 381

Charlie, Jim Damn you!!! I want my crack pipe back before you come up with any more stupid stuff!!!

 

[kb7oeb]

RF out missing is not that big of a deal, I bet a lot of those people alread have modulators so they can use their $30 DVD player.

This sounds like a perfect use for the 811 remains, when the analog shut off happens in markets without LIL at least some of Dish's customers will no longer have local channels, this is a cheap way to keep them happy.

 

[digiblur]

RF out missing is not that big of a deal, I bet a lot of those people alread have modulators so they can use their $30 DVD player.

This sounds like a perfect use for the 811 remains, when the analog shut off happens in markets without LIL at least some of Dish's customers will no longer have local channels, this is a cheap way to keep them happy.

LOL!! I actually saw a DVD player hooked up with a modulator to a new 55 inch flat panel the other day. The DVD player was even a progressive scan model!

 

[cali_installer]

The 381/351 was designed as a qam box here in los angeles we have been installing them for about 3 months. We have a few new building wired for dish and u just go and install one of the recievers to the customer make a jumper from the wall the the box and go, There "WERE" 811's but that do not accept hd the box was just a solution for multi story building where dishes on baclonys or attached to the buildings arent possibly(down town los angeles)

 

[Smith P.]

Your info totally disagree with that PDF what Scott posted.
Drawings show DP Plus Satellite input; a description mentioned only satellite signal.
If you have pictures please post it; if not , well rumors, rumors, rumors .

 

[BoisePaul]

If memory serves, the 811 did have a QAM tuner for MDU's. It would only make sense that this 381 which is obviously an 811 derivative would be able to do the same. But then again, since when does E* make sense?

 

[ats7627]

Your memory serves you well. The 811 does have QAM ability on the satellite tuner for MDU setups.

 

[dlsnyder]

So how do Dish subs in areas not served by LIL get their program guide info for their OTA channels? Is PSIP guide data enabled for people in rural areas without LIL?

 

[MikeD-C05]

NOPE ! Not on the vip series of receivers. The 811 did have the ability to read the psip data for ota stations.

 

[Barry Erick]

Sort of like a car that can only make left turns. It works, but is very inconvenient. Maybe it was their way to do a survey

 

[Claude Greiner]

reguardless Dish probably has thousands of 811's in their warehouse, and what a better way to get rid of them as entry level standard definition receivers.

 

[kb7oeb]

Only PSIP my 811 picks up is virtual channel number and the station call letters.

Do all current boxes support QAM for MDU?

 

[BobaBird]

Just the 811 and QAM-only 351 and 3750.